French President Emmanuel Macron is set to appoint a new prime minister within the next 48 hours to restore political stability, following the resignation of Sébastien Lecornu on October 6. Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, had been serving as caretaker prime minister but stepped down after facing ongoing protests from radical left-wing parties and trade unions. The unrest was fueled by public anger over significant budget cuts passed by the French Cabinet in early September, which reduced allocations from welfare and public-interest sectors by $44 billion as part of debt-reduction efforts. Prior to Lecornu, François Bayrou also resigned after losing a parliamentary confidence vote triggered by opposition MPs reacting to public discontent. Macron’s swift move to appoint a new prime minister aims to stabilize the parliament ahead of the scheduled adoption of a new national budget by December 31.

French MEP Rima Hasan, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, declared she will not give up in the fight for Palestinian independence. Hasan called for worldwide protests against Israel and shared a video holding the Palestinian flag after her ship was attacked near Gaza. The flotilla, consisting of over 40 civilian vessels from 44 countries, aims to deliver aid to Gaza. Israel claims links to Hamas but has provided no evidence. The fleet was scheduled to reach Gaza Thursday morning.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that former U.S. President Donald Trump must stop the war in Gaza if he truly wants to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Speaking at a press conference, Macron declared that France is ready to respond if Israel imposes sanctions following Paris’s recognition of Palestine. However, he stressed that the priority now should be the path of peace and diplomacy.

“We cannot remain silent if the killing of civilians in Gaza continues,” Macron said, pointing to U.S. leverage over Israel due to its weapons supply. He emphasized that France’s diplomatic initiatives aim to pressure both Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government while reassuring Israelis that the ultimate goal is peace.

French authorities have detained 675 people during nationwide blockade protests, with 280 arrested in Paris alone. Clashes with police erupted across the country, but efforts to block roads, rail stations, schools, and bus depots largely failed. Police vow to maintain strict measures against further disruptions. Labor unions have called another protest for September 18, while tensions stem from former PM François Bayrou’s 2026 budget plan, which proposes €44 billion in savings to reduce France’s national debt, rejected in a recent confidence vote.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou has announced plans to restrict state medical aid (AME) for undocumented migrants, a move that could severely affect thousands of Bangladeshis living in France. The proposal includes excluding certain treatments, extending wait times for non-urgent care, and stricter financial checks. Humanitarian groups and doctors warn this may delay treatment, spread infectious diseases, and harm public health. Around 466,000 people currently rely on AME, costing about €1.2 billion annually—just 0.5% of France’s health budget.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 European allies have formally pledged to send troops to Ukraine—by land, sea, or air—once a ceasefire agreement takes hold.

Speaking after a “Coalition of the Willing” summit of 35 nations, Macron said U.S. support is expected soon, possibly in the form of air defense aid, as suggested by Donald Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged for “maximum protection of Ukraine’s skies.”

Meanwhile, the EU declared it will end all Russian oil and gas imports by 2027, as Moscow warned that Western troop deployments in Ukraine would be unacceptable.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, during his visit to Greenland, declared that the territory “is not for sale.” His remarks came as the U.S. has repeatedly suggested Greenland should be incorporated as American territory.
Barrot stressed: “In the face of growing global instability, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and competition for influence in the Arctic, France is sending a clear message: Greenland is not for sale, and Greenland is not for seizure.”
France will be the first EU country to open a consulate in Greenland in early 2026 and will also establish a partnership dialogue committee. Barrot added, “Greenland is a European territory. No nation builds its glory by subjugating neighbors. Greenland and Denmark are not alone—France and Europe stand with them today and tomorrow.”

France has summoned US Ambassador Charles Kushner after a letter published in The Wall Street Journal accused President Emmanuel Macron of failing to curb anti-Semitism and violence in Paris. The letter also criticized France’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state. In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry strongly rejected the allegations, reaffirming France’s commitment to combating anti-Semitism. It accused Ambassador Kushner of violating diplomatic norms by interfering in France’s internal affairs. The US State Department, however, defended him, saying he was effectively representing US interests. Notably, Charles Kushner is the father of Jared Kushner, son-in-law and former adviser to ex-President Donald Trump.

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not yet seem willing to end the war in Ukraine. Macron emphasized that any peace agreement must include strong security guarantees for Kyiv. He also stressed that if negotiations fail, the U.S. and allies should increase pressure on Moscow with stricter sanctions. Macron underlined that Ukraine’s territorial decisions are solely for its people and leadership, and that the conflict’s impact extends beyond Ukraine, affecting Europe’s security and global credibility.

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged tougher sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin refuses a peace deal in Ukraine. Speaking after talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders at the White House, Macron stressed the need for a strong Ukrainian military capable of resisting aggression. He dismissed reports that Ukraine was pressured to cede territory. Macron also expressed hope that Russia and Ukraine would resume dialogue soon, with a potential trilateral summit involving Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy within weeks.

On Thursday, France’s Constitutional Council annulled the law permitting extended detention of immigrants, a move that brings relief to irregular migrants, including many Bangladeshis residing in France. Previously, the law allowed detention of serious offenders for up to 210 days instead of the earlier 90 days. The constitutional court ruled this extension unconstitutional, emphasizing the protection of personal freedom and dignity. With nearly 100,000 Bangladeshis living in France—many in irregular status—this ruling eases widespread community concerns. In 2024, around 40,000 immigrants were held in administrative detention centers. Human rights group La Cimade welcomed the ruling, though some political figures from the Interior Ministry argue it undermines public safety.

Saudi Arabia and France have jointly called for “clear, time-bound, and irreversible” steps toward implementing a lasting two-state solution to end the Israel-Palestine conflict.

In a joint declaration, the two countries proposed forming an interim administrative committee in Gaza immediately after a ceasefire. This body would operate under the Palestinian Authority. They also suggested deploying an international stabilization mission under a UN Security Council mandate.

The statement urged Israeli leadership to publicly commit to the establishment of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state. Additionally, it called for an end to settlement expansion, land annexation, and violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem—describing these actions as critical obstacles to peace and regional stability.

French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Macron revealed that he also addressed an upcoming France-hosted summit in New York, which aims to promote a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. In his call with Erdogan, Macron stated, “Everything must be done to ensure peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.” Speaking about his conversation with El-Sisi, he emphasized, “We cannot accept that so many people, including children, are dying of hunger.”

Previously, Macron announced France's intention to formally recognize a Palestinian state.

In a bold diplomatic move aimed at establishing a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, France has announced its recognition of Palestine as an independent state. President Emmanuel Macron stated that the official announcement will be made during the UN General Assembly in September. He emphasized France’s strong stance on a ceasefire in Gaza, humanitarian aid, disarmament of Hamas, and the creation of a Palestinian state. Experts believe this recognition could significantly increase international diplomatic pressure.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) has announced the evacuation of its staff from Gaza following warnings of starvation risks caused by ongoing Israeli airstrikes. The agency expressed deep concern over deteriorating conditions and requested Israeli authorities to allow immediate evacuation of their employees and families. Since March, Israel has blocked humanitarian aid into Gaza, leading to severe malnutrition and at least 101 starvation-related deaths, including 80 children. AFP plans to extend evacuation efforts to freelance contributors amid this humanitarian crisis.