France

February 18, 2025 10:53 AM

Europe talks up more defence spending as Ukraine peacekeeper plan divides

European leaders meeting in Paris for emergency talks on Monday called for higher spending to ramp up the continent's defence capabilities but remained split on the idea of deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine to back up any peace deal. The leaders also agreed it would be dangerous to conclude a Ukraine ceasefire without a peace agreement at the same time, and that they were ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine "depending on the level of American support," a European official said. "...

February 12, 2025 9:22 PM

PM Modi departs for US after ‘productive’ France visit, Macron sees him off at airport

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his three-day visit to France on Wednesday, describing it as "historic and productive." In a special gesture, French President Emmanuel Macron personally bid farewell to PM Modi at the airport, with the two leaders sharing a warm hug before departure. PM Modi left Marseille for Washington, D.C., for the second leg of his two-nation tour. During his time in France, he participated in high-level discussions and events covering artificial intelligence, commer...

February 11, 2025 5:21 PM

India and France: Charting a Course for Shared Prosperity and Security

India and France enjoy a strong bilateral relationship. Notably, France was the first country with which India launched its first-ever Strategic Partnership on 26 January 1998 to deepen bilateral relations. The strategic partnership completed its 25 years in 2023. Consequently, at the invitation of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France as the Guest of Honour at the French National Day from 13-14 July 2023. Moreover, with the completion o...

February 7, 2025 8:43 PM

“PM Modi to co-chair AI summit, address CEOs forum”, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri outlines France visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to co-chair the AI Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and will address the India-France CEOs Forum during his visit to France, scheduled from February 10 to February 12. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a press briefing on Friday, emphasized the growing significance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and highlighted India's expectation that AI applications should be designed, developed, deployed, and used in a safe, humane, responsible, and trustwort...

January 31, 2025 10:05 PM

PM Modi to attend AI summit in France, MEA confirms

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Friday. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated during a press briefing that India is developing its own AI program and is engaged in discussions with multiple partners on technology collaboration. "French President has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the AI Action Summit, and we have...

January 8, 2025 3:16 PM

EU will not tolerate attacks on its borders, France says after Trump Greenland comments

The European Union will not let other nations attack its sovereign borders, France's foreign minister said on Wednesday, responding to comments by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on taking over Greenland. Trump declined on Monday to rule out military or economic action as part of his avowed desire to have the U.S. take control of Greenland, as well as the Panama Canal. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said he did not believe the U.S. would invade the vast Arctic island that has been ...

January 7, 2025 4:20 PM

France says conditions of citizens held in Iran akin to torture

The situation of three French citizens held in Iran is worsening with some being detained in conditions similar to torture, France's foreign minister said on Tuesday, adding that future ties and any lifting of sanctions would depend on their fate. French officials have toughened their language towards Iran in recent weeks, notably over the advancement of its nuclear programme and regional activities, but also the detention of European citizens in the country. President Emmanuel Macron said on ...

December 13, 2024 7:34 PM

France’s Macron names veteran centrist ally Bayrou as prime minister

French President Emmanuel Macron named Francois Bayrou as his fourth prime minister of 2024 on Friday, charging the veteran centrist with steering the country out of its second political crisis in the past six months. The priority for Bayrou, a close Macron ally, will be passing a special law to roll over the 2024 budget, with a nastier battle over the 2025 legislation looming early next year. Parliamentary pushback over the 2025 bill led to the downfall of former Prime Minister Michel Barnier'...

December 4, 2024 6:53 PM

Crunch time in France as lawmakers look set to oust Barnier’s government

French lawmakers are all but certain to oust the governmentwith a no-confidence motionon Wednesday, plunging the euro zone's second-biggest economic power deeper into political turmoil. Barring a last-minute surprise, Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government will be France's first to be forced out by a no-confidence vote in more than 60 years, at a time when the country is struggling to tame a massive budget deficit. That would leave a hole at the heart of the European Union at a time when G...

November 27, 2024 11:24 PM

Israel-Hezbollah truce holds, Israel sets south Lebanon curfew

A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah held on Wednesday after the two sides struck a deal brokered by the U.S. and France, but Israel warned local residents not to return to the border area yet or approach its troops. The agreement, a rare diplomatic feat in a region racked by conflict for months, ended the deadliest confrontation betweenIsrael and the Iran-backed militant group in years, but Israel is still fighting its other arch foe, the Palestinian militant group Ham...