France

French TGV high-speed train derails near Strasbourg

The crash happened during a test run in the town of Eckwersheim, on a new Paris-Strasbourg line.

Paris attacks kill at least 120

Eighty people were reported killed after gunmen burst into the Bataclan concert hall and took dozens hostage.

The siege ended when security forces stormed the building.

People were shot dead at bars and restaurants at five other sites in Paris. Eight attackers were later reported killed.

Police believed all of the gunmen were dead but it was unclear if any accomplices were still on the run after the string of near-simultaneous attacks.

Paris residents have been asked to stay indoors and about 1,500 military personnel are being deployed across the city.

France businesses to visit PNG

Business France which facilitate for French companies who want to invest off shore.

The companies will cover different sectors of the market from mining, agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, etc.         

Business France in a notice stated that, “it has a network of 1,500 professionals in 70 countries facilitating the international development of French companies to foreign markets.

“In November 2015, Business France is leading a delegation of French companies to Papua-New-Guinea for the first time ever.

New Zealand beat France 62-13 to reach semis

The All Blacks were almost out of sight at half-time, Julian Savea scoring two tries and Brodie Retallick and Nehe Milner-Skudder one apiece.

A try by Louis Picamoles had kept France afloat but when he was sent to the sin-bin French hopes evaporated.

Savea completed a fine hat-trick and Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read and Tawera Kerr-Barlow (two) also crossed.

France continues continental shelf extension in Pacific

Surveys have been held this year and an application to add the sea shelf beyond the internationally recognised 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone is expected to be submitted within two years.

This comes just days after France added a total of half a million square kilometres off New Caledonia and its territories in the Atlantic Ocean after a favourable recommendation by the United Nations' Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

France urged to comply with UN decolonisation process

In 2013, the General Assembly voted for a resolution sponsored by Solomon Islands to re-inscribe the territory on the UN decolonisation list but Paris has all but ignored the decision.

France has said it won't buy into the UN decolonisation process and also ruled out holding an immediate independence referendum as requested by the territorial assembly.

Speaking at the UN in New York, Sogavare has urged France to change.

France ups climate finance pledge to €5bn in 2020

That was announced by President Francois Hollande at the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday, in a bid to leverage more action.

The host nation of this December’s critical Paris climate summit will also increase the amount available as grants, and not as loans, he said.

“We need developed countries to take on financial commitments… we have to make sure that emerging economies, developing countries can be sure they will be helped.”

Hollande noted that the developed world had yet to deliver on its promise to raise US$100 billion of climate finance in 2020.

France orders New Caledonia Congress meeting

The overseas ministry says Paris is invoking its rights under the organic law after the Congress leadership rejected a bid by the territorial government to debate the issue.

A court in Noumea has upheld a Congress complaint that the government's call for a meeting was formally flawed.

However, the French government says this is not the time for a useless extension of a legal debate.

It says it is now time for a quick resumption of a substantial dialogue with all the political forces in New Caledonia.

France to refund $1 billion to Russia for warships

In a bill going to France's lower house of Parliament next week, the government detailed for the first time the agreement reached with Russia last month.

The "only condition" laid down by Russia is to receive the money "as soon as possible," the legislation said. The amount includes all advances paid by Russia, but no penalties or compensation payments.

France will be able to sell the warships to another country.

Fuel depot upgrade planned for Cooks' Penrhyn

One of the main projects for the force's Tropic Twilight exercise is the relocation and rebuilding of the fuel depot on Penrhyn.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully says improving fuel storage will enable better use of the patrol boat Te Kukupa to carry out fisheries surveillance around the islands.

The force's engineers will also upgrade buildings on Manihiki.

The exercise will involve China, the United States, the UK and France and is aimed at testing the force's abilities to provide disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.