france

From YouTube to Afrobeats: Theodort’s Rise to the Stage

Once a YouTube kid known for his musical parodies, Theodort has transformed into a rising singer and rapper. His debut album, released in 2024 and infused with afrobeats and amapiano sounds, is now lighting up festival stages across France this summer. “Performing on stage feels a bit like doing theater. Every show is different, even if it’s ...

Australia’s Aboriginals Ask Unesco to Protect Ancient Carvings Site

A delegation of Australia'4F As Aboriginal people that travelled to Paris to campaign for UN backing to protect a heritage site they say is threatened by harmful mining were "overjoyed" Friday as the ancient site was recognized on the coveted list. The World Heritage Committee at UNESCO, the United Nations' cultural organization, had been ...

France Launches Inquiry Into Musk’s X Over Threats to Democracy

French police are investigating claims social media network X, formerly known as Twitter, skewed its algorithm to allow "foreign interference," the Paris prosecutor said Friday. Investigators will be examining the actions of the company and its senior managers after two complaints were filed in January, prosecutor Laure Beccuau said, without ...

Paris Couture in Review: The Week’s Most Striking Moments

Paris Haute Couture Week has wrapped up after four days of shows that featured the end of an era at Balenciaga, the start of a new one at Maison Margiela, and some surprise appearances and absences. AFP looks back on the key moments of the Autumn-Winter 2025-2026 season: New Eras Demna bowed out at Balenciaga after a decade in charge with a ...

Macron Urges Joint UK-French Recognition of Palestinian State

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday urged joint UK-France recognition of a Palestinian state, calling such moves "the only hope for peace" in the conflict-ridden region. Flanking UK leader Keir Starmer at a news conference as he wrapped up a three-day state visit to Britain, Macron said he wanted to "initiate this political dynamic" of ...

Avignon Honors Imprisoned Algerian Author Boualem Sansal Through Readings

Several cultural figures, including the president of the Avignon Festival, paid tribute on Wednesday to French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who was sentenced to five years in prison in Algeria. The tribute took place during an evening of readings from his works, AFP observed. The 80-year-old author has been imprisoned in Algeria for over seven ...

Macron and Starmer Seal Defense Pact 'Reboot' at UK Summit

French President Emmanuel Macron wraps up a three-day state visit to Britain on Thursday with a summit aiming to "reboot" defense ties with a focus on joint missile development and nuclear co-operation. Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are also expected to discuss maintaining support for Ukraine and curbing undocumented cross-Channel ...

Immigration Dominates London–Paris Talks

It was the issue that hovered over the visit, that was present in every conversation, though absent from the red carpet. On Wednesday, July 9, illegal immigration across the English Channel took center stage as French President Emmanuel Macron met with the United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. So far this year, more than 20,000 ...

Macron Turns to Politics on Second Day of UK State Visit

French President Emmanuel Macron held talks Wednesday with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as the issue of small-boat crossings of the Channel dominated the second day of his UK state visit. It was all smiles as Starmer welcomed Macron to his Downing Street residence and office. The UK leader said, "we think alike; we work together," as he described ...

France Wildfire Shuts Down Marseille Airport and Halts Trains

A wildfire in southern France on Tuesday forced Marseille airport to close and interrupted train traffic as the blaze spread rapidly to the edges of the city. Several forest fires have raged in recent days in southern France, fanning out at speed due to wind and parched vegetation after a heatwave. Scientists say human-induced climate change is ...

Macron Urges New Era of Anglo-French Unity in Address to UK Parliament

President Emmanuel Macron argued Tuesday that France and Britain must work together to defend the post-World War II "international order," as he addressed parliament on the first day of his UK state visit. The first such visit by an EU head of state since Brexit, Macron said in a wide-ranging speech that the two countries must renew their ...