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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Türkiye continues to confront the devastating legacy of past earthquakes, Istanbul is taking a major step toward future precautions—with the launch of an AI-powered disaster response system.
Voice actors across Europe are sounding the alarm over the rise of artificial intelligence in the dubbing industry, warning that the use of AI-generated voices could jeopardize jobs, creative quality, and intellectual property rights.
AnewZ and Agenzia di Stampa Italpress have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation to develop and strengthen ties in the media sector.
President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the United States will impose a 25% tariff on imports from India starting August 1, along with an additional, unspecified penalty.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
'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.
A coalition of over 60 rights organisations has signed a letter addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron demanding reparations for Haiti, whose economy was burdened for decades by a 19th-century compensation debt to France.
AnewZ and Agenzia di Stampa Italpress have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation to develop and strengthen ties in the media sector.
President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the United States will impose a 25% tariff on imports from India starting August 1, along with an additional, unspecified penalty.
Azerbaijan will begin supplying 6 million cubic metres of gas to Syria this week under a swap deal with Türkiye, officials said, aiming to boost electricity generation in the war-torn country.
Kazakhstan has once again come into the geopolitical spotlight, this time with American interests front and center.
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