APRNEWS - French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Tuesday announced a suspension of the controversial fuel tax increases planned for January 1 in a move aimed at bringing an end to weeks of violent "Yellow Vest" protests against the tax.

APRNEWS - French leader Emmanuel Macron faced growing pressure on Monday to find a way out of the deepest crisis of his presidency after protests over taxes sparked Paris’s worst rioting in decades.

As dozens of people were brought to court over Saturday’s clashes, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe met with ministers and with the heads of the main opposition parties to discuss ways of resolving the tension.

REUTERS - France’s Renault (RENA.PA) said it will build new Nissan and Mitsubishi vans at its domestic plants, raising investment in the country as it explores closer integration of the three-way carmaking alliance with government backing.

APRNEWS - In a bid to secure its interests in West Africa, France on Monday gave the Gambia aid worth $34 million of aid, packaging it as support to the ongoing democratic transition.

Visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian explained that it was important to ‘consolidate democracy and stability in Gambia’.

APRNEWS - Abiy arrives in Berlin, meets Chancellor Merkel

Abiy Ahmed’s delegation arrived in the German capital, Berlin, on Tuesday morning. He has so far held a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

APRNEWS - France seized assets belonging to Iran’s intelligence services and two Iranian nationals in response to a June plot to attack an exiled Iranian opposition group’s rally outside Paris, the government said on Tuesday.

APRNEWS - French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said British Prime Minister’s so-called Chequers plan for Brexit was not acceptable following two days of EU talks in the Austrian city of Salzburg.

REUTERS - The European Union needs a strategic relationship with Turkey, including in defense matters, and should modernize its post-Cold War relations with Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.

APRNEWS - French President Emmanuel Macron’s former top security aide admitted he “made a mistake” in attending a demonstration where he was filmed roughing up May Day protesters, in an interview published Thursday.

But Alexandre Benalla also denounced what he said was a “desire to get at the president” over the scandal.

APRNEWS - The foreign ministry in Damascus condemned on Monday the evacuation of hundreds of trapped White Helmets rescue workers and their relatives from Syria's south through its arch-foe and neighbour, Israel.