PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday following a week in which he met with numerous European leaders. The French and Spanish prime ministers and EU Council president were among many top officials self-isolating because they had recent contact with him. Macron took a test “as...
French Leader Warns Lebanese Politicians of ‘Last Chance’
BEIRUT — French President Emmanuel Macron issued a stern warning to Lebanon's political class Tuesday, urging them to commit to serious reforms within a few months or risk punitive action, including sanctions, if they fail to deliver. Macron is on a two-day visit to Lebanon, marking the country's centenary and...
World Responds to Lebanon’s Plight After Massive Blast
PARIS — As stunned Lebanese rescuers counted the dead and combed rubble for signs of life a day after a huge explosion shattered swaths of Beirut, nations near and far pledged Wednesday that the country, already trapped in a deep economic crisis, would not be left alone. The explosion at...
Nations Employ Drastic Tactics to Fight Microscopic Foe
MADRID, Spain — Tens of millions of students stayed home on three continents, security forces went on standby to guard against large gatherings of people, and bars, restaurants and offices closed Friday to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The virus edged ever closer to the world's power centers,...
With Britain Out, the Unwieldy EU Faces Major Budget Battle
BRUSSELS — The Brexit drama shook the foundations of the European Union for years and laid bare the need for much-delayed political renovations at the 27-nation bloc. But now that Britain has finally left, where does the EU revamp even start and who is going to foot the bill? Those...
World Leaders Rally in Jerusalem Against Anti-Semitism
JERUSALEM — Dozens of world leaders gathered Thursday in Jerusalem for the largest-ever gathering focused on commemorating the Holocaust and combating rising modern-day anti-Semitism — a politically charged event that has been clouded by rival national interpretations of the genocide. Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Prince...
Renovation Chief: Notre Dame Cathedral Is Not Saved Yet
PARIS — The French general overseeing the reconstruction of fire-devastated Notre Dame Cathedral says the Paris landmark is not saved yet because there's still a risk its vaulted ceilings might collapse. Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin told French broadcaster CNews on Sunday that “the cathedral is still in a state of peril”...
AP FACT CHECK: Trump Suddenly Loses Interest in Stock Market
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump offered a faulty take on the Constitution's grounds for impeachment Wednesday as he wrapped up a NATO summit marked by his misstatements on several fronts. Among them, he claimed that he pays no attention to the stock market despite plentiful evidence that he treats that...
Removal of Notre Dame's Melted Scaffold to Begin 'In Weeks'
PARIS — Melted scaffolding atop fire-ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral will be removed "in the coming weeks" to allow restoration work to begin next year, France's culture minister said Tuesday. It's been six months since an April 15 fire gutted the medieval Paris structure, which was under renovation at the time...
Brazil Accepts Planes From Chile to Fight Amazon Fires
PORTO VELHO, Brazil — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday said he has accepted four planes from Chile to help fight Amazon fires, and he accused the French president of portraying himself as "the one and only person" concerned about the environment. In criticizing French leader Emmanuel Macron, Bolsonaro extended...