Paris

APPLE boss Tim Cook went out of his way on Monday to single out a small French firm involved with innovative features in the latest iPhones ahead of a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, who has called for a tougher line on technology company taxes.

The Apple chief executive paid a surprise visit to Eldim, a Normandy-based firm that has tested optical technology used in the facial recognition system inside new top-of-the-range iPhone X smartphones due out next month. Prices start at US$999.