by Jerome RIVET Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) – Emmanuel Macron’s presidency began with an invitation for Russian leader Vladimir Putin to the sumptuous former royal palace at Versailles. As his term draws to a close, European leaders are meeting in the same place to discuss Putin’s war on Ukraine. Although the 27 European Union government chiefs put on smiling faces on the red carpet, it was clear from their words that the outbreak of […]
Tag: Emmanuel Macron
France, Germany strengthen treaty ties to tackle EU crisis
by Laurence Benhamou Agence France Presse France and Germany on Tuesdasy signed a new friendship treaty to deepen their alliance at a time of crisis for the EU, drawing fire from the far right whom President Emmanuel Macron slapped down for “spreading lies” about the pact. Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel inked the accord to deepen ties as Britain prepares to leave the European Union and tensions are rising with populist leaders in the […]
Skepticism in France as Macron launches ‘great national debate’
by Clare BYRNE Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron faced a battle Monday to convince skeptical French of his latest move to quell “yellow vest” anger as he kickstarted a two-month national debate on his policies. Struggling to end the biggest crisis of his presidency, Macron on Sunday set out over 30 questions to be debated in towns and villages across the country from January 15 to March 15. “We […]
Trump, Macron to meet Saturday in Paris
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump will meet on Saturday with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris on the sidelines of World War I commemoration ceremonies. The two leaders were to discuss notably “the situation in Syria” and “the threat posed by Iran,” a White House official said Wednesday on condition of anonymity. The tete-a-tete is the only bilateral meeting slated for Trump’s Paris trip, according to the official. The US […]
Trump and Macron planted a tree — but where did it go?
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The photograph was seen around the world: US President Donald Trump and France’s Emmanuel Macron, gilded spades in hand, shoveling dirt over a young sapling. A week ago, at the beginning of Macron’s visit to Washington, the French president joined his American counterpart to throw handfuls of soil on the roots of a young oak tree as their respective first ladies looked on It was a symbolic gesture: the tree […]
Hero French policeman dies after jihadist shooting spree
by Mathieu Gorse and Katy Lee in Paris Agence France Presse President Emmanuel Macron led tributes Saturday to a French policeman who died after offering himself as a hostage to help end an Islamist attack, becoming the fourth victim of the shooting spree and supermarket siege. Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame, 45, was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene in the southwestern town of Trebes on Friday after an attacker claiming allegiance to […]
Suspected IS gunman takes hostages in France
A gunman claiming allegiance to the Islamic State group fired shots and took hostages at a supermarket in southwestern France on Friday, a local prosecutor said. Security forces were responding to two separate incidents, one at a supermarket in the town of Trebes and the second, a 15-minute drive away, in the town of Carcassonne where a policeman was shot. It was unclear if the two incidents were linked. In Trebes, the man “entered […]
Macron reforms unleash strikes, protests
by Adam PLOWRIGHT and Joseph SCHMID Agence France-Presse PARIS, France – An estimated 200,000 protesters took to the streets of France on Thursday in a showdown between trade unions and President Emmanuel Macron that could be decisive for his reform agenda. Seven unions representing staff in the public sector led strikes and protests, and a third of railway workers walked out to join the demonstrations against 40-year-old Macron’s bid to shake up the French state. […]
Macron backs UK claim that Russia behind spy attack
PARIS, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday backed Britain’s charge that Russia was responsible for the nerve agent poisoning of a former spy, saying there was “no other plausible explanation”. “Since the start of the week, Britain has kept France closely informed of the evidence gathered by British investigators and of elements demonstrating Russian responsibility in the attack. “France shares Britain’s assessment that there is no other plausible explanation and reiterates its solidarity […]
Macron gets tough on migrants, vowing ‘no more Jungles’
by Clare Byrne with Katy Lee in Paris Agence France-Presse CALAIS, France –President Emmanuel Macron vowed Tuesday that France would no longer allow migrant camps like the notorious “Jungle” as he defended a tougher line on immigration that has attracted sharp criticism from some of his allies. In a closely watched speech in Calais, Macron promised a more orderly immigration policy with zero tolerance for camps like the Jungle, the squalid shantytown near the northern city’s port […]
May pleads for Brexit deal she can sell at home
by Danny Kemp and Alice Ritchie Agence France-Presse BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) – British Prime Minister Theresa May pressed EU leaders Thursday for a Brexit deal she can “defend” at home as her counterparts said at a summit in Brussels that there were encouraging signs of progress in the talks. May appealed for “urgent” movement at a summit dinner, the night before her 27 counterparts were set to decide that there had not been enough progress on divorce […]
France ponders phone ban in schools
PARIS, France (AFP) — French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer has touched off a public debate about banning phones in schools as he seeks to implement a campaign pledge by President Emmanuel Macron. In an interview with Express magazine, the minister suggested that pupils might be asked to deposit their phones in secure boxes when arriving at school or for classes. “At our cabinet meetings, we drop our phones in lockers before sitting down together. It […]





