Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will today become the third longest-serving EU leader in office as France’s Jacques Chirac officially steps down.

Judges investigating a smear scandal that targeted French president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy searched the offices of one of his lawyers today.

Fresh off a whirlwind yachting break, French president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy returned to work with a meeting due today with Tony Blair.

World leaders rushed to congratulate France’s president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy tonight, hoping he would help boost international efforts to address issues from climate change and Middle East peace to salvaging the EU’s beleaguered constitution.