France

The highest French civilian award is in recognition of "Dr Piramal's outstanding achievements and contributions in the fields of business and industry, science, medicine, arts and culture, both nationally and internationally", and was conferred on behalf of French President Emmanuel Macron.

The institute attributed the CPI rise to the acceleration of service, food and manufactured goods prices, reports Xinhua news agency. The prices of transport services accelerated due to airfares and transport by road prices, according to INSEE. The prices of meat, bread and cereals, milk, cheese, eggs, oils, fats and coffee increased during the month of April, it noted.

Saint-Gobain, French multi-national group, has disclosed that it will invest over Rs 2,500 crore in India to grow its home and construction business, as per a senior official. It has also revealed that the group's Indian subsidiary, Saint-Gobain India, has also set targets to earn about Rs 1,000 crore from its home solutions business in the next three to five years.

In its monthly economic report released on Monday, the Banque de France confirmed a positive economic trend in the country, notably due to continued improvement in hotels, restaurants, transport, leisure and cultural activities, reports Xinhua news agency. The level of activity in the restaurant business rose to 79 per cent of the level considered normal, against 69 per cent in the previous month.