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☆ French ministers head to Indo-Pacific, Australia in diplomatic push
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( John Irish | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] French Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna and French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu leave following the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, November 22, 2023. France, with overseas territories in the Pacific and Indian Ocean and 7,000 troops stationed there, considers itself an Indo-Pacific power. The loss of a major submarine deal with Australia in 2021 forced it rethink its strategy amid ongoing regional tensions with China in the disputed South China Sea. Underscoring those efforts, Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu will host in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia between Dec. 4-8 the South Pacific Defence Ministers Meeting, the first time it has hosted the format since it was created in 2013. While it has diversified its ties across the Pacific, France has also worked on rebuilding its partnership with Australia.

Persons: Catherine Colonna, Sebastien Lecornu, Sarah Meyssonnier, Ferdinand Marcos, Karen Lerna, Sandra Maler Organizations: Foreign, French Defence, REUTERS, South Pacific, South Pacific Defence Ministers, South, Australia, Canberra, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, PARIS, Pacific, Ocean, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Caledonia, Britain, United States, South Korea, Spain, Manila, South China, Kuala Lumpur

☆ Barclays reveals 10 debt-laden global stocks at risk from higher interest rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Barclays has identified the European stocks that are most at risk of taking a hit to profits over rising interest payments for debt over the next two years. During the coronavirus pandemic, central banks cut interest rates to historic lows, enabling companies to borrow debt at very favorable rates. The table below shows the 10 stocks Barclays expects to have the biggest increase in interest costs through to 2025. Since interest costs are integral to real estate business models, the impact on margins and profits could be much more severe, the bank's analysts said. The Barclays team is confident that while interest rates can hurt company bottom lines, there was "scant" evidence that showed there was systemic risk.

Persons: Fastighets Balder, Castellum, Vonovia, Matthew Joyce, Zoso Davies Organizations: Barclays, Premier, Whitbread, BASF, Dassault Systemes Locations: Swiss

☆ France Test-Fires Long-Range Ballistic Missile in Bid to Boost Nuclear Deterrence
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS (Reuters) - France has successfully test-fired an M51.3 long-range ballistic missile, boosting the credibility of France's nuclear deterrence capabilities, the defence ministry said on Sunday. It added that maintaining operational credibility of France's nuclear weapons is required given the international environment. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned the West that he would be ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia. The M51.3 missile is an upgraded version of the M51, a three-stage sea-land strategic ballistic missile designed to be launched from French Navy submarines. The new M51.3 missile, which is expected to enter service around 2025, is developed by aerospace firm ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and French defence group Safran.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Safran, Geert De Clercq, Hugh Lawson Organizations: PARIS, Russia, French Navy, Airbus Locations: France, Ukraine

☆ France test-fires long-range ballistic missile in bid to boost nuclear deterrence
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Nov 19 (Reuters) - France has successfully test-fired an M51.3 long-range ballistic missile, boosting the credibility of France's nuclear deterrence capabilities, the defence ministry said on Sunday. It added that maintaining operational credibility of France's nuclear weapons is required given the international environment. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned the West that he would be ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia. The M51.3 missile is an upgraded version of the M51, a three-stage sea-land strategic ballistic missile designed to be launched from French Navy submarines. The new M51.3 missile, which is expected to enter service around 2025, is developed by aerospace firm ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus (AIR.PA) and French defence group Safran (SAF.PA).

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Safran, Geert De Clercq, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Russia, French Navy, Airbus, Ballistic, Thomson Locations: France, Ukraine

The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) closed 1.5% higher, extending gains to the fourth straight day. U.S. consumer prices advanced 3.0% in June - their smallest year-on-year increase since March 2021 - after 4% growth in May. Gains in the lenders lifted UK's FTSE 100 index (.FTSE) by 1.8%, leading gains among European peers and pushing the European banks index (.SX7P) up 1.9%. European shares have performed better than UK stocks so far this year, amid economic resilience and signs of cooling inflation in the euro zone, with focus now shifting to the upcoming earnings season. Data showed Spanish national consumer prices rose 1.9% in the 12 months through June, down from a 3.2% rise in the period through May.

Persons: Daniel Casali, Evelyn, Jefferies, Vincent Chaigneau, Matteo Allievi, Shreyashi Sanyal, Sohini Goswami, Nick Zieminski Organizations: U.S, Jefferies, Federal, Evelyn Partners, Lloyds, Barclays, HSBC, Bank of England, Miners, ASM International, Infineon, Generali Investments, Air France, KLM, Deutsche Bank, Thales, Cobham Aerospace Communications, Spanish, Thomson Locations: United States, U.S, Gdansk, Amruta, Bangalore

☆ France's Thales to acquire Cobham Aerospace Communications for $1.1 bln
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The logo of Thales Group is seen during a visit at the Thales radar factory in Limours, France, February 1, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo FuentesJuly 12 (Reuters) - French defence and technology group Thales (TCFP.PA) said on Wednesday it started talks to buy French supplier Cobham Aerospace Communications for $1.1 billion. Thales said that with the acquisition it aims to strengthen its portfolio in avionics - the complex electronic systems used on aircraft. Cobham Aerospace Communications is a leading supplier of advanced cockpit communication systems and it is expected to generate about $200 million in revenue in 2023, Thales said. The transaction is expected to generate medium-term double-digit growth per annum for Thales and to have accretive impact on its margins.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Thales, Yannick Assouad, Michal Aleksandrowicz, Jacqueline Wong, Jason Neely Organizations: Thales Group, Thales, REUTERS, Cobham Aerospace Communications, Avionics, Jefferies, Thomson Locations: Limours, France, Paris, Gdansk

☆ French defence group Thales to recruit 12,000 staff as orders boom
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: The logo of French defence and electronics group Thales is seen at an office building at the financial and business district of La Defense in Courbevoie near Paris, France, January 31, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah MeyssonnierPARIS (Reuters) - French defence and technology group Thales plans to hire 12,000 new staff this year as there is strong demand across its product range, CEO Patrice Caine said in an interview with French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche. Caine said that all the firm’s activities - defence and security, aeronautics and space, identity and digital security, were growing strongly. “The company is a reflection of its markets, which are all seeing dynamic growth, with needs growing in all our fields of activity,” he said. Caine, who recently met with Ukraine’s defence minister, said that France would deliver its Ground Master 200 radar air defence system to Ukraine in May.

ABIDJAN/OUAGADOUGOU, Feb 20 (Reuters) - France's defence minister pledged on Monday to boost military support to Ivory Coast, as Paris adjusts its strategy in West Africa after neighbouring Burkina Faso ordered French troops to leave and vowed to curb a worsening Islamist insurgency solo. The two jihadist groups have taken over swathes of land and displaced millions of people in Burkina, Mali and Niger. Burkina Faso has denied an allegation that Russian mercenaries are in the country, but its prime minister in December said it would welcome Russia's help in its fight against the insurgents. OTHER PARTNERSThe countries' rejection of French military help could allow other states in the region to put themselves forward as more reliable partners to Western powers. "Ivory Coast and Benin have the will to fight against terrorism," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

[1/2] A car rides on an empty road near a frontline, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine January 29, 2023. In Paris after meeting Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said "there was no taboo" about supplying Kyiv with fighter planes. Russian forces on Tuesday made no headway in attempts to advance on Avdiivka, the second focal point of Russian attacks in Donetsk region, Kyiv's military general staff said. Russian forces also tried to advance near Lyman, a town further north in Donetsk region that was recaptured by Ukrainian forces in October, the military said. Russia was reaching further west in Donetsk by firing on the town of Vuhledar and a half dozen other towns and villages, the Ukraine military said.

☆ France to withdraw troops from Burkina Faso within a month
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( John Irish | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Vincent Bado/File PhotoPARIS, Jan 25 (Reuters) - France will withdraw its troops from Burkina Faso in the next month after the military junta asked it to leave, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday, in a move that will further reduce its presence in a region facing a growing Islamist insurgency. Protests by opponents of the French military presence have surged in Burkina, partly linked to perceptions that France has not done enough to tackle the Islamist militancy that has spread in recent years from neighbouring Mali. France retains some 200-400 special forces in Burkina. Burkina's national television reported on Saturday that the government had suspended a 2018 military accord with Paris on Jan. 18, giving France one month to pull its troops out. Paris also has a large military presence in Chad.

☆ Explainer: How to correctly re-export German tanks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The following explains defence export rules in Germany and other countries and the way such deals have been handled previously:HOW DO GOVERNMENTS CORRECTLY RE-EXPORT GERMAN TANKS? The same goes for cases where the weapons may be used to wage a war of aggression or the re-export approval might violate Germany's obligations under international law. As defence exports are a touchy issue in Germany, foreign countries usually do not directly submit a formal request for re-export to the German authorities. If not, the foreign country abstains from submitting a formal re-export request, and no diplomatic harm is done. GERMANY'S HIGH HURDLES FOR DEFENCE EXPORTSGermany has one of the toughest defence export regimes in the world – largely due to its bloody pre-1945 past.

☆ France to sell 2 observation satellites to Poland -minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PARIS, Dec 27 (Reuters) - France and Poland have signed a deal for the sale of two French observation satellites to Poland, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Twitter. "This major contract reflects Poland's trust in our technology and industry," Lecornu said after meeting with his Polish counterpart in Warsaw. The Polish Armament Agency said the net value of the deal is around 575 million euros ($611.69 million) and that the launch into space of the Polish satellites produced by Airbus Defence & Space (AIR.PA) is to be completed by 2027. ($1 = 0.9400 euros)Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Additional reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw; editing by David Evans and David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ France stand firm to overpower gallant Morocco
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"There's emotion, there's pride, there's going to be a final step, we've been together with the players for a month, it's never easy, there's happiness so far," said coach Didier Deschamps. France found themselves in an absorbing battle as Morocco showed them no deference and made many chances of their own, coming close to an equaliser. The world champions’ defence had to scramble several times, including a late goalline clearance and Morocco struck the post with a spectacular bicycle effort. France swept forward and converted their first chance through Hernandez to put their opponents on the back foot. NO FAIRYTALEWhile there was to be no fairytale continuation of their unprecedented run to the last four, Morocco exited with their heads held high.

☆ European shares pulled down by Mercedes, defence stocks up after Poland blast
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SummarySummary Companies Mercedes slides on report of China EV price slashesEuropean autos sector eyes worst day in nearly 7 weeksBiden says missile that hit Poland may not have come from RussiaNov 16 (Reuters) - European shares fell on Wednesday, with Mercedes Benz Group leading losses in automobiles stocks, while a blast in Poland kept sentiment subdued and pushed up defence stocks. The pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX) index fell 0.4% by 0924 GMT. Auto stocks (.SXAP) tumbled 2.8% to lead sectoral declines, and were headed for their biggest one-day percentage fall in almost seven weeks. The European aerospace and defence (.SXPARO) sector climbed 0.9% following news of the blast. Multiple data points signalled a euro zone recession amid the European Central Bank's aggressive monetary tightening cycle to control record-high inflation.

☆ Hackers release Thales data on dark web, franceinfo says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Nov 11 (Reuters) - Data relating to French defence and technology group Thales (TCFP.PA) have been published on the dark web by hacker group LockBit 3.0, franceinfo news website reported on Friday. The company this week said the Russian-speaking extortion and ransomware group had claimed to have stolen some of its data, with plans to publish it on Nov. 7. Thales, which on Tuesday said it had opened an internal investigation and informed the ANSSI national cyber security agency, did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comments. The French company provides businesses, organisations and governments with advanced technologies in the defence, aeronautics, space, transport and digital security sectors. Reporting by Juliette Portala Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ France's Thales says hackers claim to have stolen data
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PARIS, Nov 1 (Reuters) - French defence and technology group Thales (TCFP.PA) said on Tuesday the hacker group LockBit 3.0 claimed to have stolen some of its data and was threatening to publish it. Thales said the extortion and ransomware group had announced plans on the dark web to release the data on Nov. 7. Thales has opened an internal investigation and has informed the ANSSI national cyber security agency, but so far has not filed a complaint with the police, a company official said. The hackers have not provided proof they have obtained any Thales data, the official added. Reporting by GV De Clercq, Editing by Louise Heavens and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Russia's Shoigu holds second call with U.S. defense secretary in three days
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Kremlin via REUTERSOct 23 (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday for the second time in three days and held a flurry of calls with three other counterparts from NATO countries. Its readouts on the other calls said Shoigu had said the situation in Ukraine was worsening. "They discussed the situation in Ukraine which is rapidly deteriorating," the Russian defence ministry said of Shoigu's call with French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterShoigu spoke separately to Turkey's defence minister Hulusi Akar and Britain's Ben Wallace. With Russia reeling from successive defeats in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has said it would resort to nuclear weapons if necessary to defend its "territorial integrity".

☆ Russia's Shoigu warns of 'uncontrolled escalation' in Ukraine conflict
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 23 (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his French counterpart in a telephone call on Sunday that the situation in Ukraine was rapidly deteriorating and trending towards "uncontrolled escalation". In a phone call with French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu published by the Russian side, Shoigu said Moscow had concerns Ukraine could use a "dirty bomb" in the conflict, without providing evidence to support the suggestion that Ukraine might use such a weapeon. "They discussed the situation in Ukraine which is rapidly deteriorating," the defence ministry said in a readout of the call. "It is trending towards further uncontrolled escalation." The defence ministry did not provide any further information on its statement.

☆ European weapons manufacturers scramble to adapt to wartime demand
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Benoit Van Overstraeten | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance has started dialogue with industry and allies on how to boost production and replenish weapons stocks. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterHe told a news conference that defence ministers would take decisions to increase stockpiles. Nicolas Chamussy, chief executive of French defence firm Nexter, said industry had to respond to a dramatic increase in EU demand for military equipment, while production capacities were designed for peace time. Last Friday European Union leaders agreed to give more financial and military aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will ask the leaders of the G7 group of nations to urgently supply Ukraine with air defence weapons.

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