The French centre’s troubles are hardly unique. Populist-right parties are surging in many democracies. Yet in Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and elsewhere, centrists have found ways to beat them. Besides a willingness to sound firm on immigration and crime, politicians who vanquish populists tend to share three traits.

After the Trump administration blocked a new ambassador to Washington, the country expressed regret for a post from a French official social media account.

Authorities suspect sabotage caused a train derailment in northwestern France that injured 44 people after a piece of rail was found on the track. The regional train was carrying 186 passengers from Rouen to Caen when it derailed Friday evening in Cleon. One carriage tipped onto its side while four others left the tracks.

Champagne lovers may find themselves getting tipsy more quickly after French producers have been given the go-ahead to raise the alcohol content in a bottle of bubbly for the first time following this summer's record heatwave.

BRUSSELS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Finland has joined France's initiative to extend the reach of its nuclear deterrent through collaboration with partner European countries, the heads of both countries said on Monday.