French President Emmanuel Macron’s progressive-versus-populist narrative helped to re-mobilise France’s — and perhaps Europe’s — pro-European electorate, says Zaki Laïdi.

So that’s Friday nearly wrapped up. Here’s some of the stories we published on irishexaminer.com today which we hope will help you make sense of it all this evening.

Leo Varadkar must scrap the Government’s 2040 national development plan if he is serious about climate change, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said.

Many believe money would be better spent elsewhere but even non-believers should be able to appreciate the value of a place of solace in a bewildering world, writes Stephen L Carter

David Hughes There is no evidence of arson in the fire that destroyed the landmark Notre Dame cathedral, according to the French public prosecutor, who said they are working on the assumption that the blaze was an accident.

France will propose a new “growth contract” with its eurozone partners to encourage northern European countries to invest more and for southern countries to undertake further reforms, its finance minister said.

France's prime minister has called for quick tax cuts to respond to the anger expressed through yellow vest protests across the country.

A British request for a Brexit deadline extension as well as consequences of a chaotic no-deal will be discussed between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and French President Emmanuel Macron today.

British MPs have tonight rejected four options to try and resolve the Brexit deadlock.

Airbus secured a $35bn (€31bn) jet deal from China during a state visit by President Xi Jinping to France, dealing a blow to Boeing as it grapples with the grounding of its best-selling jet.

Yellow vest protesters and political rivals have criticised a sweeping "letter to the French" from President Emmanuel Macron as not going far enough to quell national anger at his policies.

UK liberals want a second Brexit vote to reverse the decision to leave the EU. But it would generate class war, writes John Lloyd

LAST Sunday, the 100th anniversary of the armistice of the war to end all wars, our news was full of quasi-religious, militaristic memorialising, writes Gerard Howlin.

There appears to be a cease-fire in the trade war brewing between the U.S. and the European Union.

Your lunchtime bulletin...

Ultimately the exploits of Les Bleus won’t solve political tensions in France, says Tommy Martin

In a month’s time, the result of the referendum on the Eighth Amendment will be known.

President Donald Trump has declared that if the Iranians "restart their nuclear programme, they will have bigger problems than they have ever had before".

Strikes by German public sector workers and French airline staff have forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights in Europe as unions demand better pay.

A major French railway strike has brought the country's famed high-speed trains to a halt, leaving passengers stranded and posing the biggest test so far for President Emmanuel Macron's economic strategy.

The French police officer who swapped himself for a female supermarket employee being held hostage had already received a lifetime of accolades by the time he walked unarmed into the store under attack by an extremist gunman.

Latest: An armed man took hostages in a supermarket in southern France, killing three people and injuring about a dozen others before being shot dead when French police stormed the market, authorities have said.

Pressure is mounting on the European Commission not to make any further concessions on beef to the Mercusor group of South American countries when trade talks resume next month.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has risked provoking the anger of US president Donald Trump after insisting he does not have the capabilities shown by previous US leaders to help resolve the Northern Ireland political stand-off.

Eighteen climate scientists from the US and elsewhere have hit the jackpot as French President Emmanuel Macron awarded millions of euros in grants to relocate to France for the rest of Donald Trump's presidential term.

France is bidding farewell to its biggest rock star, honouring Johnny Hallyday with a funeral procession down the Champs-Elysees, a presidential speech and a parade of motorcyclists.

Latest: Hundreds of women have marched in Paris in protest at violence against women, with some telling French President Emmanuel Macron to increase funding to meet his ambitions for change.

President Emmanuel Macron has invited Saad Hariri and his family to travel to France after the Lebanese prime minister's surprise resignation earlier this month amid allegations Saudi Arabia is holding him prisoner.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson cautioned countries in the Middle East against using Lebanon as "a venue for proxy conflicts".

Prominent French film-makers, authors and others have urged President Emmanuel Macron to launch an "attack plan" against sexual violence amid an upsurge in disclosures about past abuses by powerful men.

Jacinda Ardern has been sworn in as New Zealand's prime minister - and says she will lead a government that is active, focused, empathetic and strong.

Catch up on this morning's headlines...

David Davis will travel to Paris on Monday for Brexit talks days after French President Emmanuel Macron suggested Britain would need to up its divorce payment offer to unlock trade negotiations.

Jacinda Ardern will be New Zealand's next prime minister and hopes to take the country on a more liberal path after nine years of rule by conservatives.

French lorry drivers have organised blockades on roads and near fuel depots across the country in protest at President Emmanuel Macron's changes to labour laws.

France's conservatives are on track to keep their majority in the Senate, with President Emmanuel Macron's party trailing as his popularity suffers, according to partial official results.

French far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon has rallied disaffected voters against President Emmanuel Macron's plan to weaken worker protections.

France's economy minister has called for "more clarity and less ambiguity" from the UK Government on its plans for Brexit.

Norwegian Air has said it is recruiting pilots to be based in Dublin in order to “support its transatlantic operations as well as future growth in Ireland”.

Police have used water cannons and tear gas on several hundred hooded youths who joined a protest march in Paris against French President Emmanuel Macron's pro-business labour policies.

French police are preparing as unions and other goups hold nationwide protests against changes to labour laws they fear damage job security.

A French politician has been detained after a fight with another politician, police officials said.

French actress Jeanne Moreau, a smoky-voiced femme fatale whose award-winning, seven-decade career included work with some of the world's most acclaimed directors, has died aged 89.

WikiLeaks has said it is publishing around 20,000 emails allegedly stolen from French President Emmanuel Macron's campaign on its website in a searchable form.