Global News Post: France

France Ends Afghanistan Combat Mission

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<st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">France</span></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> has ended its combat mission in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region>, pulling its last troops from a
province northeast of the capital, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Kabul</st1:city></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Tuesday's
withdrawal of 500 combat troops from Kapisa province is part of President
Francois Hollande's pledge to accelerate the country's exit from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>.  Remaining international combat troops are to
leave the country by the end of 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> had been the fifth-largest contributor to
the NATO-led coalition.  It is keeping
1,500 troops in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>
to help send equipment back home and to train Afghan forces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Eighty-eight
French troops have died in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region>
since <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region></st1:place>
joined the fighting in late 2001. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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France Ends Afghanistan Combat Mission

France has ended its combat mission in Afghanistan , pulling its last troops from a province northeast of the capital, Kabul . T...

Voting Under Way in French Parliamentary Election

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Voting is under way in France, in a second round of parliamentary elections in which President Francois Hollande's Socialists are expected to win a solid majority in the 577-member National Assembly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Opinion polls and seat projections from last Sunday's first-round vote suggest the Socialist block could achieve at least 287 seats in the lower house of parliament. France's Senate, the upper house of parliament, is already under left-wing control.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Analysts say that will allow Mr. Hollande to enact measures he hopes will help curb unemployment and kick-start the euro zone's second-largest economy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mr. Hollande unseated conservative Nicolas Sarkozy in a May 6 runoff election. The new president needs lawmakers' support for him to try to persuade European Union leaders, especially German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to focus on spurring economic growth rather than enforcing further austerity in struggling European economies. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div>

Voting Under Way in French Parliamentary Election

Voting is under way in France, in a second round of parliamentary elections in which President Francois Hollande's Socialists are expect...

Voter Anger Bodes Change in France

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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">By Lisa Bryant from Paris<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">VOA News--- Sunday's national elections in Greece and France, along with local elections in Italy, are expected to be shaped by voter anger over Europe's high unemployment, sluggish growth and harsh government austerity measures.  In France, that anger could see President Nicolas Sarkozy lose to Socialist rival Francois Hollande in the runoff presidential election. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Voters trickle out of a municipal building on a chilly morning, heading home - or to a street market just around the corner to do their Sunday shopping.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cyril Blanchard is one of them. A manager at Thompson-Reuters financial company, he says France's economic problems have helped shape his vote. Blanchard's choice: conservative French President Nicolas Sarkozy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"I think we really need to do something to fight against the crisis and to reduce our deficits and to work on the wealth of the country, so that's what decided my vote," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During his campaign, Sarkozy tried to convince voters he has the experience and stamina to make the tough choices that France needs at a time of high unemployment and almost zero growth. The French president also talked tough on curbing immigration.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Socialist candidate Francois Hollande says France needs measures to boost growth as well as cut spending.  He wants to renegotiate a European fiscal pact in this direction.  While Mr. Hollande also wants less immigration, his rhetoric and platform are less harsh than Sarkozy's.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hollande's arguments have convinced teacher Delphine Barnier Schilot, who cast her ballot for the Socialist candidate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Schilot believes Sarkozy's five years in office have been negative in every way. She says Hollande is fair and has integrity. She believes he will be able to tackle France's difficult economic problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sunday's vote caps a bitter runoff campaign between the two candidates, who traded barbs and accusations of lying. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">At the market near the polling station, some French, like fish seller Abdel Chili, are turned off by both men. He's cast an empty ballot in this runoff.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Chili sees little difference between Sarkozy and Hollande. But he's particularly angry at the French president, whom he calls a liar. But he says all politicians are just actors.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Chili's angry words are reflected across Europe, where people are bitter and tired after several years of tough economic times. They have vented their anger with their ballots, casting out more than half a dozen governments to date.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">   <td style="border: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nicolas Sarkozy</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqSOK8ODkbRVubOZpbJXuZ-xoKGMJnykh0zU2Ksw1TSDHLWqdjSsiBV8Nst-f3acwwtR99FsEQpETJGC8GYczMKpQC5py7garjH6dHlSutf42MWRbd5OrxfLwWEpA05T6nO97pV0DMtM/s1600/sarkozyfb-200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqSOK8ODkbRVubOZpbJXuZ-xoKGMJnykh0zU2Ksw1TSDHLWqdjSsiBV8Nst-f3acwwtR99FsEQpETJGC8GYczMKpQC5py7garjH6dHlSutf42MWRbd5OrxfLwWEpA05T6nO97pV0DMtM/s1600/sarkozyfb-200.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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</span></b></div></td>   <td style="border-left: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">François Hollande<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNjKt1d6Nne3I1rnlSo-E3V3pd_4vYIwr79-EuMibn6E5204_d7C4zc2m9VgxP7JcGzGrhFITUmkcOPrbnD4jqU4Ztng9G42BQFmrHjGPGT6wjuI05vBFBjWamm9xthj-kuiWlTNJjLI/s1600/hollandefb-200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNjKt1d6Nne3I1rnlSo-E3V3pd_4vYIwr79-EuMibn6E5204_d7C4zc2m9VgxP7JcGzGrhFITUmkcOPrbnD4jqU4Ztng9G42BQFmrHjGPGT6wjuI05vBFBjWamm9xthj-kuiWlTNJjLI/s1600/hollandefb-200.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">   <td style="border-top: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 21.75pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">           </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Elected President of France in 2007</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 21.75pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">           </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Raised France's legal retirement age from 60 to 62</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 21.75pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">           </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Born in 1955 and raised in Paris</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 21.75pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">           </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Married to former supermodel Carla Bruni</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 21.75pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">      </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Committed to balancing France's budget by 2016<b> </b></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
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Voter Anger Bodes Change in France

By Lisa Bryant from Paris VOA News--- Sunday's national elections in Greece and France, along with local elections in Italy, are exp...

Ex-IMF Head Strauss-Kahn Gets Charges in Prostitution Case

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">PARIS (RIA Novosti) --- French investigators charged Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with an alleged involvement in a French prostitution ring, a statement from prosecutor’s office in Lille said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Strauss-Kahn was questioned at a prosecutor’s office in the northern city of Lille on Monday. He is under investigation over the so-called Carlton Affair for his alleged involvement of organizing orgies with prostitutes, most of which were held in French Carlton hotel. He is also suspected in similar events organized in Washington and Brussels.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The statement said that after the questioning, Strauss-Kahn was placed under the judicial supervision, was prohibited from contacting other people involved in the case and had to pay 100,000 Euros in bail.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If the 62-year-old former IMF head is found guilty on charges pressed against him, he may face up to 20 years in prison.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In 2011, Strauss-Kahn, who was considered French President Nicolas Sarkozy's greatest rival at the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for this month, was under investigation for sexual assault on a hotel maid in New York.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The case was opened on May 14 after 32-year-old Nafissatou Diallo claimed Strauss-Kahn had assaulted her sexually at the Sofitel New York Hotel. Strauss-Kahn pleaded not guilty and said sexual contact with the maid was under mutual consent.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Ex-IMF Head Strauss-Kahn Gets Charges in Prostitution Case

PARIS (RIA Novosti) --- French investigators charged Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with...

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Approved the Revised Recommendations for Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism in Its Plenary Meeting in Paris

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Paris (PIB) --- The Plenary Meeting of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) being held in Paris approved the revised recommendations for combating money laundering and financing of terrorism. The plenary also discussed the fourth follow-up report on India’s progress with reference to the Action Plan that it had committed to in June 2010. The plenary appreciated the actions taken by India and the commitment of India to the international Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) standards. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">An Indian delegation led by  Bimal Julka, Additional Secretary & Director General (Currency) of the Department of Economic Affairs,Ministry of Finance is attending the plenary meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), being held at Paris. The FATF is an inter-governmental body that sets international standards for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism. India became a member of FATF in June 2010. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The report of the FATF Secretariat commended India for its continued progress to remedy the deficiencies identified in its MER with particular reference to the core and key Recommendations of the task force.It observed that“India continues to be strongly committed to the FATF membership process and to the implementation of an effective AML/CFT framework.” The report notes that consistent with its Action Plan, India has introduced amendments to a range of primary legislation. On the basis of the “Statement of Objects and Reasons” for the proposed amendments to these three (Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act)AML/CFT Statutesit can be deduced that India clearly has the intention to address the technical deficiencies identified in its MER. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The plenary also noted with great appreciation the role of the Finance Minister of India in providing leadership to India’s efforts to meet these international standards. It also appreciated the Finance Minister’s leadership in India fulfilling the action plan it had committed to the Task Force. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A number of FATF member countries including theRussian Federation, South Korea, Japan, China, Brazil, Argentina, the USA, the UK, Italy, Germany, Australia, and the Eurasian Group on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism, lauded and congratulated India on its achievements in fulfilling the Action Plan. They also appreciated India’s strong commitment to combating money laundering and the combating of the financing of terrorism and expressed hope that India would continue to be a valuable partner in these global efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Approved the Revised Recommendations for Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism in Its Plenary Meeting in Paris

Paris (PIB) --- The Plenary Meeting of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) being held in Paris approved the revised recommendations for com...

France Lands Indian Fighter Jet Deal

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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">India has decided to buy 126 fighter jets from French firm Dassault in a $11 billion deal that is one of the world's largest arms contracts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Indian government officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told reporters Tuesday that Dassault was the lowest bidder and beat out the Eurofighter consortium to clinch the contract.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Further negotiations were expected to take place before <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> finalizes the agreement to buy Dassault's Rafale fighter jet.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">French President Nicolas Sarkozy welcomed news of the deal and said the talks would begin “very soon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">James Hardy, Asia Pacific editor of Jane's Defense Weekly, said Dassault has been selected as the preferred bidder, but that “this means nothing” until the contract is signed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In April, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> rejected bids from U.S.-based Boeing and Lockheed Martin, as well as bids from Russian and Swedish firms.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Under the deal, 18 fighter jets will be delivered ready-made, while 108 jets will be built in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">India</span></st1:country-region><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> is the world's largest arms importer and is spending billions of dollars to upgrade its defense capabilities, with an eye on rival <st1:country-region w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:country-region> to the west and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> to the east.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet had warned in December that production of the Rafale jet could be stopped if foreign buyers were not found.<span class="apple-style-span"> ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div>

France Lands Indian Fighter Jet Deal

India has decided to buy 126 fighter jets from French firm Dassault in a $11 billion deal that is one of the world's largest arms cont...

France: Time Running Out for Iran

France: Time Running Out for Iran

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday urged “more decisive” sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program ...

France Suspends Afghan Military Operations After Troop Deaths

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><b><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">France</span></i></b></st1:country-region><b><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> says it is suspending all training and joint operations in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> after an Afghan soldier shot dead four French troops.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">President Nicolas Sarkozy also says he is considering an early withdrawal of French troops from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place> if security conditions “are not clearly established,” following Friday's attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Afghan security officials said at least 16 other people were wounded in the assault in the eastern Afghan <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">province</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Kapisa</st1:placename></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet said the French troops were unarmed when the attacker opened fire during a training exercise at a base jointly operated by French and Afghan forces. The shooter has been apprehended.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Friday's incident is the latest of several attacks in which international troops have been killed by Afghan security forces.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In December, an Afghan soldier opened fire and killed two members of the French Foreign Legion in Kapisa. And earlier this month, an Afghan soldier shot and killed an American service member in Zabul province.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Friday's deaths bring the number of French troops killed in the Afghan war to 82. <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region> has about 3,600 soldiers serving in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place>, mainly in the east, with all combat troops set to leave the country in 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">President Sarkozy said Friday that it was “unacceptable” that Afghan troops would attack French soldiers. He said Defense Minister Longuet and <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region>'s army chief of staff are traveling to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Kabul</st1:city></st1:place> Friday to determine the circumstances behind the attack and will report back on how to proceed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Afghan President Hamid Karzai expressed his condolences. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said it was a “sad day” for international troops in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place> and the French people, but insisted such incidents are “isolated.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The New York Times on Friday cited a classified coalition report, which says such attacks are motivated by deep-seated animosity between the forces that are supposed to be allied. The report says ill will and mistrust run deep among civilians and militaries on both sides.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But NATO spokesman U.S. Lieutenant General Jimmie Cummings, Jr. said Friday that incidents where Afghan soldiers have wounded or killed coalition members are isolated cases and are “not occurring on a routine basis.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Cummings added “we train and are partnered with Afghan personnel every day and are not seeing any issues or concerns with our relationships.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Meanwhile late Thursday, a coalition helicopter crashed in southern <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>, killing six U.S. Marines.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A NATO spokesman said there was no insurgent activity reported in the area when the helicopter went down.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The cause of the crash is being investigated.<span class="apple-style-span"> ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div>

France Suspends Afghan Military Operations After Troop Deaths

France says it is suspending all training and joint operations in Afghanistan after an Afghan soldier shot dead four French troops. Pre...

Sarkozy Calls for Syrian Clarifications on Death of French Journalist

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">PARIS</span></st1:city><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (NNN-KUNA) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called on the Syrian authorities to clarify the circumstances related to the killing of French journalist Gilles Jacquier of '<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">France</st1:place></st1:country-region> 2' TV network.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In a statement Wednesday, he said: "<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">France</st1:place></st1:country-region> expects the Syrian authorities to clarify the circumstances of the murder of the French journalist while he was doing his job." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The president extended condolences to the friend of the late journalist who was accompanying him in his mission in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and also to the head of the French TV channel Remmi Pafimiline.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He hailed the dedication of Jacquier who was "an example of a pioneer journalist" throughout his 25-year career covering events in hot spots all over the world, including <st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region>, Kosovo and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Jacquier was granted a number of awards including 'Albert Londres' Prize in 2003 ... and the prize of the best war correspondent for the year 2010," the statement recalled. He was sent to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region> to cover the violence and the unacceptable repression by the (Syrian President Bashar) al-Assad regime of its own people," it added.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The French Foreign Minister meanwhile strongly condemned the killing of Jacquier, describing it as an "evil action", and called for circumstances of the death to be clarified.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">'France 2' channel announced the death of its senior correspondent Gilles Jacquier, aged 43, hit by a mortar shell that struck the pro-government rally he was attending as part of a government-authorized tour of Homs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The Syrian News Agency (SANA) for its part said: "The Ministry of Information expresses deep regret and sorrow over the death of martyrs from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region> and its guests and condemns this terrorist aggression on the French journalist while performing his press duty."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"The Ministry of Information stresses that the act is an extension of the terror chain <st1:country-region w:st="on">Syria</st1:country-region> is exposed to ... and it comes in the context of the terrorists' bid to distort the real image of what is happening in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Syria</st1:country-region>," <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">SANA</st1:city></st1:place> said. -- NNN-KUNA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Sarkozy Calls for Syrian Clarifications on Death of French Journalist

PARIS (NNN-KUNA) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called on the Syrian authorities to clarify the circumstances related to the kil...

Paris Considers ‘Bad Signal’ Iran’s Missile Tests

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">PARIS (RIA Novosti)-<st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region> considers <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s test of a long-range missile as “a bad signal”, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Earlier on Monday, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place> test-fired a long-range coast-to-sea missile called Qader (Mighty) and a surface-to-surface long-range missile Nour (Light). The test was conducted during the naval exercises in the <st1:place w:st="on">Persian Gulf</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“We regret the very bad signal sent to the international community by the missile test that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place> conducted during its naval exercise. We remind of freedom of navigation in straits and the need to maintain a favorable climate in respect to this freedom,” Valero said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The development of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s ballistic missile program raises a serious concern for the international community,” he added.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">France</span></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> supported the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> sanctions against <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place>. These sanctions allow <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> president to cut off from the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> financial system foreign firms that do business with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s central bank.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">On November 21 French President Nicolas Sarkozy proposed to stop buying <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s oil and freeze its central bank assets. He added that the sanctions might be accepted by the next meeting of EU foreign ministers.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Paris Considers ‘Bad Signal’ Iran’s Missile Tests

PARIS (RIA Novosti)- France considers Iran ’s test of a long-range missile as “a bad signal”, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero s...

“France Is Ready To Sign Long Term Treaty Cooperation With Afghanistan,” Alain Juppe

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSnecRkOfVfnHVBn-J4preNNp06yVEgJqgdo6cTLQYaR4nMclCsEWSeRAQ5lDQXloDG2hhr_yBPhpjxUg1mpxnn4RbEJJf4ZMJ8YzBWPtD2Cs8AI-LjEWmZPYrSIkcoziMgxIINF2o0w/s1600/francereadytocooperate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSnecRkOfVfnHVBn-J4preNNp06yVEgJqgdo6cTLQYaR4nMclCsEWSeRAQ5lDQXloDG2hhr_yBPhpjxUg1mpxnn4RbEJJf4ZMJ8YzBWPtD2Cs8AI-LjEWmZPYrSIkcoziMgxIINF2o0w/s320/francereadytocooperate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Kabul</span></st1:city><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> (BNA): Alain Juppe France Foreign Minister in his meeting with Hamed Karzai president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan asked him to visit <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region> at the end of January 2012 to sign long term treaty cooperation between <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place> and French.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
According to the presidential spokesman office report to BNA, in this meeting which took place at the sideline of Bonn Conference yesterday afternoon, President Karzai said, the related offices are working on details of cooperation treaty document between Afghanistan and French and I hope that this document be ready as soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
Also in this meeting the two sides talked on French cooperation in different parts with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
It is said that signing of long term cooperation treaty document between <st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region> was proposed by Nicolas Sarkozy President of French in his last visit from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place> in July.<span class="apple-style-span"> --- BNA<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div>

“France Is Ready To Sign Long Term Treaty Cooperation With Afghanistan,” Alain Juppe

Kabul (BNA): Alain Juppe France Foreign Minister in his meeting with Hamed Karzai president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan asked hi...

France to Build Islamic Center in Paris

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8pt;">By Lisa Bryant from <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Paris</city></place> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Paris</span></place></city><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> plans to build a new Islamic center to address two issues, a dearth of mosques for the city's sizable Muslim community and a new law banning street prayers. In the interim, Muslims been invited to worship in an unusual venue - an old fire station at the edge of the city.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">For many practicing Muslims in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Paris</city></place>, Friday prayers means having to pack in overflowing mosques. Or when there is no more space, by rolling out prayer rugs on the city's sidewalks. No longer. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A new law has gone into force this month, banning <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">France</place></country-region>'s estimated 5 million Muslims from praying on the streets - in line with the country's separation of religion and state.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Converting a fire station</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">French authorities have offered a stop-gap solution, which is the cavernous quarter of an old fire station in northern <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Paris</city></place>. Hundreds of people emerged from the facility one recent sunny afternoon, spilling into a wide boulevard just a stone's throw from the city's ring road. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">For <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Guinea-Bissau</place></country-region> native Oummou Savanneh, the fire station is a much better option than her local mosque, located just a half-mile away. Savanneh said now there is lots of space, and toilets, for worshippers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Algerian Sayid Rahmani also is pleased. Rahmani said French authorities now understand that it is not normal for Muslims to pray on the street. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Muslim clerics say they expect several thousand faithful will use the facility. It already is overflowing. Moussa Diakite, rector of the nearby Polonceau mosque, helps lead Friday prayers, taking turns with another rector. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Diakite said it is too early to say whether the facility will work. Either way, he noted, it is only a temporary solution.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Paris</span></b></place></city><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> Islamic center</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Paris</span></place></city><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> authorities agree. They have offered a three-year lease for the facility. For the long term, said sub-prefect Renaud Vedel, the government plans to help build an Islamic institute in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Paris</place></city>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Vedel said public funds will finance the cultural part of the center, while the Islamic community will finance the religious part. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">French Muslims, many of them from North and sub-Saharan Africa, have long complained about the problems of building new mosques - from a lack of funding, to bureaucratic red tape, to a raft of legal challenges filed by French opposed to them. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Bruno Gollnisch, a senior member of the far-right National Front party, however, said the solution is not building new mosques. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"The solution in my opinion is… to reverse the trend of immigration and to try and get these people settled back in their home country," said Gollnisch.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">With anti-immigration sentiments running high in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">France</place></country-region>, some see the street-prayer ban as a move by the center-right government to gain votes ahead of 2012 elections. The government sparked controversy earlier this year by banning the face veil. Critics saw it as another political ploy, since the veil is worn by very few Muslim women in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">France</place></country-region>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Muslims interviewed in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Paris</place></city> said they were unaware of plans to construct an Islamic center. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But one woman worshipper, who gave her name only as Rhama, said the Muslim community deserves a large mosque in a central area - not tucked away on the fringe of the city. ---VOA News</span></div></div>

France to Build Islamic Center in Paris

By Lisa Bryant from Paris Paris plans to build a new Islamic center to address two issues, a dearth of mosques for the city's sizab...

Explosion at French Nuclear Plant

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<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nuclear-Energy-What-Everyone-Needs/dp/0199759464?ie=UTF8&tag=glob036-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Nuclear Energy: What Everyone Needs to Know" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0199759464&tag=glob036-20" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0199759464" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />An explosion has rocked a nuclear site in southern France.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">France's nuclear safety body says the blast occurred Monday at the Marcoule nuclear plant in the city of Nimes.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was not immediately clear how serious the blast was.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No other information was immediately available. (VOA News)</span></div></div>

Explosion at French Nuclear Plant

An explosion has rocked a nuclear site in southern France. France's nuclear safety body says the blast occurred Monday at the Marcoule...

SARKOZY TO VISIT LIBYA AFTER GADDAFI'S CAPTURE: REPORTS

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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Testimony-France-Europe-World-ebook/dp/B000Y2R0GG?ie=UTF8&tag=glob036-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Testimony: France, Europe and the World in the 2lst" height="320" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000Y2R0GG&tag=glob036-20" width="240" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000Y2R0GG" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />PARIS (NNN-Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy would pay a visit to Libya as soon as possible, but only after the capture of embattled Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi, a local newspaper reported on Friday. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">According to the daily Le Parisien, Sarkozy would fly to the North African country with the British Prime Minister David Cameron after the meeting of the contact group on Libya scheduled for Sept. 1 in Paris. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">However, the due visit will be made only if Gaddafi is in the rebels' hand, the report added, citing sources close to the presidential office, the Elysee Palace. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Should that scenario come to pass, Sarkozy is expected to visit Libyan capital Tripoli, Misrata and Benghazi, the rebels' strongholds. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On Monday, rebel fighters streamed into Tripoli and seized strategic zones forcing pro-Gaddafi forces to collapse and breaking months-long conflict. However, Gaddafi's whereabouts remain unknown. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rebels offered a bounty of 2 million dinars (1.6 million U.S. dollars) on Gaddafi, no matter his is dead or alive.--NNN-Xinhua </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div>

SARKOZY TO VISIT LIBYA AFTER GADDAFI'S CAPTURE: REPORTS

PARIS (NNN-Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy would pay a visit to Libya as soon as possible, but only after the capture of em...

France bans British sprouts on E.Coli suspicion

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">PARIS (RIA Novosti) French authorities have prohibited the sale of three types of sprouts from the British seed supplier, Thompson and Morgan, reportedly infected with E. Coli, France's secretary of state for consumer affairs, Frederic Lefebvre said in a statement on Saturday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On Thursday evening French authorities were informed about 10 people affected by E. coli in Bordeaux after eating mustard, fenugreek and rocket sprouts, believed to be grown from Thompson and Morgan seeds.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Lefebvre urged the consumers who bought these products not to use them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">According to AFP, two people hospitalized in Bordeaux are in intensive care. One of the patients, a 78-year old woman is in critical condition, the second patient is recovering.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The highly virulent strain of the E. coli bacteria had killed almost 40 people in Europe since its outbreak began early in June. The infection was traced to bean sprouts grown on a farm in Germany's Lower Saxony region, some 70 km (40 miles) south of Hamburg.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

France bans British sprouts on E.Coli suspicion

PARIS (RIA Novosti) French authorities have prohibited the sale of three types of sprouts from the British seed supplier, Thompson and Morg...

France, Germany Show Solidarity on Greek Economy

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Selah Hennessy <span class="location" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">| London</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The leaders of France and Germany signaled Friday they want to find a quick solution to the economic crisis in Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>In Greece, the prime minister reshuffled his Cabinet and replaced his finance minister.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Speaking in Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the stability of Europe's single currency, the euro, is their top priority. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Greece, a nation in the eurozone and part of the single currency, is in major debt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It needs a multi-billion-dollar loan from its euro neighbors in order to avoid defaulting on that debt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">France and Germany had been at odds over whether private holders of Greek bonds should be involved in a Greek rescue package. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But on Friday, Merkel said the two countries were on the same page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>She said that private investors should participate only on a voluntary basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>She added that mandatory participation does not have a legal basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Analysts say this is a softening of Germany's position, which they say had been leaning towards forcing losses on private creditors. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">President Sarkozy said Friday that France and Germany are committed to defending the euro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>He added that their program has to be put in place quickly. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It is a sign that European countries may be moving closer to a deal to help Greece out of its immediate financial straits. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But Mark Weisbrot, co-director of the U.S.-based research group the Center for Economic and Policy Research, says a bailout in its current form is not going to help Greece in the long run.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">"Greece needs to get out from under a big part of that debt, a big part," said Weisbrot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>"Because otherwise, if you have a settlement and there is just a restructuring that allows some payments to be made later and none of the principles to be reduced, for example, then you're just going to end up in the same situation a year or two down the road."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have made tough austerity measures a condition of any bailout. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Those measures are adding to social unrest in Greece and putting major political pressure on the leading Socialist party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>On Friday, a new finance minister was appointed amid a reshuffle of the Cabinet. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And on Wednesday, tens of thousands of people turned out in the streets to protest against tax hikes and spending cuts. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Weisbrot says austerity is not the key to improving Greece's economic situation, and, in his opinion, Greek citizens are right to battle the policy. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">"I think what they're doing right now is important," Weisbrot added.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>"They're in the streets and that's where the only pressure is coming from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>And I think they should demand that their government not accept any terms that doesn't get the economy growing immediately."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The IMF said Friday that sovereign debt troubles in Greece and other eurozone countries are putting the global economic recovery at risk. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Speaking in San Paulo, Brazil, the IMF's research director, Olivier Blanchard, said policymakers have to act now to make the financial system more robust.<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">VOA News</span><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

France, Germany Show Solidarity on Greek Economy

Selah Hennessy | London The leaders of France and Germany signaled Friday they want to find a quick solution to the economic crisis in Gr...

India set to sign $2.4bn Mirage deal with France

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPzwwviA1xusCeHXOY-SiivLPaNTCJm6r4F-YOSw9TXWQ_fbA5bV7VChKLvU16JZZFWHEgU8LcOV8KnXL6O2C5FWOt4zH_rwX9CX7L41mX_6qwTr8cL-tHGOWhEC_r3OUfWjpkAi__KCM/s1600/indiafrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPzwwviA1xusCeHXOY-SiivLPaNTCJm6r4F-YOSw9TXWQ_fbA5bV7VChKLvU16JZZFWHEgU8LcOV8KnXL6O2C5FWOt4zH_rwX9CX7L41mX_6qwTr8cL-tHGOWhEC_r3OUfWjpkAi__KCM/s1600/indiafrance.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Kokila;">New Delhi -- Faced with a dual threat from China and Pakistan, which have even come together to manufacture fighter jets, India is really cranking up military aviation contracts.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even as the $ 4.1 billion deal for 10 American C-17 GlobeMaster-III strategic airlift aircraft awaits the final nod from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), another major contract is now headed that way. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The long-awaited deal with France for the upgrade of 52 Mirage-2000 multi-role fighters in IAF's combat fleet is 'finally ready' at a cost of almost Rs 11,000 crore ($ 2.4 billion), times of India reported today quoting Defence ministry sources. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">'This is also now going to CCS for approval. Another big contract, which was being progressed simultaneously, for around 450 MICA (interception and aerial combat missiles) systems to arm the upgraded Mirages is also in the final stages now.' <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This comes after long-drawn negotiations with French companies Dassault Aviation (aircraft manufacturer), Thales (weapons systems integrator) and MBDA (missile supplier), which were 'initially asking for much more', said sources. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Under the contract, the first four to six Mirages will be upgraded in France, while the rest will be retrofitted in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) with transfer of technology from the French companies. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This means the overall Mirage upgrade package, including the fire-and-forget MICA missiles and the infrastructure build-up at HAL, will eventually cross the Rs 15,000-crore mark. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It obviously raises questions whether it would be more prudent to simply buy new fighters rather than upgrade older ones at such a huge cost. IAF, however, argues the 'retrofitted' Mirages -- with new avionics, radars, mission computers, glass cockpits, helmet-mounted displays, electronic warfare suites, weapon delivery and precision-targeting systems -- would remain 'top-notch fighters' for almost two decades more. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With a depleting number of fighter squadrons (each has 16 to 18 jets), down to just 32 from a `sanctioned strength' of 39.5, IAF is going for a mix of upgrades and new inductions to stem its fast-eroding combat edge over even Pakistan. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There is, for instance, the ongoing upgrade of 63 MiG-29s under a $ 964 million deal inked with Russia in March 2008. Then, India is also progressively inducting the 272 Sukhoi-30MKIs contracted from Russia for around $12 billion. Moreover, the first lot of the around 120 indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft will begin joining the force from end-2013 onwards. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">India also wants to ink by December this year the $10.4 billion project for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), in which only the French Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoons are now left in contention after ejection of the American, Russian and Swedish jets. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On top of this all, India hopes to begin inducting 250-300 advanced stealth fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), being co-developed with Russia, from 2020 onwards, in what will be its biggest-ever defence project at around $35 billion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 5.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-IRNA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

India set to sign $2.4bn Mirage deal with France

New Delhi -- Faced with a dual threat from China and Pakistan, which have even come together to manufacture fighter jets, India is really cr...