Page 3 - France

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

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