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Trump Mocks Macron, Claims Tariff Threat Forced France on Drug Prices

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US President Donald Trump has mocked French President Emmanuel Macron, claiming he pressured France into sharply raising prescription drug prices by threatening steep tariffs on French imports. Addressing Republican lawmakers, Trump recounted a dramatic exchange in which he said France initially resisted his demand to increase drug prices, arguing that Americans were paying far more than consumers in Europe.

Trump alleged that he then issued an ultimatum, warning of a 25% tariff on all French products, including wine and champagne, unless Paris complied. According to Trump, the threat worked swiftly, with Macron purportedly agreeing to raise drug prices significantly to avoid the tariffs. Trump used the episode to argue that the United States has long subsidised global healthcare costs and that his “Most Favoured Nation” policy was designed to reverse that imbalance.

The former president further claimed that similar tariff threats led other countries to agree within minutes to raise drug prices, resulting in lower costs for Americans. He said the policy would tie US prescription prices to the lowest rates charged internationally and promised steep reductions under the plan. Neither Macron nor the French government has responded publicly to Trump’s remarks.

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Gary O’Neil Named Strasbourg Manager After Rosenior Joins Chelsea

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Gary O’Neil has been appointed as the new manager of French Ligue 1 club Strasbourg following Liam Rosenior’s departure to Chelsea. The 42-year-old, who previously managed Premier League sides Bournemouth and Wolves, expressed pride in joining a club with a “high-quality squad and clear, ambitious goals” and praised Strasbourg’s passionate fans and rich history.

Strasbourg, currently seventh in Ligue 1, acted quickly to secure O’Neil, who will make his debut in Saturday’s French Cup tie at Avranches. Club president Marc Keller described O’Neil as a “demanding and respected coach” whose modern approach aligns with Strasbourg’s sporting vision. The French side is part of BlueCo, the multi-club group that also owns Chelsea.

O’Neil began his managerial career with Bournemouth, leading them to Premier League safety, before a stint with Wolves where he guided the club to a 14th-place finish and the FA Cup quarter-finals in 2023-24. However, his second season at Molineux ended in December 2024 with the team in the relegation zone, resulting in his dismissal prior to taking up his new role at Strasbourg.

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Brigitte Bardot to Be Laid to Rest in Saint-Tropez by the Sea

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French cinema legend Brigitte Bardot, who died last month at the age of 91, will be buried on Wednesday in the Riviera resort town of Saint-Tropez. Her funeral service will take place at Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption church, followed by a private burial in a local cemetery overlooking the sea, in the town where she spent much of her later life away from the public eye.

A public tribute open to residents and fans will be held at the Pré des Pêcheurs in La Ponche, the historic quarter of Saint-Tropez. Bardot rose to international fame in the 1950s with And God Created Woman, becoming a defining symbol of liberated femininity and a global pop culture icon. She was also the first celebrity to model for a bust of Marianne, emblem of the French Republic.

After retiring from films in 1973, Bardot withdrew from public life to focus on animal welfare, becoming one of France’s most prominent animal rights activists. In later years, her outspoken support for the far-right National Front and controversial remarks on social issues led to multiple convictions for inciting racial hatred. Several political figures, including Marine Le Pen and Equality Minister Aurore Bergé, are expected to attend the funeral.

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Nestle Recalls Infant Formula in 25 Countries Over Toxin Risk

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Nestle announced a major recall of some batches of its infant nutrition products, including SMA, BEBA, and NAN formulas, across Europe, Turkey, and Argentina due to potential contamination with cereulide, a toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus. The recall, which began on a smaller scale in December, comes after testing revealed an issue with an ingredient supplied by a leading vendor. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products.

The Swiss food giant is activating alternative suppliers for the affected ingredient, ramping up production at multiple factories, and accelerating the distribution of unaffected products to maintain supply. Cereulide cannot be destroyed by boiling water or typical formula preparation, and can cause rapid-onset food poisoning symptoms such as vomiting and stomach cramps, according to the UK Food Standards Agency.

Austria’s health ministry stated that the recall involves over 800 products from more than 10 factories, marking the largest recall in Nestle’s history. The company’s investigation traced the contaminated ingredient back to a factory in the Netherlands, though it was used across multiple production sites internationally. Nestle is working to minimize supply disruption while ensuring safety.

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Macron Brings Ukraine and Allies Together to Push Security Guarantees

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French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders from more than 30 allied nations in Paris as efforts intensify to secure long-term security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. The meeting includes members of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” as well as US mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, amid claims from Zelensky that a US-backed peace plan is largely agreed.

While around 90% of the proposed framework is said to be settled, the remaining disagreements centre on territorial concessions Ukraine is being asked to consider. Russia currently controls most of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine and has shown little willingness to compromise, while continuing intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during winter. Ukraine, meanwhile, has stepped up drone strikes inside Russia, including on energy facilities.

Talks in Paris are focused on defining post-war security arrangements, including the possibility of a multinational reassurance force, long-term military and economic support for Ukraine, and guarantees in case of renewed Russian aggression. European allies are also seeking a clear US commitment to act if Russia breaches a future peace deal, though broader geopolitical tensions involving recent US actions abroad and disputes over Greenland risk overshadowing the discussions.

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Pope Leo Closes Holy Year, Calls for Compassion Toward Foreigners

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Pope Leo on Tuesday formally closed the Catholic Church’s Holy Year by sealing the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, urging Christians around the world to show greater kindness to those in need, especially foreigners and migrants. Speaking at a Vatican ceremony, he reflected on the record 33.5 million pilgrims who visited Rome during the jubilee, calling on them to recognise humanity in strangers rather than viewing people as commodities.

Highlighting themes that have defined the early months of his papacy, Leo criticised what he described as a distorted global economy that seeks to profit from everything, including human movement and aspiration. Dressed in gold-trimmed vestments, the pope shut the bronze Holy Door at 9:41 a.m., officially ending the jubilee year, which traditionally symbolises peace, forgiveness and renewal for Catholics.

The 2025 Holy Year was notable as a rare historical event, having been opened by Pope Francis and closed by his successor, following Francis’ death in April after 12 years as pontiff. Vatican officials said pilgrims arrived from 185 countries, led by Italy, the United States, Spain, Brazil and Poland. The next jubilee is not expected before 2033, when the Church may mark 2,000 years since the death of Jesus.

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Swiss Ski Bar Fire Exposes Safety Lapses After Years Without Inspection

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Authorities in Switzerland have revealed that Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, where a devastating fire killed 40 people and injured 116 on New Year’s Day, had not undergone a safety inspection for five years. Mayor Nicolas Feraud said the council could not explain the lapse but expressed deep regret, acknowledging responsibility and apologising to the victims’ families.

The mayor announced that sparklers, believed to have ignited the blaze after being held too close to the ceiling, would be banned from all local venues. An external contractor will be appointed to inspect and audit all 128 establishments in the area. Feraud admitted that a small inspection team was responsible for overseeing more than 10,000 buildings, but said he had no explanation for why the bar had not been checked since 2019.

Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation, placing the two managers of the bar under scrutiny for suspected manslaughter and arson by negligence. While Feraud said it would be up to judges to determine whether local officials would also face investigation, the tragedy has raised wider questions about Switzerland’s decentralised safety enforcement system and whether warning signs were overlooked.

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Greek Airspace Blackout Raises Alarm Over Ageing Aviation Systems

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Greece’s air traffic control system suffered a major communications outage on Sunday, cutting contact between controllers and aircraft across much of the country and forcing authorities to suspend flights into and over Greek airspace. Controllers described radios falling silent mid-operation, replaced by a high-pitched noise, while internet systems also failed, disrupting coordination nationwide. The outage, which lasted several hours, stranded thousands of passengers before systems inexplicably came back online.

Officials have ruled out a cyberattack but admitted they do not yet know what caused the blackout or how it resolved itself. Controllers managed to find a limited number of functioning radio frequencies, but not enough to ensure safe operations, prompting the unprecedented shutdown. Neighbouring countries assisted using telephone communication, with aviation experts describing the episode as a “black hole” in Greek airspace that could have caused chaos during peak tourist season.

The incident has renewed scrutiny of Greece’s ageing and underfunded air traffic infrastructure, much of which dates back to the 1990s. Unions and experts warn that outdated equipment and staffing shortages pose ongoing safety risks, despite government assurances that modernisation plans meeting EU standards are underway and scheduled for completion by 2028. Critics argue that human expertise can no longer compensate for systemic weaknesses, warning of further disruptions if upgrades are delayed.

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EU, UK Slam X Over Grok’s Sexualised AI Images

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The European Commission has strongly condemned the spread of sexualised images of women and children on Elon Musk-owned social media platform X, calling the content illegal and unacceptable. The criticism follows reports that X’s AI chatbot Grok was generating non-consensual images of undressed women and minors through a feature previously referred to as “spicy mode.” EU officials said such content has no place in Europe and violates existing laws.

In Britain, media regulator Ofcom has demanded answers from X and its parent company xAI on how the AI system was able to create sexualised images, including of children, and whether the platform failed in its legal duty to protect users. Ofcom said it had contacted the company urgently to assess compliance with UK laws, under which the creation or sharing of non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material — including AI-generated content — is illegal. X has not formally responded, while Musk has publicly mocked criticism online.

Pressure on X is also mounting from other countries. French ministers have reported the platform to prosecutors and regulators, calling the content “manifestly illegal,” while Indian authorities have sought explanations over what they termed obscene material. Despite growing concern across Europe and Asia, US regulators have so far remained silent on the issue, with federal agencies declining or failing to comment.

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Louvre Reopens After Strike Delay, Some Sections Remain Closed

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Paris’ Louvre Museum reopened on Monday after a three-hour delay, though several sections remained closed as staff partially resumed a strike over pay and working conditions, according to Reuters. Employees had held a meeting earlier in the day to decide whether to continue rolling industrial action, which began last month and was paused during the Christmas period.

The labour dispute has added to the challenges facing the world’s most visited museum, which is still reeling from a major jewel heist in October. In that incident, four burglars stole jewels worth about $102 million in broad daylight, and the stolen items have yet to be recovered.

The Louvre has also been grappling with infrastructure issues, including a recent water leak that damaged ancient books and raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of the historic building. Together, the strike, security lapse, and maintenance problems have put renewed pressure on museum management and French authorities.

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