This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-26148561

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Francois Hollande honoured at US state dinner Francois Hollande honoured at US state dinner
(about 1 hour later)
French President Francois Hollande is being honoured at a lavish White House state dinner, capping a US visit aimed at renewing the partnership between the two long-standing allies. French President Francois Hollande has been honoured at a lavish White House state dinner, capping a visit to the US aimed at renewing the partnership between the two long-standing allies.
His is the first official state dinner at the White House since 2011. His was the first official state dinner at the White House since 2011.
The party comes as Mr Hollande and US President Barack Obama have hailed the nations' centuries-old friendship. At the party, Mr Hollande and US President Barack Obama toasted the nations' centuries-old friendship.
They suggested the anger and mistrust over US spying and French opposition to the Iraq War had been soothed. They have suggested the bad feelings over US spying and French opposition to the Iraq War have been soothed.
Stars and spies Caviar and quail eggs
Among the guests at Tuesday's state dinner are National Security Agency Director Gen Keith Alexander, US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, Francois Delattre, the French ambassador to the US, IMF Director Christine Lagarde and US Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, and presidential cabinet members, senators, congressmen, diplomats and media and business figures. Among the guests at Tuesday's state dinner were diplomats and dignitaries from both governments, as well as leaders in the media and business.
Hollywood luminaries in attendance included Bradley Cooper, Mindy Kaling, Stephen Colbert, Julie Louis-Dreyfus and director JJ Abrams.Hollywood luminaries in attendance included Bradley Cooper, Mindy Kaling, Stephen Colbert, Julie Louis-Dreyfus and director JJ Abrams.
More than 300 dignitaries and celebrities will dine on caviar, quail eggs and rib-eye steak, later dancing to the music of singer Mary J Blige. The roughly 300 guests dined on caviar, quail eggs and rib-eye steak, later dancing to the music of singer Mary J Blige.
After being welcomed to the White House by Mr Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, Mr Hollande was seated between the couple at the dinner table in a heated tent on the South Lawn.After being welcomed to the White House by Mr Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, Mr Hollande was seated between the couple at the dinner table in a heated tent on the South Lawn.
The move was seen as a tactful way to handle the fact that Mr Hollande arrived stag after an ugly, widely publicised split from long-time partner Valerie Trierweiler following reports he had an affair with an actress.The move was seen as a tactful way to handle the fact that Mr Hollande arrived stag after an ugly, widely publicised split from long-time partner Valerie Trierweiler following reports he had an affair with an actress.
The evening's focus is a toast by each president to cap the two-day visit. 'Vive la France'
At the news conference earlier on Tuesday, Mr Hollande said he and Mr Obama had resolved their issues over digital eavesdropping by the US National Security Agency. The highlights of the evening were toasts given by the two presidents.
"We wanted to fight against terrorism, but we also wanted to meet a number of principles," said Mr Hollande. With a glass of white wine in his hand, Mr Obama opened by quoting French writer Alexis de Tocqueville's impressions of 19th Century America, recalling to humorous effect his bafflement with American cuisine and his underwhelming impression of the White House.
"And we are making headway in this co-operation. Mutual trust has been restored." "We Americans have grown to love all things French - the films, the food, the wine," Mr Obama continued. "But most of all, we love our French friends because we have stood together for our freedom for more than 200 years.
Mr Obama announced he had accepted Mr Hollande's invitation to go to France in June to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy during World War Two. "Vive la France, God bless America, and long live the alliance between our great nations."
The two leaders also discussed the conflict in Syria, a former French colony whose civil war both the US and France have been working to end. Speaking first in English, Mr Hollande acknowledged the sacrifice of the US soldiers who fought in France during World War Two and said that France felt America's pain at the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001.
Mr Obama registered "enormous frustration" over faltering peace talks. Continuing in French, he praised French-US diplomatic and military co-operation in the Middle East and Africa, and said the two countries would work jointly for economic growth and to combat climate change.
He also threatened to "come down like a tonne of bricks" on any firms in violation of sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear programme. 'We love Americans'
On to San Francisco Mr Hollande said relations between the two countries had reached "an exceptional level of closeness and confidence" because they shared the "universal values" of freedom, democracy and respect for the law.
The American president was responding to a reporter's question about last week's trip by more than 100 French executives to Tehran, a trip the US state department described as "not helpful". "We love Americans, although we don't always say so," the French president said, "and you love the French, but you are sometimes too shy to say so."
Mr Hollande said he had reminded those business leaders that sanctions remain in effect and no commercial agreements could be signed without a comprehensive nuclear deal. At a news conference after bilateral talks earlier on Tuesday, Mr Hollande said he and Mr Obama had resolved their issues over digital eavesdropping by the US National Security Agency.
Mr Obama, meanwhile, praised France's military role in helping quell extremist violence in Africa. The US has provided some help in French missions to Mali and the Central African Republic. "Mutual trust has been restored," said Mr Hollande.
On Wednesday, Mr Hollande, 59, will travel to San Francisco and meet chiefs of Silicon Valley giants including Facebook, Twitter and Google. Mr Obama also announced he had accepted Mr Hollande's invitation to go to France in June to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy during World War Two.
On Wednesday, Mr Hollande will travel to San Francisco and meet chiefs of Silicon Valley giants including Facebook, Twitter and Google.