Page 11 - France

Cyclone Chido death toll in Mayotte reaches 'several hundred': Official

The tropical cyclone blew through the southeastern Indian Ocean, also affecting the nearby islands of Comoros and Madagascar. Mayotte was directly in the path of the cyclone and suffered extensive

Moody's Ratings cut France's credit grade, heaps pressure on new govt

In an unscheduled change, Moody's lowered its assessment of the euro area's second-biggest economy to Aa3 from Aa2, three levels below the maximum rating

President Macron names centrist ally Bayrou as France's new prime minister

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named centrist ally Francois Bayrou as prime minister, after a historic parliamentary vote ousted the previous government last week. Bayrou, 73, a crucial partner in Macron's centrist alliance, has been a well-known figure in French politics for decades. His political experience is seen as key in efforts to restore stability as no single party holds a majority at the National Assembly. Bayrou was recently cleared in a case alleging embezzlement of European Parliament funds. Macron vowed last week to remain in office until his term ends in 2027.

French President Emmanuel Macron to announce new prime minister today

Barnier stepped down after just three months in office, marking the shortest tenure of any prime minister in modern French history

ECB likely to cut rates while weighing US trade concerns and France's chaos

With US President-elect Donald Trump threatening new tariffs and political chaos engulfing France, the European Union's second largest economy, the question ahead of the European Central Bank meeting Thursday is not whether it will cut interest rates, but by how much. Analysts see a quarter-point rate cut from the current ECB benchmark rate of 3.25% as the most likely option when the bank's rate-setting council meets at its skyscraper headquarters in Frankfurt. But the prospect of a half-point cut isn't out of the question for the bank and its President Christine Lagarde as new risks that emerged since the bank's last meeting on October 17 cast a shadow over an already tepid recovery from a post-pandemic stagnation. Trump's election victory on Nov. 5 heightened the prospect of a more protectionist U.S. trade policy, such as new or higher tariffs on imported goods, after he takes office on Jan. 20. That sends a cold chill through the business world in Europe, where exports are an ...

Ukraine's Zelenskyy asks for security guarantees at Paris meet with Trump

Zelenskiy believes Putin fears only Trump and possibly China in the international arena and that any lasting peace would require Washington to be 'truly strong'

Pressure mounts on French President Macron to name a new prime minister

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

Europe's economy to suffer if chaos continues in France, Germany: Experts

Even before the French and German governments collapsed, Europe's economy had enough difficulties. Tepid growth and lagging competitiveness versus the US and China. An auto industry that's struggling. Where to find billions for defense against Russia? And now Donald Trump threatening tariffs. Solutions will be harder to find while the two countries that make up almost half of the eurozone economy remain stuck in political paralysis well into 2025. Where once there was the so-called French-German axis to push Europe ahead, now there's a vacuum. French Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned Thursday after losing a vote of confidence, and while President Emmanuel Macron will appoint a successor, the new head of government will lack a majority. Elections are not constitutionally permitted until at least June. Germany's coalition led by Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz with the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats fractured in November, triggering an early election on Feb. 23.

Notre Dame reopening ceremony: Macron welcomes Trump, Zelenskyy joins them

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

Notre Dame reopens doors to Macron, world leaders in rare symbol of unity

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 .

Trump travels to Paris for Notre Dame Cathedral's reopening, to meet Macron

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

Highlights: Wad of currency notes recovered from Abhishek Manu Singhvi's seat; Dhankhar orders probe

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From ashes to glory: Notre-Dame to reopen after 700 mn euro restoration

The iconic Parisian cathedral is nearing its reopening, five years after the 2019 fire. Here's a glimpse of its legendary architecture and grand history

Fall of govt leaves France without clear path to cutting deficit: S&P

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

Euro ticks up despite French govt collapse; bitcoin breaks $100,000

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 government collapses: Know why | Michel Barnier | no-confidence vote

In a historic move, the French government has collapsed after PM Michel Barnier lost a no-confidence vote in Parliament. This is the first time since 1962 that a French government has been toppled

France's oldest prime minister serves shortest term: What happened?

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

Relation between India, France exceptional: French Ambassador Mathou

Mathou emphasised that core of India-France relationship lies in security and defence, noting its significance as both countries celebrated the 25th anniversary of their partnership last year

French govt collapses as PM Barnier loses no-confidence vote in Parliament

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 ..