Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday reviewed ongoing bilateral initiatives, including defence collaboration projects and cooperation in civil nuclear energy. During their telephonic conversation, they also discussed important geopolitical challenges, including those related to global food security, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said. India and France have been expressing concern about the risk to global food security and nutrition in light of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In his conversation with Macron, Prime Minister Modi conveyed his solidarity to him for the ongoing drought and wildfires in France, the statement said. The leaders reviewed ongoing bilateral initiatives, including defence cooperation projects and cooperation in civil nuclear energy. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the depth and strength that the India-France Strategic Partnership has acquired in recent years and agreed … [Read more...] about PM Modi, French Prez Macron Discuss Geopolitical Challenges, Cooperation in Civil Nuclear Energy
Emmanuel macron
French backpacker missing in Egypt for a year back in Paris
PARIS (AP) — A French backpacker who had gone missing in Egypt a year ago has safely returned home to Paris, a lawyer representing his family said on Tuesday. It’s not clear what happened over the past year to Yann Bourdon, whose family had speculated that he might have been detained by Egyptian security services. The graduate student at the Sorbonne, who vanished while on a year-long backpacking journey, declined to discuss his disappearance with the media and to share details of his return to France. Sarah Sakouti, a legal counsel for the Geneva-based Committee for Justice that had pressed the Egyptian and French authorities to investigate the 27-year-old’s disappearance, said Bourdon flew from Cairo to Paris on Aug. 10. A day before, Bourdon had phoned his sister in Paris from the French Consulate in Cairo, Sakouti told The Associated Press. The same day, Egyptian state security services had announced they would facilitate Bourdon’s return to Paris. Before that, his … [Read more...] about French backpacker missing in Egypt for a year back in Paris
Morning Digest | Bihar Cabinet expansion today; Chinese hi-tech vessel to dock at Hambantota port, and more
Our aim is to create 20 lakh jobs: Nitish Kumar A day before his government’s Cabinet expansion , Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while delivering Independence Day speech on August 15, announced that his government aimed to create 20 lakh jobs — within and outside the government — in the State. Chinese hi-tech vessel to dock at Hambantota China on Monday said Sri Lanka has allowed its satellite and missile tracking ship to berth at the Hambantota port on August 16, but declined to reveal details of talks with Colombo leading to the bankrupt island’s government reversing its earlier stand to defer the high-tech vessel’s entry . FIFA suspends Indian football federation over ‘third-party influences’ FIFA on August 15 suspended the Indian football federation with “immediate effect due to undue influence from third parties”, jeopardising the country’s staging of the U-17 Women’s World Cup in October. World football’s governing body called the infraction a … [Read more...] about Morning Digest | Bihar Cabinet expansion today; Chinese hi-tech vessel to dock at Hambantota port, and more
Social Justice: French Mayor Supports Giving Non-EU Foreigners the Vote
The mayor of the French city of Dijon has expressed support for a proposal to allow non-European Union foreigners to vote in local elections and stand for office, claiming the move would facilitate “social justice.” Mayor of Dijon François Rebsamen said he supported a proposal from French MP Sacha Houlié, a member of President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party, which would allow migrants from outside of the European Union to vote and hold office in local elections. “It is a question of social justice. Community nationals may participate in municipal elections. Therefore, the argument that was constantly opposed to us – and that the right continues to brandish – that granting such a benefit breaks the existing link between nationality and citizenship falls by itself,” Rebsamen said, the newspaper Le Figaro reports . “Why one and not the other, unless we show rejection, even racism, towards some of our fellow citizens? Why this differentiated treatment, especially towards … [Read more...] about Social Justice: French Mayor Supports Giving Non-EU Foreigners the Vote