France

PACE accuses Russia of ‘terrorism’ at initiative of Ukrainian, Estonian delegates

PARIS, October 13. /TASS/: Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Thursday adopted a resolution on the conflict in Ukraine where they accused Russia of "terrorism," according to a statement on the council’s website.

Of the 612 members of the council, just 100 were in attendance, and 99 of them voted for the inclusion of an amendment that calls Russia a "terrorist regime." One member abstained.

Statements by PACE, which is an advisory organization, are not binding.

France says Iranian drone transfers to Russia would violate U.N. nuclear deal resolution

PARIS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - France's foreign ministry said on Thursday that any transfer of Iranian drones to Russia would be a violation of the United Nations Security Council resolution that endorsed the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and world powers.

Three drones operated by Russian forces attacked the small town of Makariv, west of Ukraine's capital, early on Thursday, with officials saying that critical infrastructure facilities were struck by what they said were Iranian-made suicide drones.

France: Paris trial opens over crimes against humanity in Liberia

PARIS (AP) — A former Liberian rebel is going on trial Monday in Paris on charges of crimes against humanity, torture and acts of barbarism during the West African country’s civil war in the 1990s.

Kunti Kamara, 47, is notably accused of “complicity in massive and systematic torture and inhumane acts” against the civilian population committed in Liberia’s Lofa county in 1993-1994, as one of the leaders of the Ulimo armed group. He was then less than 20 years old.

He was arrested near Paris in 2018 and faces life imprisonment.

Families seek truth as Airbus, Air France face crash trial

PARIS (AP) — Nicolas Toulliou had just proposed marriage to his girlfriend. Nelson Marinho Jr. was heading off on a new oil exploration job. Eric Lamy was about to celebrate his 38th birthday.

They were among 228 people killed in 2009 when their storm-tossed Air France flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris slammed into the Atlantic. After more than a decade of legal battles, their families at last have a chance at justice.

France's energy sobriety plan to cost 800 mln euros: minister

PARIS, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- France's energy sobriety plan will cost 800 million euros (785 million U.S. dollars), Minister for Energy Transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher said on Thursday.

Pannier-Runacher also presented the measures to be taken by the government.

Public lighting in the streets will be on for less time and less intensively, companies must commit to switching off the lights in unoccupied buildings, and working from home will be encouraged in public administrations. Remote working allowance for public servants will be increased by 15 percent.

Paris-based Eutelsat accuses Iran of jamming its satellites

6 October 2022; MEMO: Eutelsat alleged, on Thursday, that Iran had jammed two of its satellites since 26 September, adding that it had asked the relevant authorities to stop the interference immediately Reuters reports.

Paris-based Eutelsat also said in a statement that it had reminded the Iranian authorities that intentional jamming is "explicitly prohibited" by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations.

UNESCO warns of global crisis of teacher shortages

PARIS, Oct 6 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) urged the governments of its member States to increase support for teachers, warning of a deficit of 69 million teachers to provide universal basic education by 2030.

On World Teachers’ Day, celebrated every Oct 5 since 1994, UNESCO’s Director-General Audrey Azoulay called attention to a phenomenon that hits hardest in sub-Saharan Africa.

France's far-right leader demands more mosque closures

4 October 2022; MEMO: France's far-right politician, Marine Le Pen, has demanded more mosques be closed in the country, Anadolu News Agency reports.

Her demand comes despite the closure of 24 mosques in France in the past two years upon the order of Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin.

In an interview with French TV channel, BFMTV, Marine Le Pen said: "He (Darmanin) closes a mosque there, a mosque here. He dismisses a preacher once in a while, but he must close all extremist mosques in our lands."

France: Paris joins in TV boycott of World Cup games from Qatar

PARIS (AP) — Paris will not broadcast World Cup matches on giant screens in public fan zones amid concerns over rights violations of migrant workers and the environmental impact of the tournament in Qatar.

It follows similar moves by other French cities, despite France going in as the defending champion.

“There is the problem of the environmental impact,” Pierre Rabadan, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of sports, told France Bleu Paris radio on Tuesday, citing “air-conditioned stadiums.”

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