France

May 16, 2024 12:53 PM

Pacific countries call for calm as New Caledonia riots continue

New Caledonia's Pacific neighbours called for de-escalation and a return to dialogue between France and the island territory's political parties, after a third night of violent riots that have killed four people and led to hundreds of arrests. France declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia that came into force at 5 a.m. local time (1800 GMT Wednesday), giving authorities additional powers to ban gatherings and forbid people from moving around the island. Rioting broke out over a new bil...

May 13, 2024 5:30 PM

Microsoft to invest 4 billion euros in France

Technology and software giant Microsoft will invest 4 billion euros ($4.3 billion) in France as part of the annual 'Choose France' business summit, its president Brad Smith announced on Monday (May 13). "We're going to spend 4-billion euros to build a world-leading AI and data centre and cloud infrastructure here in France. We're going to bring to France 25,000 of the world's most advanced GPUs (graphics processing units). We will build the computing capacity here in France, we will put this in...

May 5, 2024 2:33 PM

Xi’s visit to France to open up new prospects for bilateral relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to France is of great significance in building on the past achievements and opening up new prospects for bilateral relations as the two countries celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Xi started his state visit to France on Sunday at the invitation of his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. The visit marks the second state visit by China's head of state to France in five years and coincides with the 60th annivers...

April 27, 2024 3:50 PM

Olympics-Paris 2024 Olympics flame sets sail for France in final relay leg

The Paris 2024 Olympic flame sailed for France on Saturday on board a three-masted ship to mark the final sprint of preparations ahead of the Olympic Games opening ceremony on July 26. The "Belem" left the port of Piraeus in the morning for an 11-day voyage and will arrive in the southern city of Marseille, founded by the Greek settlers of Phocaea around 600 BC, on May 8. Paris Games organisers had received the flame on Friday in a ceremony at Athens' Panathenaic stadium, site of the f...

April 26, 2024 4:35 PM

France, Germany push on with 2040 joint tank project

France and Germany agreed on Friday to move to the next phase of a project to jointly develop a battle tank by 2040, their defence ministers said, as they seek fresh impetus despite reservations and differences on each side. Berlin and Paris in 2017 agreed to work on a joint fighter jet under French lead, estimated to cost some 100 billion euros in total, and also a Franco-German tank to succeed the German Leopard 2 and the French Leclerc. Both projects have been plagued by disagreements and d...