France

PARIS (AP) — Dozens of countries and international organizations threw their weight and hundreds of millions of euros (dollars) behind a fresh and urgent push Tuesday to keep Ukraine powered, fed, warm and moving this winter, responding defiantly to sustained Russian aerial bombardments that have plunged millions into the cold and dark by targeting critical infrastructure.

An international donor conference in Paris quickly racked up pledges of financial and in-kind support to help Ukraine’s beleaguered civilian population survive winter’s freezing temperatures and long nights.

PARIS/NEW DELHI, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Air India is close to placing landmark orders for as many as 500 jetliners worth tens of billions of dollars from both Airbus and Boeing as it carves out an ambitious renaissance under the Tata Group conglomerate, industry sources said on Sunday.

The orders include as many as 400 narrow-body jets and 100 or more wide-bodies, including dozens of Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s and 777s, they said, speaking on condition of anonymity as finishing touches are placed on the mammoth deal in coming days.

PARIS (AP) — Emmanuel Macron calls it “combat diplomacy.” The French president has vowed to make every effort to support Ukraine — including by hosting an international conference Tuesday meant to help the country make it through winter.

In the longer term, he believes talks with Russia will be needed to find a path to peace.

11 Dec 2022; MEMO: French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Qatar to attend the World Cup semi-final between France and Morocco on Wednesday, French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said on Sunday, reports Reuters.

France, tournament winners in 2018, will play Morocco for a place in the final after they beat England 2-1 and the North Africans beat Portugal 1-0 in Saturday's earlier quarter-finals.

PARIS, December 3. /TASS/: The future European security architecture must include guarantees for Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview for TF1 Saturday.

PARIS, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The West should consider how to address Russia's need for security guarantees if President Vladimir Putin agrees to negotiations about ending the war in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said in remarks broadcast on Saturday.

In an interview with French TV station TF1 recorded during his state visit to the United States last week, Macron said Europe needs to prepare its future security architecture.

PARIS, November 23. /TASS/: The European Parliament during a session in Strasbourg on Wednesday adopted a resolution designating Russia as a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’, according to the text of the document published on its website. The session was broadcast live on the European Parliament's website.

According to the resolution, the European Parliament "recognizes Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and as a state which uses means of terrorism."

PARIS, Nov 20 (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron accused Russia of feeding anti-French propaganda in Africa to serve "predatory" ambitions in troubled African nations, where France has suffered military setbacks and a wider loss of influence over recent years.

Speaking on the sidelines of a summit of French-speaking nations in Tunisia, Macron was asked to respond to critics who say France exploits historic economic and political ties in its former colonies to serve its own interests.

18 Nov 2022; MEMO: Iran has imposed a ban on the import of French automobiles due to "unprofessional behaviour" of the country, the Industry, Mine and Trade has announced, Anadolu News Agency reports.

Omid Qalibaf, a Ministry spokesman, said in a statement that the government has not issued any fresh license for importing French cars "over the past few months", underlining growing bilateral tensions.

13 Nov 2022; MEMO: Two more French citizens have been detained in Iran, bringing the total number of people from France held in the Islamic republic to seven, the country's foreign minister said on Saturday, reports Anadolu Agency.

"We are concerned about two other compatriots and it appears from the last verification that they are also detained," Catherine Colonna told the French daily Le Parisien. "We demand their immediate release, access to consular protection."