French President Emmanuel Macron extended his congratulations to the people of India on their 78th Independence Day, expressing his eagerness to work closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

France has strongly condemned the recent Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza, which resulted in multiple casualties. According to a statement from France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, this attack is part of a troubling pattern where school buildings in Gaza have been targeted, leading to a high number of civilian casualties. France has called on Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law and cease such actions.

The Paris Olympics organisers have issued an apology for a controversial performance at the opening ceremony, which featured drag queens in what appeared to be a parody of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." This tableau provoked strong disapproval from conservatives worldwide, who argued that it mocked Catholics and Christianity.

In a dramatic turn of events, France's high-speed TGV rail network was struck by a series of "malicious acts," including arson attacks, just hours before the grand opening of the Paris Olympics 2024. These coordinated acts of sabotage aimed to disrupt travel across some of the country’s busiest rail lines, casting a shadow over the highly anticipated Games.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced his resignation on Monday, citing his commitment to overseeing the upcoming Paris Olympics as a top priority. This decision follows initial election projections indicating a lead for the leftist coalition, dealing a blow to Macron’s ruling party and positioning the right-wing National Rally in third place.

Violence erupted across France following an exit poll suggesting a left-wing coalition’s lead in the snap election. This unexpected outcome dealt a significant blow to Marine Le Pen’s ambitions of forming France’s first hard-right government since World War II.

France's far-right National Rally (RN), led by Marine Le Pen, emerged victorious in the first round of the country's parliamentary election, according to exit polls. The RN secured approximately 34% of the vote, surpassing its leftist and centrist competitors, including President Emmanuel Macron's Together alliance, which garnered between 20.5% and 23%. The New Popular Front (NFP), a coalition of left-wing parties, followed closely with around 29% of the vote, as indicated by multiple exit polls from Ipsos, Ifop, OpinionWay, and Elabe.

Paraguay has officially become the 100th member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), marking a significant milestone in global solar energy cooperation. The country's Ambassador to India, Fleming Raul Duarte, handed over the Instrument of Ratification during a meeting with Abhishek Singh, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs, in New Delhi.

India, France, and Australia have once again emphasised their dedication to maintaining a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. This reaffirmation came during a virtual meeting where the three countries reviewed the progress made under the three primary pillars of their trilateral cooperation: maritime safety and security, marine and environmental cooperation, and multilateral engagement.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan recently concluded a significant visit to France, aimed at bolstering the strategic partnership between India and France. The trip reaffirmed the longstanding relationship and emphasised further cooperation in various defence-related areas.

In a significant move to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has embarked on an official visit to France from April 22 to 25. This visit underscores the growing importance of strategic partnerships in the realm of defence, particularly in the context of evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has launched a scathing attack on the AUKUS trilateral security partnership, accusing Western powers of fueling division and escalating nuclear proliferation risks in the South Pacific region.