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Macron says France will apply ‘Notre Dame strategy’ on AI

President Emmanuel Macron says France will “commit to a clear timeline” and “deliver” on AI development, as Europe risks falling behind the US and China. He likened it to the rapid Notre Dame cathedral rebuild.

On the opening day of an AI summit in Paris co-hosted by India, French…[Read more]

Fire ravages Paris district town hall, leaving spire ‘in danger of collapsing’

A fire in Paris’s 12th district town hall broke out overnight from Sunday to Monday, ravaging the roof and bell tower of the 19th-century building. Paris police prefect Laurent Nunez warned the 36-metre spire was ‘in danger of collapsing’ after firefighters extin…[Read more]

France imported record amount of US crude in November

French crude imports in November included a new high from the US.

Customs data show imports at 4.3mn t (1.04mn b/d), up by 7pc on the year and down from 4.5mn t a month earlier.

Deliveries of US crude were just over 1.25mn t, up from the previous record of slightly more than 1.2mn t in…[Read more]

France says EU will lift some sanctions against Syria

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told reporters on Monday that the European Union is lifting some sanctions against Syria, as top EU diplomats met in Brussels to discuss a coordinated approach to sanctions relief for the war-torn country. Barrot added that France would also propose…[Read more]

Trump presidency will help to ‘occupy Brussels’, says Orbán

Hungary PM says new US leader will bolster Europe’s rightwing forces as nationalist politicians attend inauguration

Donald Trump’s presidency will boost rightwing political forces across Europe, the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has said, as he announced an offensive “to occup…[Read more]

French PM Bayrou survives first no-confidence vote in parliament

French Prime Minister François Bayrou survived his first major test in the National Assembly on Thursday after Socialist lawmakers and the far-right National Rally chose not to support a no-confidence motion put forward by hard-left party La France insoumise (France…[Read more]

France Vows To Secure Release of 2 French-Israeli Hostages

France is steadfast in its efforts to secure the release of two French-Israeli nationals still held by Hamas, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Monday. Speaking to BFM TV, Barrot reiterated France’s commitment to ensuring their freedom, despite having no updates on their co…[Read more]

Macron affirms Trump has ‘solid ally’ in France, urges realism from Ukraine over territory

French President Emmanuel Macron said his country was a “a solid ally” of President-elect Donald Trump on Monday as he outlined his vision for global diplomacy in 2025, while warning that France could lose the incoming U.S. leader’s respect by being “we…[Read more]

Former French president Sarkozy faces court over alleged €50 million Gaddafi pact

Former French President Nicholas Sarkozy goes on trial on Monday on charges he accepted some 50 million euros in illegal campaign financing from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Sarkozy, who has been twice convicted for separate crimes since leaving office, h…[Read more]

Iran nuclear programme nearing ‘point of no return’, France’s Macron says

French president says Paris will engage with the incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump on the ‘Iranian question’.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called Iran the main “strategic and security challenge” for Europeans in the Middle East, raising…[Read more]

France says it carried out missile strikes against ISIS in Syria last weekend

France carried out missile strikes last weekend in Syria, targeting Islamic State sites in the country, French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Tuesday.
“On Sunday, French air forces carried out targeted strikes against Islamic State sites based on Syrian…[Read more]

French rescuers save 107 migrants in English Channel on Christmas day

French authorities said they rescued 107 migrants in the English Channel on Christmas Day in 12 operations along the northern coast. At least 73 migrants have died trying to cross the Channel this year, making 2024 the deadliest year on record for the crossings.

French…[Read more]

French far-right leader Le Pen predicts quick demise of new Bayrou govt

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Tuesday predicted an early presidential election, saying that President Emmanuel Macron “is finished” a day after his fourth prime minister in a year named a new government. Le Pen is seen as being in a strong position to take the…[Read more]

French PM Francois Bayrou hopes to have budget ready by mid-February

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said Thursday he hopes to have a budget ready by mid-February and that he would consider using special constitutional powers to get it through parliament if opposition parties tried to block it.

France’s new prime minister, Francois…[Read more]

Defendants face judgement for actions that led to beheading of French teacher

Eight people accused of abetting the jihadist murder of French teacher Samuel Paty are to learn their fate after a six-week trial in a Paris court.

They include the father of a schoolgirl whose lie about Paty’s alleged discrimination against Muslims in the classroom…[Read more]

Macron vows to rebuild Mayotte after cyclone devastation

French President Emmanuel Macron was met with angry residents of Mayotte, who urged him to help with critical issues plaguing the island in Chido’s aftermath.

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the overseas territory of Mayotte, which was devastated by Cyclone Chido, where he pledged…[Read more]

Trump to attend Notre Dame reopening as Macron weathers political storm

US president-elect returns to world stage at high-profile celebration that belies growing crisis in French politics

The restored Gothic spire of Notre Dame is to provide a dramatic backdrop for Donald Trump’s return to the geopolitical stage this weekend, as the US p…[Read more]

Emmanuel Macron vows to name new French PM within days

French President Emmanuel Macron has said he will name a new prime minister “in the coming days”, after Michel Barnier resigned following a no-confidence vote in parliament.

In a 10-minute address to the nation on Thursday, he rejected opposition pressure to stand down, vowing to stay in his…[Read more]

French government falls: What’s next for Macron, Le Pen, France?

French legislators from both sides of the political spectrum voted to remove Barnier from power.

After less than four months in power, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government has lost a no-confidence vote in parliament over a social security budget dispute.

On Wed…[Read more]

France’s Macron pledges to stay in office until end of term

The French president says he will appoint a new prime minister in ‘coming days’ after lawmakers toppled the government in a no-confidence vote.

French President Emmanuel Macron says he will stay on “until the end” of his five-year term, until May 2027, after a no-confidence vote in p…[Read more]