Conakry, Guinea | AFP | Guinean President Alpha Conde said Thursday he would file a complaint in the French courts over allegations raised in a corruption case embroiling French billionaire Vincent Bollore. “I shall bring a complaint in Paris for false accusation,” Conde told reporters in Conakry, without giving further …
Read More »Macron says will scrap ‘exit tax’ on high-earners
Paris, France | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron intends to scrap a 30 percent “exit tax” on top-earners who transfer their assets outside of France, in a bid to boost the attractiveness of the country for foreign investors. The levy was introduced in 2012 under former rightwing president Nicolas …
Read More »Putin, Macron diverge on Iran deal as Trump decides
Paris, France | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin and French leader Emmanuel Macron launched a joint defence of the Iranian nuclear deal on Monday but expressed differences on how to move forward as US President Donald Trump weighs up whether to scrap it. The Kremlin said Putin and Macron were …
Read More »‘We should never go back’, Macron, May say on chemical weapons
Paris, France | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday urged the world to keep up the fight against chemical weapons on the anniversary of an international convention banning their use. “On the 21st anniversary of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and following Douma and …
Read More »Long battle to stop firms bribing Africa for contracts
Paris, France | AFP | A spectacular probe into French tycoon Vincent Bollore over suspected graft in Africa marks a rare exception among corporate titans doing business south of the Sahara. Bollore — charged on Wednesday over contracts to operate ports in Guinea and Togo — is by far the …
Read More »French tycoon Bollore’s African assets
Paris, France | AFP | Billionaire French industrialist Vincent Bollore is being questioned in Paris over allegations that his conglomerate used corrupt connections in Africa to win port contracts. Founded in 1822, the Bollore Group, which is majority owned by the Bollore family, has diverse interests ranging from logistics and energy …
Read More »Trump, Macron call for ‘new’ nuclear deal with Iran
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron called for a “new” deal with Iran Tuesday, looking beyond divisions over a landmark nuclear accord that now hangs in the balance. Trump pilloried a three-year old agreement designed to curb Iran’s nuclear program as “insane” …
Read More »French tycoon Bollore held for questioning over Africa ports deals
Paris, France | AFP | Billionaire French tycoon Vincent Bollore was detained Tuesday as part of a corruption investigation involving his group’s acquisition of contracts to operate ports in West Africa, legal sources told AFP. The 66-year-old head of the Bollore Group, was taken into custody in the Paris suburb …
Read More »Macron warns against being ‘weak’ with Putin
Washington, United States | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron warned against showing any weakness towards Vladimir Putin — while insisting he wants to work with the Russian strongman — in remarks broadcast Sunday on the eve of his state visit to Washington. “He’s strong and smart. But don’t be …
Read More »Macron on Iran nuclear deal: There is no ‘Plan B’
Washington, United States | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron, who is heading to Washington to urge his US counterpart to stay in the Iran nuclear deal, said in an interview broadcast Sunday that there is no “Plan B” if the accord is scrapped. “I don’t have any Plan B …
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