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France, Iraq Sign Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement

French President Emmanuel Macron and Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani sign documents at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris, France, January 26, 2023. (Reuters)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani sign documents at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris, France, January 26, 2023. (Reuters)
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France, Iraq Sign Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement

French President Emmanuel Macron and Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani sign documents at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris, France, January 26, 2023. (Reuters)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani sign documents at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris, France, January 26, 2023. (Reuters)

French President Emmanuel Macron met with Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Thursday, said the French presidency, signing a set of strategic agreements meant to boost Iraq's economic cooperation with Paris, especially in the energy and publics transportation sectors.

France and Iraq signed a treaty seeking to strengthen bilateral relations in anti-corruption, security, renewable energy and culture, the Elysee Palace said in a statement issued in the early hours of Friday.

"(Macron and Sudani) have reaffirmed their commitment to complete big network infrastructures projects based on French know how (...) In that respect they have pledged to grant Iraq the expertise of French companies," the Elysee added.

"In terms of alternative energies, they showed their commitment to the implementation of TotalEnergies's multiple-energies project (...) based on solar energy and investments in gas."

Reuters reported this week that Qatar was in talks to acquire a stake from French oil major TotalEnergies' $27 billion cluster of energy projects in Iraq, as Baghdad hopes to stem efforts by Western energy companies to exit the country.

When TotalEnergies and Baghdad in 2021 signed an agreement to build four giant solar, gas, power and water projects in southern Iraq over 25 years, hopes for an exodus reversal were high.

Exxon Mobil, Shell and BP have all sought to scale back their operations in Iraq in recent years.

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Arab World

Israeli Media Says Military Expands Ground Operations in Lebanon

The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike is seen in the southern Lebanese area of al-Hosh, near the coastal city of Tyre on May 26, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike is seen in the southern Lebanese area of al-Hosh, near the coastal city of Tyre on May 26, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
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Israeli Media Says Military Expands Ground Operations in Lebanon

The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike is seen in the southern Lebanese area of al-Hosh, near the coastal city of Tyre on May 26, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike is seen in the southern Lebanese area of al-Hosh, near the coastal city of Tyre on May 26, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

Israeli media on Tuesday reported that troops had begun ground operations beyond the so-called "Yellow Line" in south Lebanon, which runs around 10 kilometres (six miles) deep inside Lebanese territory.

Israeli troops have until now been operating inside the self-declared "Yellow Line", where they have carried out large-scale demolitions despite a ceasefire in effect since April 17, AFP reported.

"The -army- has begun ground operations north of the Yellow Line in southern Lebanon," Israel's Kan public broadcaster posted on X.

Israel's left-leaning Haaretz newspaper and news site Ynet also reported that troops had begun ground operations north of the Yellow Line in order to reduce the threat posed by Hezbollah's explosive drones.

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have continued to exchange fire on a near-daily basis despite the ceasefire.

Several strikes hit the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on Tuesday after an unprecedented Israeli evacuation warning, an AFP correspondent said, a day after at least 11 were killed in a strike in the country's east.

Hezbollah meanwhile said it confronted Israeli troops trying to advance into a town that overlooks the city.

Arab World

Tunisian President Blames Profiteering Networks for Rising Prices

Tunisians visit a livestock market as they prepare for Eid al-Adha, the Muslim feast of Sacrifice in the Ariana district near Tunis on May 25, 2026.(Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)
Tunisians visit a livestock market as they prepare for Eid al-Adha, the Muslim feast of Sacrifice in the Ariana district near Tunis on May 25, 2026.(Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)
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Tunisian President Blames Profiteering Networks for Rising Prices

Tunisians visit a livestock market as they prepare for Eid al-Adha, the Muslim feast of Sacrifice in the Ariana district near Tunis on May 25, 2026.(Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)
Tunisians visit a livestock market as they prepare for Eid al-Adha, the Muslim feast of Sacrifice in the Ariana district near Tunis on May 25, 2026.(Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)

Tunisia's presidency has blamed profiteering networks for the sharp rise in prices, which has become more acute ahead of Eid al-Adha.

Tunisians are facing mounting pressure from high sacrificial animal prices this year, despite a rainy season that ended five consecutive years of drought.

Markets are also witnessing an unusual increase in fruit and vegetable prices, prompting protests earlier this month over the rising cost of living and the erosion of purchasing power among broad segments of the population.

In a video published on its official Facebook page following a meeting between Tunisian President Kais Saied and security officials, the presidency said security forces had dismantled profiteering and hoarding networks in several regions of the country that had deliberately driven up prices "in an attempt to harm producers and consumers alike."

It added that this approach "represents a consistent state policy that will continue without hesitation until this criminal and outrageous rise in prices is completely eliminated."

Despite the security campaigns, prices in markets remained elevated on the eve of Eid al-Adha, including red meat prices, according to observations by a correspondent for the German Press Agency (dpa).

Tunisia's inflation rate stood at 5.5 percent in April, according to the latest official update, marking its highest level in about a year, and is expected to rise further this month.

The Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) had earlier warned of deteriorating purchasing power among Tunisians because of rising prices and the absence of effective policies for price monitoring and regulation.

Arab World

Israel Military Issues Evacuation Warning for Lebanese City of Nabatieh

Emergency workers look to recover equipment from a civil defense center damaged in an Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh on May 24, 2026. (Photo by Abbas Fakih / AFP)
Emergency workers look to recover equipment from a civil defense center damaged in an Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh on May 24, 2026. (Photo by Abbas Fakih / AFP)
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Israel Military Issues Evacuation Warning for Lebanese City of Nabatieh

Emergency workers look to recover equipment from a civil defense center damaged in an Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh on May 24, 2026. (Photo by Abbas Fakih / AFP)
Emergency workers look to recover equipment from a civil defense center damaged in an Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh on May 24, 2026. (Photo by Abbas Fakih / AFP)

The Israeli military for the first time warned residents of the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh to immediately evacuate on Tuesday ahead of expected strikes, while Hezbollah said it confronted Israeli troops in a nearby town.

The day before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his military to intensify attacks on Hezbollah to "crush" the Tehran-backed group.

"For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move north of the Zahrani River. Anyone who is near Hezbollah members, facilities or military equipment is putting their life at risk!" the military's Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, posted on X, AFP reported.

Largely deserted since the start of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war on March 2, Nabatieh has faced relentless strikes despite an April 17 truce.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) also reported several Israeli strikes across the south.

Evacuation warnings near the southern city of Tyre on Monday caused mass panic and an exodus of residents of the historic city, according to an AFP correspondent.

Strikes also hit the town of Mashghara in the east, according to the NNA.

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had bombed more than 100 Hezbollah targets overnight.

Hezbollah meanwhile said in a statement that its fighters repelled an Israeli force early Tuesday that had advanced toward Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, which overlooks Nabatieh, following airstrikes and heavy artillery fire.

The group said it used drones and was fighting with Israeli soldiers in the town.

Netanyahu had last night ordered "an even greater acceleration of our operations" against Hezbollah.

"It is true that they are attacking us with drones, including fibre-optic drones, but we have teams working on countermeasures and we will solve this issue... We will intensify our blows, increase our firepower, and we will crush them."

Israel has repeatedly bombed Lebanon despite the ongoing truce, saying it is targeting Hezbollah, while the latter has claimed several attacks on Israeli positions in southern Lebanon and Northern Israel.

More than 3,100 people have been killed by Israeli strikes since March 2, according to Lebanon's health ministry.