Emmanuel Macron

Germany is seeking an agreement with EU countries to keep ski resorts closed until early January, in an attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus.

"I will say this openly that it won't be easy, but we will try," Chancellor Angela Merkel said after speaking to Germany's regional leaders on Tuesday.

The news came as the country extended its partial lockdown until 20 December.

French Interior Minister Gerald Dermanin announced he was launching an investigation into the clashes that broke out late last night after police cleared up a makeshift migrant camp in Place de la Republique in Paris, adding that the footage of the clashes was "shocking," Reuters reported.

French President Emmanuel Macron told the G20 summit on Saturday that the world's leading economies should join efforts to create a system that envisions disturbing first doses of potential coronavirus vaccines to least developed countries.

As part of his initiatives regarding the Eastern Mediterranean and Libya, French President Emanuel Macron said in a tweet on Friday that he contacted his US counterpart Donald Trump, adding that their views about the region are identical and will be imposed.

French President Emmanuel Macron reviews an honor guard on the deck of the assault ship Dixmude docked in the French Navy base of Toulon, 19 January 2018. Photo: EPA-EFE/Claude Paris / POOL MAXPPP OUT

The French military conducted training exercises with Greek forces off the southern island of Crete on Thursday, defence sources said, as tension persisted with Turkey over disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean.

The French military conducted training exercises with Greek forces off the southern island of Crete on Thursday, defence sources said, as tension persisted with Turkey over disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean.

France will send two Rafale fighter jets and the naval frigate "Lafayette" to the eastern Mediterranean as part of plans to increase its military presence in the region, the armed forces ministry said on Thursday, amid signs of tension with Turkey.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for his support, after the latter announced late Wednesday that France would increase its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean.

Mitsotakis described Macron as "a true friend of Greece" and an "ardent defender of European values and international law."

France will increase its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday, calling on Turkey to halt oil and gas exploration in disputed waters that has heightened tensions with Greece.