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The presidents said their nations' relationship could be a 'model' for international cooperation

Obama and Hollande call for climate change action

The presidents of France and the United States have issued a joint call for other nations to join them in seeking an "ambitious" agreement to curb climate change.

News • 10 Feb 14

Valerie Trierweiler, the ex-partner of French President Francois Hollande, interacts with residents during a visit to the Ekta Nagar slums in the Mandala area of Mumbai

Hollande backlash grows over affair handling

French President Francois Hollande has been hit with a backlash over the manner in which he dumped former first lady Valerie Trierweiler after being caught having a secret affair.

News • 29 Jan 14

Valerie Trierweiler is in India to raise awareness of child malnutrition (Pic: EPA)

Hollande's ex Trierweiler 'doing fine' after split

France's former first lady Valerie Trierweiler has said she is doing fine after her split from President Francois Hollande, telling reporters during a trip to India that she felt "useful" doing charity work.

News • 27 Jan 14

French president separates from former first lady Valerie Trierweiler

French president separates from partner

French President Francois Hollande has separated from his partner Valerie Trierweiler.

News • 25 Jan 14

Ms Trierweiler left the Pitie Salpetriere hospital just after 2pm Irish time and went to the president's official residence at La Lanterne in Versailles to rest, said the magazine, for which Ms Trierweiler works

France's first lady leaves hospital

French first lady Valerie Trierweiler has left hospital in Paris, a week after reports emerged that her partner, President Francois Hollande, was having an affair with the actress Julie Gayet, Paris Match magazine said on its website.

News • 18 Jan 14

Valerie Trierweiler (left) fell ill after revelations Francois Hollande was having an affair with Julie Gayet

Hollande visits partner in hospital for first time

French President Francois Hollande has paid his first visit to his partner Valerie Trierweiler since she was hospitalised in the wake of revelations he was having an affair.

News • 17 Jan 14

EU says new measures will have a positive effect on growth and jobs in France

Hollande measures 'right direction' for France

Measures announced by the French President to cut public spending and business costs go "in the right direction" and will help the economy, the European Commission said.

Business • 15 Jan 14

Economists have cautiously praised Francois Hollande's economic programme

Hollande announces business-focused reforms

French President Francois Hollande has announced reforms to ease the tax burden on business, reduce labour costs and cut public spending to revive the country’s stagnant economy.

Business • 14 Jan 14

Francois Hollande is alleged to be having an affair with actress Julie Gayet

French president admits 'painful' personal moment

French President Francois Hollande has told a press conference that personal affairs must be dealt with in private.

News • 14 Jan 14

Aides to Valerie Trierweiler said she had been admitted 'for a rest and to undergo some tests'

Hollande's girlfriend hospitalised for 'rest'

Valerie Trierweiler, the girlfriend of French President Francois Hollande, has been hospitalised, two days after he was reported to be having an affair.

News • 12 Jan 14

Julie Gayet appeared in one of Mr Hollande's 2012 election commercials

Hollande considers action over affair claims

A French magazine that printed a story about an alleged affair between President Francois Hollande and actress Julie Gayet said today it would remove the report from its website at her request.

News • 10 Jan 14

The French army has been deployed to restore stability in Bangui

Hollande visits CAR after French soldiers killed

French President Francois Hollande today flew into Central African Republic, hours after two French soldiers were killed in fighting.

News • 10 Dec 13

New polls show Francois Hollande's popularity ratings have fallen

French police arrest 70 people at Armistice rally

French police arrested about 70 people at an Armistice Day memorial ceremony after protesters whom the government said were linked to the far right booed President Francois Hollande.

News • 12 Nov 13

Claude Verlon and Ghislaine Dupont were killed by armed gunmen in northern Mali

Two French journalists killed in Mali

French President Francois Hollande has summoned his cabinet to a meeting over the killing of two French journalists by armed gunmen in northern Mali yesterday.

News • 04 Nov 13

Former French hostage Daniel Larribe (R) is welcomed by his family at Villacoublay

Four al-Qaeda hostages return to France

Four French men held hostage in the Sahara desert by al-Qaeda-linked gunmen for three years have returned to France.

News • 30 Oct 13

Professor Ake Sellstrom (L), head of chemical weapons team hands over the report to Ban Ki-moon (Pic: UN)

UN confirms sarin gas was used in Syria attacks

United Nations inspectors have confirmed they found "clear and convincing evidence" that poison sarin gas was used in an attack near the Syrian capital of Damascus on 21 August.

News • 17 Sep 13

Angela Merkel said she agreed with French President Francois Hollande on EU member states cooperating more on economic issues

Merkel opposed to stronger European Commission

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is opposed to handing more powers to the European Commission and agrees with France that European Union governments should work more closely on economic policy, she said in an interview published today.

News • 02 Jun 13

France becomes the 14th country to legalise gay marriage

Hollande signs France's gay marriage bill

French President Francois Hollande has signed the country's controversial gay marriage bill into law.

News • 18 May 13

Francois Hollande said a euro zone economic government would 'start the convergence of social policies'

Hollande seeks euro zone-wide economic government

French President Francois Hollande has called for an economic government in the euro zone that would have its own budget, the right to issue debt, a harmonised tax system and a full-time president.

Business • 16 May 13

A wave of industry lay-offs pushed the country's unemployment rate higher

France's unemployment figure hits record level

France’s unemployment rate rose to a record 3.225 million in March, according to the latest figures.

Business • 25 Apr 13

President Higgins gave an address at the Sorbonne

President says 'certainty' needed in abortion laws

President Michael D Higgins has said “certainty” is required from any abortion legislation which may be introduced in Ireland, when it comes to medical practice and women's lives.

News • 18 Feb 13

Francois Hollande said European countries should agree on exchange rate

Hollande urges action on euro exchange rate

French President Francois Hollande has urged the euro zone to set a mid-term target for its currency's exchange rate and to forge a jobs policy to fight voter disillusionment.

News • 05 Feb 13

Francois Hollande makes first speech as French president to the European Parliament in Strasbourg today

Hollande warns of tough EU summit

The French President has said the euro currency zone must develop an exchange rate policy to protect the currency from "irrational movements".

Business • 05 Feb 13

Francois Hollande (right) said the increasing strength of the euro is concerning

Hollande says work to be done on EU budget

French President Francois Hollande said tonight that France is keen to agree the European Union's 2014-2020 budget at a summit in Brussels next week, but said there is still much work to be done.

News • 04 Feb 13

Francois Hollande will be accompanied by several ministers

French President Francois Hollande to visit Mali

French President Francois Hollande will visit Mali tomorrow, accompanied by his ministers for defence, foreign affairs and development.

News • 01 Feb 13