French President Emmanuel Macron called on Britain and France to “de-risk” their economies from U.S. and Chinese influence during an historic address to the UK parliament on Tuesday, signalling a renewed push for closer European cooperation.
Macron’s speech, delivered to both houses of parliament during a state visit, marked the first such address by a European leader since Brexit and highlighted a symbolic warming of ties under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s new Labour government.
“The only way to overcome the challenges of our time will be to go together, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder,” Macron told lawmakers, urging both nations to strengthen cooperation on defence, immigration, climate and technology.
He warned of the “excessive dependencies” on the United States and China, calling for the UK and France to work together to protect European sovereignty and resilience. “We need to de-risk our economies and our societies from this dual dependency,” he said.
The state visit began with a ceremonial welcome by King Charles III, who was joined by Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Catherine in Windsor. Charles, who is undergoing cancer treatment, showed signs of fatigue but continued with his engagements. A palace source said a burst blood vessel in his eye was unrelated to his condition and had happened that morning.
Macron also advocated for expanded mobility for students, researchers and artists, and joint efforts on Artificial Intelligence (AI) development and online child protection.
The three-day visit included several cultural and economic exchanges, notably the announcement of a £1.1 billion (€1.2 billion) investment by French energy provider EDF in a UK nuclear power station, and plans to lend the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain for the first time in more than 900 years.
In parallel, UK and France are holding talks on a proposed asylum returns deal aimed at deterring cross-Channel people-smuggling. Britain has proposed a one-for-one returns mechanism, though France has so far resisted bilateral solutions, preferring EU-wide coordination.
Around 20,000 asylum seekers have crossed the English Channel so far this year according to latest figures from the Home Office.
In the first seven days of July last week, 1,135 irregular migrants attempted to cross the sea according to government officials - increasing pressure on Starmer's government, which trails Reform UK in recent polling.
Despite lingering differences, both governments have cooperated closely on Ukraine, with joint plans for a military force to support Kyiv if a ceasefire with Russia is reached.
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EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed that the bloc will continue targeting Russia’s war economy, with a new sanctions package expected by next month, while emphasizing the need for strong security guarantees for Ukraine.
Eemeli Peltonen, a member of the Social Democratic Party, died in the country’s Parliament House in Helsinki on Tuesday.
Israeli officials have confirmed that they are closely studying the 60-day ceasefire proposal to which Hamas agreed to on Monday.
Kazakhstan is accelerating efforts to overhaul its railway infrastructure in a bid to enhance efficiency and reinforce its role as a crucial Eurasian transit corridor, the government announced on Tuesday.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
Honduras has brought back mask mandates as COVID-19 cases and a new variant surge nationwide.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
India and China on Tuesday announced plans to resume direct flights and enhance trade and investment as they cautiously rebuild ties following their 2020 border clash, though key border issues remain unresolved.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated he plans to pressure the Smithsonian Institution, a leading museum and research complex on American history and culture, to comply with his demands, similar to his approach with colleges and universities by threatening to withhold federal funding.
Armed bandits stormed a mosque in northern Nigeria’s Katsina state during morning prayers, leaving dozens dead and many injured.
Flash floods and cloudbursts in Northwest Pakistan have killed at least 365 people over five days, displacing thousands as authorities warn of more storms as monsoon rains continue.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed that the bloc will continue targeting Russia’s war economy, with a new sanctions package expected by next month, while emphasizing the need for strong security guarantees for Ukraine.
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