41 h. ago Marine Le Pen judge given police protection after death threats

A police investigation into the threats is underway

Events

61 h. ago French ministers condemn threats to judges in Marine Le Pen case

Senior figures also reject claim verdict against Le Pen on embezzlement charges was ‘political and partisan’French ministers have condemned threats against the judges who convicted the far-right leader Marine Le Pen and banned her from public office for five years – threatening her 2027 presidential run – and rejected accusations the verdict was “political and partisan”.France’s prime minister, François Bayrou, told the Assemblée nationale the trial judges had his “unconditional support” after they found Le Pen guilty of embezzlement charges, throwing France into political chaos. Continue reading...

Politics

62 h. ago French justice minister urges prompt appeal hearing for Le Pen – Europe live

Gérald Darmanin stresses court timelines are outside government control as PM admits he has questions over immediate public office bansLe Pen ban is ‘political and partisan’, says French far-right party’s presidentIn Kyiv, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has offered an update on the talks with the United States over a new minerals deal.Sybiha told a press conference held with his Lithuanian counterpart, Kestutis Budrys, that one round of consultations had already taken place and that an agreement providing for a strong American business presence in Ukraine would contribute to his country’s security infrastructure, Reuters reported. Continue reading...

Politics

66 h. ago ‘We will not let French people have election stolen from them,’ says Le Pen – Europe live

Far-right leader says guilty verdict was ‘a nuclear bomb’ used against her as her party president calls for protestsLe Pen ban is ‘political and partisan’, says French far-right party’s presidentIn Kyiv, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has offered an update on the talks with the United States over a new minerals deal.Sybiha told a press conference held with his Lithuanian counterpart, Kestutis Budrys, that one round of consultations had already taken place and that an agreement providing for a strong American business presence in Ukraine would contribute to his country’s security infrastructure, Reuters reported. Continue reading...

Politics

67 h. ago Outrage grows over Marine Le Pen's blocked presidential run: Trump and European allies offer support as 'tyrannical judges' are accused of 'depriving millions of people of their representation'

Le Pen has pledged to fight the court-imposed prohibition that appeared to exclude her goal of seeking and potentially winning the French presidency in 2027.

Politics

3 d. ago Marine Le Pen vows to fight election ban in attack on court’s ‘politician decision’ over embezzlement conviction

Marine Le Pen says she will appeal against verdict and her five-year disqualification from public office ahead of presidential elections

Politics

3 d. ago Marine Le Pen vows to fight election ban in scathing attack on court’s ‘politician decision’ after embezzlement conviction

Marine Le Pen says she will appeal against verdict and her five-year disqualification from public office ahead of presidential elections

Politics

3 d. ago French court to rule in Marine Le Pen embezzlement case – Europe live

Prosecutors seeking a fine of €300k, a prison sentence and a five-year ban from public office, which would stop far-right leader’s presidential runThe 2027 French presidential election may be two years out, but its first act will play out in a Paris court this morning, as judges hand down a verdict on charges the far-right leader Marine Le Pen and party officials embezzled money from the European parliament.Prosecutors asked for a €300,000 (£250,000) fine, a prison sentence and a five-year ban from public office. Crucially, it would apply immediately, even if she appeals against it. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Key European leaders say it is ‘not the time’ to start lifting sanctions against Russia – as it happened

UK prime minister Keir Starmer calls out Russia for ‘playing games’ as French president Emmanuel Macron says Europe must prepare for any scenarioThe search continues for four US soldiers that went missing in Lithuania on Tuesday night, as their vehicle has been discovered submerged in water.The operation continues on Thursday with attempts to reach the area. Lithuanian defence minister Dovilė Šakalienė said that the vehicle was located at “more than 5 meters down,” and digging is under way to get to it. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Key European leaders say it is ‘not the time’ to start lifting sanctions against Russia – Europe live

UK prime minister Keir Starmer calls out Russia for ‘playing games’ as French president Emmanuel Macron says Europe must prepare for any scenarioThe search continues for four US soldiers that went missing in Lithuania on Tuesday night, as their vehicle has been discovered submerged in water.The operation continues on Thursday with attempts to reach the area. Lithuanian defence minister Dovilė Šakalienė said that the vehicle was located at “more than 5 meters down,” and digging is under way to get to it. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago France's foreign minister is in China to discuss Ukraine and trade issues

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has begun a two-day visit to China during which he is to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart on the Ukraine and a longstanding trade dispute between China and Europe

Politics

2 w. ago French scientist denied US entry after phone messages critical of Trump found

France’s research minister said the scientist was traveling to Houston for a conference when his phone was searchedFrance’s research minister said a French scientist was denied entry to the US this month after immigration officers at an airport searched his phone and found messages in which he had expressed criticism of the Trump administration.“I learned with concern that a French researcher” on assignment for the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) “who was traveling to a conference near Houston was denied entry to the United States before being expelled”, Philippe Baptiste, France’s minister of higher education and research, said in a statement on Monday to Agence France-Presse published by Le Monde. “This measure was apparently taken by the American authorities because the researcher’s phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration’s research policy,” the minister added. Continue readin...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump hints at financial repercussions if Russia rejects Ukraine ceasefire

US president’s comments come after Ukrainian counterpart said he believed ‘strong steps’ were under considerationRussia-Ukraine war – latest news updatesDonald Trump has suggested he could target Russia financially as Ukraine’s president urged him to take strong steps if Moscow failed to support a 30-day ceasefire agreed at a meeting between Ukrainian and US delegations in Saudi Arabia.The president’s threat came as the French defence minister, Sébastien Lecornu, told a press conference in Paris that a ceasefire announcement could come as soon as Thursday and that Europe would have to be prepared to help enforce it. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Poland must look at acquiring nuclear weapons, says Donald Tusk

Prime minister also open to exploring how French atomic weapons can protect whole continent

Events

4 w. ago France steps in to provide military intelligence to Ukraine as the U.S. freezes vital information

French defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu says France is providing military intelligence to Ukraine after Washington announced it was freezing the sharing of information with Kyiv

Events

4 w. ago Zelenskyy joins EU leaders’ meeting over €800bn defence plan after Macron’s stark Russia warning – Europe live

Leaders gather to discuss €800bn plan to boost military capacity and help Ukraine as French president says Europe has to be ready to defend itself without US helpSee all our Ukraine war coverageFrance is offering intelligence to Ukraine, French defence minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Thursday, with Paris stepping in to help and fill the void left after the US suspended its intelligence sharing with Kyiv.Speaking to France Inter radio, he also said that president Macron asked him to accelerate the French aid packages “to compensate” for the suspended US aid.In a famously cautious political culture, Mr Merz’s bid to bypass legal restrictions on government debt represents a seismic shift. It would permit a step-change in defence spending for years to come, putting Germany in a leadership position as Europe seeks strategic autonomy from the United States.Mr Merz, a former investment banker, has been a deficit hawk and economic liberal throughout his career. It is an irony of fate tha...

Events

4 w. ago Russia and NATO clash in the skies: Moment Putin warplane comes within yards of a French spy drone In repeated 'aggressive' passes over the Med as tensions soar over Ukraine

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu posted the point-of-view perspective of the MQ-9 predator drone as it soared above the sea on Sunday

Events