deal

French and Qatari energy giants agree major gas deal

Fil d'actualités — Link

TotalEnergies and QatarEnergy will collaborate on the North Field South project, a section of the world's largest single gas field nin a deal that could boost gas supplies to Europe from the Gulf state within four years.

France, Germany, Italy and Netherlands sign deal for Covid-19 vaccine

International — Link

The four countries, grouped together in an 'Inclusive Vaccines Alliance', struck a deal this weekend with pharma group AstraZeneca to receive a Covid-19 virus vaccine under development by researchers at Oxford university in Britain, and which it is hoped will be available at the end of the year.

France cancels speedboats delivery to Libyan coastguard

International — Link

The French government has finally announced it will not supply the Libyan coastguard with six speedboats destined to be used against clandestine crossings to Europe after several NGOs mounted a legal challenge to the sale, arguing that France was contributing to human rights violations in Libya where captured migrants face notorious internment camps, torture and being used as slave labour.

France and Germany signal possible agreement to delay Brexit

International — Link

French and German officials have made comments suggesting they are open to agreeing a delay to the UK's withdrawal from the European Union due on March 29th, as Prime Minsiter Theresa May prepares to return to parliament with a revised Brexit deal after surviving a 'no confidence' vote by MPs on Tuesday evening.

Dassault document adds to corruption claims over Rafale sale to India

International — Investigation

The sale to India by France of 36 Dassault Rafale jet fighters for close to 8 billion euros has become the centre of corruption allegations levelled against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his close friend, Indian businessman Anil Ambani, chairman of the Reliance Group which was handed the role of local industrial partner of Dassault to build parts for the jets despite no aeronautical expertise. The claim that Ambani was given the joint venture contract as a favour by Modi to save his struggling business is the subject of a complaint lodged this month with India’s Central Bureau of Investigation. Now Mediapart has obtained a Dassault company document in which a senior executive is quoted as saying the group accepted to work with Reliance as an “imperative and obligatory” condition for securing the fighter contract. Karl Laske and Antton Rouget report.

Indian opposition calls for Modi to resign after Mediapart report

International — Link

Indian political opposition groups this weekend called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign after a report in Mediapart on Friday in which former French president François Hollande's comments on an 8-billion-euro fighter deal with New Delhi suggested possible favouritism by Modi in the choice of the Indian partner in the joint venture.     

French winemakers secure Tour de France deal after blockade threats

France — Link

Organisers of the cycling race agreed a promotional deal with winemakers in southern France furious at a sponsorship agreement with Chilean wine brand.

Air France pledges crew hires, flexibility, if pilots work more

France — Link

The airline's proposed deal to SNPL union would see pilots work up to 10% more on same pay, while an extra 600 pilots would be hired by 2020. 

Hollande rules out visa concessions to Turkey over migrants deal

International — Link

Ahead of next week's EU-Turkey summit, the French president said visa rules and respect of human rights would not be traded for migrant control.

Cameron in Paris for last-minute talks on new EU membership terms

International — Link

Seeking a deal ahead of 'Brexit' referendum, the UK PM met with President François Hollande in Paris in a bid to gain French backing for concessions.

World agrees landmark climate deal at close of Paris COP 21 talks

International — Link

The deal is the first ever to commit all countries to cut carbon emissions, in a bid to limit the rise in global temperatures to less than 2°C by 2050.

Renault-Nissan peace deal dilutes French state's power

International — Link

Renault's board approves capping French state's increased weight in shareholder votes and to abandon Renault's right to control Nissan strategy.

UK, France ministers to sign Calais migrant security agreement

International — Link

French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve and his UK counterpart will meet in Calais on Thursday over new deal to contain migrant crisis.

Hollande says deal with Greece imminent

International — Link

The French president said Wednesday agreement between Athens and creditors may be found within hours as Greek PM arrived for talks in Brussels.

France and Qatar ink 6.4 bln-euro contract for 24 Dassault fighter jets

International — Link

President François Hollande travelled to Doha to sign the Rafale deal, the fighter plane's third foreign contract after sales to Egypt, India.