The Élysée Palace is the French president’s official residence in Paris, completed in 1722 and now the seat of executive power.
The Independent reports that an encounter at the Apostolic Palace shows a close, informal exchange between Pope Leo and a prominent, non-Catholic music figure, underscoring a mood of openness following the pope’s death and a resurgence of cultural diplomacy.
Nigel Farage has unveiled "Operation Fortress": a Reform UK plan to use the Royal Navy to intercept small boats in the English Channel, detain those on board, and return them to France or Belgium. The proposal has drawn legal, military and diplomatic scepticism, French officials have condemned it, and rivals say it aims to distract from party financial scandals.
France’s Constitutional Council has ruled that the law banning under-15s from opening social media accounts is unconstitutional, finding the bill fails to set limits for age verification and disproportionately infringes freedom of expression and privacy. President Emmanuel Macron has asked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to draft a revised, legally robust proposal before spring 2027.
France’s constitutional council has struck down core provisions of a 2026 bill aiming to bar under-15s from opening social media accounts, citing infringements on freedom of expression and privacy. Macron asks for a revised draft, with the reform expected to proceed by early 2027 after further scrutiny.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has met French President Emmanuel Macron on Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and has announced plans to deepen economic and security ties with France and the European Union, including backing for a proposal that Canada become the EU's first "associate member." The leaders have discussed energy, critical minerals, defence and technology as Ottawa shifts away from U.S. dependence.
Leaders and senior officials gather in Paris for US-mediated talks on disarming Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and replacing UNIFIL with a multinational force. The discussions come as Israel maintains a military footprint in Lebanon and faces ongoing strikes by Hezbollah, while Lebanon seeks to strengthen its army’s authority and sovereignty. A donor conference for Lebanese forces is expected later this year or early 2027.
France’s UN mission has apologised for a July post criticising the United States’ human rights record. Washington has delayed approving France’s next ambassador to Washington, Aurélien Lechevallier, amid the diplomatic row. Paris says differences on one UN vote do not undermine ties.
Iraq and France are pushing for diversified export routes to secure energy supplies as the Middle East crisis worsens. Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi has met European leaders in Paris and Berlin to discuss expanding export corridors, with TotalEnergies signaling greater investment and a roadmap for defence and energy collaboration.
The UN mission in southern Lebanon has begun preparations for a post-UNIFIL security order as the 2026 mandate nears its end. Paris-hosted discussions, French-Italian proposals for a multinational follow-on force, and US-backed frameworks aim to prevent a power vacuum as the Lebanese army and security forces assume greater regional duties.
EU diplomats are negotiating the renewal of sanctions on more than 2,500 entities tied to Russia. France pushes for a narrowly tailored delisting of Usmanov, while Slovakia seeks broader relief. A decision on extending or shortening the regime is imminent as ambassadors gather in Brussels.
European leaders report intensifying Russian hybrid attacks targeting critical infrastructure and defense sites. Macron has directed measures to shield infrastructure, prepare for drone and cyber threats, and coordinate a G7 response on energy amid rising prices and security concerns. Poland and Baltic states are boosting defenses as NATO monitors potential spillovers from the Ukraine conflict.
Pope Leo XIV has opened a four-day visit to France focused on defending the value of human life and meeting abuse survivors. The trip has prompted protests and fresh criticism: survivors and campaigners say the church has not provided timely justice and want transparent trials, while French reparations bodies have awarded hundreds of victims compensation.
President Macron has announced that France will send military assets—soldiers, radars and defense systems—to protect the Saudi Red Sea port of Yanbu after Houthi attacks. He emphasised that the move aims to safeguard oil exports and critical infrastructure amid rising tensions with Russia and ongoing EU sanctions discussions.
Pope Leo XIV has completed the second day of a four‑day visit to France, drawing hundreds of thousands to an outdoor Mass on the Champs‑Élysées and meeting pilgrims in Lourdes. He has met President Emmanuel Macron, warned about AI and is scheduled to meet abuse survivors in Lourdes and migrants in Paris.
The National Rally has formed a Senate group for the first time, winning enough seats to establish a caucus. Le Pen’s party remains the single largest in the lower house but falls short of a majority. The Senate result reshapes the political landscape ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Jordan Bardella has denied Mediapart's allegation that private Facebook Messenger chats from 2013 show him making antisemitic remarks. He has launched defamation proceedings against Mediapart and called the publications a "total war" to destabilise his party. Marine Le Pen has publicly expressed "total confidence" in Bardella while critics are demanding accountability.
The euro has fallen to near 17-month lows after investors have pushed up French borrowing costs and bond spreads. France has faced rising yields, mass protests and a political stalemate over deficit cuts ahead of the presidential election. Markets are pricing greater contagion risk across the eurozone and the ECB is under pressure to act.
Protests across France have escalated this weekend, with hundreds of thousands taking to streets over the cost of living and education concerns. Police report thousands arrested and injuries among officers and protesters as authorities face questions over security planning and intelligence. President Macron vows accountability and measures to restore order while reserving drastic actions.
France has imposed curfews, local protest bans and increased police deployments after riots on October 17 that saw looting, arson and widespread clashes. President Emmanuel Macron has convened a defence council and blamed organised ultra-left groups for sedition. Authorities have arrested thousands and have promised a larger security operation for upcoming demonstrations.
France has secured around 295,000 tonnes of diesel monthly from Gulf states, with Bahrain, UAE, and Qatar delivering, and Kuwait pledging shipments to its overseas territories. The moves come as France faces energy-price pressures amid the US-Iran conflict and Gulf volatility. The commitments, alongside Saudi participation, aim to ease domestic diesel shortages and stabilise prices.
France and Saudi Arabia have expanded energy commitments and security cooperation amid ongoing Houthi attacks. Macron’s Gulf tour secures additional diesel supplies and explores infrastructure projects to bypass Hormuz, with France deploying defensive forces to Yanbu and expanding security talks.
France is moving to restrict demonstrations amid a weekend of unrest, with bans in several cities and alternative routes offered for unions to protest legally. Macron has ordered heightened security and promised calm as officials prepare for nationwide demonstrations.
Protests demanding higher teacher pay and cost-of-living relief have intensified economic strain in France. Markets are reacting to a fragile fiscal outlook, with debt costs rising and political uncertainty shaping investor confidence ahead of a presidential race.
Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets across France to protest school conditions and rising living costs. Police have arrested nearly 1,000 people and deployed about 70,000 officers; riot units have fired tear gas and used water cannon in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other cities. Authorities say violence was lower than last week but rights groups have criticised police tactics.
France faces a third weekend of protests over cost of living and education with thousands of police deployed nationwide. Demonstrations plan to press demands on school funding and Parcoursup reforms, while authorities warn of a high risk of disorder and deploy measures to limit violence.