Ian Johnston
@iancjohnston.bsky.social
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Paris correspondent for the Financial Times
pinned post!
I'm the Paris correspondent for the FT and I'll be posting mostly, but not exclusively, about France. Follow along if you want to read things I have written, things I find interesting and, sometimes, both of those things
4 months ago
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reposted by
Ian Johnston
Duncan Robinson
14 days ago
Shot, chaser Young men more likely to vote Green than Reform. Young men second most progressive group of any demographic. Combined right-wing vote barely bigger than Green vote alone for young men
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French debt downgrade piles pressure on Macronâs new prime minister
on.ft.com/4na8Gm0
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French debt downgrade piles pressure on Macronâs new prime minister
[FREE TO READ] Fitchâs change to A+ reflects concerns political instability will affect Franceâs ability to reduce its deficit
https://on.ft.com/4na8Gm0
15 days ago
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Macron bets on Sébastien Lecornu, the 39-year-old fixer who has been part of his governments since 2017, to succeed where so many before him have failed. Our analysis:
on.ft.com/4gfMyng
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Emmanuel Macronâs fixer chosen to tackle political quagmire
[FREE TO READ] New Prime Minister SĂ©bastien Lecornu has French presidentâs trust but faces angry opposition
https://on.ft.com/4gfMyng
17 days ago
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Whoops for EDF! Click through if you, like me, would like to learn the collective noun for jellyfish
on.ft.com/46tkCYX
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Jellyfish force partial shutdown at French nuclear plant
[FREE TO READ] Gelatinous creatures gum up EDF nuclear reactors for the second time in a month
https://on.ft.com/46tkCYX
23 days ago
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New in FT: French finance minister Eric Lombard tells us compromise on his âŹ44bn deficit reduction plan is âinevitableâ, as French PM François Bayrou is set to be booted out of office
on.ft.com/3VBm3PD
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French finance minister urges compromise on 2026 budget
Ăric Lombard says deficit reduction plan will inevitably be less ambitious if the government falls
https://on.ft.com/3VBm3PD
25 days ago
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Ian Johnston
Alice Hancock
about 1 month ago
The Korean nuclear industry is accusing EDF of being in contravention of state aid rules â after EDF accused Koreaâs state nuclear company KHNP of the same thing. In Europe Express with
@iancjohnston.bsky.social
on.ft.com/45AwjxG
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French and Korean nuclear groups in stand-off over foreign subsidy probe
[FREE TO READ] Also in this newsletter: German minister travels to Israel and Palestine after deadly air strike
https://on.ft.com/45AwjxG
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Ian Johnston
Henry Mance
2 months ago
FT Editorial: "Unless the Israeli government agrees to an immediate end to the war and a surge of aid into Gaza, western countries should be sanctioning Netanyahu and his government."
www.ft.com/content/69d5...
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Macron and Merz say they will ramp up defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP ahead of NATO meeting, in a joint FT op-ed. "We will live for the foreseeable future in a deeply destabilised environment, and in a world in which our allies will have other dilemmas and priorities"
on.ft.com/4kV3u4h
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Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
[FREE TO READ] Norms are eroding and old certainties are being challenged â we must act accordingly
https://on.ft.com/4kV3u4h
3 months ago
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Ian Johnston
Hannah Murphy
3 months ago
After months of reporting (and even my own attempt at a jiu jitsu class), my FT Magazine cover story on Mark Zuckerbergâs metamorphosis to red-blooded âMaga Markâ is out! Is this political expediency, a midlife crisis or who Zuck has been all along?
on.ft.com/4nsoktx
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How Mark Zuckerberg unleashed his inner brawler
[FREE TO READ] The bossâs transformation shocked liberals at Meta, but his closest allies say this is who he was all along
https://on.ft.com/4nsoktx
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FT exclusive: US private equity group Apollo has agreed ÂŁ4.5bn in debt financing to support the UKâs Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, easing mounting financial pressure on the delayed and over-budget project led by France's EDF.
on.ft.com/4ldOvBY
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Apollo to finance UK Hinkley Point nuclear plant with ÂŁ4.5bn loan
[FREE TO READ] Funding for electricity group EDF is among largest UK private credit deals to date
https://on.ft.com/4ldOvBY
3 months ago
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Ian Johnston
Henry Foy
3 months ago
Emmanuel Macronâs decision to make a symbolic stopover in Greenland on his way to the G7 and criticise Trumpâs desire to control the island had irritated the US President and contributed to his decision to leave early, three officials attending the summit told
@financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/45XasRu
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Donald Trumpâs abrupt G7 exit causes disquiet among other leaders
[FREE TO READ] US presidentâs early departure raises fears over Washingtonâs commitment to global alliances
https://on.ft.com/45XasRu
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After the shock resignation of Renault boss Luca de Meo on Sunday to lead luxury group Kering, the head of budget car brand Dacia is a leading contender to succeed him. More details on how De Meo's departure rocked Renault in our story đ
on.ft.com/4kHbm9d
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Head of budget brand Dacia among contenders to succeed Luca de Meo as Renault CEO
[FREE TO READ] French carmaker hopes to avoid lengthy search process endured by rival Stellantis
https://on.ft.com/4kHbm9d
3 months ago
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Scoop in the FT today: UK authorities have commissioned a human rights review into a $20bn gas development in Mozambique led by France's TotalEnergies. It comes as the UK assesses whether it is going to keep funding the controversial project
on.ft.com/43Pdje0
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TotalEnergies gas project in Mozambique faces UK human rights probe
[FREE TO READ] Countryâs credit export agency tasks legal group led by senior barrister to review $20bn gas development
https://on.ft.com/43Pdje0
3 months ago
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Ian Johnston
A Better Bay Area
4 months ago
Tesla drivers in France sue over Elon Muskâs political antics-to terminate the leases for their vehicles, alleging chief executive Elon Muskâs political activities have made their cars âfar-right totemsâ.
www.ft.com/content/ef4a...
@iancjohnston.bsky.social
@financialtimes.com
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Tesla drivers in France sue over Elon Muskâs political antics
Lawsuit seeks termination of customersâ leases, alleging CEO has âtarnishedâ brand
https://www.ft.com/content/ef4a97f1-8196-4abe-93b1-73f90fdefa42
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Hedge funds are circling more than a dozen distressed companies in France, we reported in the FT yesterday Shocks from Trump's tariffs to the aftermath of last summer's French elections are weighing on indebted businesses, many of which are owned by private equity groups đ
on.ft.com/3Tgleux
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Hedge funds circle distressed French private equity-owned companies
[FREE TO READ] Economic weakness and high debt burdens have made businesses more attractive targets
https://on.ft.com/3Tgleux
4 months ago
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Can oil and gas companies be "major actors in the energy transition" while developing new fossil fuel resources? And is gas a "transition fuel"? France's TotalEnergies is under fire in a landmark "greenwashing" trial that questions how companies communicate their climate goals.
on.ft.com/4kuhLo4
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TotalEnergies promotion of natural gas under fire in greenwashing trial
[FREE TO READ] Landmark case over claim of misleading commercial practices by oil and gas group
https://on.ft.com/4kuhLo4
4 months ago
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Macron meets Giorgia Meloni in Rome today, for discussions on Ukraine, migration and more. But it's also a bid to repair relations. The pair do not get on, to put it lightly. Story with
@amykazmin.bsky.social
on.ft.com/43JxB74
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How Macron and Meloni are trying to patch up their tattered relationship
[FREE TO READ] Also in this newsletter: Why the Mercosur trade deal could still survive Polandâs election
https://on.ft.com/43JxB74
4 months ago
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Scoop in today's FT: Starmer and Macron will give the go-ahead to the UK's Sizewell C nuclear station at an Anglo-French summit next month. UK ministers have been drumming up billions of private sector investment for the EDF-designed plant. With
@pickardje.bsky.social
and team:
on.ft.com/3SvDyQb
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Sizewell C nuclear project to get go-ahead during Anglo-French summit
[FREE TO READ] UK ministers hope to sign up private sector investors for new Suffolk power plant later this month
https://on.ft.com/3SvDyQb
4 months ago
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Ian Johnston
Financial Times
4 months ago
'Forever chemicals' are seeping into waterways across Europe. A vanishingly small, man-made molecule resists all attempts of removal. How will the EU eradicate the pollution?
www.ft.com/content/a36c...
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Greenpeace activists steal Emmanuel Macron's waxwork from the Musée Grevin, in protest against trade between Russia and France. Bien joué
www.lemonde.fr/societe/arti...
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La statue dâEmmanuel Macron volĂ©e au MusĂ©e GrĂ©vin par Greenpeace pour dĂ©noncer le commerce entre la France et la Russie
Des activistes de lâorganisation Ă©cologiste ont dĂ©posĂ© la statue de cire devant lâambassade russe en France, lundi.
https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2025/06/02/la-statue-d-emmanuel-macron-volee-au-musee-grevin-par-greenpeace-pour-denoncer-le-commerce-entre-la-france-et-la-russie_6610223_3224.html
4 months ago
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Ian Johnston
4 months ago
I don't think the FT would let me write like this, even for a football report. The intro celebrating a PSG victory that will be remembered till the end of time is a triumph of joyous Gallic excess...
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Impressive victory for PSG last night in the Champions League, followed by a less impressive reaction on the streets of Paris...
on.ft.com/4kDVIem
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PSGâs Champions League victory marred by violence in Paris
[FREE TO READ] Nearly 500 arrested after looters raid shops in the Champs-ĂlysĂ©es area and burn cars in the city
https://on.ft.com/4kDVIem
4 months ago
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French-Italian carmaker Stellantis got a new chief executive this week: Antonio Filosa. Faced with Trump's tariffs and a not so healthy car market, the water polo-playing boss faces a tough task of keeping the struggling company afloat. Our profile in the FT today:
on.ft.com/3SvJad7
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New Stellantis CEO: the water-polo player charged with keeping Fiat and Jeep afloat
[FREE TO READ] Sergio Marchionne protégé Antonio Filosa inherits a group which suffered a 70% plunge drop in net profits in 2024
https://on.ft.com/3SvJad7
4 months ago
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I'm the Paris correspondent for the FT and I'll be posting mostly, but not exclusively, about France. Follow along if you want to read things I have written, things I find interesting and, sometimes, both of those things
4 months ago
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