France politics
fromThe Local France
3 hours agoFrance's Macron to meet with Lebanese PM on Tuesday
Emmanuel Macron will meet Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to discuss the ceasefire and support for Lebanon's territorial integrity.
The mission, to be launched 'as soon as conditions allow', will be strictly peaceful and defensive. Its primary goals are to reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance operations in the strait.
Nearly half of firms (48%) expected turnover to grow over the next 12 months in the first quarter of the year, up from 42% in the final quarter of 2025.
The continuing closure of the waterway is deeply damaging and getting global shipping moving is crucial to ease cost of living pressures. Iran is believed to have laid at least a dozen mines to prevent oil tankers and other vessels from passing through the strait.
The German military also uses this airborne communications hub, which allows command staff and soldiers deployed abroad to communicate across continents. The information they share is classified, strictly confidential.
DINUM will coordinate a cross-ministerial plan to reduce dependence on suppliers outside Europe. Each ministry will be required to develop its own plan by this fall, covering the following areas: workstations, collaboration tools, antivirus software, artificial intelligence, databases, virtualization, and network equipment.
In Europe, we have maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left. If we are not able to open the Strait of Hormuz ... I can tell you soon we will hear the news that some of the flights from city A to city B might be canceled as a result of lack of jet fuel.
Macron underscored the need for France and South Korea to cooperate to help reopen the strait and deescalate Middle East animosities, affirming their resolve to secure the safe shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz.
Germany on Monday thanked US President Donald Trump for extending Berlin an invitation to take up a seat on his so-called "Board of Peace." German government spokesman Steffen Cornelius said: "We are thankful for this invitation. We share the aim of pursuing peace in the world. It is in Germany's core interest to end the conflict in Gaza for good."
Germany and Italy are deepening defense and economic cooperation with the leaders of the two countries signing an agreement in Rome. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni agreed on closer cooperation in the production of drones, naval vessels, underwater systems and air and missile defense systems. The leaders are also looking to collaborate in the development of electronic warfare and aerial combat defense systems.
After nearly two decades of negotiations, India and the European Union announced Tuesday they have reached a free trade agreement to deepen economic and strategic ties. The accord, which the EU chief described as the "mother of all deals," could affect as many as 2 billion people. The deal between two of the world's biggest markets comes as Washington targets both India and the EU with steep import tariffs, disrupting established trade flows and pushing major economies to seek alternate partnerships.
France cannot accept any form of interference or manipulation of its national public debate by the authorities of a third country. The ambassador took note, expressed his willingness not to interfere in our public debate, and recalled the friendship that binds France and the United States.