French President Macron confirms APEC attendance

13 Sept 21:45 Key points summarised by AI

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed his attendance at the upcoming APEC forum in Bangkok as a special guest, marking his first visit to Thailand since 2017.
France's invitation is unique as it is not an APEC member, underscoring the forum's significance and Thailand's diplomatic outreach.
The Bangkok meeting is the first in-person APEC leaders' gathering in three years, attracting interest from non-member nations like the EU, UK, and India.
US President Joe Biden will skip the forum to attend his granddaughter's wedding, while Saudi Prime Minister Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to visit Bangkok as a potential host's guest.

Macron condemns those who 'sought to bring down the Republic' after rioting mars nationwide protests

Today 12:56 Key points summarised by AI

President Macron condemned widespread rioting and looting during nationwide protests, blaming far-left activists and criminals for the "unrestrained violence" and vowing accountability for those who "sought to bring down the Republic."
Over 2,400 arrests were made as protests against rising living costs and poor school conditions escalated, causing extensive damage to public buildings and businesses in cities like Paris, Limoges (where City Hall burned), Marseille, and Lyon.
The unrest, which organizers hoped would revive the "yellow vest" movement, saw political leaders trade blame, with Macron instructing prefects to protect public buildings and potentially ban future protests to prevent further disorder.