PARIS (AP) — Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa is visiting Paris on Wednesday for talks with President Emmanuel Macron. It’s his first trip to Europe since taking office in January, and a possible opening to broader ties with Western countries.

Germany’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, made his debut on the world stage Wednesday by joining forces with France and Poland to reinforce European unity on Ukraine and trade. View on euronews

Friedrich Merz travels to Paris and Warsaw on Wednesday on his first foreign trip as German chancellor, still reeling from a humiliating setback in Tuesday’s government transition that raised early questions about his leadership.