France Archives

France’s Macron says tour of cyclone-devastated Mayotte is a day he won’t forget

MAMOUDZOU, Mayotte (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has traveled to the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte to survey the devastation wreaked by Cyclone Chido. An airport security agent told him as soon as he stepped of the plane that “Mayotte is demolished.” Macron went on a helicopter for an aerial appraisal of the damage. He then headed to the hospital in Mamoudzou, Mayotte’s capital, to meet with medical staff and patients. French authorities say at least 31 people have died and more than 1,500 people were injured, more than 200 critically. But it’s feared hundreds or even thousands of people have died after the strongest cyclone in nearly a century ripped through the French territory off the coast of Africa on Saturday.… Continue Reading

Official in French territory of Mayotte says death toll from Cyclone Chido is ‘several hundred’

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The death toll in the French territory of Mayotte from Cyclone Chido is “several hundred” and may be close to 1,000. That’s according to the island’s top government official who spoke with a local broadcaster Sunday. Mayotte Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville told TV station Mayotte la 1ere that “I think there are some several hundred dead, maybe we’ll get close to a thousand.” He said it was “extremely difficult” to get an exact number right now after the Indian Ocean islands were pummelled by the intense tropical cyclone on Saturday, causing widespread destruction. Officials had confirmed at least 11 deaths in Mayotte earlier Sunday but said that was expected to increase.… Continue Reading

Trump says he’ll attend Notre Dame Cathedral reopening celebration in Paris this weekend

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump will attend the reopening celebration for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris this weekend, his first foreign trip since the election. The cathedral will reopen after more than five years of reconstruction following a devastating 2019 fire. The invite-only ceremonies Saturday and Sunday are expected to be high-security affairs, with about 50 heads of state and government expected to attend. Trump announced his trip in a post on his Truth Social site Monday evening. “It will be a very special day for all!” he wrote.… Continue Reading

Notre Dame primps for its grand post-blaze return. But why does the cathedral look unfinished?

PARIS (AP) — The bells of Notre Dame are chiming again, but scaffolding that still clings to the cathedral is puzzling some Parisians and raising questions about whether the monument’s grand post-blaze reopening is more symbolic than substantive. President Emmanuel Macron is inspecting the rebuilding work on Friday. He’ll see that Notre Dame looks bright inside but still has construction work outside. The cathedral will welcome the faithful back on Dec. 8, for the first time since its 2019 fire. But scaffolding at the base of its newly restored spire is expected to remain into 2025 and, in other parts, for another three years.… Continue Reading

Dior’s sporty elegance and urban grit hits Paris Fashion Week

PARIS (AP) — Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Dior collection took a sporty turn, blending athletic prowess with an urban menace. The Paris show’s stripped-down designs evoked a ’60s sci-fi aesthetic, reminiscent of Star Trek, but with an edge—daring, asymmetrical shapes paired with knee-high boots that flirted with danger. As a live archer launched arrows into a target mid-show, VIPs such as Natalie Portman and French First Lady Brigitte Macron erupted in applause. The performance was a nod to the themes of strength and athleticism that have been central to Chiuri’s collection, inspired in part by the Paris 2024 Olympics.… Continue Reading