Emmanuel Macron

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted that Ukraine's focus should be on reducing Russia's military capabilities and preserving lives

Sense of urgency comes days after Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally joined a left-wing coalition to topple the government, leaving France's political system in disarray

The trip to France marks Trump's return to the world stage, still a private citizen but already preparing to tackle a host of international crises

France's iconic Notre Dame Cathedral is reopening its doors on Saturday for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019. The restoration, a spectacular achievement in just five years for a structure that took nearly two centuries to build, is widely seen as a moment of triumph for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline and a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. Under the luminous stained glass, many world leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers will gather in the evening to mark the occasion a rare moment of unity against the backdrop of global divisions and conflicts. America's first lady Jill Biden, Britain's Prince William and President-elect Donald Trump, along with nearly 50 heads of state and government and personalities 1,500 guests in all will attend the reopening celebration under Notre Dame's soaring Gothic arches, led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich. Instead of starting from the .

Donald Trump is off on his first international trip as president-elect, ready to join world leaders and dignitaries in Paris for a Saturday celebration of the renovation of Notre Dame Cathedral after a devastating fire in 2019. Trump wrote when he accepted the invitation earlier this week that French President Emmanuel Macron had done "a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all! Macron, who has had an up-and-down relationship with Trump, has made a point of cultivating a relationship with the president-elect since he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris last month. But his office nonetheless played down the significance of the invitation, saying that other politicians who do not currently hold office had been invited as well. Trump was invited as president-elect of a friendly nation, Macron's office said, adding, This is in no way exceptional, we've done it before." President Joe Bi

Stay with us for all the major updates from around the world

Michel Barnier was set to hand in his resignation and become the shortest serving prime minister in modern France after far-right and leftist lawmakers voted to topple his government

Bitcoin, world's best known cryptocurrency, has been on a tear since November on expectations that Donald Trump's US election win will usher in a friendly regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies

French lawmakers oust Prime Minister Michel Barnier in a no-confidence vote just three months into his tenure, plunging the country into political uncertainty

France's far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined together Wednesday in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet members to resign, a first since 1962. The National Assembly approved the motion by 331 votes. A minimum of 288 were needed. President Emmanuel Macron insisted he will serve the rest of his term until 2027. However, he will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after July's legislative elections led to a deeply divided parliament. Macron will address the French on Thursday evening, his office said, without providing details. Barnier is expected to formally resign by then. A conservative appointed in September, Barnier becomes the shortest-serving prime minister in France's modern Republic. I can tell you that it will remain an honor for me to have served France and the French with dignity, Barnier said in his final speech before the vote. This no-confidence motion will make ..

France's far-right and left-wing forces are expected to join together Wednesday to oust Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes. If the motion succeeds, it would mark the first time a French government has been toppled this way in more than 60 years. President Emmanuel Macron insisted he will serve the rest of his term until 2027 despite growing opposition calls for his departure amid the turmoil. However, Macron will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time this year, further reshaping France's political balance after his party's losses in July's legislative elections. The political drama comes as Macron, currently on a presidential visit to Saudi Arabia, dismissed the threat of a government collapse, according to French media reports Tuesday, saying discussions about his potential removal from office were make-believe politics. I'm here because I've been elected twice by the French people, Macron sai

France's minority government appeared to be in its final hours Tuesday as opposition lawmakers from the left and the far right vowed to topple Prime Minister Michel Barnier's Cabinet. A no-confidence vote is scheduled Wednesday in parliament in the wake of a divisive budget debate, with a strong chance of being successful. If the motion passes, Barnier's Cabinet would be the shortest-lived government in France's modern history, marking an unprecedented period of political instability. President Emmanuel Macron would be in charge of appointing a new prime minister. Why is the situation so volatile? Following the June-July parliamentary elections, the National Assembly, France's powerful lower house of parliament, is divided into three major blocs: a left-wing coalition known as the New Popular Front, Macron's centrist allies and the far-right National Rally party. None won an outright majority. In September, Macron asked Barnier, a conservative, to form a government dominated by .

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday for the first time recognised the killing of West African soldiers by the French Army in 1944 as a massacre in a letter addressed to the Senegalese authorities. Macron's move, on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the World War II killings in Thiaroye a fishing village on the outskirts of the Senegalese capital of Dakar comes as France's influence is declining in the region, with Paris losing its sway in the former French colonies in West Africa. Between 35 and 400 West African soldiers who fought for the French Army in the Battle of France in 1940 were killed on Dec 1, 1944 by French soldiers after what the French described as a mutiny over unpaid wages. The West Africans were members of the unit called Tirailleurs Senegalais, a corps of colonial infantry in the French Army. According to historians, there were disputes over unpaid wages in the days before the massacre but on that Dec 1, French troops rounded up the West African soldie

France pledged to provide a 100-million euro (USD 108-million) package to support Lebanon at an international conference Thursday, as President Emmanuel Macron said massive aid is needed to support the country where war between Hezbollah militants and Israel has displaced a million people, killed over 2,500 and deepened an economic crisis. In the immediate term, massive aid is needed for the Lebanese population, both for the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the war and for the communities hosting them, Macron said in his opening speech at the conference. French organisers hope participants' financial pledges of humanitarian aid will meet the USD 426 million the United Nations says is urgently needed. Italy this week announced new aid of 10 million euros (USD 10.8 million) and Germany on Wednesday pledged an additional 60 million euros (USD 64.7 million) for people in Lebanon. Macron condemned Israel for continuing its military operations in Lebanon, "in the South, in ..

US President Joe Biden said it's important for Ukraine's Western allies to sustain our resolve in supporting the country as he held meetings Friday with European partners, with the upcoming US presidential election casting a long shadow over his visit to Germany. Biden met Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Ukraine's second-biggest military supplier after the US, and was to be joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for discussions that also were to address the conflict in the Middle East. With the election just weeks away and the race extremely tight, there are worries that a victory by Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, could upset the relationships that Biden is hoping to pass on to Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee. Trump has an appetite for imposing trade tariffs on key US security partners. He has expressed indifference to the security of Ukraine, refusing to say during a presidential debate if he wants the US al

Expected on the agenda of discussions are conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia according to a Biden administration official

As Notre Dame gears up to reopen its doors in December, Paris is on the verge of a remarkable eco-revival, bringing nature back to the forefront of the City of Light. Beyond restoring the cathedral's iconic spire and medieval charm, the city announced plans Tuesday to revamp Notre Dame's surroundings to a tune of 50 million euros ($55 million) into a serene, green oasis. The project echoes a broader, post-Olympics eco-facelift that's reshaping Paris from its historic monuments to its bustling avenues. Among the key elements of this broader transformation are the revitalization of historic spaces like the Champs-Elysees and Place de la Concorde, a redesign aimed at reducing traffic around the Arc de Triomphe, and green promenades connecting the French capital's landmarks. Here's a look at some of the eco plans for Paris in the coming years: Notre Dame Cathedral: a rebirth in green The reopening on Dec 8 promises to be a historic moment for Paris, fulfilling President Emmanuel ..

Extending his condolences, French President Macron added, 'I convey my deepest condolences to his near and dear ones as well as to the people of India'

According to the Israeli military, airstrikes were carried out on several Hezbollah intelligence and weapons storage sites within the Lebanese capital