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PARIS — France’s newly sworn-in president, François Hollande, was forced to delay a trip to Berlin, where he is due to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel, after his plane was hit by lightning.

According to a French official, the presidential plane was forced to land shortly after takeoff from the Villacoublay airport just outside the French capital. Mr. Hollande was expected to board a new plane and arrive at the German Chancellery at around 6:30 local time, two hours later than previously expected.

– William Horobin and Nadya Masidlover