Emmanuel Macron

Qatar

Macron calls for extreme caution in Gulf, secures critical gas deal in Qatar state visit

French president concludes his state visit by reinforcing the strategic partnership with Qatar. He declares his Gulf tour objectives achieved after securing a crucial gas deal with Qatar as he seeks to lower tensions over living costs in France.

21 October 2026

Europe News

Macron decries 'stupid comments' by foreign leaders on France protests

Speaking in Doha on Wednesday, Macron called out leaders for instrumentalising unrest in France for their own political gain, following riots which occurred across the country over the weekend.

21 October 2026

Qatar

France's Macron begins state visit to Qatar as part of wider Gulf tour

Qatar welcomed the French president with full state honours on his arrival in Doha as the two countries are strengthening their strategic ties. Facing protests at home, Macron is seeking energy deals with Gulf partners to help ease fuel prices in France, but also contributing to regional stability.

20 October 2026

Europe News

France to impose new curfews where 'situation requires it', PM says

Under pressure, the government scheduled another series of emergency meetings on Tuesday, including talks involving representatives of major social media platforms.

20 October 2026

Europe Today

Russian intereference "quite certain", says French politician

French poltician Patrick Molinoz, vice-president of the French Mayoral Association claims that recent violence in France was "planned", citing a "certain" Russian intereference.

20 October 2026

Europe Today

Pressure mounts on Macron as France reels from unrest

Hello from Brussels. I’m Mared Gwyn, holding the newsletter pen once again today. In this edition: what the unrest in France means for its embattled president, and the latest from Ukraine amid signs of intensified diplomacy.

20 October 2026

Europe News

France galvanised by shopkeepers who fought back against rioters

Social media videos of French shopkeepers and locals taking matters into their own hands and fighting back against rioters have seen an outpouring of public support and solidarity.

19 October 2026

Europe News

France announces partial curfews after weekend of violence

It comes after cost-of-living protests descended into widespread violence and looting across France on Saturday. Clashes with police also continued on Sunday in some parts of the country.

19 October 2026

Europe News

Protesters block Louvre museum in Paris in support of demonstrations

Protests initially began last month with students protesting over conditions in lycées across the country but have escalated to cover a broader range of concerns such as the cost of living.

19 October 2026

Europe News

Emmanuel Macron rejects resignation of interior minister Laurent Nuñez

In a statement issued on Monday morning, the Élysée announced that the French president had refused the interior minister's resignation "given the need for continuous command of the security forces in the current situation".

19 October 2026

Europe Today

France counts cost of violence as Ukraine hits St Petersburg

France is cleaning up after the worst unrest in years, as violent groups hijacked the marches. Also on today's Europe Today: Ukraine hits St. Petersburg in a large-scale drone attack, and the UN’s aid chief, Tom Fletcher, warns that more aid workers are at risk of dying.

19 October 2026

Europe News

Marine Le Pen warns of 'threat to democracy' and blasts 'exhausted Macronist power'

The far-right candidate for the 2027 presidential election speaks out the day after a day of riots that left France reeling, just as looting resumed in Paris.

18 October 2026

Europe News

France reels after cost-of-living protests see widespread violence

The French government has said around 1,200 arrests were made across France in relation to Saturday's events and that 150 police officers and gendarmes were injured over the course of the day.

18 October 2026

Europe News

Macron vows to hold rioters to account after day of major protests

Macron pledged to capture all those who incited chaos and hold them to account for the crimes they’ve committed. Prime Minister Lecornu meanwhile stressed that limited public funds cannot endlessly go towards funding the damage the vandals cause.

17 October 2026

Europe News

EU’s China trade breakthrough risks taking pressure off Beijing

The EU's new trade deal with China has eased fears of an escalating trade war, but it could also weaken the political momentum behind Brussels' plans to take a tougher stance against Beijing's economic practices.

12 October 2026

Economy

Paris motor show: Macron urges EU preference amid Chinese competition

On Monday, the French president will open his final Paris Motor Show, pushing his "Made in Europe" agenda: tying state aid for this key industry to genuinely EU-based production.

11 October 2026