France

Macron Expected at White House Next Week

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet Donald Trump at the White House next week, a US official said Wednesday, as Europe scrambles to respond to the US president's shift on the war in Ukraine. "President Macron is expected at the White House early next week," a White House official told AFP on condition of anonymity. With AFPe

Macron Holds New Emergency Talks on Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday held a new meeting on Ukraine in a bid to coordinate a European response to what he called an "existential threat" from Russia after a shock policy shift in Washington. Macron was speaking to leaders of 19 countries including Canada, with most taking part by video link, according to the ...

Kamel Daoud Accused by Algerian Woman of Story Theft

Franco-Algerian writer Kamel Daoud has been sued in France for invasion of privacy by Saâda Arbane, an Algerian woman who accuses him of stealing her story to form the core of his novel Houris, which won the prestigious Prix Goncourt last year. This lawsuit, also reported by the French media outlet Mediapart on Friday, has its first procedural ...

Hariri-Chirac: Friendship and Political Support

February 16, 2005. Jacques Chirac arrived at Beirut airport with his wife, Bernadette, to pay tribute to former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, who had been killed in a massive bombing two days earlier. As he stepped off the plane and delivered a speech on the airport tarmac, Chirac condemned the “abominable crime, one that seemed like it ...

Macron Courts Modi in Quest for Geopolitical 'Independence'

French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited southern France with a packed schedule on Wednesday, fostering a relationship that Paris sees as an alternative to great power rivalries. Macron took Modi for dinner in the picturesque southern town of Cassis on Tuesday, before Wednesday's visit to the Mediterranean ...

The Disco French Touch Revolution: A Legacy Revived

A close relative of soul and funk, disco was born in the United States, yet several French musicians and producers helped define its signature sound. One of its most recognizable names is Patrick Hernandez, who set dancefloors on fire in 1978 with Born to Be Alive. However, the true pioneer of this movement—now honored by the Philharmonie de ...

Two Lebanese Short Films Win Awards at Clermont-Ferrand Festival

Lebanon was the guest of honor at this year’s 47th edition of the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, with a rich program featuring films, discussions and cultural events highlighting Lebanese cinema and its talents. The event was co-organized with the Beirut Film Society, an organization supporting film production and distribution in ...

International Community Welcomes Lebanon’s New Government

The formation of Lebanon’s new government under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has drawn international support, with key diplomatic figures emphasizing the need for reforms and stability. The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, described the government’s team announcement as a "new and brighter ...

Europe Closely Monitoring Israel’s Feb 18 Withdrawal Deadline

The new US administration’s rigorous way of handling foreign affairs was reaffirmed by US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus, who openly called for excluding Hezbollah from the next Lebanese government while applauding its defeat at Israel’s hand. The approach that is bound to alienate and provoke Lebanon’s Shiite ...

France Expresses Confidence in Lebanon’s Ability to Form Representative Government

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has expressed its confidence in Lebanon’s ability to form a government that represents all its citizens. Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that France has “full confidence in the ability of the Lebanese authorities to form a ...

The Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival: A Tribute to Wissam Charaf

The Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, which began on Friday, January 31, and runs until Saturday, February 8, is an unmissable event for cinema enthusiasts. For its 47th edition, the festival highlights Lebanon through an exceptional selection of short films. Some filmmakers are given special recognition, with sessions dedicated ...