Saudi Aramco and France's TotalEnergies signed contracts to start building an $11-billion petrochemicals facility in the Gulf kingdom, the two companies said. A signing ceremony for the engineering, procurement and construction contracts for the Amiral complex took place at Aramco's headquarters in Dhahran, in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province.

Mired in a crippling economic crisis since 2019, Lebanon has been governed by a caretaker cabinet for more than a year and without a president for almost eight months. No group has a clear majority in parliament and lawmakers have failed 12 times to elect a new president.

The summit comes amid growing recognition of the scale of the financial challenges ahead, with warnings that the world's ability to curb global warming at tolerable levels is reliant on a massive increase in clean energy investment in developing countries. "The current financial architecture is unfair, it's punitive, it doesn't...

PARIS, FRANCE - European airlines have been hit by a consumer complaint filed with the EU's executive arm accusing the 17 companies of greenwashing, the practice of making misleading climate-related claims.The European Consumer Organization, or BEUC, said Thursday the claims made by the airlines breach EU rules on unfair commercial practices.The...

The Atalante has begun using its multibeam echo sounder to create a map of the nearby seabed to "allow Victor 6000 to have a more efficient dive," an IFREMER spokesperson told AFP.

Dubai, UAE-- The UAE and France have reiterated their commitment to widening cooperation in important fields and sectors. The resolve was renewed at the 15th session of the UAE-France Strategic Dialogue held in Paris.The two countries discussed the status of the strategic bilateral investment partnerships, which were signed in December...

Amid continuous divisions plaguing the country, France's new envoy for Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, landed in Beirut to hold talks with its leaders. The envoy's three-day visit comes a week after Lebanese lawmakers failed for a 12th time to elect a new president, drawing condemnation from the international community.

Seeking to support and promote its national cinema, Morocco has spent 60 about $60m annually on productions since 2012. Moroccan cinema gained steam in the 1970s and '80s, with the emergence of powerful filmmakers such as Mustapha Derkaoui and Ahmed Bouanani.

At list prices, the Airbus deal is worth $3.3bn and Boeing's $1bn.

PARIS, FRANCE -  A major exiled Iranian opposition group on Tuesday expressed fury after Paris police refused to grant permission for a major rally next month, on the grounds it risked creating tensions and being the target of an attack.The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a coalition that includes...

The financial assistance would allow Tunisia to "acquire the necessary equipment and organize useful training, in particular for Tunisian police and border guards", French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said. He defended the "European approach to the migration challenge" and said that alongside African authorities, they would "fight against the networks...

The Saudi-French Investment Forum witnessed the signing of 24 MoUs and investment agreements, collectively valued at approximately $2.9 billion. The forum has assembled key players from both nations, fostering enhanced bilateral relations and providing opportunities for increased investment and collaboration.

Indian carrier IndiGo said it had ordered a 500 A320 airliners from European manufacturer Airbus at the Paris Air Show. With a list price of $55 billion- the actual sale prices are usually lower- the deal is the largest ever civil aviation order and a "historic" step for both firms,...

Paris, France -- President Emmanuel Macron's new special envoy for Lebanon heads to Beirut in the coming week as France seeks a new push to end a political crisis that has left the country without a president for over half a year, a diplomatic source said Sunday.Former foreign minister Jean-Yves Le...

Saudi Arabia has maintained a cautious stance throughout the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, stopping short of condemning the assault while emphasizing the importance of Ukraine's territorial integrity. MBS hosted President Volodymyr Zelensky last month in Jeddah during an Arab League summit, the Ukrainian leader's first visit to the Middle...

After talking to Macron, Musk will appear before an audience of thousands at VivaTech for what is billed as an hour-long "conversation" with the event's French founder Maurice Levy. Musk is likely to face questions at VivaTech about his many other business interests -- particularly his acquisition of social media...

The vote for the presidency, reserved for a Maronite Christian under Lebanon's delicate sectarian power-sharing system, pitted the Hezbollah-backed Sleiman Frangieh against financial official Jihad Azour, who has mainly been endorsed by Christian and independent legislators. But neither had the requisite support, with Azour garnering 59 votes and Frangieh 51...

Mohammed bin Salman has left for a state visit to France where he will meet President Emmanuel Macron, a statement said on Wednesday. On Monday, Saudi Crown Prince will attend an official Saudi reception for Riyadh's candidacy to host Expo 2030. The trip underlines close French ties with the resource-rich...

A landmark deal in 2015, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program to guarantee that Tehran could not develop a nuclear weapon -- something it has always denied wanting to do.

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The world's nuclear powers, and China in particular, increased investment in their arsenals for a third consecutive year in 2022 amid swelling geopolitical tensions, two reports showed Monday.The world's nine nuclear-armed states jointly spent $82.9 billion on their arsenals last year, with the United States accounting for more...

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a lengthy phone call discussed ways to promote ties, state media reported. "The two sides discussed how to promote relations especially about ongoing negotiations and regional developments," IRNA state news agency quoted Raisi's deputy chief of staff Mohammad Jamshidi...

PARIS, FRANCE -  Forty-five governments have endorsed doubling the average global rate of energy efficiency improvements by the end of the decade to foster sustainable economic growth.This will help put the world on a secure and affordable path towards net zero emissions."It’s hard to overstate the importance of energy efficiency...

The delegation will meet a local judge and might seek to question individuals over the wealth of Salameh and his entourage as other European countries have done, the official added.

Carpenter Michel Robillard crafted the wooden 2CV's wings out of walnut and its chassis from pear and apple tree wood, with the same famous curves as the post-war French classic.

PARIS, FRANCE - Renewable power capacity is expected to jump by a third this year globally as growing policy momentum, higher fossil fuel prices and energy security concerns drive expansion of solar and wind power, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said.The growth is set to continue next year with the...

PARIS, FRANCE -  Renewable power capacity will grow by a record number this year as high fossil fuel prices and energy security concerns fueled the deployment of solar and wind systems, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday.Global additions of renewable energy capacity are expected to rise by 107 gigawatts to...

Colonna nevertheless said Paris would not be changing its policy towards the Syrian ruler. "We have to remember who Bashar al-Assad is. He's a leader who has been the enemy of his own people for more than 10 years," she said. A lifting of European Union sanctions on the Syrian...

Paris, France – Sovereign borrowing needs are expected to increase in 2023 against the backdrop of the financial and economic spillovers of the crisis in Ukraine, as many countries forming a part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) seek to cushion households and businesses from rising prices,...

Lebanon has received an Interpol red notice requesting the arrest of central bank governor Riad Salameh after a French magistrate issued a warrant this week, a judicial official said. Salameh, 72, has been the target of a series of judicial investigations both at home and abroad on allegations including fraud,...

Iran executed three men convicted of killing security force members during protests triggered by Mahsa Amini's death last year, the judiciary said, drawing condemnation from rights groups. Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirhashemi and Saeed Yaghoubi were found guilty of waging "war against God" - at a demonstration in Isfahan on November...

A French investigating magistrate issued an international arrest warrant for Lebanon's central bank chief Riad Salameh, a source close to the case said. Salameh earlier failed to appear for questioning by French investigators who want to know how he amassed sizeable assets across Europe, his lawyer said.

PARIS, FRANCE -  Russia's oil exports rose in April to the highest level since its invasion of Ukraine, boosting revenues by US$1.7 billion despite Western sanctions, the International Energy Agency said on Tuesday.The Paris-based organization said Russian exports increased by 50,000 barrels per day to 8.3 million bpd last month, estimating that...

In March 2022, France, Germany and Luxembourg seized assets worth 120 million euros ($130 million) in a move linked to a French probe into Riad Salameh's wealth. This year, European investigators have questioned Salameh in Beirut, also hearing from a Lebanese minister, Salameh's brother Raja, and central bank audit firms.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire gave no details of Monday's talks with Musk, saying simply that "all of today's investments are the fruit of months or even years of negotiations". During a US trip in December, Macron held an unannounced face-to-face meeting with Musk, saying later the two had had...

Baroux also commends the UAE as the most promising market for French exports in the region, with over 600 French companies operating in the country, employing nearly 30,000 people. France stands as the UAE's fourth-largest economic partner within the EU, ranking third for imports and sixth for non-oil exports from...

Iran released two French citizens jailed in separate cases, France said, urging Tehran to release several others still detained in the Islamic republic. Bernard Phelan, who also holds Irish nationality and Benjamin Briere were freed from their prison in Mashhad city and are "on their way to France", Foreign Minister...

The continent has been racing to produce more electric vehicles as part of its green transition, with the clock ticking down on an EU deadline of 2035 to phase out the sale of cars using fossil fuels. A flurry of new battery plant projects are in the pipeline in Europe,...

Dubai, UAE -- UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has discussed the longstanding strategic partnership between the UAE and France with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.They also explored opportunities to further expand bilateral cooperation across various sectors, WAM reported. Macon affirmed the commitment to further strengthening the...

The foreign ministers of Egypt, France, Germany and Jordan called for an end to the violence between Israel and Gaza militants, who have been trading heavy fire for three days. The four ministers said later in a joint statement that they were "deeply alarmed" by the escalation.

Vienna, Austria - Austria said on Wednesday it will ban TikTok on federal employees' work phones, joining a growing list of Western nations cracking down on the Chinese-owned social media platform due to security concerns.The decision followed advice from Austria's intelligence services and several ministry experts.Similar measures have recently been taken...

French retailer is first foreign supermarket chain in Israel.

The Saudi company posts net profit of $31.9bn, down 19.25 percent from a year earlier.

The cost to secure thousands of inactive oil and gas wells in the US Gulf of Mexico could top $30 billion, as per research published weighing potential environmental damage against estimated price tag. With new US government funding available for plugging old fossil fuel wells, the authors focused on offshore...

The company delivered 127 aircraft in Q1 of 2023.

PARIS, FRANCE -  Some 258 million people needed emergency food aid last year because of conflict, economic shocks and climate disasters, a UN report said Wednesday, a sharp rise from 193 million the previous year."More than a quarter of a billion people are now facing acute levels of hunger, and some...

Former president Michel Aoun's term expired in October, with no successor lined up. Countries including France, the United States and Saudi Arabia hold regular consultations on Lebanon. Their representatives met in February in Paris to discuss the crisis, without achieving any tangible progress.

LES SABLES-D'OLONNE PORT, FRANCE -  UAE-registered boat Bayanat has taken second place at the Golden Globe Race 2022 (GGR) after 236 days of sailing.Former Indian Navy officer Commander (Retd.) Abhilash Tomy sailed non-stop around the world on the boat sponsored by Abu Dhabi-based geospatial AI solutions provider Bayanat.  The boat,...

The 62-year-old Iranian director, whose films have won numerous international awards, was freed on bail in early February after nearly seven months in detention in Tehran. The lawyer said Panahi was travelling to France to visit his daughter.

The country increased its military spending by 16 percent to reach an estimated $75 billion, surpassing the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.

China insisted it respects the sovereignty of all ex-Soviet countries, after comments by its ambassador to France drew ire in Europe. Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, the European Union's three Baltic countries, summoned China's envoys to account for Ambassador Lu Shaye questioning the sovereignty of former Soviet states.