Page 3 - France

Macron set to appoint new French PM in last-ditch move to tackle turmoil

After a week of intense political turmoil, French President Emmanuel Macron is set to appoint a new prime minister on Friday in his latest bid to break the political deadlock that has gripped the country for more than a year, as France struggles with mounting economic challenges and ballooning debt. The appointment is widely seen as the president's last chance to revive his second term, which runs until 2027. With no majority in the National Assembly to push through his agenda, Macron faces increasingly fierce criticism, even from within his own camp, and has little room to manoeuvre. Outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu abruptly resigned on Monday, only hours after unveiling a new Cabinet. The shock resignation prompted calls for Macron to step down or dissolve parliament again. But they remained unanswered, with the president instead announcing on Wednesday that he would name a successor within 48 hours. Over the past year, Macron's successive minority governments have ...

France woos Indian students with affordable courses, 2-yr post-study visas

As the US and Europe tighten visa rules, France invites more Indian students with affordable education, English courses, and post-study visas

Macron to name new French PM within 48 hrs amid deepening political crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that he will name a new prime minister in the next 48 hours, for now rejecting other options in the face of a political storm. The naming of a replacement for outgoing Prime Minister Sbastien Lecornu, who abruptly resigned on Monday, will at least for now move France away from the likelihood of snap legislative elections, another possibility that is available to the French leader but which could plunge the European Union's second-largest economy into even greater uncertainty. The announcement from Macron's office of a prime ministerial appointment before the weekend came after Lecornu at the president's request spent the two days after his resignation taking the temperature in Parliament, to see whether there was enough support in the powerful but fractured lower house to form a new government. Lecornu concluded that there was, even though Macron's camp and its allies don't have a majority in the National Assembly and the French ..

France sees 17% rise in Indian students, nears 2030 target of 30,000

France has recorded a 17% rise in Indian student enrolments for 2024-25, bringing it closer to its goal of hosting 30,000 Indian students by 2030, the Embassy of France said

India's UPI expansion continues: Qatar latest to adopt, check full list

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal attended the launch of UPI in Doha, Qatar, marking another step in India's growing digital payments expansion abroad

Gold nears $4,000 an ounce for first time ever: What's driving the rally?

According to the goldprice website, the current gold price, at the time of publishing this report, was recorded at $3965.63

Yen tumbles on likely new leader, euro slides after French PM resigns

The dollar rose 1.8 per cent to 150.1 yen, its highest since August. If sustained, that would be its biggest daily gain since May 12

French PM Sebastien Lecornu resigns after under a month in office

France Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned just hours after unveiling his cabinet, ending his brief 26-day tenure amid political criticism

Emmanuel Macron ally Roland Lescure named France's new finance minister

An initial salvo of 18 ministers was announced on Sunday evening by Emmanuel Moulin, Secretary General of the Élysee Palace

French PM Lecornu rejects forced Budget law, seeks cross-party support

France's new prime minister announced Friday he would not use a special constitutional power to force a budget through parliament without a vote and will instead seek a compromise with lawmakers from the left and the right. Sbastien Lecornu, a 39 year-old centrist, was appointed last month by President Emmanuel Macron after political turmoil over planned spending cuts that led to the fall of his predecessor. Friday's move seek to prevent a no-confidence motion from being voted at parliament, where Lecornu lacks a majority. Each lawmaker must be able to have power, must be able to have responsibility, Lecornu said. I decided to renounce using the article 49.3 of the Constitution. The government will need to change its method, build compromises during the parliamentary debate, he added. The so-called 49.3 article provides says the government can pass a bill without a vote at the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament. Lecornu's predecessor, Franois Bayrou, used it to pass

Shein's first permanent stores in France spark backlash: What it means

The opening of permanent stores represents a major milestone for the company, which until now has relied primarily on temporary pop-up shops worldwide as a marketing strategy

Macron links tanker seized off French coast to Russia's shadow oil fleet

French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that an oil tanker immobilised off the French Atlantic coast had committed very serious wrongdoings and linked it to Russia's shadow fleet, which is avoiding Western sanctions over Moscow's war in Ukraine. The tanker was sailing last week off the coast of Denmark and was cited by European naval experts as possibly being involved in drone flights over the country. French naval forces forcibly boarded the ship a few days ago at the request of prosecutors who suspected wrongdoing, a military official said Wednesday. The prosecutor's office in the western French city of Brest said a judicial investigation has been opened into the crew's refusal to cooperate and failure to justify the nationality of the vessel. The ship was ordered to stay in place pending further investigation, the military official said. French naval forces boarded the ship again Wednesday to provide food and fuel to the crew aboard, according to the official, who was no

Ex-French President Sarkozy gets 5 years jail in Libyan funding case

As might be expected, the guilty verdict against Nicolas Sarkoz, drew anger from a large part of the political class

Iran recalls envoys from France, Germany, UK ahead of UN nuclear sanctions

Iran on Saturday recalled its ambassadors to France, Germany and the United Kingdom ahead of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear programme being reimplemented. The three nations had pushed forward what diplomats refer to as snapback sanctions on Iran over it not cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency and not holding direct talks with the United States. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported the move, saying the ambassadors would be recalled for consultations. The sanctions are due to resume at 0000 GMT Sunday (8 pm Eastern Saturday). The measure will again freeze Iranian assets abroad, halt arms deals with Tehran, and penalise any development of Iran's ballistic missile programme, among other measures.

Nicolas Sarkozy sentenced to five years for 2007 Libyan cash campaign

The judges decided that any appeal by Sarkozy wouldn't lift the execution of the sentence. Agence France-Presse said that he is due to be summoned within a month to learn the start of his jail term

India may turn to France's Safran jet engines as US defence talks drag on

India's reported interest in French fighter jet engines marks a shift from the major trade deal the country secured with the US under its former President Joe Biden's government

French court orders Sanofi to pay $177 mn for anti-competitive behaviour

Sanofi said it is currently analysing the grounds of the ruling and reserves the right to file an appeal before the French Supreme Court

Choose France Tour 2025: 50 French universities to visit India in October

France's Choose France Tour 2025 will visit four Indian cities in October, with over 50 universities and schools as Indian enrolments rise 17%

France formally recognises Palestinian state at UN, defying US and Israel

As the Gaza war rages on, France recognized Palestinian statehood on Monday at the start of a high-profile meeting at the United Nations aimed at galvanizing support for a two-state solution to the Mideast conflict. More nations are expected to follow, in defiance of Israel and the United States. French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement in the UN General Assembly hall received loud applause from the more than 140 leaders in attendance. The Palestinian delegation, including its UN ambassador, Riyad Mansour, could be seen standing and applauding as the declaration was made. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, was seen applauding on a live-camera view after the US government banned him from attending the UN gathering in person. True to the historic commitment of my country to the Middle East, to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, this is why I declare that today, France recognizes the state of Palestine, Macron said. The meeting and expanded recognition of ..

France's richest man, LVMH's Arnault, slams proposed billionaire tax

"This is clearly not a technical or economic debate, but rather a clearly stated desire to destroy the French economy," Arnault told Britain's Sunday Times