"Hand Of Kremlin?" Russian Foreign Ministry Mocks Macron's Aircraft Video
Moscow:
Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman on Monday mocked a video of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron getting off a plane, which has gone viral on social media overnight.
Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram that Macron had received "a right hook from his wife" as the couple arrived for a visit to Hanoi.
But she said Macron's advisers would try to explain away the gesture.
"Did the first lady decide to cheer up her husband with a gentle pat on the cheek and miscalculated her strength? Was she handing him a tissue, but missed? Did she want to fix his collar but ended up reaching the beloved face?" she said.
"Here's a hint: maybe it was the 'hand of the Kremlin'?" she added.
The video appears to show Macron moving his face away from his wife's hand, which could be interpreted as part of an argument between the two.
Viral video shows France's First Lady grabbing Emmanuel Macron's face as he exits the presidential plane in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Read more: https://t.co/YlW1UZS4eh #EmmanuelMacron #Viral pic.twitter.com/cnwnRgFF7I
— NDTV WORLD (@NDTVWORLD) May 26, 2025
Macron denied any "domestic dispute" with his wife, saying that they were "joking as we often do" and noting that other videos had been misinterpreted, such as supposedly showing him sharing a bag of cocaine or confronting the Turkish president.
"None of these are true" and "everyone needs to calm down", he said.
The footage has been replayed multiple times on Russian state TV and has been circulating online on accounts hostile to the French president.
Zakharova, along with the American conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, had earlier wrongly accused Macron and his German and British counterparts of using drugs on a train from Ukraine, after mistaking a crumpled tissue for a bag of cocaine based on a low-definition video.
Even though the claims were later debunked, they still prompted a high-level reaction from the Elysee Palace and the French foreign ministry.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
16 minutes ago
- India Today
After general's praise, Pak Army chief Asim Munir invited to US military parade
Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is set to visit the United States this week to attend the 250th anniversary celebrations of the US Army in Washington DC, top sources an invitation from Washington, sources said Munir has confirmed his presence at a military parade in the American capital on Saturday, which also happens to be US President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. His visit comes amid heightened tensions between India and to sources, Munir will also hold meetings with senior officials from the US State Department and the Pentagon during his visit. Neither Pakistan nor the US has confirmed the high-level military engagement. The visit comes days after a top US general's praise for Munir. At a congressional hearing this week, Gen Michael Kurilla, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), called Pakistan "a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world" and underscored Islamabad's contributions to operations against to Munir's rumoured visit, noted South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman remarked that a stopover at CENTCOM could be on the cards."He [Munir] and Gen Kurilla have met 3 times in less than 2 years. Kurilla praised him yesterday in Hill testimony. US-Pak officer-to-officer ties are generally strong," Kugelman tweeted. advertisement Meanwhile, the US invitation to Munir has stirred sharp reactions in India. Congress communications head Jairam Ramesh called it "another huge diplomatic setback for India"."This is the man who spoke in such incendiary and provocative language just before the Pahalgam terror attacks. What is the US really up to? This is another huge diplomatic setback for India," Ramesh said in an X post on the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives and set Operation Sindoor into motion, India has ramped up diplomatic efforts to isolate Pakistan globally, dispatching all-party delegations to 33 foreign capitals and the European Union for anti-terror arrival in Washington is also being met with protests from the Pakistani diaspora. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has announced demonstrations in the US capital during the army chief's visit."Let the White House know that any deal with this government is not acceptable to the people of Pakistan," PTI's Secretary for Overseas Affairs, Sajjad Burki, tweeted. Burki urged Pakistani-Americans to join a protest outside the Pakistan Embassy in Washington on June calling for mass mobilisation have been distributed in Pakistani-American neighbourhoods across the city, sources Watch
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
23 minutes ago
- First Post
Trump says China will supply rare earths: Why these elements are crucial for US
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that a 'deal' has been reached with China, with Beijing agreeing to make it easier to provide magnets and rare earth metals to American companies. These minerals have become ubiquitous, from being used in smartphones to electric vehicles. But China's restrictions on exports of seven of these rare earth elements have threatened to upend the global supply chain, hitting the US as well as India read more US President Donald Trump meets with China's President Xi Jinping at the start of their bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. File Photo/Reuters United States President Donald Trump has claimed to have reached a 'deal' with China amid trade talks. He stated that Beijing is ready to facilitate the supply of magnets and rare earth metals to US companies. The US, on the other hand, has agreed not to revoke the visas of Chinese nationals on American college campuses. 'Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi [Jinping] and me,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday (June 11). 'Full magnets, and any necessary rare earths, will be supplied, up front, by China.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US president's remarks come after two days of high-level trade talks between the US and China in London. While it may not be a deal, but a 'framework' that paves the way for more talks between the world's two biggest economies. Let's take a closer look. US-China trade talks President Donald Trump's comments about a 'deal' between the US and China come after the two sides agreed to a truce in May after imposing sky-high tariffs on each other's imports. In his post on Truth Social, Trump said the 'deal' allows the US to charge a 55 per cent tariff on imported Chinese goods. China would impose a 10 per cent tariff on US imports. The details about the new agreement are unclear so far. Amid no clarity, the response from markets was muted, with the S&P 500 up 0.1 per cent. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that the two sides had 'reached a framework to implement the Geneva consensus'. 'Once the presidents approve it, we will then seek to implement it,' he added. Last month, the US and China agreed in Geneva to pause the high tariffs that had nearly paralysed trade between the two countries. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that Trump was reviewing the details of the deal. 'But what the president heard, he liked,' she added. Analysts have reacted to the US president's announcement, pointing out that more details need to be known. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst, Forexlive, Toronto, told Reuters, 'Obviously, it's good news that China and the US have reached some sort of agreement, and Trump has certainly tried to spin it positively. But it's not clear what path the US and China are on and what they're trying to achieve. Trump hinted at this, saying he wants to expand China trade. In some ways, the US-China talks have created more questions than answers. Is this tariff rate going to stick? And what exactly are the US and China working towards? 'The ultimate takeaway on China is that things aren't getting worse. So, that's good. We probably built in some expectations of maybe material progress.' Why rare earth metals are important for US The significance of China's export of rare earth metals and magnets for the US was underlined in Trump's post, which specifically mentioned them, along with the broader trade agreement. Rare earths are 17 metallic elements, consisting of scandium, yttrium and the lanthanides. While these materials are found throughout the Earth's crust, extracting and processing them is costly and environmentally damaging. The modern world cannot function without rare earths. They are used in smartphones, missiles, flat-screen TVs, batteries in electric vehicles, MRI scanners and cancer treatments. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD From the automotive industry to defence, permanent magnets made with rare earth elements (REEs) are essential across sectors. The US military is heavily reliant on rare earths from China. According to a 2025 research note from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank, these materials are used in F-35 fighter jets, lasers, satellites, Tomahawk missiles, Virginia- and Columbia-class nuclear-powered submarines, unmanned aerial vehicles and smart bombs. In April, China imposed export restrictions on seven rare earth elements and magnets amid tensions with the US over Trump's new tariffs. Washington had levied 145 per cent taxes on Chinese imports, with Beijing retaliating with 125 per cent on US goods. 'The United States is already on the back foot when it comes to manufacturing these defence technologies,' Gracelin Baskaran of CSIS said in an interview published by the think tank. 'China is rapidly expanding its munitions production and acquiring advanced weapons systems and equipment at a pace five to six times faster than the United States. While China is preparing with a wartime mindset, the United States continues to operate under peacetime conditions.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The International Energy Agency said China produces 61 per cent of mined rare earths, but controls 92 per cent of the global production output. The US-China trade deal, while yet to be finalised, would come as a relief for American defence companies such as Lockheed Martin — which uses the most samarium in the US – a rare earth metal used in military-grade magnets, according to The Guardian. China entirely controls the supply of this element. China's restrictions impact India China's export restrictions on seven rare earth elements (REE) and magnets have threatened to disrupt global supply chains. New Delhi could also feel the heat of these export curbs. India's import of rare earth magnets has ramped up in the last five financial years — 12,400 tonnes in FY21 to 28,700 tonnes in FY24. This further surged to 53,700 tonnes in FY25. Of the 53,700 tonnes of permanent magnets – several containing rare earth elements — exported in 2024-25, 93 per cent were from China. This was prior to Beijing's export restrictions announced in April. As per an Indian Express report, India has up to three weeks of REE magnet supply left. Amid the potential shortage, industry executives are expected to travel to China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China's restrictions apply to seven rare earth elements – samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium. It also requires companies to secure special export licenses to export the minerals and magnets. Speaking to Indian Express earlier, a senior executive from the Indian car industry said that importers now have to give an undertaking to Chinese suppliers that the rare earth magnets obtained from the Asian giant would only be used in vehicles and not for defence purposes. India's automotive industry could feel the heat of China's export restrictions as these magnets are vital for the production of electric vehicles and various automotive components, including gear mechanisms and drive trains. Saurabh Agarwal, Partner & Automotive Tax Leader, EY India told Times of India (TOI), 'The recent actions by China have significantly disrupted global supply chains, particularly through their increasing export control over critical commodities. This underscores the urgent need for India, and indeed any nation, to foster a self-sustaining economy. We must prioritise developing our own critical mineral resources and building an end-to-end domestic supply chain, especially as the world shifts towards greater self-reliance.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Given the current trajectory of our growing economy, it's imperative that the government introduces a Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme specifically for rare earth magnets and critical mineral recycling. This will be crucial in the mid-term for establishing a robust domestic supply chain,' he added. 'In the short run, we must leverage our diplomatic channels to engage with the Chinese government and resolve the immediate challenges around export control licenses. This is essential to prevent production stoppages in our industries,' Agarwal suggested. On Monday, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had admitted that China's export restrictions will have short-term impacts on the domestic automotive and white goods sectors. 'Obviously, there are issues around the stopping of permanent magnets from China to India, which will affect our auto sector, particularly, and several white goods and other sectors Some companies have put in their applications, and we hope that good sense should prevail and they will get their approvals for permanent magnets,' he told reporters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Goyal said that the Indian embassy is engaging with China on the issue and his ministry is also working on resolutions. When asked whether the government will bring a PLI scheme for the sector, he said he has interacted with automobile companies, who remain 'very' confident about resolving the issue. 'They are in dialogue with our innovators, startups and they say they will take care of any funding requirement or pricing correction that may need to encourage faster roll out and growth of this sector,' Goyal said. With inputs from agencies
The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Court hearing set on Trump's use of National Guard and Marines to help with immigration raids in LA
A federal court hearing is scheduled for Thursday (June 12, 2025) on whether the Trump administration can use the National Guard and Marines to assist with immigration raids in Los Angeles. California Gov. Newsom has depicted the federal military intervention in the nation's second-largest city as the onset of a much broader effort by Mr. Trump to overturn political and cultural norms at the heart of the nation's democracy. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has echoed that, saying the deployment of troops was unnecessary and meant to undermine local jurisdictions and intimidate the city's large immigrant population. Mr. Newsom filed an emergency motion requesting the court's intervention after President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of roughly 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles following protests over his stepped-up enforcement of immigration laws. The Trump administration called the lawsuit a 'crass political stunt endangering American lives' in its official response on Wednesday. The Democratic governor argued the troops were originally deployed to protect federal buildings and said sending troops to help support immigration raids would only promote civil unrest. The protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles intensified after Mr. Trump called up the National Guard and have since spread to other cities, including Boston, Chicago and Seattle. Federal immigration agents have been arresting people at Home Depot parking lots and other businesses, sparking fear in immigrant communities, after the Trump administration said it wanted to dramatically increase arrests under its immigration crackdown. Mr. Trump has described Los Angeles in dire terms that Bass and Newsom say are nowhere close to the truth. Most demonstrations have been peaceful, but this weekend, some turned raucous with protesters setting cars on fire in downtown Los Angeles. The city has imposed a nightly curfew covering a 1-square-mile (2.5-square-kilometer) section where protests have occurred in the sprawling metropolis of 4 million people. The Marines have not yet been spotted in Los Angeles and Guard troops have had limited engagement with protesters. Newsom filed the motion Tuesday, the same day the military announced some members of the National Guard were now standing in protection around federal agents. The change moves troops closer to engaging in law enforcement actions like deportations, as Mr. Trump has promised as part of his administration's immigration crackdown. The Guard has the authority to temporarily detain people who attack officers but any arrests ultimately would be made by law enforcement. Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer chose not to rule immediately but set the hearing for Thursday in federal court in San Francisco. Dozens of mayors from across the Los Angeles region banded together Wednesday to demand the raids stop and the troops leave.
