Cannes, France - After a hectic 12-day round of glitz, glamour and gritty movie themes, the Cannes Film Festival reaches its climax Sunday with the world's leading movie fest unveiling its top honours for 2008.

But while the countdown to the jury's announcement at a lavish award ceremony gets underway, the festival appeared to have failed to produce a knockout candidate for its major award, the coveted Palme d'Or (Golden Palm).

As a result, a tight race has emerged among the films vying for some of the movie industry's most prestigious prizes, with the main competition for the 61st Cannes festival dominated by films exploring the darker side of life.

Copenhagen  - The prime ministers of Denmark and Fran

Paris  - French energy technology company Areva said Friday it has signed an agreement with the US Department of Energy (DOE) to construct with the American company Shaw a mixed oxide (MOX) fuel fa

Paris  - At least seven people were killed early Friday when a bus carrying Moroccan tourists slammed into a bridge support on a motorway near the French city of Blois, French media reported.

Brussels  - The European Commission on Thursday placed Gaz de France under investigation over claims the company violated European Union competition rules by deliberately limiting the amount of gas

Paris  -  French railway and public transport workers stayed away from their jobs in large numbers on Thursday to protest against French president Nicolas Sarkozy's planned pension reforms.