France Archives - National Times

24 Apr

France Waives Transit Visa for Indians, Move Seen as Boost to Travel and Bilateral Ties

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Trending, World NewsFrance

New Delhi: In a major relief for Indian travellers, France has done away with the requirement of an airport transit visa for Indian nationals passing through its airports. The new policy, now in force, is expected to make international travel smoother and more efficient. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Indian citizens holding valid passports can transit through French airports without obtaining a separate visa, as long as they do not leave the international transit zone and are travelling onward to another country. The change comes after high-level discussions between Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron earlier this year, where…

India Becomes World’s Second-Largest Arms Importer; Russian Share Drops to 40% as Western Ties Surge

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, World NewsArms Imports, France, India, Pakistan, Russia, SIPRI Report

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh) — India has emerged as the world’s second-largest importer of major arms, accounting for 8.3 per cent of global imports between 2021 and 2025, according to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The report, titled ‘Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2025’, released on Monday, March 9, 2026, reveals that India’s ranking is surpassed only by Ukraine, which claimed the top spot with a 9.7 per cent share due to its ongoing conflict with Russia. A significant takeaway from the 2025 data is the steady decline in India’s reliance on Russian military…

Canada, France establish diplomatic presence in Greenland amid Arctic geopolitics

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingCanada, France

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canada and France formally opened new diplomatic missions in Greenland on Friday, a move widely seen as a gesture of solidarity with Denmark and a signal of growing international focus on the strategically important Arctic territory. Canada inaugurated its consulate in Nuuk with Foreign Minister Anita Anand leading the delegation. She was accompanied by Governor General Mary Simon, underscoring Ottawa’s emphasis on Arctic cooperation and Indigenous engagement. Canadian officials said the mission will strengthen collaboration with Greenland on climate change, Arctic security and Inuit issues, while also expanding Canada’s diplomatic footprint in the region. France simultaneously announced…