France

France, PNG ties strengthened

He said with the Papua LNG project construction phase on focus, the engagement between the two countries will continue to grow. 

“Our Government is working with French company TOTAL S.A. and other partners to advance Papua New Guinea’s next major gas project,” stated PM O’Neill.

“This project will inject billions of dollars into our economy, and employ and train thousands of Papua New Guineans.

“All parties will continue to advance the Papua LNG project and create new jobs for our people.”

Kaino says au revoir to All Blacks

The 34-year-old, a two-time World Cup winner, made his debut in 2004 and played 81 tests.

He is the third most capped Blues player in history with 127 games to date, behind fellow All Blacks Keven Mealamu (164) and Tony Woodcock (137).

One of the highlights of his All Blacks career was playing all but one minute of the All Blacks' successful 2011 World Cup campaign.

He had a two-year stint overseas playing in Japan before returning to New Zealand and playing his way back into the All Blacks.

Kaino scored 12 test tries.

France to investigate Nutella promotion that led to 'riots'

France has strict rules about the size of discounts that retailers can put on products outside of official sales periods.

Last week, shoppers at Intermarché shops jostled to buy heavily discounted chocolate and hazelnut spread.

It had been discounted by 70% - from €4.50 (£3.90) to €1.40.

Police were called when people began fighting and pushing one another.

"They are like animals. A woman had her hair pulled, an elderly lady took a box on her head, another had a bloody hand," one customer told French media.

Children killed as school bus and train collide

Another 24 people were reported to be seriously injured, in the accident on a railway crossing between Millas and Saint-Féliu-d'Amont.

The students on the bus are reported to be between the ages of 13 and 17.

Pictures from the scene showed the school bus sheared in two by the force of the crash.

Around 70 emergency workers and four helicopters were deployed as part of the rescue effort.

The crash happened on a section of line between Perpignan and Villefranche-de-Conflent, the local news website l'Indépendant reports.

Springboks edge out France in Paris

Having gained the recommendation of the Rugby World Cup board following an independent evaluation report, South Africa were left disgusted when the World Rugby Council awarded France hosting rights for the 2023 tournament on Wednesday.

If that provided additional motivation for Saturday's match in Paris, the Springboks were also fuelled by a desire to bounce back from last weekend's stunning 38-3 defeat to Ireland.

And a much-changed side managed to do just that as tries from Dillyn Leyds and Jesse Kriel proved enough to edge out a France team that struggled for fluency.

France stops its Green Fund

The decision will affect dozens of projects in France's overseas territories.

The overseas minister Annick Giradin has told the National Assembly that the next budget has no provision to feed the fund which was meant to mitigate against climate change.

Ms Girardin said her ministry cannot be the only one taking care of the effects of climate change, suggesting that other ministries and agencies share the responsibility.

The cut affects dozens of projects, including some in French Polynesia worth almost $US30 million.

Moses justifies the hype

Heavily touted as a youngster at the Wests Tigers, Moses justified the hype following a mid-season switch to the Parramatta Eels that saw him guide the blue and golds to the finals for the first time since 2009. 

Lebanon fans were hoping to see something similar from the talented playmaker and the 5,492 at Canberra Stadium weren't disappointed as Moses took the game by the scruff of the neck in the final 10 minutes to seal the Cedars' first World Cup win. 

New Caledonia show fight in big loss to France

Making their debut appearance at a FIFA tournament, the French territory made a horror start when defender Bernard Iwa turned the ball into his own net in the fifth minute.

Further goals followed as France opened up a sizeable 6-0 lead at half-time, including a second own-goal just minutes before the interval.

The Oceania runners-up avoided further calamity eight minutes into the second spell when keeper Une Kecine saved a penalty, after substitute Raoul Wenisso had clumsily brought down Willem Geubbels in the box.

France offers $275 million to host World Cup

The host nation must pay the governing body $220 million to stage the tournament but France has offered the additional money as it tries to edge out Ireland and South Africa in the battle to win hosting rights.

"You have to pay a fee to host. It is a minimum. We have proposed not 120 million pounds but 150 million pounds," France's bid leader Claude Atcher said.

"This fee is 100 percent guaranteed by the French government."

France, South Africa and Ireland have submitted formal bids for the 2023 tournament.

France urged to respect UN's Tahiti stance

The rally was held outside the territorial assembly in Papeete to coincide with a three-day official visit of France's secretary of state for technological transition Sebastien Lecornu.

The Tavini Huiraatira party's Antony Geros said the rally was to remind France that the Pacific Ocean was not for sale.

Mr Geros said he also wanted to remind the international community that last December the UN General Assembly affirmed that the marine resources belong to the indigenous people of French Polynesia.