France News, Commentary and Analysis | Asia Times

French President Emmanuel Macron (left) meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on January 5, 2018. Photo: Reuters / Ludovic Marin

Cyprus, European Union, Iran, Iraq, Middle East, Russia, Syria, Turkey, United Kingdom, World

Macron’s snub sends Erdogan further into Putin’s embrace

by Sami Moubayed January 8, 2018February 18, 2020

France has stopped shipments of chanterelles from Belarus because they have been found to contain radioactive cesium. Photo: iStock

European Union, France, Russia, World

France takes mysterious radioactive mushrooms off the menu

by Stephen Bryen December 10, 2017February 18, 2020

France's Charles De Gaulle carrier in the Indian Ocean. Photo: AFP/Anne-Christine Poujoulat

Australia, Beijing, China, European Union, France, India, Japan, Middle East, Northeast Asia, Oceania, South Asia, United Kingdom, World

France shows its hidden maritime muscles

by Bertil Lintner November 23, 2017February 18, 2020

France, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, Russia, Syria, Turkey, World

French connection to Saudi de-escalation in Lebanon

by M.K. Bhadrakumar November 19, 2017February 18, 2020

Nato flag. Photo: iStock

Afghanistan, AT Finance, Beijing, China, European Union, France, Japan, Middle East, North Korea, Northeast Asia, Russia, South Asia, South Korea, World

Military alliance looks to the Far East

by Emanuele Scimia November 6, 2017November 6, 2017

A French frigate docks in Istanbul. Photo: iStock

AT Finance, Australia, Beijing, China, European Union, France, India, Japan, Middle East, Northeast Asia, Oceania, Russia, South Asia, World

France ready to join India’s anti-China front

by Emanuele Scimia November 2, 2017

Kobe Steel President and CEO Hiroya Kawasaki in Tokyo, Japan, October 12, 2017. Reuters/Toru Hanai

France, Germany, Japan, Northeast Asia, World

The nuclear tentacles of Kobe Steel

by Shaun Burnie October 30, 2017February 18, 2020

Ceviche with red Sicilian prawns and turbot. Photo: P-A Jorgensen

China, European Union, France, Hong Kong, Middle East, New Zealand, Oceania, World

Phoque Tales: Brexit-weary London gets taste of French Hong Kong

by L.K. Morgan October 28, 2017February 18, 2020

French President Emmanuel Macron waits for guests to leave at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Photo: Reuters / Philippe Wojazer

China, European Union, France, Germany, Iran, Middle East, Russia, Syria, United Kingdom, World

Macron ‘considering’ trip to Iran after Rouhani invite

by Agence France-Presse October 14, 2017February 18, 2020

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont signs a declaration of independence at the Catalan regional parliament in Barcelona, on October 10, 2017. Photo: Reuters/Albert Gea

European Union, France, World

The Spanish Civil War, revisited

by Pepe Escobar October 12, 2017February 18, 2020

People wave Esteladas (Catalan separatist flags) as they attend a closing rally in favor of the banned October 1 independence referendum in Barcelona, Spain, on September 29, 2017. Photo: Reuters / Susana Vera

European Union, France, Germany, Middle East, World

Independence for Catalonia is a rational choice

by Spengler September 30, 2017February 18, 2020

A missile is launched during a drill in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang on August 30, 2017. Photo: KCNA via Reuters

AT Finance, European Union, France, Iran, Japan, Middle East, North Korea, Northeast Asia, Russia, South Asia, South Korea, Turkey, World

Europe cries wolf on North Korea but has Russia in mind

by Emanuele Scimia September 11, 2017

Two US Air Force B-1B Lancers (not pictured) joined South Korean and Japanese fighters in a 10-hour mission from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, over the Korean Peninsula. Photo July 30, 2017. Pacific Air Forces/Handout via Reuters.

China, European Union, France, Germany, Japan, Middle East, North Korea, Northeast Asia, Russia, South Korea, World

US bombers drill over Korea after Pyongyang missile launch

by Asia Times and Reuters September 1, 2017February 18, 2020

A picture of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad is seen in the Waer district of Homs, Syria, on July 26, 2017. Photo: Reuters / Omar Sanadiki

France, Iran, Iraq, Middle East, Russia, Syria, Turkey, World

Assad lays down new rules in winner-takes-all Syrian future

by M.K. Bhadrakumar August 22, 2017February 18, 2020

Fontevraud Cloître du Grand-Moûtier. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

France, Middle East, World

A pearl in the midst of French hay fields

by Neville Sarony August 2, 2017

A worker walks past a section of the 65,000-ton British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, under construction in Rosyth Dockyard in Scotland, on May 24, 2016. Photo: AFP / Robert Perry

AT Finance, Australia, Beijing, Brunei, China, European Union, France, Japan, Malaysia, Northeast Asia, Oceania, Philippines, South Asia, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Vietnam, World

Britain’s twists and turns on the South China Sea

by Emanuele Scimia August 1, 2017

Swedish defense contractor Saab has been selling its fighter aircraft to countries such as junta-ruled Thailand, but could run up against a new 'democracy clause' in Swedish law. Photo: AFP / Fabrice Cofferini

AT Finance, Australia, Beijing, China, European Union, France, Germany, India, Kuwait, Middle East, Northeast Asia, Oceania, Philippines, South Asia, Thailand, United Kingdom, World

Sweden vs France: the future of EU arms sales to Asia

by Emanuele Scimia July 20, 2017

Muslim head scarves vary in size, color and origin. They have also become a controversial issue in some countries. Photo: Getty.

Afghanistan, AT Finance, Bangladesh, European Union, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Middle East, Pakistan, South Asia, World

Global hijabista style

by Carol Mann July 16, 2017February 18, 2020

Source: France 24

France eyes tax cuts for wealthy in bid to lure business

by Asia Unhedged July 11, 2017February 18, 2020

Emmanuel Macron, like Donald Trump, personifies 'populism of the center'. Photo: AFP / Philippe Huguen

European Union, France, Germany, Middle East, Russia, Syria, United Kingdom, World

The Macron doctrine: frank, ambitious but open to compromise

by Zaki Laïdi July 9, 2017February 18, 2020

Macron plays host to Russia's Putin at Versailles. Photo: Kremlin handout

France, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, Russia, Syria, United Kingdom, World

Macron shifts on Syria, rejects ‘Assad must go’, neoconservatism

by Asia Unhedged July 1, 2017February 18, 2020

The air is leaking out of political party balloons in the West and in some developing countries. The author offers several reasons, among them incompetence, voter indifference, consumer branding of parties, arrogance and historical grievance.

European Union, France, India, Italy, Mexico, Russia, South Asia, United Kingdom, World

For many mainstream political ideologies, the party is over

by Nina L Khrushcheva June 22, 2017June 22, 2017

A protester wears a Theresa May mask. Photo: Reuters/Marko Djurica

European Union, France, Middle East, United Kingdom, World

How populists win when they lose

by Jan-Werner Mueller June 19, 2017June 18, 2017

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May Head of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker. Photo: Reuters

China, European Union, France, Germany, United Kingdom, World

Busy week for May as time to talk Brexit arrives

by Reuters June 18, 2017February 18, 2020

Independent French restaurant Figaro: handout from the restuarant

China, France, Hong Kong, World

French chefs find a new haven in Hong Kong

by L.K. Morgan June 14, 2017February 18, 2020

Chinese peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Beijing, China, European Union, Middle East, World

African security: EU and Beijing intensify cooperation

by Emanuele Scimia June 10, 2017June 10, 2017

A protester wears a Theresa May mask. Photo: Reuters/Marko Djurica

Beijing, China, European Union, France, Germany, Middle East, United Kingdom, World

Tale of two cities: it’s sunny in France, but cloudy in UK

by Richard Cook June 10, 2017February 18, 2020

Workers assemble polling booths in London ahead of the UK general election on June 8, 2017. Photo: Reuters/Neil Hall

France, United Kingdom, World

Voting technology could improve access, but has dark side too

by Dambisa Moyo June 9, 2017June 11, 2017

Left to right: European Council President Donald Tusk, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker meet at the EU-China Summit in Brussels on June 2, 2017. Photo: Reuters/Olivier Hoslet/Pool

AT Finance, Beijing, Brunei, China, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Asia, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Vietnam, World

The EU glosses over the South China Sea – unlike France

by Emanuele Scimia June 5, 2017

Macron plays host to Russia's Putin at Versailles. Photo: Kremlin handout

European Union, France, Germany, Middle East, Russia, Syria, World

Putin, Trump and ‘my guy’ Macron

by Pepe Escobar June 1, 2017February 18, 2020