French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday called for speedy international backing for disaster-struck Lebanon and urged its leaders to prevent “chaos” as he opened an emergency aid conference following Beirut’s deadly port blast. Macron hosted US President Donald Trump and other world leaders for the virtual conference to drum up …
Read More »France’s Macron wants EU action, sanctions over Mediterranean violations
France’s president on Thursday said it would be a serious error by the European Union to not respond to provocations in the Eastern Mediterranean and said he wanted more sanctions on those who violated Greek and Cypriot maritime space. Emmanuel Macron’s comments come after Turkey’s navy on Tuesday issued an …
Read More »Notre Dame cathedral in Paris to be restored to ORIGINAL design after blaze that shocked the world
The Notre Dame spire in Paris will be rebuilt to its original Gothic design with no modern updates after it was destroyed in a massive fire last April, French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed. The national heritage and architectural commission in charge of the restoration approved plans to restore it …
Read More »French government resigns as Macron acts to recast presidency
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and his government resigned on Friday as President Emmanuel Macron acted on a pledge to reinvent his administration and win back disillusioned voters ahead of a possible re-election bid in 2022. Macron’s office said a new prime minister would be named in the next few …
Read More »France’s Macron to talk Brexit in London and mark de Gaulle’s ‘Appel’
President Emmanuel Macron visits London on Thursday to mark the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle’s appeal to the French resistance and to discuss Brexit with Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Macron, who will be hosted by heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, will mark de Gaulle’s June 18, 1940 “Appel” from BBC headquarters …
Read More »Coronavirus: 668 infected on French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle
A third of the sailors on France’s aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle – 668 out of nearly 2,000 – are infected with coronavirus, the navy says. The ship returned to the French port of Toulon early from Atlantic exercises. Twenty sailors are in hospital, one of them in intensive care. …
Read More »Macron’s candidate for Paris mayor quits over sexting row
French President Emmanuel Macron suffered a setback on Friday when one of his closest lieutenants, Benjamin Griveaux, pulled out of the race to become mayor of Paris after it was alleged he sent sexual images to a woman who is not his wife. “I have decided to withdraw my candidacy …
Read More »Macron faces off with Israeli forces during a tour of the Old City of Jerusalem church.
The French tricolor has flown over the Church of St. Anne in Jerusalem’s walled Old City since it was gifted by the Ottomans to French Emperor Napoleon III in 1856. France views it as a provocation when Israeli police enter the church’s sandstone complex, in a part of Jerusalem al-Quds …
Read More »France, US agree to extend talks over digital tax
Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump have agreed to extend negotiations on a dispute over a French tax on digital giants to the end of the year, postponing Washington’s threat of sanctions against Paris, French officials said Tuesday. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, speaking before a Brussels meeting with …
Read More »Salih to Macron: Iraq is keen on peace-building in the region
Iraqi President Barham Salih affirmed, in a telephone conversation with his French counterpart, that Iraq is keen on peace-building in the region. The President received a phone call from his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron where they exchanged views on the rapid developments in the country and the region, according to …
Read More »West Africa to get new currency in 2020.
A revamped common currency in West Africa known as the ECO will be launched in 2020, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. The ECO is supposed to replace the CFA franc which is currently being used in eight West African countries and six countries in central Africa. During a trip …
Read More »Massive chaos as largest strike in years hits France for 2nd Day
Hundreds of thousands of strikers paralyzed the transport system on the first day of industrial action which prompted the closure of schools across the nation. According to union leaders, more than 1.5 million people turned out across the country, with police using tear gas to disperse them. Just in Paris …
Read More »Macron accuses Turkey of working with Islamic State proxies.
French President Emmanuel Macron accused Turkey of working with Islamic State proxies and said Ankara needed to clarify those ambiguities during meetings this week. “The common enemy today is the terrorist groups. I’m sorry to say, we don’t have the same definition of terrorism around the table,” Macron told reporters …
Read More »Europe agrees to develop more weapons independently of US
European Union governments gave the green light on Tuesday for 13 new defence projects in a step to develop more firepower independently of the United States. Under plans agreed by EU defence ministers in Brussels, work will begin on a new patrol vessel, an electronic jamming weapon for aircraft and …
Read More »Videos: Police Tear Gas Yellow Vest protesters in Toulouse during 48th week of mass demonstrations.
Police in the French city of Toulouse have deployed tear gas and water cannon as Yellow Vest protesters took to the streets for the 48th weekend of mass demonstrations across France. The city in the south of France has routinely been the scene of large anti-government rallies for the political …
Read More »Paris paralyzed by a massive strike.
The French capital is seeing huge jams and massive crowds on the few metro lines running as transport workers strike against planned pension reform. Ten of Paris’s 16 lines were shut and service on the others was disrupted. Many workers cycled, walked or stayed at home, while free rides were …
Read More »Paris court finds Saudi princess guilty in beating case.
The daughter of the King of Saudi Arabia was complicit in beating up and briefly kidnapping a workman in her luxury flat Paris, a French court ruled on Thursday, sentencing the princess to a 10-month suspended prison sentence. Speaking after the verdict, Princess Hassa bint Salman’s French lawyer said most …
Read More »Macron to sign Baghdad suspension train contract in his upcoming visit to Iraq.
The Iraqi Economic Council member, Ghadir al-Attar announced on Thursday that the visit of French President, Emmanuel Macron to the country will witness signing a contract for the construction of Baghdad suspension train. Al-Attar said in a statement today that “French President, Emmanuel Macron will visit the capital Baghdad during …
Read More »Yellow Vest protesters return to streets for 43rd week
Hundreds of “yellow vests” demonstrators gather in front of the steps of the Opéra Comédie in Montpellier, for a “national” call to action. Yellow vest protesters have once again taken to the streets for the 43rd consecutive week. The protests began in November after planned hikes in fuel tax, that …
Read More »Brazil to reject G7 money to fight Amazon fires.
The Brazilian government has said it will reject G7 countries offer of aid from to help tackle fires in the Amazon rainforest. French President Emmanuel Macron – who hosted a G7 summit that ended on Monday – said $22m (£18m) would be released. But Brazilian ministers say the money is …
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