French lawmakers have prepared two no-confidence motions against President Emmanuel Macron Monday after he pushed through legislation to increase the retirement age without a legislative vote against massive protests around the country. The challenges, one brought by a coalition of small parties and another by the far-right National Rally, are …
Read More »Iraq in final stages of talks on $27 bln TotalEnergies deal, says minister
Talks between French oil major TotalEnergies and Iraq to resolve sticking points in a long-delayed $27 billion energy deal “have reached advanced stages”, Iraqi oil minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani said on Sunday. “We will activate the deal very soon,” Abdel-Ghani said at an energy event. The proposed deal, which Baghdad hopes …
Read More »France delays EU effort to supply shells to Ukraine – Telegraph
Paris favors the wellbeing of its own industries to supporting Kyiv, a European diplomat told the paper. France is slowing down EU plans to help Ukraine replenish its dwindling stocks of shells amid its conflict with Russia, European sources told The Telegraph. Paris is looking to secure guarantees that a …
Read More »France’s controversial pensions reform passed by Senate
France’s Senate, the upper chamber of parliament, voted late Saturday to approve a controversial reform to the country’s pension system, a cornerstone of Emmanuel Macron’s second term as president. Senators passed the reforms by 195 votes to 112, bringing the package another step towards becoming law. The vote came hours …
Read More »France, Germany to host Charles III on first state visits as king
King Charles III will make his state first state visits as UK monarch when he travels to France and Germany later this month, Buckingham Palace announced Friday. The choice of the two European nations and close allies is widely seen as an attempt to build post-Brexit bridges and an acknowledgment …
Read More »Achraf Hakimi charged with rape by French prosecutors
Moroccan defender has been indicted on rape charges, French prosecutors told AFP on Friday Moroccan footballer Achraf Hakimi has been indicted on rape charges, French prosecutors told AFP on Friday. The Paris Saint-Germain defender was questioned by prosecutors on Thursday about accusations made by a 24-year-old woman, who says Hakimi …
Read More »PM Al-Sudani ended his visit after signing a strategic agreement with France
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammad Shia’a Al-Sudani, ended his one-day visit to France on Saturday. Al-Sudani’s media office stated that Iraq and France signed “the strategic partnership agreement,” which included more than 50 items for cooperation in various fields during the visit. The Iraqi and French officials also signed memorandums …
Read More »PM Al-Sudani to head a government delegation to the Elysee this weekend
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani will be heading to Paris, the French capital, on an official visit on Thursday, a source revealed on Tuesday. The source said that al-Sudani will be flanked by a high-level government delegation to discuss a spectrum of issues of mutual interest. On October 3, …
Read More »Burkina Faso Confirms Asking France to Withdraw Troops
The Burkina Faso government clarified on Monday that it has asked ex-colonial ruler France to pull its troops out of the insurgency-hit country within a month. France deploys about 400 special forces soldiers in junta-ruled Burkina, but relations have deteriorated, and tensions have soared in recent months. “We are terminating …
Read More »Police fire tear gas as French workers strike nationwide
French workers have gone on strike and joined nationwide marches on a day of protest against President Emmanuel Macron’s very unpopular pensions reform plan. Train drivers, teachers, and refinery workers were among those who walked off their jobs in Paris and several other major cities on Thursday. “It’s salaries and …
Read More »Al-Amiri to the French Ambassador: Americans use the dollar to starve people
The Secretary-General of the Badr Organization, Hadi al-Amiri, confirmed to the French ambassador to Iraq, Eric Chevalier, that the Americans are using the dollar to starve people. The media office of the Secretary-General of the Badr Organization said in a statement received by (Al-Ghadeer), that “Al-Amiri received in his office …
Read More »Opinion | Free speech or hate speech? Charlie Hebdo breaches red line again
In 1960, a controversial French satirical magazine ‘Hara-Kiri’ was launched by Georges Bernier and Francois Cavanna, subtitled ‘journal bête et méchant’, which literally translated into ‘stupid and nasty journal’. It was clearly no hyperbole. The monthly magazine, which relied on trademark crackbrained satire, was so insanely outlandish that it was …
Read More »France’s President: supporting Iraq’s sovereignty is essential in the region
On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron met King Abdullah II of Jordan on the sidelines of the 2nd Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership in Amman. The Jordanian media reported that both sides discussed bilateral relations and regional and international developments, including the challenges in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon and …
Read More »Azerbaijan cancels Armenia talks, rejects France’s involvement
Azerbaijan’s leader says France cannot take part in the peace talks with Armenia after ‘insulting’ Baku. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has said his country does not want France to take part in its peace talks with Armenia, calling off a four-way meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Council …
Read More »Al-Sudani heads a meeting on the Integrated Gas Development Project with Total’s CEO
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani on Thursday headed an expanded meeting to discuss an integrated gas project with French Total Energies’ CEO Patrick Pouyanné. According to an official readout, the meeting discussed gas investments in Iraq, including a 600-MMSCF, flared gas plant, the Artawi oilfield, a seawater desalination project, …
Read More »Macron accuses Russia of stoking anti-French propaganda in Africa
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 …
Read More »Climate activists pour paint on Charles Ray sculpture in Paris
Environmental activists on Friday dumped orange paint over an outdoor sculpture by the American artist Charles Ray in central Paris, the latest in a string of artwork defacements aimed at spurring greater government efforts to fight climate change. The lifesize “Horse and Rider” stands in front of the Bourse de …
Read More »Thousands protest in Paris, calling for France to leave NATO (Video)
Thousands of protesters have gathered in Paris to call for an end to France’s membership in the US-led NATO, chanting “Let’s get out of NATO.” The demonstrators also protested against the high costs of living. "Let's get out of NATO!" Tens of thousands of people in Paris today calling for …
Read More »France’s Eiffel Tower to go dark earlier to save energy
Amid soaring electricity prices, Paris is seeking to catch up with the goal of reducing energy consumption by 10% through an “energy sobriety” plan. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on Tuesday announced that the French capital would start switching off the lights of its monuments hours earlier than usual. The potential …
Read More »Al-Amiri and the French ambassador discusses steps to expedite the formation of the new government
The Secretary-General of the Badr Organization, Hadi Al-Amiri, received in his office in Baghdad Thursday, the French ambassador to Iraq, Eric Chevalier. In a statement received by Al-Ghadir, the media office of Hajj Al-Amiri said that “the two sides discussed the political situation and practical steps to expedite the formation …
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