France

Lebanese-Syrian Border and UNIFIL Renewal: Two Critical Challenges Ahead

France has stepped in decisively to take a leading role in the border demarcation process between Lebanon and Syria—an initiative announced by President Emmanuel Macron during the visit of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to France. According to French sources, Macron expressed his country’s readiness to provide both the Lebanese and Syrian ...

France Hands Over Border Maps to Raggi

Lebanon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joe Raggi, received on Thursday the French Ambassador to Lebanon, Hervé Magro, who presented him with copies of documents and maps from French archives related to the Lebanon-Syria border. This handover follows Lebanon's official request and a promise made by French President Emmanuel Macron to Lebanese ...

Macron Urges Washington to Quickly Lift Sanctions against Syria

Emmanuel Macron called on Wednesday for the United States to "rush to lift sanctions" against Syria, "with conditions," and to "maintain" its military operations against the Islamic State in the country. "The interest of everyone, including the Americans, is today (...) to act in support of lifting sanctions against the Syrian people," and "to ...

France Defends Cinema Model after Trump Threats

France's culture minister vowed Wednesday to defend the country's system of promoting domestic film production in the face of threats from US President Donald Trump. France has a complex mix of taxes, quotas and levies on film and TV distributors that helps funnel money into the national film sector, making it Europe's cinema powerhouse. "We ...

Cannes 2025: Glamour, Heritage, and Films in Competition

There was a time when Cannes carried an air of carefree charm, when passersby froze mid-step at the chance to lock eyes with Sophia Loren or Alain Delon. People exchanged smiles, hellos, and autographs between melting ice creams and cinema tickets, on a sun-drenched—or rain-soaked—Croisette. Today, Cannes retains its legendary glamour, but its ...

Aoun Invited to International Summits in Qatar and France

President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday received two official invitations from Qatar and France to attend high-level international summits set to take place in the coming months. Qatari Ambassador to Lebanon, Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, delivered an invitation on behalf of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, inviting President Aoun to participate ...

UNIFIL Urges Full Israeli Withdrawal from Lebanon, Reaffirms Support for Lebanese Army

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Tuesday called on the Israeli military to fully withdraw from Lebanese territory. UNIFIL also emphasized its strong coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces and reaffirmed its ongoing support for them. The appeal comes after UNIFIL’s Head of Mission and Force Commander, Lieutenant ...

The House of Worth Takes Over Paris Fashion History

For the first time, the House of Worth—considered the birthplace of haute couture—is featured in a Paris exhibition showcasing rare archival pieces and revisiting the story of one of France’s luxury icons. Organized in collaboration with Palais Galliera, Paris’ fashion museum, this retrospective at the Petit Palais, titled “Worth, ...

Iran Blasts French ‘Threats’ of New Sanctions

Iran's UN mission has slammed "threats" by France to reimpose sanctions lifted under a landmark 2015 deal on Tehran's nuclear programme, media in the Islamic republic reported on Wednesday. France on Monday said that along with Germany and Britain, it "will not hesitate for a single second to reapply all the sanctions" scrapped a decade ago if ...

France Accuses Russia of Being Behind Series of Cyberattacks Against It

France on Tuesday accused Russian military intelligence of being behind a series of cyberattacks against the country over the last decade, including against an organization involved in the 2024 Paris Olympics and Emmanuel Macron's first presidential campaign in 2017. Since 2021, a branch of Russian military intelligence (GRU) dedicated to ...

Power Returns to Most of Spain, Portugal After Massive Blackout

Lights flickered back to life in Spain and Portugal Tuesday after a massive blackout hit the Iberian peninsula stranding passengers in trains and hundreds of elevators while millions saw phone and internet coverage die. Electricity had been restored to more than 90 percent of mainland Spain early Tuesday, the REE power operator said. Lights came ...

Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong to Join Cannes Film Festival Jury

American actor Halle Berry and Succession star Jeremy Strong are set to serve on the jury at the Cannes Film Festival this year, which will be headed by French actress Juliette Binoche, organisers announced on Monday. Berry and Strong will be joined by best-selling Franco-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani, Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia, and Italian ...