Page 40 - France

France to unveil pension norms that upset workers, unions call for protest

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne is to unveil on Tuesday a highly sensitive pension overhaul aimed at pushing up the retirement age that has already prompted vigorous criticism and calls for protests from leftist opponents and worker unions. The minimum retirement age to be entitled to a full pension is expected to be gradually increased from 62 to 64 or 65, in line with a longstanding pledge by President Emmanuel Macron. Details are to be released by Borne at a news conference. The government argues that French people live longer than they used to and therefore need to work longer to make the pension system financially sustainable. All French workers receive a state pension. Centre-left and hard-left worker unions unanimously expressed their disapproval of the proposed changes after talks with Borne last week. Some are in favour of an increase in payroll contributions paid by employers instead. The country's eight main worker unions are gathering on Tuesday to set the date o

Hockey World Cup 2023: Teams, schedule, venues and everything one must know

The Men's Hockey World Cup 2023 is only days away and thus it dawns upon us that one must know what exactly is the event going to be like. We find out

France captain Hugo Lloris ends int'l career, to focus on Tottenham club

World Cup winner Hugo Lloris retired from playing for France after a record 145 appearances. Lloris won the 2018 World Cup and was captain of the squad that lost to Argentina in the final in Qatar last month. The 36-year-old goalkeeper told L'Equipe newspaper he will focus on his Tottenham club career in the English Premier League. I want to continue to perform, to live this sport as I have always done, and maybe this decision will give me more physical freshness with my club," Lloris said. In the next four or five months, with Tottenham, I want to live strong things, to finish in the top 4 of the Premier League, to do something strong in the Champions League, in the FA Cup too." France coach Didier Deschamps paid tribute to a great servant of the French team" and a remarkable human being" who decided to retire at the top of his game." He was captain when I became coach in 2012, I kept the armband for him and I have never regretted it," Deschamps said in a statement relayed by th

Paris court dismisses Caribbean pesticide use case against French govt

Nearly 20 years after Caribbean islanders sued to hold the French government criminally responsible for the banana industry's extended use of a banned pesticide in Martinique and Guadeloupe, a panel of judges has dismissed their case, ruling that it's too hard to determine who's to blame for acts committed so long ago. The judges in Paris described the use of chlordecone from 1973-1993 as a scandalous environmental attack whose human, economic and social consequences affect and will affect for many years the daily life of the inhabitants of the two French Caribbean islands. But they also asserted that even in the 1990s, scientists had not established links between chlordecone and illnesses in people. How dare they write such a historical and scientific untruth, Christophe Lguevaques, an attorney involved in the case, said in a statement issued on Thursday. Chlordecone, also known as kepone, was patented in the 1950s by scientists working for Allied Chemical, a US company based in N

Ukrainian mining boss gets bail, declares wish to "fight Russians"

A Ukrainian billionaire and former legislator suspected of embezzling tens of millions of dollars was ordered freed from French custody on USD 1 million bail on Thursday, after he called the Ukrainian case against him politically driven and declared he wants to fight Russians who invaded his country. Mining magnate Kostiantyn Zhevago, 48, was arrested in the ski resort of Courchevel in the French Alps last week based on an international warrant issued by Ukraine. It's really a political thing. I have always fought corrupt people in Ukraine, Zhevago told a court hearing on Thursday in the Alpine city of Chambery. His wife and daughter were also present. Ukrainian authorities submitted 244 pages of documents supporting their request for Zhevago's extradition, and the court adjourned until January 19 to study them. In the meantime, his team of lawyers said the court agreed to his release on 1 million euro (USD 1.05 million) bail and ordered him to report to local French police once a

French President Emmanuel Macron may visit India in first half of 2023

Preparations for an expected visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to India, situation arising out of the Ukraine conflict and ways to expand bilateral defence cooperation figured prominently during a fresh round of strategic dialogue between the two sides on Thursday, people familiar with the matter said. The two sides are working on the dates for Macron's visit even as it emerged that French fighter Rafale was much ahead of American F/A-18 Super Hornet in the multi-billion dollar contract to supply 26 deck-based jets to the Indian Navy. There was a report in the French media on Thursday indicating that the deal could be inked during Macron's visit to India. Last year, the Indian Navy carried out detailed evaluation of the two jets and submitted a report to the defence ministry for a final decision. "The two sides are exploring a visit by President Macron to India around March. But dates are yet to be finalised," said one of the people cited above, adding it figured in the ...

Killed 800 Russian soldiers in a day, claims Kyiv; France promises tanks

Ukraine's military said Russian forces were focused on an offensive in the Bakhmut sector and its attacks in the Avdiivka and Kupiansk sectors were unsuccessful

France reiterates support for India as a permanent member of UNSC

France and India established a strategic partnership in 1998, which has since grown continuously in scope and depth

Covid-mutation risk drives rush to test travellers from China across world

Covid-19 testing requirements for passengers traveling from China highlight mounting concerns about the potential for undetected new strains of the virus spawned by the country's burgeoning outbreak

French defence chief vsists Ukraine, pledges army equipment, $212 million

France's defence minister on Wednesday pledged further military support for Ukraine insisting his government's backing is unflagging while efforts are also being made with Moscow to reach an eventual negotiated end to Russia's invasion. French Minister for the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu said his trip to Kyiv was important to identify the priorities of the Ukrainian defence ministry. France's support will include a 200 million euro (US$212 million) fund that would allow Ukraine to purchase weapons, Lecornu said. Lecornu travelled to Ukraine's capital after a trip to Poland, where he announced a deal Tuesday to sell Poland two French-made military satellites. While France has been less vocal about its military support for Ukraine than the United States and Britain, the country has sent a steady supply of weapons to Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24. France hosted two aid conferences for Ukraine this month. But many in Ukraine remain critical of Paris' response to the war

France to provide two observation satellites, receiving station to Poland

France will provide Poland with two observation satellites and a receiving station under a deal sealed Tuesday in Warsaw which Poland says will help its armed forces recognise threats early. Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, after meeting with his French counterpart Sbastien Lecornu, announced that they approved an agreement between Airbus and the Polish Armament Agency on equipping the Polish army with two reconnaissance satellites. Blaszczak said the agreement represented a good opportunity to strengthen our capacity for the early detection of threats. The Polish Armament Agency put the total value of the deal at 575 million euros ($612 million) and said the launch of the satellites into space would be completed by 2027. The Polish Defence Ministry said that thanks to the satellites, its military will be able to obtain reconnaissance data with an accuracy of 30 centimeters (nearly a foot). Blaszczak called it an early-warning system against both military and civilian ..

Italy to host Tour de France bicycle race in June 2024 for the first time

Italy will host the start of the Tour de France for the first time in 2024. Race organisers confirmed on Wednesday that the "grand dpart" will take place on June 29 from Florence to Rimini to mark 100 years since Ottavio Bottecchia became the first Italian rider to win the Tour. Italy will host the first three stages of the 2024 race, which will end on July 21 in Nice instead of Paris because of the Olympic Games. It will be the first time since 1905 that the finish is not the French capital. The start was brought forward by one week, a customary change during an Olympic year.

Google Search hit highest ever traffic in 25 years during Fifa WC final

The six-goal madness of the final between Argentina and France means that the Qatar Fifa World Cup is the tournament with the highest number of goals ever scored

Fifa World Cup: Top five iconic finals that lived up to the occasion

Fifa World Cup final: Here's a look at some of the iconic finals of the football World Cup in the history of the game

Messi wins FIFA World Cup 2022, Argentina beats France on penalties

Lionel Messi finally won the biggest prize in soccer as Argentina beat France 4-2 in a penalty shootout Sunday to claim a third World Cup title despite Kylian Mbapp scoring the first hat trick in a final in 56 years. Gonzalo Montiel scored the clinching penalty kick as Argentina won after a 3-3 draw.

2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar sets scoring record with 172 goals

The six-goal final between France and Argentina set a World Cup record of 172 at this year's tournament. The previous tournament record of 171 goals was set in 1998 and 2014. The 1998 tournament in France was the first edition in the current 64-game, 32-team format. A new record is likely to be set at the 2026 World Cup, which has been expanded to 48 teams playing either 80 or 104 games. On Sunday, Argentina and France drew 3-3 through extra time to set the record. Lionel Messi scored two goals for Argentina and Kylian Mbappe got a hat trick for France the first in a World Cup final since 1966. Argentina won the title, its third, by prevailing 4-2 in a penalty shootout. It was the second straight six-goal final. France defeated Croatia 4-2 four years ago in Russia. The 2.63 goals per game average in Qatar is far below the World Cup record of 5.38 goals per game at the 1954 edition in Switzerland.

Fifa World Cup final: Prize money for winning team, runner-up revealed

Fifa World Cup 2022 final: What is the prize money for the winning team? Check all the details here

France squad struck by virus ahead of World Cup final against Argentina

France coach Didier Deschamps claimed the team was taking measures to prevent the virus from spreading after Upamecano and Rabiot missed the semifinal win over Morocco

World Cup: Poland's Marciniak to referee France-Argentina final on Sunday

Polish referee Szymon Marciniak will make history as the first man from his country to take charge of a Fifa World Cup final on Sunday

Argentina vs France: An unpredictable classic you do not want to miss

On Sunday, La Albiceleste will fight for the title that eluded them in 2014, and Les Bleus will hope to rewrite history