France

Paris, 22 Nov 2019; AA: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted the importance of Turkey for the alliance in an interview Thursday with French newspaper Le Figaro. 

“All allies have criticized the operation, but no one questioned Turkey’s place in NATO,” Stoltenberg told the paper, referring to Operation Peace Spring launched by Turkey in October.

PARIS (Reuters) - The global economy is growing at the slowest pace since the financial crisis as governments leave it to central banks to revive investment, the OECD said on Thursday in an update of its forecasts.

The world economy is projected to grow by a decade-low 2.9% this year and next, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said in its Economic Outlook, trimming its 2020 forecast from an estimate of 3.0% in September.

20 November 2019; AFP: Oil, gas and coal output already planned or in the pipeline will overwhelm efforts to cap global warming at levels consistent with a liveable planet, the UN and leading research groups warned Wednesday.

The world is on track to produce 50 percent more fossil fuels than could be burned without increasing Earth's surface by more than two degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, they said in a major report.

PARIS, Nov 19 (NNN-Prensa Latina) - Venezuela denounced at the UNESCO General Conference the impact of the US-imposed financial blockade on the country’s socio-cultural life and its relations with the UN specialized organization.

Addressing the general debate of the forum that entered its second week, Minister for Indigenous Peoples Aloha Nuñez said that Washington’s unilateral sanctions prevent in many cases the importation of food and medical supplies essential for the population.

18 November 2019; AFP: French "yellow vest" demonstrators occupied a top Parisian department store on Sunday, a day after clashes in the capital on the first anniversary of the protest movement.

The glitzy Galeries Lafayette store in the Opera shopping district was evacuated after dozens of protesters chanting anti-capitalist and anti-government slogans took over the third floor.

PARIS, November 17. /TASS/: At least 28,000 people have taken part in the Yellow Vests protests in France on November 16, the BFM TV channel informed, citing the French Interior Ministry.

According to the ministry, 4,700 people attended the rallies in Paris. As of 20:00 local time (22:00 Moscow time), 147 people have been detained.

PARIS (Reuters) - French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner blamed “thugs” and “bullies” on Sunday for the violence that hit demonstrations the previous day marking marked the first anniversary of the anti-government “yellow vest” protests.

“Yesterday, what we saw were few (legitimate) demonstrators but thugs, bullies and morons,” Castaner told Europe 1 radio when asked about the violence in Paris on Saturday.

PARIS (Reuters) - Paris police fired tear gas in northwestern Paris on Saturday to drive back protesters on the first year anniversary weekend of anti-government “yellow vest” demonstrations.

Clashes broke out between demonstrators and police near the Porte de Champerret as protesters were preparing to march across town toward Gare d’Austerlitz in southern Paris while police also intervened to prevent a few hundred demonstrators from occupying the Paris ring road, according to Reuters TV footage.

Paris police said 24 people had been arrested by 0950 GMT.

PARIS (AP) — The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France will meet in Paris on Dec. 9 to try to seek a settlement for the five-year conflict in eastern Ukraine that has killed 13,000 people.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced the meeting Friday after months of diplomatic efforts to get all sides to agree on new talks.

Macron’s office said it’s time for a meeting because of “major advances” in negotiations since this summer, including troop withdrawals and prisoner exchanges.

PARIS, Nov 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France will take back 11 suspected French jihadists from Turkey, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said after Ankara said it was deporting foreign citizens linked to the group.

Turkey’s unilateral offensive has angered Washington and Turkey’s main European NATO allies who fear a return of in the region. European countries are especially concerned about foreign Daesh fighters and adults returning to Europe.