The US and French presidents have spoken for the first time since a fierce row erupted over the sale of submarines to Australia, with both leaders agreeing to ease tensions and to meet in Europe next month.
French President Emmanuel Macron was blindsided last week when Australia announced it would scrap a $90 billion conventional submarine contract with France in favour of an agreement for nuclear-powered vessels from Britain and the US.
France was particularly outraged that Australia negotiated with Washington and London in secret, something French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian denounced as treachery and a “stab in the back”.
The US frequently touts France as its oldest ally but failed to warn Paris of the new partnership with Canberra and London.
In a nod to France's anger, a joint statement from the White House and the Elysee Palace on Wednesday said “the situation would have benefited from open consultations among allies on matters of strategic interest to France and our European partners”.
Mr Biden and Mr Macron will meet in person in Europe next month “in order to reach shared understandings and maintain momentum in this process,” the statement read.
The statement also said the US recognised the need for stronger European defence to complement the Nato military alliance, a key idea repeatedly floated by the French leader.
In a first concrete sign of a slackening of tension, Mr Macron agreed to send back France's ambassador to Washington after he was recalled to Paris last week in a diplomatic protest.
Relations soured when Mr Biden made a joint announcement with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to form a US-UK-Australia partnership, nicknamed Aukus.
Mr Morrison visited the Pentagon on Wednesday to meet with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. In brief remarks to the press, neither man mentioned France, though the Australian premier said he was "particularly looking forward to discussing how we now take Aukus forward and the many projects that I know we will have".
The row has sent Franco-US ties into perhaps the worst crisis since France opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, leading to a wave of anti-French sentiment in America, with many restaurants famously calling chips "Freedom fries" on menus instead of French fries.
As well as a huge commercial setback, the loss of the deal was also a major blow to France's security strategy in the Pacific region.
Using mangled French, Mr Johnson on Wednesday told Paris it should “prenez un grip” — or “get a grip".
Palestine and Israel - live updates
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Leganes v Getafe (12am)
Levante v Alaves (4pm)
Real Madrid v Sevilla (7pm)
Osasuna v Valladolid (9.30pm)
Sunday
Eibar v Atletico Madrid (12am)
Mallorca v Valencia (3pm)
Real Betis v Real Sociedad (5pm)
Villarreal v Espanyol (7pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)
Monday
Barcelona v Granada (12am)
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.
The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders
Stuart Kells, Counterpoint Press
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
