French PM says EU tariff on American bourbon probably mistaken

The European Union was probably mistaken in targeting American whiskey in its riposte to U.S. tariffs, French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said on Sunday, calling for talks to avoid more damaging duties on France’s cognac industry.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened…[Read more]

Visitors flock to Paris’s Pompidou Centre before it closes for renovations

Art lovers catch last glimpse of prestigious art collection before gallery shuts for five years for major revamp

Tourists and French visitors alike filled Paris’s landmark Pompidou Centre at the weekend to catch a last glimpse of its prestigious art collection before it…[Read more]

Macron’s diplomatic comeback: from France’s domestic crisis to reshaping Europe’s defense

French President Emmanuel Macron is back at the center of global diplomacy, seeking to ease relations with President Donald Trump, championing a Ukraine peace plan alongside his British counterpart, and seeing his longstanding desire to boost European defen…[Read more]

France to tap Russian assets for 195 million euros this year, minister says

France will use interest from Russian assets to fund another 195 million euros ($211 million) in arms for Ukraine, Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu said a newspaper interview.
France also plans to hand over some of its older armoured fighting vehicles, such as its…[Read more]

American women in police custody in France after baby thrown from hotel window

A young American woman has been taken into police custody after her newborn baby was thrown out of a window of a Parisian hotel, the Paris prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday.

The newborn received urgent medical care, but did not survive. Authorities are i…[Read more]

Macron and Trump rekindle their ‘bromance’ amid strategic tensions over Ukraine

Trump greeted Macron as a “very special man” during their Oval Office meeting, exchanging their characteristic firm handshake as the French leader sought to leverage their personal relationship to strengthen US backing for Ukraine.

They hugged, they gripped hands,…[Read more]

France’s Macron and Donald Trump meet in Washington: Four key takeaways

United States President Donald Trump welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to the White House on Monday for discussions on Ukraine, European security and trade.

Macron, who has built a cordial rapport with Trump, was the first European leader to visit him since the b…[Read more]

Tech titans and government leaders gather in Paris for landmark AI summit

Political and tech leaders convene at the Grand Palais in Paris on Monday for a summit on artificial intelligence co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The goals of the two-day event are to promote ethics and accessibility in…[Read more]

French PM François Bayrou survives another no-confidence vote over social security budget

France’s National Assembly on Monday rejected another no-confidence vote tabled by the left-wing France Unbowed party against the minority government of centrist Prime Minister François Bayrou. Bayrou had used Article 49.3 of the Constitution to pass asp…[Read more]

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]