Paris, France | AFP | Host nation France crushed South Korea 4-0 in the opening game of the women’s World Cup on Friday, leaving former winners Germany with plenty to live up to as they prepare to launch their campaign. It was a fine start to a tournament that has been …
Read More »From European dream to global giant: Airbus marks half century
Paris, France | AFP | Fifty years ago at the Paris air show, France’s transport minister and Germany’s economy minister signed an agreement that would change aviation history. The year was 1969 and Europe needed a smaller, lighter and more cost-effective passenger aircraft than American rivals. Five years later, the A300B2 …
Read More »Films in the running for Cannes’ top prize
Paris, France | AFP | From a zombie flick starring Iggy Pop to a tale of Chinese gangsters who decide to take over a city, these are the films vying for the top prize at the Cannes film festival next month: – The Dead Don’t Die – Jim Jarmusch’s zombie …
Read More »Rich vs poor: Donations row shatters French unity over Notre-Dame
Paris, France | AFP | France’s culture minister pleaded Thursday for an end to the controversy over the 850 million euros (950 million dollars) pledged to restore Notre-Dame cathedral, which critics have suggested would be better spent on the poor. Some of France’s biggest companies and billionaires, including luxury goods …
Read More »Years? Decades? Uncertainty over time needed to rebuild Notre-Dame
Paris, France | AFP | Rebuilding the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris could take decades after it was gutted by a fire, experts warned Monday, even as its most senior cleric expressed hope he could celebrate mass there within years. Parisians and people around the world watched in horror on Monday …
Read More »Notre-Dame, loved through the ages yet neglected
Notre Dame cathedral ▶ Catholic Cathedral ▶ Completed in 1345 ▶ Construction took 182 years ▶ Tower height of 69 meters ▶ Where Napoleon was coronated ▶ 14 million visitors annually ▶ Has a 13 tonne bell named Emmanuel The Notre Dame has survived ▶ French Wars of Religion ▶ The …
Read More »TV lets it all hang out in naked attack on bad body image
Cannes, France | AFP | Reality television shows like “Big Brother” and “Love Island” have been blamed for helping create the Instagram aesthetic of perfect, bronzed hairless bodies. But a new show is trying to repair the damage unrealistic standards are doing to people’s body image. “Naked Beach” is …
Read More »Airbus flies into new era with change of boss
Paris, France | AFP | Frenchman Guillaume Faury took over as CEO of European aerospace giant Airbus on Wednesday, looking to benefit from the current troubles of rival Boeing and limit potential disruption from Brexit and US President Donald Trump’s trade threats. The 51-year-old will replace Tom Enders, who is …
Read More »Uber launches electric bikes, scooters in Paris
Paris, France | AFP | US ride-hailing group Uber said Wednesday that it would start deploying electric bikes and scooters for rent on Paris streets as soon as this week, joining a crowded market which city officials have vowed to rein in. Initially 500 of its Jump bikes and 500 …
Read More »France begins debating digital tax, defying US ire
Paris, France | AFP | French lawmakers on Monday began debating a new tax on digital giants such as Facebook and Apple that has angered the United States, with Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire boasting that France was proud to be in the vanguard of such a move. The United …
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