French President Emmanuel Macron called on Britain and France to “de-risk” their economies from U.S. and Chinese influence during a 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.
Macron also advocated for expanded mobility for students, researchers and artists, and joint efforts on AI development and online child protection.
The three-day visit included several cultural and economic exchanges, notably the announcement of a £1.1 billion investment by French utility EDF in a UK nuclear power station, and plans to lend the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain for the first time in over 900 years.
In parallel, the 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.
A record number of asylum seekers have arrived in the UK from France in the first half of 2025, increasing pressure on the Starmer 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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A fast-moving wildfire on the outskirts of Marseille has injured at least 110 people and forced hundreds from their homes, as firefighters continue to battle the flames into the night.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is imposing a 50% tariff on all copper imports, marking the latest in a series of sweeping trade measures during his second term.
A delegation of senior Qatari officials held a three-hour meeting with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff at the White House on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing Gaza ceasefire and hostage negotiations, a source familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel.
Authorities in North Carolina are investigating three potential storm-related deaths linked to severe flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal, officials said Tuesday.
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 deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
Archaeologists have uncovered a 3,500-year-old city in northern Peru that likely served as a key trade hub connecting ancient coastal, Andean, and Amazonian cultures.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that pharmaceutical imports could face tariffs of up to 200%, with details expected by the end of July following an ongoing national security review.
The U.S. imposed sanctions Tuesday on a North Korean cyber operative accused of running an illicit global IT worker network that funds Pyongyang’s weapons programs, according to the State Department.
President Donald Trump said Monday that the U.S. will send additional weapons to Ukraine, just days after ordering a sudden pause in key arms deliveries — a decision that drew concern from Kyiv and its allies.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held high-level talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in Jeddah on Tuesday, marking the first official visit by a senior Iranian official to the kingdom since Iran’s 12-day war with Israel last month.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is imposing a 50% tariff on all copper imports, marking the latest in a series of sweeping trade measures during his second term.
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