Page 13 - France

'Choose France Tour 2024': A chance for Indian students to study in Europe

Currently, France is home to 250,000 international students, including 10,000 from India, according to official data

Demonstrators praise Pilcot's courage in drug and rape trial in France

Women and men demonstrated together Saturday in Paris and other French cities in support of Gisle Plicot and against sexual violence highlighted by the harrowing trial of her ex-husband and dozens of other men being prosecuted for rapes while she was deliberately drugged and knocked unconscious. The demonstrations outside Paris' criminal court, in the southeastern city of Lyon and elsewhere underscored how Plicot's courage in speaking out about her ordeal is inspiring people in France and beyond, even as they've been horrified by the scale and brutality of the abuse she suffered over the course of a decade. Since the September 2 beginning of the extraordinary trial, during which Plicot has faced 51 of her alleged rapists, she has been praised for her composure and decision to keep the hearings public after the court initially suggested that they be held behind closed doors. She has decided to make this an emblematic trial, said Elsa Labouret, one of the Paris demonstrators and a ..

France pledges support for Ukraine's plan to end Russian invasion

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot pledged his support for Ukraine's plan for ending the two and a half-year war with Russia, telling reporters in Kyiv on Saturday that he will work with Ukrainian officials to secure other nations' backing for the proposal. Unveiled by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this week, Kyiv's so-called victory plan hopes to compel Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine through negotiations. The proposal is being considered by Ukraine's Western partners, whose help is vital for Kyiv to resist its bigger neighbour. A key element would be a formal invitation into NATO, which Western backers have been reluctant to consider until after the war ends. A Russian victory would be a consecration for the law of the strongest and would push the international order toward chaos, Barrot said at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha. That is why our exchanges should allow us to make progress on President Zelenskyy's ..

Biden meets with European allies as Trump's new term possibility hangs over

Expected on the agenda of discussions are conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia according to a Biden administration official

France demands release of hostages after Israel eliminates Sinwar

Israel has confirmed the elimination of Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7 attacks last year

China woes drag down French spirits maker Pernod Ricard's Q1 sales

Pernod Ricard said it was working to mitigate the impact of the Chinese anti-dumping decision on the group's performance but did not provide details

Notre Dame area to get $55 mn green facelift as part of Paris-wide eco plan

As Notre Dame gears up to reopen its doors in December, Paris is on the verge of a remarkable eco-revival, bringing nature back to the forefront of the City of Light. Beyond restoring the cathedral's iconic spire and medieval charm, the city announced plans Tuesday to revamp Notre Dame's surroundings to a tune of 50 million euros ($55 million) into a serene, green oasis. The project echoes a broader, post-Olympics eco-facelift that's reshaping Paris from its historic monuments to its bustling avenues. Among the key elements of this broader transformation are the revitalization of historic spaces like the Champs-Elysees and Place de la Concorde, a redesign aimed at reducing traffic around the Arc de Triomphe, and green promenades connecting the French capital's landmarks. Here's a look at some of the eco plans for Paris in the coming years: Notre Dame Cathedral: a rebirth in green The reopening on Dec 8 promises to be a historic moment for Paris, fulfilling President Emmanuel ..

France lost a dear friend from India: Macron on Ratan Tata's demise

Extending his condolences, French President Macron added, 'I convey my deepest condolences to his near and dear ones as well as to the people of India'

After taking office, France's minority govt survives no-confidence vote

France's minority government survived a no-confidence vote on Tuesday, two weeks after taking office, getting over the first hurdle placed by left-wing lawmakers to bring down new conservative Prime Minister Michel Barnier. The vote was a key test for Barnier, whose Cabinet is forced to rely on the far right's good will to be able to stay in power. The no-confidence motion was brought by a left-wing coalition, the New Popular Front. It received 197 votes, far from the 289 votes needed to pass. The far-right National Rally group, which counts 125 lawmakers, abstained from voting. France's minority government is expected to survive a no-confidence vote on Tuesday in a test for new conservative Prime Minister Michel Barnier, forced to rely on the far right's good will to be able to stay in power. It comes as Barnier's fragile government faces a major challenge to get a budget for next year approved with no majority at parliament. Following June-July parliamentary elections, the Natio

France tightens steps to prevent Osama bin Laden's son from returning

France's interior minister said Tuesday he has taken additional steps against any effort by one of the sons of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden to return to France. Omar bin Laden had been living in France's Normandy region but left the country in October 2023 after French authorities withdrew his residency papers and ordered him out, the Interior Ministry said. At the time, authorities also barred him from returning to France for two years, the ministry added. In a post Tuesday on the social media platform X, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said he imposed an additional ban to ensure that Omar bin Laden will not be able to return to France for any reason whatsoever. French daily Le Parisien reported that Omar bin Laden now lives in Qatar. It said he had previously been living since 2016 in the Orne region of Normandy with his British wife and had been working as an artist. The newspaper said that last week he lost a legal battle to overturn the ban on him returning to ...

MEA names Sanjeev Singla, Ajit Gupte as ambassadors to France, Germany

Singla presently serves as the Ambassador of India to Israel; Gupte is presently the Ambassador of India to Egypt

India and France strengthen aerospace ties, signs MoU for bilateral coop

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu led India's delegation in meet with French aerospace representatives at New Delhi today

Macron holds pitch meeting with Wall Street as budget worries mount

Macron spoke about the likelihood of increasing taxes to fund the country's budget, and was also candid about France's economic challenges

French Embassy in Iran issues travel warnings over tensions with Israel

They advised their nationals to absolutely refrain from coming to Iran and asked them to leave Iranian territory as soon as possible

French President Macron voices support for permanent UNSC seat for India

The remarks by Macron came during his address at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

US, allies call for 'immediate' 21-day ceasefire between Israel, Hezbollah

France's foreign minister has said that his country and the United States are working on a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire proposal to allow for negotiations in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Jean-Nol Barrot told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that the proposal would be released shortly. We are counting on both parties to accept it without delay, he said. Earlier, President Joe Biden said that fighting between Israel and Hezbollah threatens to become an all-out war as his top diplomat and other advisers worked behind the scenes pressing for a temporary cease-fire to calm an escalating conflict that has killed more than 600 people in Lebanon in recent days. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US administration was "intensely engaged with a number of partners to de-escalate tensions in Lebanon and to work to get a ceasefire agreement that would have so many benefits for all concerned". Blinken and other Biden advisers have spent the past three day

Can the new French govt solve New Caledonia crisis after months of unrest?

After four months of deadly unrest in New Caledonia, tensions in the French Pacific territory between the pro-independence Indigenous Kanak people and the white settler communities loyal to Paris are simmering as the vast archipelago east of Australia marks the anniversary of colonization on Tuesday. The communities stand far apart on the territory's future following the Kanaks' revolt in May against President Emmanuel Macron' s voting reform in New Caledonia. The loyalists have called on supporters in the capital, Noumea, to mark the 171st anniversary of the French takeover by honking horns during a radio broadcast of France's national anthem, La Marseillaise. Separately, the National Council of Chiefs of the Kanak people is meeting on the neighbouring Mare Island and is expected to unilaterally declare sovereignty over the Kanak nation on their customary territories. Macron sidelined the controversial voting reform along with the situation in New Caledonia in June after he ...

Hero MotoCorp's e-scooters to debut in the UK and EU markets in 2025

Indian automaker Hero MotoCorp will be entering the UK, France, and Spain markets with its Vida e-scooters

EU chief Von der Leyen to unveil her new team after long and bumpy road

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen is expected to unveil the members of her new team for the next five-year tenure at the head of the bloc on Tuesday. But it has been a tumultuous ride to get it ready for office the search for the 26 members of her college was chaotic and scandal-ridden even before the parliament is to start hearings on whether to accept each proposed candidate. French heavyweight Thierry Breton resigned and openly criticised von der Leyen for allegedly questionable governance on Monday and accused her of backroom machinations to oust him. Many saw his shock resignation more as a removal by von der Leyen of one of her most open internal critics after exerting pressure on French authorities. Compounding such problems was the defiance of many of the 27 member states as von der Leyen struggled to get anywhere close to gender parity on her Commission team they staunchly refused to give her a choice between a male and a female candidate. After days of secret t

French EU commissioner resigns after attacking Ursula von der Leyen

An influential French member of the European Union's powerful executive branch resigned on Monday, calling into question the leadership of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen just as she tries to assemble a new team for the next five years. Thierry Breton, a French business executive and commissioner for the EU's vast internal market who recently clashed with tech billionaire Elon Musk, suggested that von der Leyen had gone behind his back to get another French official named in his place to the next commission. In a post on social media platform X containing his resignation letter to the EU's top official, Breton said that von der Leyen's move was further testimony to questionable governance - I have to conclude that I can no longer exercise my duties in the college. The commission proposes legislation for the 27 EU member countries and ensures that the rules governing the world's biggest trading bloc are respected. It's made up of a College of commissioners with a .