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Spain, France, Portugal, and Germany showcased skill in thrilling matches to reach the Nations League semi-finals.

Nations League Semi-Finals: Spain, France Advance

In thrilling matches, Spain and France advanced from penalty shoot-outs, while Portugal and Germany secured their semi-final spots.

Spain, France, Portugal, and Germany advance to nations league Semi-Finals

Spain and France advance after thrilling shoot-outs; Portugal and Germany also reach Nations League semi-finals.

Holders Spain beat the Netherlands on penalties after a dramatic quarter-final second leg in Valencia finished 3-3 on Sunday to set up a Nations League last-four clash with France, who edged Croatia in a shoot-out after a 2-2 aggregate draw.
On a dramatic night, Portugal battled past Denmark in extra time and will next face Finals hosts Germany after their tense 5-4 aggregate victory over Italy. European champions Spain took the lead in the tie, after Thursday's 2-2 first-leg draw, when Mikel Oyarzabal picked himself up after being fouled in the box to slot home an early penalty.
The Netherlands equalised nine minutes into the second half as Memphis Depay also won and then netted a spot-kick.
Oyarzabal grabbed his second in the 67th minute after a strong run forward by Nico Williams, only for the Dutch to level again with 11 minutes remaining through Ian Maatsen's fierce strike.
Lamine Yamal struck shortly before the interval in extra time, though, curling the ball into the far corner after a couple of superb touches.
There was yet another twist as Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon brought down Xavi Simons, who picked himself up to score.
Spain edged home 5-4 in the shoot-out despite a miss from Yamal, as Simon saved from Netherlands winger Donyell Malen and Pedri struck the winning penalty.
"We're Spain and we don't have to fear anyone," Pedri told TVE of facing 2021 Nations League winners France in the semi-finals in Stuttgart on June 5.
France wiped out a two-goal deficit against Croatia at the Stade de France.
Michael Olise's brilliant free-kick broke the deadlock on the night in the 52nd minute, before Ousmane Dembele swept Olise's cutback into the bottom corner to send the quarter-final to extra time.
Theo Hernandez missed a penalty to win it for France in an eventful shoot-out, but Dayot Upamecano eventually secured a 5-4 success on penalties in sudden death.
"We woke up thinking it could be a great night," Kylian Mbappe told TF1. "We were convinced we were going to do something great."
Trincao fires Portugal through
Portugal, inspired by substitute Francisco Trincao, battled back after losing the first game 1-0 to win a thrilling last-eight encounter with Denmark 5-3 on aggregate.
Cristiano Ronaldo, after a stuttering run-up, produced the tamest of early penalties which was comfortably held by Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Portugal were gifted the lead on the night when Joachim Andersen put through his own net.
But the Danes restored their aggregate advantage 11 minutes into the second half through Rasmus Kristensen's excellent header.
Ronaldo did get his 136th international goal, though, turning the ball in after Schmeichel tipped Fernandes' shot against the post.
But Portugal were caught out in the 76th minute when Christian Eriksen tapped home.
The hosts managed to force an added half-hour when Schmeichel's weak punch fell to Mendes, who teed up Trincao to drill a shot into the bottom corner.
Trincao netted his second in the first minute of extra time and Goncalo Ramos secured a meeting with Germany in Munich on June 4.
Germany hold off Italy fightback
Julian Nagelsmann's Germans survived an Italy comeback to win 5-4 on aggregate after a 3-3 draw in Dortmund.
Germany extended their overall advantage on the half-hour mark when Joshua Kimmich tucked home a spot-kick before playing a key role in a bizarre second goal.
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma left his goal after making a save to complain at the referee and Kimmich took a quickly-taken corner which was flicked into an empty net by Jamal Musiala.
Tim Kleindienst nodded in Kimmich's clipped cross on the stroke of half-time, but Moise Kean scored twice to give Italy a glimmer of hope heading into the last 20 minutes.
Giacomo Raspadori converted a penalty in injury time to equalise on the night, but there was not long enough left for the Azzurri.
"A football game is never perfect, but it was some unbelievable football, and the best I've seen us play," Germany coach Nagelsmann said.
Elsewhere, Belgium narrowly avoided relegation to League B as two late goals from Romelu Lukaku helped them overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit against Ukraine with a 3-0 victory.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly inaugurated India's new consulate in Marseille. The leaders also paid tribute to Indian soldiers at Mazargues Cemetery, strengthening Indo-French ties.

PM Modi, Prez Macron jointly inaugurate India's new consulate in France's Marseille

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly inaugurated India's new consulate in Marseille. The leaders also paid tribute to Indian soldiers at Mazargues Cemetery, strengthening Indo-French ties.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday jointly inaugurated India's new consulate in France's Marseille city.
Modi is currently visiting France at the invitation of President Macron. The two leaders jointly inaugurated India's new consulate in Marseille with the press of a button amid cheers from the gathered crowd.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A historic moment in Marseille! President <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> and I inaugurated the Indian Consulate in this vibrant city, marking a new chapter in India-France ties. This consulate will serve as an important bridge, strengthening our cultural, economic and people-to-people&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/xXRH13mzON">pic.twitter.com/xXRH13mzON</a>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1889623393894539562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Many of these people had come bearing national flags of both India and France, while some sported a tricolour headgear, adding colour to the occasion.&nbsp;
Prior to the inauguration, Modi and Macron visited the historic Mazargues Cemetery, and paid tribute to the Indian soldiers who made sacrifices fighting in the Great War.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
More than 100,000 Indians fought for France in 1914. Ten thousand never returned. They set foot on the soil of Marseille before fighting in the mud of the trenches, unaware that they were marching to their deaths. Their sacrifice binds France and India forever. <a href="https://t.co/lmjbawDCdh">pic.twitter.com/lmjbawDCdh</a>
&mdash; Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1889619161850003475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Later, the two leaders also interacted with a section of the people in the crowd.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Google CEO Sundar Pichai at the AI Action Summit in Paris to discuss AI's transformative impact on India and digital collaboration.

PM Modi meets Pichai in France, discusses 'India’s digital transformation’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Google CEO Sundar Pichai at the AI Action Summit in Paris to discuss AI's transformative impact on India and digital collaboration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met Google CEO Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit in Paris where they discussed the "incredible opportunities" AI will bring to India.
The Indian-origin Alphabet Inc. CEO also discussed how Google and India can work together on the country&rsquo;s &ldquo;digital transformation&rdquo;.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Delighted to meet with PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> today while in Paris for the AI Action Summit. We discussed the incredible opportunities AI will bring to India and ways we can work closely together on India&rsquo;s digital transformation <a href="https://t.co/OXA3vfQ6OT">pic.twitter.com/OXA3vfQ6OT</a>
&mdash; Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) <a href="https://twitter.com/sundarpichai/status/1889391509755048372?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"Delighted to meet with PM @narendramodi today while in Paris for the AI Action Summit. We discussed the incredible opportunities AI will bring to India and ways we can work closely together on India&rsquo;s digital transformation," Pichai posted on X along with pictures.
The last meeting between Modi and Pichai was in September 2024 in New York. The Prime minister was in the US to attend the Quad Leaders' Summit hosted by President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware.
Tuesday's plenary session of the mega event was co-chaired by Prime Minister Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
On Tuesday at the summit, Modi made a strong case for collective efforts to establish a global framework for artificial intelligence (AI) based on open source which enhances trust, and transparency and is free from biases.
He also said the technology should be rooted in the local ecosystem for it to be effective and useful.
Modi said that AI is changing the polity, economy, security and society and is &ldquo;writing the code for humanity in this century&rdquo;.
&ldquo;We are at the dawn of the AI age that will shape the course of humanity,&rdquo; he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the U.S. on February 12 to meet President Trump, focusing on trade, security, and immigration issues. Modi will also co-chair the AI Action Summit in France before his U.S. trip.

PM Modi to undertake two-day working visit to U.S. from February 12

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the U.S. on February 12 to meet President Trump, focusing on trade, security, and immigration issues. Modi will also co-chair the AI Action Summit in France before his U.S. trip.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day working visit to the United States starting February 12, where he will meet President Donald Trump, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Friday.
During a press conference, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized that the visit will further strengthen and guide the bilateral relationship between India and the U.S.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi: On PM Modi's visit to the US, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "At the invitation of US President Donald Trump, PM Modi will pay an official working visit to the US on 12th and 13th of February. This will be the first visit of Prime Minister Modi to the United&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/nlQzciMh0Z">pic.twitter.com/nlQzciMh0Z</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1887827202080972899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
This trip follows an invitation extended by Trump and comes shortly after he began his second term in the White House.
The visit also takes place amid growing criticism of the Indian government's handling of the deportation of 104 Indian immigrants by the U.S. this week, part of Trump&rsquo;s broader immigration policies.
On January 27, Trump had a conversation with Modi, where they discussed immigration issues and highlighted the need for India to increase its purchases of American-made security equipment, as well as promote equitable trade relations between the two nations.
India, a key strategic ally of the U.S. in efforts to counter China's influence, is focused on boosting trade relations and facilitating easier access to skilled worker visas for its citizens. India also seeks to avoid tariffs previously threatened by Trump in response to India&rsquo;s high tariffs on U.S. goods.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting France from 10th to 12th February 2025. This visit is on the occasion of the organization of the Artificial Intelligence&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/PhaEYcGnPJ">pic.twitter.com/PhaEYcGnPJ</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1887823562230423802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Before his visit to the U.S., Modi will be in France from February 10-12, where he will co-chair the AI Action Summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "After the AI summit, there will be a bilateral component to the visit and PM Modi and President Macron will address the India-France CEOs forum...PM Modi will travel to Marseille on the evening of 11th February. President&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/7YvKtu1cmO">pic.twitter.com/7YvKtu1cmO</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1887825846720958962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Additionally, Modi is scheduled to visit Cadarache, the location of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, where India is a partner, Misri added.

Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison for repeatedly drugging and raping his former wife, Gisele Pelicot, in a case that has shocked France. 50 defendants were convicted, and Gisele's bravery has sparked nationwide protests and debate

Dominique Pelicot Sentenced to 20 Years in French Mass Rape Case

Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison for repeatedly drugging and raping his former wife, Gisele Pelicot, in a case that has shocked France. 50 defendants were convicted, and Gisele's bravery has sparked nationwide protests and debates on rape laws.

Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the presiding judge of the criminal court in Avignon, Roger Arata, declaring that Pelicot would not be eligible for parole until two-thirds of his sentence had been served.

Dominique Pelicot, the former husband of Gisele Pelicot, was found guilty by a French court on Thursday for drugging and raping his wife over a span of nearly ten years.
The court also convicted him of inviting multiple strangers to sexually assault Gisele while she was unconscious in their home. The case has drawn international outrage and turned Gisele Pelicot into a symbol of courage and resilience.
Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the presiding judge of the criminal court in Avignon, Roger Arata, declaring that Pelicot would not be eligible for parole until two-thirds of his sentence had been served.
The court also convicted the remaining 50 defendants&mdash;ranging in age from 27 to 74&mdash;who were involved in the mass rape. None of the defendants were acquitted, with sentences ranging from 3 to 20 years. Prosecutors had requested jail terms ranging from 4 to 18 years for these individuals, almost all of whom were accused of raping Gisele while she was in a comatose state.
Dominique Pelicot, aged 72, admitted to the charges during the trial and expressed remorse to his family. However, many of the other defendants, whom Pelicot had met online, denied the accusations. They claimed that they had been part of a consensual sexual game orchestrated by the couple and argued that it was not rape if the husband had consented.
The trial of Gisele Pelicot has sent shockwaves throughout France and beyond, bringing attention to the shocking extent of abuse she endured. Gisele, 72, waived her right to anonymity during the trial and insisted that the disturbing videos, filmed by her former husband, be shown in court. She expressed her desire to help other women find the strength to speak out.
"I&rsquo;ve decided not to be ashamed, I&rsquo;ve done nothing wrong. They are the ones who must be ashamed," Gisele testified in October, rejecting any suggestion that she had willingly participated in the abuse.
The case has ignited protests across France, with many rallying in support of Gisele. It has also sparked intense debate about the need to update France&rsquo;s rape laws, which currently lack specific mention of consent in sexual relations.

 The government has 30 months to make a purchase offer to the new owner of the weapons. But the pistols can leave France only temporarily. 

Napoleon Bonaparte's pistols auctioned for $1.8 million

The government has 30 months to make a purchase offer to the new owner of the weapons. But the pistols can leave France only temporarily.

Pistols of the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, with which he once wanted to kill himself, have been sold for $1.8m at the Osenat auction house on July 7. &nbsp;&nbsp;
The auction was held next to the Fontainebleau palace where Napolean tried killing himself after his 1814 abdication. &nbsp;
The government has 30 months to make a purchase offer to the new owner of the weapons. But the pistols can leave France only temporarily. &nbsp;
The pistols are inlaid with gold and silver and have an engraved image of Napolean on it.&nbsp;
The pistols' sale comes after France's culture ministry recently classified them as national treasures and banned their export.&nbsp;
This means the French government now has 30 months to make a purchase offer to the new owner, who has not been named. It also means the pistols can only leave France temporarily.&nbsp;
<h3>Story of the Guns&nbsp;</h3>
It is believed that Napolean wanted to use the pistols to kill himself on 12 April 1814 after his army lost against foreign forces and was forced to give up powers. &nbsp;
But his grand squire Armand de Caulaincourt removed the powder from the guns to save him, following which Napoleon took poison. Still, he survived. &nbsp;

From the Olympics to a global economy -- a lot is at stake as France's parliament remains hung after a snap election.

Why France's election results may be turbulent for Europe and beyond

From the Olympics to a global economy -- a lot is at stake as France's parliament remains hung after a snap election.

In the season of swinging and surprising elections, France is the latest victim. The European superpower's general elections have awarded the most seats to a coalition of the left, leaving behind a rare hung parliament.&nbsp;
The results showed just over 180 seats for the New Popular Front leftist coalition, which placed first, ahead of Macron&rsquo;s centrist alliance, with more than 160 seats.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal plans to resign from his post later on Sunday while President Emmanuel Macron still has 3 years on his presidential term.
The 2024 polls are bound to have major implications for France -- ranging from a disrupted Olympic season and rattled markets. A jittery market saw the Euro drop 0.2% to $1.0819 just hours after the election results started coming in on Monday.
While Attal plans to resign soon, Macron has 3 years in office. But his troubles are far from over. Macron leaves for NATO meeting in the US later this week but is likely to not have any idea who will become France's next prime minister or if their policies will align.
The country is all set to host the Olympics later this year and a political upheaval may be counterproductive. PM Attal said, "Our country is facing an unprecedented political situation and is preparing to welcome the world in a few weeks," slamming Macron&rsquo;s shock decision to call an early election.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/france-delivers-surprising-election-result-left-wing-coalition-wins-most-seats-but-fails-to-win-majority-1720408614400">France delivers surprising election result, Left wing coalition wins most seats but fails to win majority</a>

The political turmoil could rattle markets and the French economy, the EU's second-largest, and have far-ranging implications for the war in Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe's economic stability.

France delivers surprising election result, Left wing coalition wins most seats but fails to win majority

The political turmoil could rattle markets and the French economy, the EU's second-largest, and have far-ranging implications for the war in Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe's economic stability.

A coalition of the French left won the most seats in high-stakes legislative elections on Sunday, beating back a far-right surge but failing to win a majority. The outcome left France, a pillar of the European Union and Olympic host country, facing the stunning prospect of a hung Parliament and political paralysis.
The political turmoil could rattle markets and the French economy, the EU's second-largest, and have far-ranging implications for the war in Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe's economic stability.
In calling the election on June 9, after the far right surged in French voting for the European Parliament, President Emmanuel Macron said turning to voters again would provide "clarification".
On almost every level, that gamble appears to have backfired. According to the official results released early on Monday, all three main blocs fell far short of the 289 seats needed to control the 577-seat National Assembly, the more powerful of France's two legislative chambers.
The results showed just over 180 seats for the New Popular Front leftist coalition, which placed first, ahead of Macron's centrist alliance, with more than 160 seats. Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its allies were restricted to third place, although their more than 140 seats were still way ahead of the party's previous best showing -- 89 seats in 2022.
A hung Parliament is unknown territory for modern France.
"Our country is facing an unprecedented political situation and is preparing to welcome the world in a few weeks," said Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who plans to offer his resignation later in the day.
With the Paris Olympics looming, Attal said he was ready to stay at his post "as long as duty demands". Macron has three years remaining on his presidential term.
Attal made clearer than ever his disapproval of Macron's shock decision to call the election, saying "I did not choose this dissolution" of the outgoing National Assembly, where the president's centrist alliance used to be single biggest group, albeit without an absolute majority. Still, it was able to govern for two years, pulling in lawmakers from other camps to fight off efforts to bring it down.
The new legislature appears shorn of such stability. When Macron flies to Washington for a summit this week of the NATO alliance, he will leave a country with no clear idea who may be its next prime minister and facing the prospect that the president may be obliged to share power with a politician deeply opposed to his policies.
Still, many rejoiced. In Paris' Stalingrad square, supporters on the left cheered and applauded as projections showing the alliance ahead flashed up on a giant screen. Cries of joy also rang out in Republique plaza in eastern Paris, with people spontaneously hugging strangers and several minutes of non-stop applause after the projections landed.
Marielle Castry, a medical secretary, was on the Metro in Paris when projected results were first announced.
"Everybody had their smartphones and were waiting for the results and then everybody was overjoyed," said the 55-year-old. "I had been stressed out since June 9 and the European elections. And now, I feel good. Relieved." A redrawn political map Even before votes were cast, the election redrew France's political map. It galvanised parties on the left to put differences aside and join together in the new leftist alliance. It pledges to roll back many of Macron's headline reforms, embark on a massively costly programme of public spending and take a far tougher line against Israel because of the war with Hamas.
Macron described the left's coalition as "extreme" and warned that its economic programme of many tens of billions of euros in public spending, partly financed by tax hikes for high earners and on wealth, could be ruinous for France, already criticised by EU watchdogs for its debt.
Yet, the New Popular Front's leaders immediately pushed Macron to give the alliance the first chance to form a government and propose a prime minister.
The most prominent of the leftist coalition's leaders, Jean-Luc M&eacute;lenchon, said it "is ready to govern".
While the National Rally took more seats than ever, the anti-immigration party with historical links to anti-semitism and racism fell far short of its hopes of securing an absolute majority that would have given France its first far-right government since World War II.
"Disappointed, disappointed," said far-right supporter Luc Doumont, 66. "Well, happy to see our progression, because for the past few years, we have been doing better." After the party finished top of the first-round vote last weekend, its rivals worked to dash its hopes of outright victory on Sunday, by strategically withdrawing candidates from many districts. That left many far-right candidates in head-to-head contests against just one opponent, making it harder for them to win.
Many voters decided that keeping the far right from power was more important to them than anything else, backing its opponents in the runoff, even if they were not from the political camp they usually support.
Still, National Rally leader Le Pen, expected to make a fourth run for the French presidency in 2027, said the elections laid the groundwork for "the victory of tomorrow".
"The reality is that our victory is only deferred," she added. But Le Pen's older sister, Marie-Caroline, was among her party's losers on Sunday, defeated by a leftist candidate and just 225 votes in her district.&nbsp;
(AP)

The snap elections in this nuclear-armed nation will influence the war in Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe's economic stability.

Voting begins in France runoff elections

The snap elections in this nuclear-armed nation will influence the war in Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe's economic stability.

Voting has begun in mainland France on Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision &mdash; or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock.
French President Emmanuel Macron took a huge gamble in dissolving parliament and calling for the elections after his centrists were trounced in European elections on June 9.
The snap elections in this nuclear-armed nation will influence the war in Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe's economic stability, and they're almost certain to undercut President Emmanuel Macron for the remaining three years of his presidency.
The first round on June 30 saw the largest gains ever for the anti-immigration, nationalist National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen.
A bit over 49 million people are registered to vote in the elections, which will determine which party controls the 577-member National Assembly, France's influential lower house of parliament, and who will be prime minister. If support is further eroded for Macron's weak centrist majority, he will be forced to share power with parties opposed to most of his pro-business, pro-European Union policies.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal cast his ballot in the Paris suburb of Vanves on Sunday morning.
Le Pen is not voting, because her district in northern France is not holding a second round after she won the seat outright last week. Across France, 76 other candidates secured seats in the first round, including 39 from her National Rally and 32 from the leftist New Popular Front alliance. Two candidates from Macron's centrists list also won their seats in the first round.
Racism and antisemitism have marred the electoral campaign, along with Russian cybercampaigns, and more than 50 candidates reported being physically attacked &mdash; highly unusual for France. The government is deploying 30,000 police on voting day.
The heightened tensions come while France is celebrating a very special summer: Paris is about to host exceptionally ambitious Olympic Games, the national soccer team reached the semifinal of the Euro 2024 championship, and the Tour de France is racing around the country alongside the Olympic torch.
The elections wrap up Sunday at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) in mainland France and on the island of Corsica. Initial polling projections are expected Sunday night, with early official results expected late Sunday and early Monday.
Voters residing in the Americas and in France's overseas territories of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Saint-Barthelemy, Saint-Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana and French Polynesia voted on Saturday.
The elections could leave France with its first far-right government since the Nazi occupation in World War II if the National Rally wins an absolute majority and its 28-year-old leader Jordan Bardella becomes prime minister.
The party came out on top in the previous week's first-round voting, followed by a coalition of centre-left, hard-left and Green parties, and Macron's centrist alliance.
But the outcome remains highly uncertain. Polls between the two rounds suggest that the National Rally may win the most seats in the 577-seat National Assembly but fall short of the 289 seats needed for a majority. That would still make history, if a party with historic links to xenophobia and downplaying the Holocaust, and long seen as a pariah, becomes France's biggest political force.
If it wins the majority, Macron would be forced to share power in an awkward arrangement known in France as "cohabitation".
Another possibility is that no party has a majority, resulting in a hung parliament. That could prompt Macron to pursue coalition negotiations with the centre-left or name a technocratic government with no political affiliations.
Both would be unprecedented for modern France, and make it more difficult for the European Union's No. 2 economy to make bold decisions on arming Ukraine, reforming labor laws or reducing its huge deficit. Financial markets have been jittery since Macron surprised even his closest allies in June by announcing snap elections after the National Rally won the most seats for France in European Parliament elections.
Regardless of what happens, Macron said he won't step down and will stay president until his term ends in 2027.
Many French voters, especially in small towns and rural areas, are frustrated with low incomes and a Paris political leadership seen as elitist and unconcerned with workers' day-to-day struggles. National Rally has connected with those voters, often by blaming immigration for France's problems, and has built up broad and deep support over the past decade.
Le Pen has softened many of the party's positions &mdash; she no longer calls for quitting NATO and the EU &mdash; to make it more electable. But the party's core far-right values remain. It wants a referendum on whether being born in France is enough to merit citizenship, to curb rights of dual citizens, and give police more freedom to use weapons.
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/maharashtra/mumbai-hit-and-run-bmw-of-politician-kills-woman-injures-another-1720349701125">Mumbai hit-and-run: BMW of politician kills woman, injures another</a>

The National Rally is building on its success in European elections that prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to dissolve parliament and call the surprise vote.

French elections: far-right National Rally ahead in first round

The National Rally is building on its success in European elections that prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to dissolve parliament and call the surprise vote.

French voters propelled the far-right National Rally to a strong lead in first-round legislative elections on Sunday and plunged the country into political uncertainty, according to polling projections.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who called the surprise elections just three weeks ago, urged voters to rally against the far right in the second round of balloting.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen called on voters to give the National Rally an &ldquo;absolute majority&rdquo; at parliament. She said a National Rally majority would enable the far right to form a new government with party President Jordan Bardella as prime minister in order to work on France's &ldquo;recovery&rdquo;.
Projections by polling agencies suggest the National Rally stands a good chance of winning a majority in the lower house of parliament for the first time, with an estimated one-third of the first-round vote, nearly double their 18 per cent in the first round in 2022.
The party is building on its success in European elections that prompted Macron to dissolve parliament and call the surprise vote. The second round will be decisive but leaves open huge questions on how Macron will share power with a prime minister who is hostile to most of his policies.
The two-round elections that wrap up July 7 could impact European financial markets, Western support for Ukraine and the management of France's nuclear arsenal and global military force.
Many French voters are frustrated about inflation and other economic concerns, as well as President Emmanuel Macron's leadership, seen as arrogant and out-of-touch with their lives. Marine Le Pen's anti-immigration National Rally party has tapped that discontent, notably via online platforms like TikTok, and led in preelection opinion polls.
A new coalition on the left, the New Popular Front, also poses a challenge to the pro-business Macron and his centrist alliance Together for the Republic. It includes the French Socialists and Communists, the greens and the hard-left France Unbowed party and vows to reverse an unpopular pension reform law that raised the retirement age to 64, among other economic reforms.
There are 49.5 million registered voters who will choose the 577 members of the National Assembly, France's influential lower house of parliament.
Turnout stood at an unusually high 59 per cent three hours before polls closed. That's 20 percentage points higher than turnout at the same time in the last first-round vote in 2022.
Some pollsters suggested the high turnout could temper the outcome for the hard right National Rally, possibly indicating voters made an extra effort to cast ballots for fear that it could win.
The vote was taking place during the traditional first week of summer vacation in France, and absentee ballot requests were at least five times higher than in 2022.
The first polling projections emerged after final polling stations closed. Early official results were expected later Sunday.
Macron voted in Le Touquet, a seaside resort in northern France. Le Pen also voted in the north, her party's stronghold, but in the working-class town of Hennin-Beaumont.
Voters in Paris had issues from immigration to the rising cost of living on their minds as the country has grown more divided between the far right and far left blocs, with a deeply unpopular and weakened president in the political centre. The campaign was marred by rising hate speech.
&ldquo;People don't like what has been happening,&rdquo; said Cynthia Justine, 44. &ldquo;People feel they've lost a lot in recent years. People are angry. I am angry.&rdquo; She added that with &ldquo;the rising hate speech,&rdquo; it was necessary to express frustrations with those holding and seeking power.
She said it was important as a woman to vote since women haven't always had that right. And &ldquo;because I am a Black woman, it's even more important. A lot is at stake on this day.&rdquo; Macron called the early elections after his party was trounced in the European Parliament election earlier in June by the National Rally, which has historic ties to racism and antisemitism and is hostile toward France's Muslim community. It also has historical ties to Russia.
Macron's call was an audacious gamble that French voters who were complacent about the European election would be jolted into turning out for moderate forces in national elections to keep the far right out of power.
Instead, preelection polls suggested the National Rally had a chance at winning a parliamentary majority. In that scenario, Macron would be expected to name 28-year-old National Rally President Jordan Bardella as prime minister in an awkward power-sharing system known as &ldquo;cohabitation&rdquo;.
While Macron has said he won't step down before his presidential term expires in 2027, cohabitation would weaken him at home and on the world stage.
A 64-year-old voter, Philippe Lempereur, expressed fatigue with politicians from the left, right and centre and what he called their inability to work together on issues like ensuring people have shelter and enough to eat. &ldquo;We vote by default, for the least worse option,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I prefer to vote than do nothing.&rdquo; The results of the first round will give a picture of voter sentiment, but not necessarily of the overall makeup of the next National Assembly. Predictions are difficult because of the complicated voting system, and because parties will work between the rounds to make alliances in some constituencies or pull out of others.
In the past, such maneuvers helped keep far-right candidates from power. But support for Le Pen's party has spread deep and wide.
Bardella, who has no governing experience, says he would use the powers of prime minister to stop Macron from continuing to supply long-range weapons to Ukraine for the war with Russia.
The National Rally has also questioned the right to citizenship for people born in France, and wants to curtail the rights of French citizens with dual nationality. Critics say this undermines human rights and is a threat to France's democratic ideals.
Meanwhile, huge public spending promises by the National Rally and especially the left-wing coalition have shaken markets and ignited worries about France's heavy debt, already criticised by EU watchdogs.
In the restive French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, polls closed earlier due to a curfew that authorities have extended until July 8. Violence there flared last month leaving nine people dead, due to attempts by Macron's government to amend the French Constitution and change voting lists, which the Indigenous Kanaks feared would further marginalise them. They have long sought to break free from France.
Voters in France's other overseas territories of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Saint-Barth&eacute;lemy, Saint-Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana and French Polynesia and those voting in offices opened by embassies and consular posts across the Americas cast their ballots on Saturday.
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Macron sought early elections after Le Pen's far-right party trounced the centrists in the European elections.

France's high-stakes election begins, Emmanuel Macron casts vote

Macron sought early elections after Le Pen's far-right party trounced the centrists in the European elections. 

Macron sought early elections after Le Pen's far-right party trounced the centrists in the European elections.

Voting for the first round of the high-stakes parliamentary election in France has begun.
French President Emmanuel Macron who called for surprise elections just weeks ago cast his vote on Sunday.
Marine Le Pen, leader of France's resurgent National Rally, also voted in the first round.
Macron sought early elections after Le Pen's far-right party trounced the centrists in the European elections.
The two-round French election will wrap up 7th of July and its outcome could impact European financial markets.
A new coalition on the left, the New Popular Front, is also posing a challenge to the pro-business Macron and his centrist alliance Together for the Republic.
There are 49.5 million registered voters who will choose 577 members of the National Assembly, France's influential lower house of parliament, during the two-round voting.
(With AP inputs)
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Thirty years ago, 22-year-old nationalist activist Sébastien Deyzieu fell to his death as he raced up the stairs of a Paris building to escape the police in the wake of a far right protest.

French far-right activists march through streets of Paris

French far-right activists march through streets of Paris | Video

Thirty years ago, 22-year-old nationalist activist S&eacute;bastien Deyzieu fell to his death as he raced up the stairs of a Paris building to escape the police in the wake of a far right protest.

Several hundred far right activists marched through the streets of Paris on Saturday in a show of strength and as a tribute to one of theirs, who died as he tried to flee the police in 1994.
The demonstrators, from France and abroad, bore flags displaying a Celtic cross and chanted &ldquo;Europe, Youth, Revolution," a slogan borrowed from a 1960s Italian fascist youth organisation.
Along the route, a handful of onlookers expressed their anger at the display of far right symbols.
Thirty years ago, 22-year-old nationalist activist S&eacute;bastien Deyzieu fell to his death as he raced up the stairs of a Paris building to escape the police in the wake of a far right protest.
Police had tried to ban the protest but a judge ruled against it on Saturday morning, saying organisers had a constitutional right to hold the demonstration.
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President Emmanuel Macron described the move as "French pride," and a special public ceremony is planned to celebrate the move in Paris on International Women's Day.




France becomes first country in the world to enshrine abortion as constitutional right

President Emmanuel Macron described the move as "French pride," and a special public ceremony is planned to celebrate the move in Paris on International Women's Day.

President Emmanuel Macron described the move as "French pride," and a special public ceremony is planned to celebrate the move in Paris on International Women's Day.

The French parliament on Monday voted to anchor the right to abortion in the constitution, making France the first country in the world to offer explicit protection for terminating a pregnancy in its basic law.
A congress of both houses of parliament, gathered in a special chamber at the Palace of Versailles, easily found the three-fifths supermajority needed for the change, with 780 lawmakers in favour and 72 voting against.
Deputies applauded the change with cheers and a standing ovation.
President Emmanuel Macron described the move as "French pride" that had sent a "universal message", and a special public ceremony is planned to celebrate the move in Paris on International Women's Day on March 8.
The Eiffel Tower was lit up in celebration after the change was passed with slogans including "My Body My Choice" flashing on the edifice.
"This is a fundamental step... A step that will go down in history," Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told the lawmakers as he urged them to pass the legislation.
He said they owed "a moral debt" toward all women who had suffered before the legalisation of abortion.
But Attal said the right to abort remained "in danger" worldwide, with our "freedoms in essence threatened... at the mercy of decision makers".
"In one generation, one year, one week, you can go from one thing to the opposite," he said, referring to rights reversals in the United States, Hungary and Poland.
Such joint parliamentary sessions are rare in France and called only for momentous occasions such as constitutional changes, the last of which was made in 2008.
- 'Hope and solidarity' - Macron pledged last year to enshrine abortion -- legal in France since 1975 -- in the constitution after the US Supreme Court in 2022 overturned the half-century-old right to the procedure, allowing individual American states to ban or curtail it.
The vote "is of huge significance given the rollback of this essential right around the world," said Amnesty International's secretary general Agnes  Callamard, adding that it had sent a message of "hope and solidarity".
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a post on X, welcomed "France's decision to secure women's rights and save their lives".
In January, France's lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, overwhelmingly approved the move with the upper house, the Senate, following suit on Wednesday.
A majority of the French public support the move to give the right to abortion extra protection, according to polls.
A November 2022 survey by French polling group IFOP found that 86 percent of French people supported inscribing it in the constitution.
Left-wing and centrist politicians have welcomed the change, while some right-wing senators have said in private they felt under pressure to give it a green light.
Several hundred abortion opponents, largely marginalised in the move for the constitutional change, protested in Versailles.
Catholic bishops meanwhile called for a day of "fasting and prayer" so the French could "rediscover the taste for life".
Weighing in from Rome, the Vatican said there could be "no 'right' to take a human life".
But hundreds of jubilant backers of the move leapt for joy at the Place du Trocadero in western Paris as they witnessed the passing of the law on a large screen set up for the occasion.
- 'Rights under threat' - "I'm happy because our rights are constantly under threat everywhere... and it's only getting worse," said Cecile Carimalo, 46, who watched with her 12-year-old daughter at the Trocadero esplanade.
"This they won't be able to take from us."
"If men got pregnant, it would have been inscribed in the text in 1792" during the French Revolution, she added.
Abortion was legalised in France in 1975 in a law championed by then-health minister Simone Veil, a women's rights icon granted the rare honour of burial at the Pantheon after her death in 2018.
When political campaigning began in earnest in 1971, "we could never have imagined that the right to abortion would one day be written into the constitution", Claudine Monteil, head of the Femmes Monde (Women in the World) association, told AFP.
At the time, an estimated 700,000 to 800,000 women aborted each year.
Leah Hoctor, of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said France could offer "the first explicit broad constitutional provision of its kind, not just in Europe, but also globally".

An Islamic scholar was deported from France 12 hours after his arrest in a the accusation of hate speech and calling . 

Imam expelled from France for hate speech to appeal action

An Islamic scholar was deported from France 12 hours after his arrest in for hate speech. 

An Islamic scholar was deported from France 12 hours after his arrest in for hate speech.&nbsp;

A Tunisian imam expelled from France for alleged hate speech said on Friday he would take legal action in a bid to overturn the decision.
Mahjoub Mahjoubi, from the town of Bagnols-sur-Ceze in the south of France, denounced his removal as "arbitrary".
The 52-year-old was arrested and then deported to Tunisia on Thursday, where he arrived shortly before midnight aboard a flight from Paris.
Mahjoubi had been in France since the 1980s and is married with five children.
All of his children are French citizens, but he is not and had his residency permit cancelled on Sunday by French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
The official order for Mahjoubi's expulsion, seen by AFP, said that in sermons in February he had given a "retrograde, intolerant and violent" image of Islam that would encourage behaviour against French values, discrimination against women, "tensions with the Jewish community" and "jihadist radicalisation".
The imam also referred to "the Jewish people as the enemy", according to the order, which said Mahjoubi called for "the destruction of Western society".
The imam was also accused of sharing a video in which he described the "tricolour" -- without specifying if he meant the French flag -- as "satanic" and of "no value with Allah".
Mahjoubi defending himself, saying it had been a "slip of the tongue" and that he was referring to rivalries between football supporters of different Maghrebi nations during the recent African Cup of Nations.
"I will fight to return to France where I have lived for 40 years," the imam told AFP in his in-laws' house in Soliman, 30 kilometres (19 miles) east of Tunis.
Mahjoubi, who runs a construction company, said his family, including his youngest child who is in hospital for cancer treatment, depended entirely on him.
"My lawyer is going to take legal action in France if the court does not grant me justice, I will appeal, and then I will appeal to the European Court" of Human Rights, he added.
"I did not insult the Jewish community, nor the flag of France," he said.
On Thursday, Darmanin posted on social media that the expulsion was a "demonstration" that a recently approved immigration law "makes France stronger".
The law toughening migration conditions was seen as part of the government's response to the rise of the far-right in French opinion polls.
"Firmness is the rule," said Darmanin, who slammed what he called a "radical imam who made unacceptable comments".
Mahjoubi denounced the expulsion as being based on "an arbitrary decision", and said Darmanin was using his case to "create a buzz around the immigration law".
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&nbsp;

The bill was adopted with 267 votes in favour and 50 against. Joint Parliamentary session for a final vote on Monday.

French senate votes to make abortion a constitutional right

The bill was adopted with 267 votes in favour and 50 against. Joint Parliamentary session for a final vote on Monday.

France&rsquo;s Senate on Wednesday adopted a bill to enshrine a woman&rsquo;s right to an abortion in the constitution.
The vote cleared a key hurdle for legislation promised by President Emmanuel Macron in response to a rollback in abortion rights in the United States.
Wednesday&rsquo;s vote came after the lower house, the National Assembly, overwhelmingly approved the proposal in January.
The measure now goes before a joint session of parliament for its expected approval by a three-fifths majority next week.
Macron said after the vote that his government is committed to &ldquo;making women&rsquo;s right to have an abortion irreversible by enshrining it in the constitution.&rdquo;
He said on X, formerly Twitter, that he would convene a joint session of parliament for a final vote on Monday.
Macron&rsquo;s government wants Article 34 of the constitution amended to specify that &ldquo;the law determines the conditions by which is exercised the freedom of women to have recourse to an abortion, which is guaranteed.&rdquo;
The senate adopted the bill on a vote of 267 in favour, and 50 against.
&ldquo;This vote is historic,&rdquo; Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti said. &ldquo;The Senate has written a new page in women's rights."
None of France&rsquo;s major political parties represented in parliament has questioned the right to abortion, which was decriminalised in 1975.
With both houses of parliament adopting the bill, Monday's joint session at the Palace of Versailles is expected to be largely a formality.
The government argued in its introduction to the bill that the right to abortion is threatened in the United States, where the Supreme Court in 2022 overturned a 50-year-old ruling that used to guarantee it.
&ldquo;Unfortunately, this event is not isolated: in many countries, even in Europe, there are currents of opinion that seek to hinder at any cost the freedom of women to terminate their pregnancy if they wish,&rdquo; the introduction to the French legislation says.
In Poland, a controversial tightening of the already restrictive abortion law led to protests in the country last year.
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The Polish constitutional court ruled in 2020 that women could no longer terminate pregnancies in cases of severe foetal deformities, including Down Syndrome.

A Muslim cleric from Tunisia was deported from France after he allegedly described the country's national flag as "satanic" and of "no value with Allah".

France expels Tunisian imam for calling national flag 'satanic', cleric vows to appeal decision 

A Muslim cleric from Tunisia was deported from France after he allegedly described the country's national flag as "satanic" and of "no value with Allah".

A Tunisian imam expelled from France for alleged hate speech said on Friday he would take legal action in a bid to overturn the decision.
Mahjoub Mahjoubi, from the town of Bagnols-sur-Ceze in the south of France, denounced his removal as "arbitrary".
The 52-year-old was arrested and then deported to Tunisia on Thursday, where he arrived shortly before midnight aboard a flight from Paris.
Mahjoubi had been in France since the 1980s and is married with five children.
All of his children are French citizens, but he is not and had his residency permit cancelled on Sunday by French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
The official order for Mahjoubi's expulsion, seen by AFP, said that in sermons in February he had given a "retrograde, intolerant and violent" image of Islam that would encourage behaviour against French values, discrimination against women, "tensions with the Jewish community" and "jihadist radicalisation".
The imam also referred to "the Jewish people as the enemy", according to the order, which said Mahjoubi called for "the destruction of Western society".
The imam was also accused of sharing a video in which he described the "tricolour" -- without specifying if he meant the French flag -- as "satanic" and of "no value with Allah".
Mahjoubi defending himself, saying it had been a "slip of the tongue" and that he was referring to rivalries between football supporters of different Maghrebi nations during the recent African Cup of Nations.
"I will fight to return to France where I have lived for 40 years," the imam told AFP in his in-laws' house in Soliman, 30 kilometres (19 miles) east of Tunis.
Mahjoubi, who runs a construction company, said his family, including his youngest child who is in hospital for cancer treatment, depended entirely on him.
"My lawyer is going to take legal action in France if the court does not grant me justice, I will appeal, and then I will appeal to the European Court" of Human Rights, he added.
"I did not insult the Jewish community, nor the flag of France," he said.
On Thursday, Darmanin posted on social media that the expulsion was a "demonstration" that a recently approved immigration law "makes France stronger".
The law toughening migration conditions was seen as part of the government's response to the rise of the far-right in French opinion polls.
"Firmness is the rule," said Darmanin, who slammed what he called a "radical imam who made unacceptable comments".
Mahjoubi denounced the expulsion as being based on "an arbitrary decision", and said Darmanin was using his case to "create a buzz around the immigration law".

A fire broke out in a recycling plant of Southern France in which 900 tonnes of Lithium batteries went up to smoke.

Fire breaks out at French factory, 900 tonnes of Lithium batteries turn into ashes | Watch

A fire broke out in a recycling plant of southern France in which 900 tonnes of Lithium batteries went up to smoke.

A fire broke out in a recycling plant in southern France in which 900 tons of Lithium batteries went up in smoke.

Around 900 tonnes of lithium batteries went up in smoke over the weekend in southern France after a fire broke out at a recycling plant.
The blaze ravaged a storage warehouse, owned by French recycling group SNAM in Viviez, north of Toulouse, where thousands of batteries waiting to be recycled.
Amateur footage of the fire shows black smoke rising above the building, sparking fears the incident may pose an environmental and health hazard.
"This incident underscores the potential dangers associated with lithium batteries, given their combustible nature and the toxic materials they contain," Reuters quoted the local councillor Pascal Mazet as saying.
(With inputs from AP)
&nbsp;

Out of the 276 passengers on the aircraft grounded by France on suspicion of human trafficking, about 60 were from Gujarat.

Gujaratis sent back by France grilled by CID, refused to divulge facts: official

Out of the 276 passengers on the aircraft grounded by France on suspicion of human trafficking, about 60 were from Gujarat.

At least 20 passengers from Gujarat who were on the Nicaragua-bound flight which was sent back mid-route from France have been quizzed by police in a bid to unearth a suspected illegal immigration network operating from the state, a senior official has said.
The Nicaragua-bound aircraft, an Airbus A340 carrying 276 passengers, was grounded in France for four days over suspected human trafficking. It landed in Mumbai in the early hours of December 26.
According to a senior state Crime Investigation Department (CID) official, those passengers included at least 60 from Gujarat, who have already reached their respective native places in the state.
They are being questioned by the department to find out whether they had any plans to cross into the United States of America illegally after reaching Latin America, the official said on Friday.
"They were sent back from France. There was a rumour they had planned to enter the US illegally after landing in Nicaragua. In their statements, they told us they were going there as tourists. We are going into the details to find out who were the agents behind their trip," said S P Rajkumar, Additional Director General of Police, CID - Crime and Railways.
Of the 60 who returned, some 20 have been grilled already by the agency, he added.
"We are verifying their documents to ascertain whether they used genuine or forged documents to proceed to Central America. We will also check their financial transactions because, ideally, they should not have paid more if they were going there as normal tourists and not with any other intention," said the senior IPS officer.
"Though we have started questioning, no one is divulging facts. They claim they went there as tourists. We are investigating the case from all angles," he added.
On Tuesday, Superintendent of Police, CID (Crime), Sanjay Kharat had said the CID had formed four teams to investigate the issue.
"The CID (crime) wants to take action against agents who had promised help to the victims to enter the US and other countries (illegally). We have formed four teams which will get information from the victims regarding promises made to them by these agents," he had told reporters.
The chartered flight, which was operated by Romanian charter company Legend Airlines and bound for Nicaragua, landed at Vatry near Paris on December 21 for a technical stopover en route from Dubai when the French police intervened.
French authorities launched a judicial investigation into the conditions and purpose of the trip, with a unit specialising in organised crime investigating suspected human trafficking.
Nicaragua has become a popular destination for those seeking asylum in the US. As many as 96,917 Indians attempted to enter the US illegally in the financial year 2023, signalling a 51.61 per cent jump from the previous year, according to data made available by the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).
At least 41,770 of those Indians attempted to enter the US via the Mexican land border, CBP data shows.
Flights to Nicaragua or third countries where obtaining travel documents is easy have come to be known as 'dunki' flights.

The French judges chose to cancel the hearings of the passengers due to irregularities in the procedure. The Indian embassy in France was engaged in resolving the issue.

Plane with Indian passengers stuck in France reach Mumbai airport

The French judges chose to cancel the hearings of the passengers due to irregularities in the procedure. The Indian embassy in France was engaged in resolving the issue.

A plane carrying more than 300 passengers, mostly Indians, landed at Mumbai airport on Monday afternoon, three days after it was detained by French authorities over suspected human trafficking, a source said.
The A340 aircraft, being operated by Romania's Legend Airlines, is expected to land at Mumbai airport around 2.20 pm. The plane has taken off from the airport at Vatry near Paris where it was grounded, the source said.
The Nicaragua-bound flight that had taken off from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates with 303 passengers was grounded at Vatry airport, 150 kilometres east of Paris, on Thursday over suspected "human trafficking".
On Sunday, four French judges questioned the detained passengers.
The hearings were conducted as part of the investigation opened by the Paris prosecutor's office on the suspicion of human trafficking.
According to the French media, some of the passengers spoke Hindi and the others Tamil.
After authorising the plane to leave, the French judges on Sunday chose to cancel the hearings of the passengers due to irregularities in the procedure.
The plane includes 11 unaccompanied minors. Two passengers in custody since Friday had their detention extended on Saturday evening for up to 48 hours, according to French prosecutors.&nbsp;
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Judges begin questioning detained Indian passengers in France

The plane includes 11 unaccompanied minors and two passengers in custody since Friday had their detention extended on Saturday evening for up to 48 hours

Four French judges on Sunday began questioning the 303 passengers, mostly Indians, of a Nicaragua-bound flight detained by French authorities at Vatry airport, 150 km east of Paris, since Thursday over suspected "human trafficking", according to local media reports.
"The judges have the authority to extend the detention order being used by border police by eight days initially and for another eight if required. They have two days to complete speaking to the passengers. The judges are being helped by translators,&rdquo; said a report in &lsquo;Le Monde&rsquo; newspaper.
According to the French media, some of the passengers spoke Hindi and others Tamil and are believed to have contacted their families by telephone. Ten of the passengers have requested asylum, the newspaper quoted a source close to the case as saying.
The plane includes 11 unaccompanied minors and two passengers in custody since Friday had their detention extended on Saturday evening for up to 48 hours, according to French prosecutors.
The aircraft is owned by Romanian charter company Legend Airlines. A lawyer for the firm, Liliana Bakayoko, denied any involvement in the trafficking.
A &ldquo;partner&rdquo; company that chartered the plane was responsible for verifying the identity documents of each passenger, and communicated the passengers' passport information to the airline 48 hours before the flight, Bakayoko said.
Human trafficking carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in France.
On Saturday, India's embassy in France said its staff are stationed at the airport near Paris to ensure the welfare of Indian nationals after the passengers were detained by French authorities over suspected "human trafficking".
In an updated message on social media on Saturday evening, the embassy thanked the French authorities for working over the long Christmas holiday weekend in pursuit of an &ldquo;early resolution&rdquo; of the situation.
Earlier, the embassy said it had received consular access to its citizens after the plane that took off from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was grounded at the Chalons-Vatry airport in Marne during a &ldquo;technical halt&rdquo; on Thursday.
&ldquo;Continue to work with the French Gov for the welfare of the Indians currently at the Varty airport, 150 km East of Paris, &amp; for early resolution of the situation,&rdquo; reads the Indian Embassy post on its official X handle.
&ldquo;Embassy consular staff stationed there. Thank French authorities for working on this through the long holiday weekend,&rdquo; it said.
It followed an earlier post, which read: "French authorities informed us of a plane w/ 303 people, mostly Indian origin, from Dubai to Nicaragua detained on a technical halt at a French airport. The embassy team has reached &amp; obtained consular access. We are investigating the situation, also ensuring the wellbeing of passengers." The judges will decide whether or not to keep in the waiting area of the airport the passengers of the flight, BFM TV, a French news broadcast television and radio network, reported.
Francois Procureur, lawyer and president of Chalons-en-Champagne, said: &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know if this has already been done in France.&rdquo; French border police can initially hold a foreign national for up to four days if they land in France and are prevented from travelling on to their intended destination, the television network reported.
French law allows that period to be extended to eight days if a judge approves it, then another eight days in exceptional circumstances, up to a maximum of 26 days.
"It is urgent since we cannot keep foreigners in a waiting zone for more than 96 hours. Beyond that, it is the judge of freedoms and detention who must rule on their fate,&rdquo; Fran&ccedil;ois said.
The airport reception hall has been transformed by prefectural decree into a waiting area for foreigners.
Among the passengers are 11 unaccompanied minors, and according to the broadcaster, six of them have already taken steps to request asylum in France.
Those requested for asylum in France will have to be interviewed and they will be told whether or not they can benefit from political refugee status, the news network quoted Francois as saying.
According to the reports, the travel may have been planned by the Indian passengers to reach Central America from where they can attempt to enter the United States or Canada illegally.
But an anonymous tip indicated that passengers were &ldquo;likely to be victims of human trafficking&rdquo; in an organised gang, alerted the authorities.
The investigation, carried out by the National Jurisdiction for the Fight against Organised Crime (JUNALCO), aims to "verify whether any elements would corroborate" suspicions of human trafficking, according to the Paris prosecutor's office.
On Thursday, two people, passengers, were taken into police custody to "verify and corroborate the suspicion of trafficking in human beings by an organised gang", a crime punishable by twenty years of criminal imprisonment and three million euros in fines.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/kehte-hain-ki-ghalib-ka-hai-andaz-e-bayan-aur-3-day-festival-on-urdu-poet-begins-in-delhi-1703415186495">'Kehte hain ki Ghalib ka hai andaz-e-bayan aur': 3-day festival on Urdu poet begins in Delhi</a>

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