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Macron’s ‘Top Gun’ Shades Charm Internet as Leaders Wrangle Over Greenland

French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing sunglasses, speaks during a meeting on the institutional future of New Caledonia at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 16, 2026. (Reuters)
French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing sunglasses, speaks during a meeting on the institutional future of New Caledonia at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 16, 2026. (Reuters)
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Macron’s ‘Top Gun’ Shades Charm Internet as Leaders Wrangle Over Greenland

French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing sunglasses, speaks during a meeting on the institutional future of New Caledonia at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 16, 2026. (Reuters)
French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing sunglasses, speaks during a meeting on the institutional future of New Caledonia at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 16, 2026. (Reuters)

French President Emmanuel Macron's aviator sunglasses have caught the eye, with social media users debating his choice of a "Top Gun" look as he criticized US President Donald Trump over Greenland during his speech in Davos.

As he spoke at the annual World Economic Forum in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos on Tuesday, the French president wore dark, reflective sunglasses.

Memes, comments and speculation over his appearance surged on social media, with some supporters praising him for his "Top Gun" look while opponents dismissed it as bombastic or speculated ‌about his ‌health.

Macron's office said the choice to ‌wear ⁠sunglasses during his ‌speech, which took place indoors, was to protect his eyes because of a burst blood vessel.

One meme, with the headline "Duel in Davos," was styled like a Top Gun parody, with Macron and Trump eyeballing each other, both wearing military-style flight suits, and Macron, looking very small next to Trump, sporting oversized aviator sunglasses.

References to the ⁠1986 movie starring Tom Cruise were ubiquitous.

"Trump: be careful ... Macron is here," one social ‌media user said on X, with a ‍picture of the French ‍president with the aviator glasses. "Could he not find some more sober ‍glasses?" another user asked.

Even Trump weighed in, mocking Macron for his glasses in his own Davos speech on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, some of Macron's colleagues had gotten in on the act, with European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad posting a version of the "Soyboy vs Yes Chad" meme with Chad donning aviators and draped in a French flag.

Italian ⁠group iVision Tech, which owns Henry Jullien, said the model worn by Macron was its Pacific S 01, with a price tag of 659 euros ($770) on its website. It said it sent Macron the sunglasses as a gift but that he had insisted on paying for them, and made sure they were made in France.

The Milan-listed stock was up almost 6% on Wednesday.

"The news this morning came as a surprise," the group's chief executive Stefano Fulchir said. "We were flooded with calls and requests on the ‌website ... The site crashed."

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Varieties

Saudi Embassy in Egypt Celebrates Flag Day, Honoring National Pride and Identity

This gesture reflects pride in the Saudi flag - SPA
This gesture reflects pride in the Saudi flag - SPA
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Saudi Embassy in Egypt Celebrates Flag Day, Honoring National Pride and Identity

This gesture reflects pride in the Saudi flag - SPA
This gesture reflects pride in the Saudi flag - SPA

The Saudi Embassy in Egypt was proudly adorned with the Flag Day in celebration of this national occasion, which is observed annually on March 11.

This gesture reflects pride in the Saudi flag, a symbol of unity and sovereignty that embodies the values of monotheism, justice, and strength upon which the Saudi state was established, SPA reported.

Decorating the embassy building with the Flag Day demonstrates the commitment of the Kingdom's diplomatic missions abroad to emphasize the significance of this national event and its historical and patriotic importance.

It reaffirms the enduring meanings the Saudi flag holds for the Kingdom's history, identity, and standing in the world.

Varieties

Red Sea Labs Selects 12 Projects for New Edition of Feature Films Program

The Red Sea Film Foundation logo
The Red Sea Film Foundation logo
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Red Sea Labs Selects 12 Projects for New Edition of Feature Films Program

The Red Sea Film Foundation logo
The Red Sea Film Foundation logo

The Red Sea Film Foundation has selected 12 film projects for the new edition of its Feature Films Program, formerly known as the Lodge, under its educational arm, Red Sea Labs. The cohort includes three Saudi projects and nine international projects.

The foundation said in a statement that this transition from “Lodge” to “Feature Films Program” marks more than a rebrand; it signals a strategic new chapter for the Labs, aligning the program more clearly with its core mission of advancing high-quality feature filmmaking and strengthening connections with key global institutions.

The Feature Films Program continues to support emerging filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa, and Asia, building on the experience of previous editions while reinforcing its professional structure and specialized focus.

Selected teams will take part in a comprehensive development journey that includes tailored mentorship, script consultations, production guidance, and industry orientation, led by regional and international experts, said the statement.

The program will conclude with project presentations at the Red Sea International Film Festival, where participants will have the opportunity to present their projects to producers, sales agents, distributors, and supporting institutions, contributing to the further development and advancement of their films.

The statement also said that further announcements and key milestones will be revealed throughout the year, reflecting the foundation’s broader vision for Red Sea Labs, and signaling continued growth in the opportunities offered to filmmakers across the region and beyond.

“We have rebuilt the Feature Films Program from the ground up with a clear focus: time for the craft, precision in the process, and a real roadmap to the industry, an inspiring, intensive journey designed around the filmmaker, the film, and the path to the global stage,” said Director of the Red Sea Labs Ryan Ashore.

Varieties

Dresden City Center Cleared to Defuse Unexploded WWII Bomb

11 March 2026, Saxony, Dresden: A police officer cordoned off Grosse Meissner Strasse at an evacuation of the city center, during an operation to defuse a World War II bomb at the former Carola Bridge. (dpa)
11 March 2026, Saxony, Dresden: A police officer cordoned off Grosse Meissner Strasse at an evacuation of the city center, during an operation to defuse a World War II bomb at the former Carola Bridge. (dpa)
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Dresden City Center Cleared to Defuse Unexploded WWII Bomb

11 March 2026, Saxony, Dresden: A police officer cordoned off Grosse Meissner Strasse at an evacuation of the city center, during an operation to defuse a World War II bomb at the former Carola Bridge. (dpa)
11 March 2026, Saxony, Dresden: A police officer cordoned off Grosse Meissner Strasse at an evacuation of the city center, during an operation to defuse a World War II bomb at the former Carola Bridge. (dpa)

Officials in Dresden evacuated 18,000 people Wednesday after the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb, the largest such operation yet in the eastern German city, emergency services said.

A bomb squad was set to try to defuse the 250-kilogramme (550-pound) British bomb which was found during work in the city center to rebuild an Elbe river bridge that collapsed in 2024.

The exclusion zone had been fully established by 9:00 am (0800 GMT), said police in the Saxony state capital.

More than 400 police along with other emergency services were deployed, backed up by a helicopter and a drone, to check that homes, shops, schools, care homes and offices were empty inside a one-kilometer radius of the device.

The bomb was discovered on Tuesday during clearance and construction work following the partial collapse of the Carola Bridge in September 2024.

The evacuation affected major historic sites including the city's Zwinger Palace and the Frauenkirche church, as well as residential buildings, hotels and government offices.

Because the bomb's detonator is damaged, a water jet cutter has to be used which will "naturally delay" the operation, police spokesman Marko Laske told public broadcaster MDR.

If that doesn't work, bomb squad experts will have to consider detonating the bomb on site, he added.

Dresden was heavily bombed by the Allies on February 13 and 14, 1945, killing up to 25,000 people and destroying large parts of the old town known for its Baroque architecture.

World War II bombs were previously found and defused at the site in January and August 2025, with thousands of people affected each time.