Page 12 - France

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

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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 ..

Wall Street stocks up, dollar steady amid turmoil in South Korea, France

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No-confidence vote could topple French govt for first time since 1962

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

French lawmakers set to oust PM Barnier in historic no-confidence vote

The impending collapse of the government will leave a hole at the heart of the European Union at a time when Germany is also weakened and in election mode, just weeks ahead of U.S. President-elect Don

France's looming trilemma: No confidence, no government, no budget

Does that mean France is hurtling toward a constitutional crisis? Not exactly. France's Constitution offers several scenarios that could keep the country's affairs more or less in order

French govt on the brink of collapse: Here are the possible futures

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 govt faces no-confidence vote over Barnier's austerity budget

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is bracing for a no-confidence vote this week, a political reckoning almost certain to topple his fragile government and send shockwaves across the eurozone. Barnier on Monday invoked a rarely used constitutional mechanism to push through the contentious 2025 budget without parliamentary approval, arguing it was essential to maintain stability amid deep political divisions. The move immediately drew sharp backlash, with Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and the leftist New Popular Front both filing no-confidence motions in response, setting the stage for a vote as early as Wednesday that could see Barnier's ouster. The looming showdown unfolds against the backdrop of a fractured National Assembly, left in disarray after June's snap elections delivered no clear majority. President Emmanuel Macron had turned to Barnier in September to navigate the impasse and address France's soaring deficit. Yet Barnier's proposed austerity budget slashin

India, France looking at economic ties: French foreign trade minister

After forging close partnership in the defence domain, India and France are now looking at significantly deepening economic and trade ties especially in sectors like clean energy, new technologies and aviation, French foreign trade minister Sophie Primas has said. At the end of her three-day visit to India, Primas said France is looking forward to further negotiations between New Delhi and the European Union for finalisation of a "mutually beneficial" free trade deal that could expand two-way economic engagement. India and the EU restarted negotiations for the ambitious trade deal in June 2022 after a gap of over eight years but the talks have dragged on for a variety of reasons, including the 27-nation bloc's position on carbon tax. "I would also like to add that, at the European Union level, we remain committed to reaching a trade deal between the EU and India, which is mutually beneficial and has ambitious sustainable development goals. We are looking forward to further talks wit

In a first, France's Macron calls 1944 killings of West Africans 'massacre'

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

Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire after 14-month clash: All you need to know

The US and France have managed to mediate a 60-day ceasefire between Israel-Hezbollah. Here's all you need to know about the conflict, casualties, and terms