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Deccan Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
India-France cultural ties to inspire creativity, shared future
India and France share a "rich, growing partnership" spanning defence, climate action, AI, trade and a strong cultural bond, and the Indo-French ties will continue to inspire a "shared future", Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Monday. He said this on X after attending the French National Day celebrations in Delhi. "Gave me great joy to join the French National Day celebrations in Delhi today. Bastille Day's values of liberty, equality and fraternity resonate deeply in Bharat too. India and France share a rich, growing partnership spanning defence, climate action, AI, trade and a strong cultural bond," he said. In his post, he also shared some photos of the celebrations. "Happy to note France's support for the 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat' Museum, which will be the largest national museum in the world. As we look ahead to the 'Year of Innovation 2026', our cultural ties will continue to inspire creativity, understanding and a shared future. Vive la France, Jai Hind!," Shekhawat said. In December 2024, India's National Museum and France Muséums Développement signed an agreement under which the French agency will share modalities and best practices to transform the British-era North Block and South Block into a "global cultural landmark". The ambitious project has been dubbed the 'Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum'. The upcoming museum -- billed to be the largest in the world -- will have eight thematic segments telling the story of India spanning over 5,000 years.
The Print
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Print
Mumbai social scavengers are a special breed—did full paisa vasooli on Bastille Day in Taj
I oiled my hair and planned an evening of solo celebration, with a glass of chilled bubbly. Real bubbly. Champagne. Not local Chandon, which is the same thing, and yet not. It is called sparkling wine. The French are particular about trademarks, GST, and patents. Unlike Prada. I wasn't invited, but my daughter was. I instructed her to wear a silk saree, not a 'gown' à la Urvashi Rautela, who wears gowns everywhere, even to Wimbledon. Avantikka disobeyed and wore an electric blue caftan. Yesterday was the 14th of July. The French National Day. Bastille Day. Many of Mumbai's Francophiles were busy: the ladies preening at the salon, the men dusting the lapels of their sharply tailored suits — or, if you are Ranjit Hoskote, looking for a suitable cravat. At last year's Bastille Day celebrations in Mumbai, Sania Mirza was the guest of honour. Kalki Koechlin did the honours in 2025 and made a wonderful speech. Kalki is bona fide French. There were over 550 invitees, most of whom had been practising bonsoir and merci beaucoup for weeks. Some overwhelmed guests were seen bowing to the cerebral Consul General, Monsieur Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, like he was French royalty. In India, bowing and scraping comes naturally to many. Especially in front of White people from embassies and consulates. You never know when you may need that visa at short notice – best to make nice. Vive La France This year, the French upped the game and took over the entire first floor of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. Colourful sarees were draped over the grand staircase, while a pianist sang soulful chansons. Quel dommage the speeches were not in Marathi spoken with a strong French accent. Who wants to get beaten up next…Mon Dieu! In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited to Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron to witness the impressive military parade on the Champs Élysées, as Indian troops marched smartly with their French counterparts. Much bonhomie was expressed by the two leaders. And no, this was not the occasion when Macron was seemingly slapped by his wife, Brigitte. That happened this year in May, when their aircraft landed in Hanoi. Relax! The president clarified they were just 'joking and horsing around.' Hota hai, yaar. Miya-biwi pyaar can take unexpected turns. Rest assured, l'amour between the two is intact, okay? Ignore those mean black eye memes. The lovely thing about India's relationship with France? It just got lovelier. Paris Couture Week 2025 witnessed a gorgeous showing of Rahul Mishra's haute couture, where the très jolie Lisa Haydon stole the show from glum-faced models who looked like they were suffering from a serious gastric ailment and needed an urgent pit stop at the nearest loo. It was our luminous Lisa who changed the vaatavaran on the runway and shone as brilliantly as the diamonds from Tanishq – a special collaboration between the brand and Rahul Mishra. The venue for Mumbai's Bastille Day celebrations has been the Taj Mahal Hotel for years. The format of the soirée remains monotonous and unchanged: standard speeches on bilateral ties, both national anthems, a toast, and then a quick wrap-up as canapés disappear and the bar shuts down. But in the latest edition – voilà! There was a lavish buffet serving French staples like coq au vin. We desis are used to lingering and loitering at such events, doing full vasooli of free food and drinks, minus embarrassment. The few Frenchies dotting the ballroom snootily speak to one another and leave the minute formalities are over. The regulars (those who assiduously cultivate the migratory birds, also known as consulate officials) hang around hoping to pile on to anybody offering a ride home — or dinner. Mumbai's social scavengers are a special breed. Also read: Marathi wins in Mumbai's monsoon madness—and Maharashtrian mulgi gives competition to Malaika Scuffles and sordid affairs Politically, things are pretty thanda in Mumbai, give or take a few scuffles. I often used to wish I could swap places with suburban autorickshaw drivers, especially the ones plying in Bandra. What a life! New adventures every day! Models and movie stars as passengers. Imagine ferrying a wounded Saif Ali Khan to hospital — instant fame! Hello Bhajan Singh Rana from Uttarakhand. But this week's victimised autorickshaw driver is from Virar, not glam-sham Bandra. I definitely don't want to swap places with Raju Patwa. But I would love to invite him for a vada pav treat soon. The guy had the guts to defiantly tell a Marathi-speaking pedestrian — whom he had accidentally brushed against — that he spoke Bhojpuri and Hindi, not Marathi. That was his big crime! Reportedly, he was later hunted down by Shiv Sena (UBT) workers led by Uday Jadhav, violently assaulted, and forced to apologise. Meanwhile, the Mahjong Madames of Mumbai's uber-elite circles are cluck-clucking over the big scandale du jour. A 40-year-old married teacher and mother of two kids allegedly seduced her 16-year-old male student. The underage boy's parents were forced to file an FIR against the besotted lady. The juicy details of this unusual affair are upsetting the Mahjong Madames, who need full concentration while playing with those 144 tiles. Talk of uncanny coincidences — take a quick look at the Macrons' marriage, dear Mahjong Madames. It may provide clarity. Brigitte was Emmanuel's teacher in school. She was 39, he was 16 and a classmate of her daughter's. His parents removed him from school. But the romance continued when he went to college. They eventually married in 2007, when Brigitte was 54 and he was 29. They've been happily married for 18 years. Give or take a few slaps and black eyes. There's still hope for the Mumbai teacher and her student. Vive La France! Shobhaa De is an author, columnist, social commentator, and opinion-shaper. She has written 20 books. She tweets @DeShobhaa. Views are personal. (Edited by Zoya Bhatti)
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
French envoy lauds Kuwait-France relations at National Day reception
KUWAIT CITY, July 14: French Ambassador to Kuwait Olivier Gauvin has affirmed the depth and strength of relations between France and Kuwait, praising the official visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Paris. Gauvin made the statement during a reception on the occasion of the French National Day -- Bastille Day, with Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Jarrah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and several heads of diplomatic missions in attendance. He described the visit of HH the Amir as 'a milestone in the history of bilateral relations. We are celebrating an exceptional moment, as the celebration of France's National Day coincides with the visit of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait to France. He was received yesterday at a military parade on the Champs-Élysées, followed by a luncheon hosted by President Emmanuel Macron. The visit is a milestone in the history of relations between the two countries -- spanning nearly 65 years, and its 65th anniversary will be celebrated in 2026. France and Kuwait are linked by a historic alliance based on trust and mutual respect.' He pointed out that political cooperation witnessed a strong boost over the past year, particularly with the visit of the French Foreign Minister to Kuwait last April, to enhance coordination on regional crises, at a time Kuwait occupies the presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). He said 'France and Kuwait share a commitment to multilateralism, peace and international solidarity. We are pleased to work together on development and humanitarian projects that reflect Kuwait's exemplary humanitarian commitment.' He pointed out that France has been a steadfast ally of Kuwait since the Iraqi invasion, as their armies fought side by side in the liberation war. He said the 1992 defense agreement with Kuwait was the first such agreement signed by Paris in the Gulf. He added that joint training exercises such as 'Pearl of the West' and 'Arab Breeze' embody the vitality of defense cooperation between the two countries. He also praised the training programs received by Kuwaiti officers in France. He cited the growing interest of French companies in investing in Kuwait in light of the 'Kuwait 2035' vision; particularly in the fields of transportation, sustainable energy, smart cities and health. He also welcomed the growing interest of Kuwaiti investors in development opportunities in France, specifically in the fields of artificial intelligence and technology. He stressed that France has become the primary destination for foreign investment in Europe. He confirmed that France remains the primary destination for Kuwaiti tourism within the Schengen Area, praising the country's active Francophone community. He reviewed the most prominent events held during Francophonie Month; such as concerts, film screenings, poetry evenings and debates; commending His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al- Mohammad Al-Sabah's support for these activities. He lauded the initiatives to strengthen academic relations, through the establishment of the Sorbonne Association under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nasser Al-Sabah. He said this will provide a platform for exchange between students, researchers and professors. He expressed his hope for increasing the number of Kuwaiti students in France, especially in innovation specializations like artificial intelligence, technology, engineering and management.
Iraqi News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
France praises Iraq's stability, vows continued security support
Baghdad ( – French Ambassador to Baghdad, Patrick Durel, praised Iraq's success in 'preventing being dragged into' regional conflicts and affirmed France's continued security support, during a speech on Monday (July 14, 2025) marking the French National Day. Ambassador Durel stated that despite regional tensions, Iraq is living through an 'important phase of stability' thanks to the government's efforts. He emphasized that Iraq's security and defense are a 'priority for France,' which continues its presence through the International Coalition and on a bilateral level, especially in training and armament. 'France is always ready to meet Iraq's need for equipment, and we continue to work to support Iraqis in preserving their country's sovereignty, including its airspace,' Durel said. The ambassador also highlighted growing economic and cultural ties, including efforts to link the French and Iraqi private sectors and the recent success of the Iraqi film Kingdom of Reeds by director Hassan Hadi at the Cannes Film Festival. He urged continued dialogue between federal authorities and the Kurdistan Region to overcome challenges, reaffirming France's commitment to strengthening its partnership with Iraq at this 'pivotal moment' in its history.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
India and France pledge deepening of strategic ties on Bastille Day
France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noel Barrot on Monday highlighted the growing India-France strategic partnership, while thanking External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on his greetings to the French government and French citizens on the occasion of French National Day, also known as Bastille Day. Talking to X, Jean-Noel Barrot said, "Thank you dear Dr S Jaishankar. France and India are united by trust and driven by shared ambition. Let's keep building our strategic partnership!". Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar had extended warm greetings to FM Barrot, the government and people of France on their National Day. "Our Strategic Partnership continues to deepen and diversify," the EAM stated. The External Affairs Minister had visited France last month to solidify the robust and longstanding strategic partnership between both countries. During his visit, the EAM had also called on French President Emmanuel Macron and conveyed warm greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to him along with appreciating France's strong support to India in the fight against terrorism. The two sides committed to fully implement the Horizon 2047 Roadmap and Defence Industrial Roadmap that were agreed between the two leaders. The discussions reflected the deep trust, comfort, and shared ambition that characterize the India-France bilateral ties. During the June 11–14 visit, which came within four months of PM Modi's visit to France for the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, the EAM also held comprehensive bilateral discussions with his counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot. The ministers reviewed and appreciated the progress made in India-France collaboration in strategic domains of defence, security, space, counter-terrorism and global issues. Both sides also expressed satisfaction in the advances made in bilateral cooperation in emerging sectors of technology, innovation, trade, investment, health, life sciences, education, talent mobility, museum cooperation and people-to-people ties, and exchanged views on exploring new avenues of cooperation to further strengthen bilateral relations. In this context, both ministers looked forward to the celebration of India-France Year of Innovation next year in a befitting manner, that will add another dimension to their relationship. EAM Jaishankar had also expressed deep appreciation for the French Government's condolences on the tragic loss of lives in the plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12.
