Paris

France's apex court upholds former Prez Sarkozy's conviction in bribe case

France's highest court has upheld an appeal court decision which had found former President Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of corruption and influence peddling while he was the country's head of state. Sarkozy, 69, faces a year in prison, but is expected to ask to be detained at home with an electronic bracelet as is the case for any sentence of two years or less. He was found guilty of corruption and influence peddling by both a Paris court in 2021 and an appeals court in 2023 for trying to bribe a magistrate in exchange for information about a legal case in which he was implicated. "The convictions and sentences are therefore final, a Court of Cassation statement on Wednesday said. Sarkozy, who was France's president from 2007 to 2012, retired from public life in 2017 though still plays an influential role in French conservative politics. He was among the guests who attended the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral earlier this month. Sarkozy, in a statement posted on X, said I will assum

Ukraine's Zelenskyy asks for security guarantees at Paris meet with Trump

Zelenskiy believes Putin fears only Trump and possibly China in the international arena and that any lasting peace would require Washington to be 'truly strong'

Spiritual heart of Paris awakens: Notre Dame hosts 1st Mass since 2019 fire

Notre Dame Cathedral, its air thick with the smell of incense, on Sunday hosted its first Mass since the catastrophic fire of 2019, a moment that transcends religious significance to become a powerful symbol of Paris' resilience. Beneath the glow of traditional chandeliers and modern spotlights, which illuminated its intricately carved stonework, the cathedral emerged reborn, its grandeur restored after more than five years of reconstruction. For Catholics, it marks the revival of the city's spiritual heart, a place where faith has been nurtured for centuries. For the world, it signals the rebirth of one of global heritage's most famous landmarks. The event was both solemn and historic. Archbishop Laurent Ulrich presided over the morning Mass, including the consecration of a new bronze altar. The liturgy, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, clergy, dignitaries, and guests totalling around 2,500 people, was closed to the general public. Nearly 170 bishops from France and .

From ashes to glory: Notre-Dame to reopen after 700 mn euro restoration

The iconic Parisian cathedral is nearing its reopening, five years after the 2019 fire. Here's a glimpse of its legendary architecture and grand history

'AI-powered system predicts patient deterioration up to 16 hrs in advance'

Healthtech firm Dozee's AI-powered system alerted patients' health deterioration about 16 hours in advance and continuous monitoring saved 10% of healthcare practitioners' time

Notre Dame area to get $55 mn green facelift as part of Paris-wide eco plan

As Notre Dame gears up to reopen its doors in December, Paris is on the verge of a remarkable eco-revival, bringing nature back to the forefront of the City of Light. Beyond restoring the cathedral's iconic spire and medieval charm, the city announced plans Tuesday to revamp Notre Dame's surroundings to a tune of 50 million euros ($55 million) into a serene, green oasis. The project echoes a broader, post-Olympics eco-facelift that's reshaping Paris from its historic monuments to its bustling avenues. Among the key elements of this broader transformation are the revitalization of historic spaces like the Champs-Elysees and Place de la Concorde, a redesign aimed at reducing traffic around the Arc de Triomphe, and green promenades connecting the French capital's landmarks. Here's a look at some of the eco plans for Paris in the coming years: Notre Dame Cathedral: a rebirth in green The reopening on Dec 8 promises to be a historic moment for Paris, fulfilling President Emmanuel ..

Paris Fashion Week 2024: B'wood actresses Aishwarya and Alia own the runway

Indian actresses Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Alia Bhatt walked the ramp at Paris Fashion Week 2024. They both owned the runway and won everyone's attention

Can the new French govt solve New Caledonia crisis after months of unrest?

After four months of deadly unrest in New Caledonia, tensions in the French Pacific territory between the pro-independence Indigenous Kanak people and the white settler communities loyal to Paris are simmering as the vast archipelago east of Australia marks the anniversary of colonization on Tuesday. The communities stand far apart on the territory's future following the Kanaks' revolt in May against President Emmanuel Macron' s voting reform in New Caledonia. The loyalists have called on supporters in the capital, Noumea, to mark the 171st anniversary of the French takeover by honking horns during a radio broadcast of France's national anthem, La Marseillaise. Separately, the National Council of Chiefs of the Kanak people is meeting on the neighbouring Mare Island and is expected to unilaterally declare sovereignty over the Kanak nation on their customary territories. Macron sidelined the controversial voting reform along with the situation in New Caledonia in June after he ...

Pollution of warming gas methane soars; people are mostly to blame: Study

The amount and proportion of the powerful heat-trapping gas methane that humans spew into the atmosphere is rising, helping to turbocharge climate change, a new study finds. Tuesday's study finds that in 2020, the last year complete data is available, the world put 670 million tons (608 million metric tons) of methane in the air, up nearly 12 per cent from 2000. An even more significant finding in the study in Environmental Research Letters was the source of those emissions: those from humans jumped almost 18 per cent in two decades, while natural emissions, mostly from wetlands, inched up just 2 per cent in the same time. Methane levels in the air are now 2.6 times higher than in pre-industrial times, the study said. Methane levels in the air had plateaued for a while in the early 2000s, but now are soaring. Humans cause methane emissions by burning fossil fuels, engaging in large-scale agriculture and filling up landfills. Methane is a climate menace that the world is ignoring, ..

Louis Vuitton picks Sarah Burton as new designer for its Givenchy brand

Sarah Burton, who up until last year was the designer at Alexander McQueen, a Kering SA label, takes over immediately and will present her first collection in March

Growing pains aided criminal abuse on platform: Telegram CEO Durov

The social media billionaire was charged in France last week for failing to stop the spread of illicit content on the app

Paris Paralympics 2024: Google Doodle marks wheelchair tennis with artwork

Google celebrated the wheelchair tennis event on Tuesday with an engaging doodle featuring animated birds, as the Paris Paralympics 2024 continues to captivate sports fans worldwide

Paralympics: PM congratulates Nishad Kumar for silver in men's high jump

India has secured a total of seven medals at the ongoing Paris Paralympics, with one gold medal, two silvers, and four bronze medals

As French police arrest Telegram CEO, next steps could reshape big tech

The case may have far-reaching international implications, not just for Telegram but for other global technology giants as well

What is Telegram and why was its founder-CEO recently arrested in Paris

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested in Paris over the weekend over allegations that his platform is being used for illicit activity such as drug trafficking and the distribution of child sexual abuse images. Durov, who was born in Russia, spent much of his childhood in Italy and is a citizen of France, Russia, the Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis and the United Arab Emirates. He was taken into custody at Paris-Le Bourget Airport in France on Saturday after landing from Azerbaijan. In a statement posted to its platform, Telegram said it abides by EU laws and its content moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving. Durov, the company added, has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. Here are some details on Telegram, the app at the center of Durov's arrest. WHAT IS TELEGRAM? Telegram is an app that allows for one-on-one conversations, group chats and large channels that let people broadcas

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrested at Paris airport for alleged offences

The 39-year-old billionaire is suspected of failing to take steps to prevent criminal use of Telegram, AFP said, adding he's expected to appear in court on Sunday

Brand value of Neeraj Chopra, Manu Bhaker skyrockets after Olympic success

While Neeraj Chopra has been identified as the highest-valued non-cricketer among Indian sportspersons, Manu Bhaker is also finalising big deals

Star Olympian shooter Manu Bhaker locks Rs 1.5 crore deal with Coca-Cola

Following the Paris Olympics victory, Manu Bhaker's endorsement fee has surged six times, from the previous Rs 25 lakh to approximately Rs 1.5 crore now

Olympian boxer Imane Khelif sues Elon Musk, JK Rowling over gender remarks

At the Paris Olympics, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif faced intense scrutiny over her gender on social media after her opponent exited their August 1 bout in the 66 kg boxing category in just 46 seconds

Woman grabs, kisses Tom Cruise on Olympics final night, controversy erupts

A video went viral on social media where a woman was seen grabbing and kissing Tom Cruise; the incident has sparked controversy on the internet