Page 4 - France

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

In managing national debt, France could borrow a leaf from India

European giant's subsidies and welfare spending blamed for stretched financial resources

Strikes, protests roil France, pitting streets against Macron, new PM

Marching with thousands of other protesters in Paris, hospital nurse Aya Tour put her finger on the pulse of many who took to streets across France on Thursday against the government of President Emmanuel Macron. Fed up. Really, really fed up," she said. Those people governing us, they have no clue about real-life issues. We are paying the price. Strikes that hobbled the Paris Metro and disrupted other services, coupled with nationwide demonstrations that saw sporadic clashes with police who fired volleys of tear gas, gave loud voice to widespread complaints that eight years of leadership by France's business-friendly president have benefited too few people and hurt too many. The day of upheaval for the European Union's second-largest economy aimed to turn up the heat on new Prime Minister Sbastien Lecornu and his boss, Macron. They're engaged in an intensifying battle both in parliament and on the streets about how to plug holes in France's finances, with opponents fighting propos

France braces for day of strikes as unions challenge new PM's budget plans

Strikes and street demonstrations called by all major trade unions to denounce budget cuts were expected Thursday across France, as new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu talks with political opponents about curbing France's massive deficit and debt. Unions are urging Lecornu to abandon draft budget measures proposed by his predecessor, which include social welfare freezes and austerity measures that many say will further erode the purchasing power of low-paid and middle-class workers. In a joint statement issued before the change of prime minister last week, unions described such measures as unprecedented brutality, regretting that previous government had "chosen to make workers, those in precarious employment, retirees, and the sick pay the price. Unions also continue to denounce President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform that raised the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64. Outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said Wednesday he expects a very strong mobilization in the ...

France World Cup winner Samuel Umtiti retires from football aged 31

Former France defender Samuel Umtiti, a World Cup winner in 2018, has retired from soccer. The 31-year-old Umtiti, who also helped Barcelona win two La Liga titles and three Copa del Rey trophies, has been without a club since he left Ligue 1 team Lille at the end of last season. After having lived an intense career with its highs and lows, the time has come to say goodbye, Umtiti said on his Instagram account on Monday. I gave everything with passion and I regret nothing. Umtiti played 31 times for France, and took part in the 2016 home European Championship. He scored four goals, including the winner in the 1-0 defeat of Belgium in the 2018 World Cup semifinals. Sam, who joined the French national team for Euro 2016, played an important role in our conquest of the World Cup title in Russia, France coach Didier Deschamps said. Everyone will remember his headed goal that allowed us to beat Belgium and qualify for the final. I also recall his partnership with Raphal, his defensive

Iran, France near prisoner swap deal including woman held for posts on Gaza

Iran's foreign minister says Iran and France are close to agreeing to an exchange of prisoners, including the release of an Iranian woman arrested in France over her online posts related to the war in Gaza. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state TV late on Thursday that Mahdieh Esfandiari is expected to be released as part of a swap that he hoped would happen in the coming days. Esfandiari, a translator living in the French city of Lyon since 2018, was arrested in February on a terror-related charge for alleged posts on Telegram about the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza, according to French media reports. Araghchi did not elaborate on any French prisoners who might be released, but France has long sought the release of two French citizens held in Iran on suspicion of espionage. Ccile Kohler and Jacques Paris have been detained since May 2022. French Foreign Minister Jean-Nol Barrot declined on Friday to comment on Araghchi's remarks other

Godrej Enterprises Group signs deal with Safran to build LEAP engine parts

Under the five-year agreement, Godrej will manufacture titanium-based complex ventilation assemblies for LEAP engines, the company said in an official release

India, France hold 17th counter-terrorism meet, vow deeper cooperation

During the meet India and France condemned the April Pahalgam terror attack, assessed threats from cross-border terrorism and extremism, and agreed to expand cooperation

France deploys Rafale jets to Poland after Russian drone incursions

President Emmanuel Macron stressed that defending Europe against Russian actions remains central to French and Nato strategy

French police detain 295 in clashes as Macron appoints new prime minister

Protesters blocked roads, lit blazes and were met with volleys of tear gas on Wednesday in Paris and elsewhere in France, heaping pressure on President Emmanuel Macron and making new Prime Minister Sbastien Lecornu 's first day in office a baptism of fire. The government's interior ministry announced 295 arrests in the first hours of what was a planned day of nationwide demonstrations against Macron, budget cuts and other complaints. Although falling short of its self-declared intention to Block Everything, the protest movement that started online over the summer caused widespread hot spots of disruption, defying an exceptional deployment of 80,000 police who broke up barricades and swiftly made arrests. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said that a bus was set on fire in the western city of Rennes. In the southwest, fire damage to electrical cables stopped train services on one line and disrupted traffic on another, government transport authorities said. Spreading protests The .

'Block Everything' protests sweep across France, protesters arrested

Authorities deployed more than 80,000 security personnel across the country, removing barriers and containing unrest as tensions flared in several places

Protests erupt across France as new PM faces 'baptism of fire'; 200 held

Protesters blocked roads, set blazes and were met with volleys of police tear gas Wednesday in Paris and elsewhere in France, seeking to heap pressure on President Emmanuel Macron by attempting to give his new prime minister a baptism of fire. The interior minister announced nearly 200 arrests in the first hours of the planned day of nationwide protests. Although falling short of its self-declared intention to Block Everything, the protest movement that started online and gathered steam over the summer caused widespread hot spots of disruption, defying an exceptional deployment of 80,000 police who broke up barricades and swiftly made arrests. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said a bus was set on fire in the western city of Rennes and that damage to a power line blocked trains on a line in the southwest. He alleged that protesters were attempting to create a climate of insurrection.

France's Macron names loyalist Sebastien Lecornu as new Prime Minister

Macron was forced to appoint a fifth prime minister in less than two years after parliament ousted Francois Bayrou nine months into the role over his plans for taming the country's ballooning debt