france

Pierre Boulez Centenary: Reviving the Avant-Garde and Shaping Tomorrow’s Sound

2025 will be marked by the celebration of the centenary of Pierre Boulez, a major composer of 20th-century contemporary music. Through concerts, unpublished editions, and commissions to current composers, the music scene will pay tribute to this genius of the avant-garde, an essential figure in music and pedagogy, as well as a builder of cultural ...

Le Drian Will Attend the January 9 Session

The French President’s special envoy for Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, will attend the January 9 parliamentary session convened to elect a president, after an invitation by Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Le Drian will begin a visit to Beirut on Tuesday as part of his mission of good offices, the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs ...

France Asks Citizens to Avoid Iran Until 'Hostages' Released

France on Tuesday urged its citizens to avoid travelling to Iran until French nationals held there have been released. "The situation of our compatriots held hostage in Iran is quite simply unacceptable. They have been unjustly detained for several years, in unworthy conditions," Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, urging French nationals not ...

France's 2007 Presidential Campaign: Sarkozy Faces Conviction

Accused of having received Libyan funds to finance his 2007 presidential campaign, Nicolas Sarkozy appeared on Monday before the Paris court in a historic trial.  Former president Nicolas Sarkozy, already convicted for corruption in the Bismuth case and for illegal campaign financing in the Bygmalion case, faces justice for the third time in ...

Macron: Iran 'Main Strategic and Security Challenge' in Middle East

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said Iran was the main strategic and security challenge in the Middle East, citing the acceleration of its nuclear programme and support for Russia's war against Ukraine. "Iran is the main strategic and security challenge for France, the Europeans, the entire region and beyond," Macron said in a speech ...

Charlie Hebdo: A Decade of Resistance Through Satire

On January 7, 2015, a devastating terrorist attack struck Charlie Hebdo, killing twelve people, including eight members of the editorial team. Ten years after this tragic event, the satirical weekly, which survived the horrific massacre, continues to defend the values of free speech with the same vigor. In a special issue set to be published this ...

France Stresses Importance of Protecting Syria from Foreign Exploitation

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, stated on Sunday that it is "essential that no foreign power" takes advantage of the regime change in Damascus to weaken Syria, while his Syrian counterpart began an official visit to Qatar. "Syria will obviously need help, but it is essential that no foreign power, as Russia and Iran ...

Female Circus Artists Take Center Stage at the Biennale

A major event in contemporary circus arts, the Biennale internationale des arts du Cirque (BIAC) will open on January 9 across Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, focusing on female-led creations. This year’s edition achieves a milestone, with half of its 66 performances either created or directed by women in an art form historically dominated by ...

Syria: Barrot Calls for Inclusivity, Destruction of Chemical Weapons

Visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called on Syria's new rulers Friday to reach a settlement with Kurdish authorities in the northeast. Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock met Syria's new ruler, Ahmad el-Sharaa, in Damascus, in the highest-level visit by major Western powers since Islamist-led rebels seized power ...

Paris, a Shining Star of New Year’s Eve 2024

Closing a year defined by the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the French capital brought together over a million people on the Champs-Élysées. Beneath a sparkling winter sky, Paris shone brighter than ever, delivering an unforgettable spectacle. The festivities began with a sumptuous performance by the dancers of the Moulin Rouge, ...

Global markets rode AI, interest rate roller coaster in 2024

Despite political upheavals, stock markets and bitcoin smashed records in 2024, fuelled by investor enthusiasm for Artificial Intelligence (AI), falling interest rates, and hopes of tax cuts. Here are five of the most remarkable aspects of 2024 for financial markets: Stock records fall like dominoes Wall Street's three main stock indices blew ...

Ivory Coast President Says French Forces to Withdraw in January

The reorganization of France's military presence in Africa continues, marking a new era in relations between several African countries and the erstwhile colonial power. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara announced on Tuesday evening that the French military base in Abidjan, home to the 43rd BIMA (marine infantry battalion) in Port-Bouet, ...