France

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, ...

French Air Strikes Target IS Positions in Syria

French aircraft have bombed Islamic State positions in Syria, Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Tuesday, in its first such strike on the country's soil since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. "Our armed forces remain engaged in battling terrorism in the Levant," Lecornu wrote on X while on a New Year visit to French UN peacekeepers in ...

Masked Captain, Failed Year: Mbappé’s 2024 Review

2024 will likely be remembered as one of the most challenging years of Kylian Mbappé's career. Between thwarted ambitions at the Euro, debilitating injuries, and media pressures, the French captain endured a mixed season. Here's a look back at a year filled with ups and downs for the star forward of Real Madrid. A Euro to Forget Before the ...

Camille Claudel and Rodin: Artistic Genius in 'The Mature Age'

A collaborator and muse of sculptor Auguste Rodin, as well as the sister of poet, writer and diplomat Paul Claudel, Camille Claudel made her mark on the Art Nouveau movement with a style that blended realism and impressionism. Her life was later brought to light in the book A Woman, Camille Claudel by Anne Delbée and the film Camille Claudel, ...

Céline Dion to Shine Bright in Grand Paris Comeback

On Tuesday, July 23, Céline Dion’s jet landed at Le Bourget, marking more than just a return to France. After two years of waiting and cancellations due to her fragile health, the Canadian star finally reconnected with her audience during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Performing from the Eiffel Tower in Dior Haute ...

Russia Accuses France of Excluding Kyiv in Ukraine Talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday said France had tried to establish "dialogue" with Moscow on Ukraine but without Kyiv's participation -- a claim that was dismissed by Paris as "intemperate". Western countries have called for a united front in support for Ukraine and have constantly said that no decisions could be taken without ...

France's Macron Announces Fourth Government Of The Year

French President Emmanuel Macron named a new government Monday evening, putting together a team under Francois Bayrou, his fourth prime minister of the year, to drag the second-largest EU economy out of political crisis. Macron named former prime minister Elisabeth Borne education minister in a new cabinet under centrist Bayrou, the presidency ...

Théo Fouchenneret: The Soul of the Piano

On Sunday, December 22, nature wept over Beirut. On the way to Saint-Elie Church in Kantari, our thoughts wandered through the ruins of the capital, those gaping wounds that will bleed and ooze the horrors of war for years to come. Alas. That evening, a fine rain caressed these scars, soft and soothing, like saving kisses from angels during this ...

Sweet Smell of Success for Niche Perfumes

This photograph shows "Parfums de Marly" boutique, a luxury and niche perfume brand, in Paris on December 12, 2024. ©Grégoire CAMPIONE / AFP   Produced in small batches with high-quality, natural or rare ingredients, niche perfumes are becoming big business even while retaining their exclusive nature. "We've had absolutely incredible ...