Page 40 - France

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

Morocco makes another World Cup statement despite loss against France

Yassine Bounou stretched out his arm with everything he had, desperately trying to get something, anything, in the way of the ball. It was no use. France substitute Randal Kolo Muani had come on only seconds earlier and with his first touch assured the defending champions of a second straight World Cup final, putting an end to Morocco's proud fight once and for all. France ended up winning 2-0 and will face Argentina for the title on Sunday. But it wasn't until that moment, in the 79th minute of an enthralling semifinal match at Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday, that the two-time champions could breathe easily. My players gave everything, Morocco coach Walid Regragui said. They've gone as far as they could. It's difficult for them to take now. They wanted to rewrite the history books, but you can't win a World Cup with miracles, you have to do it with hard work and that's what we are going to do, keep working. The team that has provided the most improbable story of this year's World C

Mbappe, France advance to FIFA World Cup 2022 final, beat Morocco 2-0

France and Kylian Mbapp are headed back to the World Cup final for a much-anticipated matchup with Lionel Messi after ending Morocco's historic run at soccer's biggest tournament. France beat Africa's first ever semifinalist 2-0 Wednesday, with Mbapp playing a part in goals by Theo Hernandez in the fifth minute and then substitute Randal Kolo Muani in the 79th. France will head into Sunday's title match against Argentina looking to become the first team to retain the World Cup title since Brazil in 1962. Mbapp has the chance to cement his status as soccer's new superstar when he comes up against the 35-year-old Messi, who has dominated the game with Cristiano Ronaldo for the past 15 years. There will be no team from the Arab world in the final of the first World Cup in the Middle East, a prospect that seemed nigh impossible before the tournament. Yet Morocco did break ground for Africa and generated an outpouring of pride among Arab nations after topping a group containing Croatia

Fifa World Cup, FRA vs MAR, SF Highlights: Easy 2-0 win see France in final

Fifa World Cup 2022, France vs Morocco Highlights: Morocco gave had far more possession of the ball than France and an almost equal number of shots on goal and on target, yet they lost the game 0-2

UK, France, UAE support India's bid for permanent membership at UNSC

The UK, France and UAE on Wednesday (local time) extended support for India's permanent membership at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

Fifa WC, ENG vs FRA Highlights: England head home as Kane misses penalty

Fifa World Cup, England vs France Quarterfinal Highlights: Harry Kane, the joint-highest goal scorer for England missed a penalty in the 83rd minute. It was game-changing as France eventually won 2-1

Dominique Lapierre, French author of The City of Joy', dies aged 91

Dominique Lapierre, the bestselling French author well-known in India for his ode to the city of Kolkata titled The City of Joy', has died aged 91, his wife has confirmed. Lapierre, who was conferred the Padma Bhushan in the 2008 Republic Day honours, founded a humanitarian association with his wife entitled the City of Joy Foundation rescuing children suffering from leprosy from the slums of Kolkata. Dating back to 1981, it was supported by the royalties from his many literary successes. "At 91, he died of old age," the author's wife Dominique Conchon-Lapierre was quoted as saying by the French newspaper Var-Matin' on Sunday. The couple's foundation from the 1980s is believed to have rescued 9,000 children suffering from leprosy and other diseases due to malnutrition and poverty in India. The charity website notes that it has also helped fight back tuberculosis in 1,200 villages, dug 541 tube wells for drinking water, provided medical assistance to over 5 million patients over the

FIFA WC: Mbappe's brace helps France trounce Poland 3-1 to reach QFs

Just before halftime, Giroud handed France the lead, becoming their men's all-time leading scorer. Mbappe then dominated the second half with a magnificent brace

Fifa World Cup FRA vs POL Highlights: Mbappe's brace takes France to last 8

Fifa World Cup 2022, France vs Poland, Round of 16 Highlights: Kylian Mbappe's two rocket goals plus Olivia Giroud's record 53rd international goal took France over the line as they beat Poland 3-1

US, France to form united front to ask Vladimir Putin to end Ukraine war

Both Biden and Putin skipped an opportunity to talk at the recent G20 summit in Bali in Indonesia where India made a strident appeal to find peaceful ways to end the war

French govt calls on high-risk groups to get 2nd Covid booster shot

There is currently a subvariant that is spreading fast in France, French government spokesperson Olivier Veran underlined