Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed developments in the Indo-Pacific with French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. "Discussed recent developments in the Indo-Pacific and Afghanistan with my friend FM @JY_LeDrian. Looking forward to our New York meeting," Jaishankar tweeted.

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian

French&nbsp;Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves&nbsp;Le&nbsp;Drian&nbsp;confirmed on Sunday that a&nbsp;French&nbsp;journalist&nbsp;who disappeared last month in&nbsp;Mali's northern city of Gao had probably been taken hostage by Islamist militants in West Africa's arid Sahel region.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-journalist-kidnapped-by-jihadists-in-mali-382942">French journalist kidnapped by jihadists in Mali</a>

Olivier Dubois this month appeared in a video appealing to authorities to do everything they can to free him from the JNIM (al Qaeda North Africa) holding him.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/french-journalist-abducted-in-mali-appears-in-video-asking-for-help-383185/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

French&nbsp;authorities have previously only confirmed Dubois' disappearance.

"Everything&nbsp;leads us to believe he's the hostage of a jihadist group",&nbsp;Le&nbsp;Drian&nbsp;told RTL radio.

French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed on Sunday that a French journalist who disappeared last month in Mali's northern city of Gao had probably been taken hostage by Islamist militants in West Africa's arid Sahel region.

French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed on Sunday that a French journalist who disappeared last month in Mali's northern city of Gao had probably been taken hostage by Islamist militants in West Africa's arid Sahel region. Also Read | French journalist kidnapped by jihadists in Mali Olivier Dubois this month appeared in a video appealing to authorities to do everything they can to free him from the JNIM (al Qaeda North Africa) holding him. French authorities have previously only confirmed Dubois' disappearance. "Everything leads us to believe he's the hostage of a jihadist group", Le Drian told RTL radio.

France's Le Drian confirms kidnapping of French journalist in Mali

Le Drian will hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest, besides meeting Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar at a panel discussion on climate change.

French Foreign Minister Le Drian on a 3-day visit to India

France on Thursday accused Iran of supplying weapons to Huthi rebels waging a three-year fight against a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and rejected Tehran's denial.

"There is a problem in Yemen: it is that the political process has not begun, that Saudi Arabia feels regularly attacked by the Huthis, who are themselves supplied with arms by Iran," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told RTL radio.

Iran has said it supports the Huthis' cause in Yemen but has repeatedly denied arming them, despite claims by the United States and Saudi Arabia of evidence of weapon shipments.

Le Drian's comments come just days before an official visit to France by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose government has threatened Iran with retaliation after Huthi rebels fired seven missiles into Saudia Arabia last weekend.

Riyadh said Iran supplied the missiles which struck the capital as well as three cities close to the Yemeni border, killing one person and injuring two.

On Tuesday Iran's Revolutionary Guards rejected the accusation, saying it would be impossible to get them through the blockade imposed against Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition.

Le Drian's bolstering of Riyadh's claims could strain ties between Iran and France ahead of an expected visit by President Emmanuel Macron to Tehran in the coming months, the first by a French head of state or government since 1976.

France has resisted international pressure to stop supplying weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two of the main players in the coalition which supports Yemen's pro-government forces.&nbsp;

Amnesty International last week said the shipments by France, along with the US and Britain, had contributed to the deaths of thousands of civilians in attacks by coalition forces.

But Le Drian insisted Thursday that the weapon sales complied with international law.

"We have a very rigorous framework on weapon exports which we adhere to with great vigilance," he said.

Stepping up pressure

The conflict in Yemen, which has killed an estimated 10,000 people, comes as Iran is under increasing pressure over its role in several Middle East conflicts.

Le Drian visited Tehran in early March to lay the groundwork for Macron's coming visit, and to discuss the landmark 2015 deal with international powers that curtailed Iran's nuclear programme.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to walk away from the deal and reimpose sanctions on Iran when it next comes up for renewal by the American president in May.

Although Macron along with other European leaders has made no secret of his desire to secure the deal, he has repeatedly criticised Tehran's ballistic missile programme.

He has also called on Tehran to rein in the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad after weeks of assaults by his forces against rebels in Eastern Ghouta, which has prompted tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes.

Iran and Russia are Bashar's main backers in his war against a rebellion launched in 2011.

Le Drian said Thursday that Macron was still planning to visit Russia in May "for the time being", despite rapidly deteriorating relations between Moscow and the West over the poisoning of a former Russian double agent in Britain.

"We want a frank discussion with Moscow, a demanding one without any ambiguity, to ask Moscow to respect international law," he said.

France on Thursday accused Iran of supplying weapons to Huthi rebels waging a three-year fight against a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and rejected Tehran's denial

France on Thursday accused Iran of supplying weapons to Huthi rebels waging a three-year fight against a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and rejected Tehran's denial. "There is a problem in Yemen: it is that the political process has not begun, that Saudi Arabia feels regularly attacked by the Huthis, who are themselves supplied with arms by Iran," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told RTL radio. Iran has said it supports the Huthis' cause in Yemen but has repeatedly denied arming them, despite claims by the United States and Saudi Arabia of evidence of weapon shipments. Le Drian's comments come just days before an official visit to France by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose government has threatened Iran with retaliation after Huthi rebels fired seven missiles into Saudia Arabia last weekend. Riyadh said Iran supplied the missiles which struck the capital as well as three cities close to the Yemeni border, killing one person and injuring two. On Tuesday Iran's Revolutionary Guards rejected the accusation, saying it would be impossible to get them through the blockade imposed against Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition. Le Drian's bolstering of Riyadh's claims could strain ties between Iran and France ahead of an expected visit by President Emmanuel Macron to Tehran in the coming months, the first by a French head of state or government since 1976. France has resisted international pressure to stop supplying weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two of the main players in the coalition which supports Yemen's pro-government forces. Amnesty International last week said the shipments by France, along with the US and Britain, had contributed to the deaths of thousands of civilians in attacks by coalition forces. But Le Drian insisted Thursday that the weapon sales complied with international law. "We have a very rigorous framework on weapon exports which we adhere to with great vigilance," he said. Stepping up pressure The conflict in Yemen, which has killed an estimated 10,000 people, comes as Iran is under increasing pressure over its role in several Middle East conflicts. Le Drian visited Tehran in early March to lay the groundwork for Macron's coming visit, and to discuss the landmark 2015 deal with international powers that curtailed Iran's nuclear programme. US President Donald Trump has threatened to walk away from the deal and reimpose sanctions on Iran when it next comes up for renewal by the American president in May. Although Macron along with other European leaders has made no secret of his desire to secure the deal, he has repeatedly criticised Tehran's ballistic missile programme. He has also called on Tehran to rein in the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad after weeks of assaults by his forces against rebels in Eastern Ghouta, which has prompted tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes. Iran and Russia are Bashar's main backers in his war against a rebellion launched in 2011. Le Drian said Thursday that Macron was still planning to visit Russia in May "for the time being", despite rapidly deteriorating relations between Moscow and the West over the poisoning of a former Russian double agent in Britain. "We want a frank discussion with Moscow, a demanding one without any ambiguity, to ask Moscow to respect international law," he said.

France accuses Iran of arming Yemen's Huthi rebels

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is free to leave Riyadh &quot;when he pleases,&quot; the Saudi foreign minister said on Thursday, rejecting accusations from Beirut that the kingdom was &quot;detaining&quot; him.

Hariri, who announced his shock resignation from Saudi Arabia on November 4, is living in the kingdom &quot;of his own free will&quot; and free to leave &quot;when he pleases&quot;, Adel al-Jubeir told a press conference in Riyadh.

&quot;These are false allegations. The accusation that Saudi Arabia is detaining a prime minister, and particularly a political figure who is an ally... is untrue,&quot; Jubeir said.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun had accused Saudi Arabia on Wednesday of detaining Hariri after what he said was his failure to return home for 12 days.

But on Thursday, Aoun said the announcement that Hariri would travel to France for talks with President Emmanuel Macron could be &quot;the start of a solution&quot;.

Hariri meets French FM in Riyadh

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri met the French foreign minister in Riyadh on Thursday, the most senior Western official he has met publicly since his shock resignation announcement earlier this month.

The meeting came after Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that Hariri had accepted an invitation to visit France for talks with President Emmanuel Macron.

Asked when his visit would take place, Hariri replied: &quot;I would rather not answer that right now.&quot;&nbsp;

Le Drian&#39;s visit to Saudi Arabia has been dominated by the political crisis in Lebanon sparked by Hariri&#39;s resignation.

'These are false allegations. The accusation that Saudi Arabia is detaining a prime minister, and particularly a political figure who is an ally... is untrue,' Adel-al Jubeir said

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is free to leave Riyadh "when he pleases," the Saudi foreign minister said on Thursday, rejecting accusations from Beirut that the kingdom was "detaining" him. Hariri, who announced his shock resignation from Saudi Arabia on November 4, is living in the kingdom "of his own free will" and free to leave "when he pleases", Adel al-Jubeir told a press conference in Riyadh. "These are false allegations. The accusation that Saudi Arabia is detaining a prime minister, and particularly a political figure who is an ally... is untrue," Jubeir said. Lebanese President Michel Aoun had accused Saudi Arabia on Wednesday of detaining Hariri after what he said was his failure to return home for 12 days. But on Thursday, Aoun said the announcement that Hariri would travel to France for talks with President Emmanuel Macron could be "the start of a solution". Hariri meets French FM in Riyadh Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri met the French foreign minister in Riyadh on Thursday, the most senior Western official he has met publicly since his shock resignation announcement earlier this month. The meeting came after Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that Hariri had accepted an invitation to visit France for talks with President Emmanuel Macron. Asked when his visit would take place, Hariri replied: "I would rather not answer that right now." Le Drian's visit to Saudi Arabia has been dominated by the political crisis in Lebanon sparked by Hariri's resignation.

Hariri free to leave Riyadh 'when he pleases': Saudi FM

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Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian

France's Le Drian confirms kidnapping of French journalist in Mali

French Foreign Minister Le Drian on a 3-day visit to India

France accuses Iran of arming Yemen's Huthi rebels

Hariri free to leave Riyadh 'when he pleases': Saudi FM