Dec 15 Pope Francis makes first-ever papal visit to French island of Corsica in the Mediterranean By Paolo Santalucia, Silvia Stellacci, Associated Press On the first papal visit ever to the French island of Corsica, Pope Francis on Sunday called for a dynamic form of laicism, promoting the kind of popular piety that distinguishes the Mediterranean island from secular France as a bridge between… Continue reading
Dec 15 Cyclone Chido causes hundreds of deaths on Mayotte islands in Indian Ocean, officials say By Gerald Imray, Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press The death toll in the French territory of Mayotte from Cyclone Chido is “several hundred” and may be close to 1,000, the island’s top government official told the local broadcaster Sunday. Continue reading
Dec 13 France’s Macron names centrist ally Bayrou as country’s next prime minister By Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named centrist ally François Bayrou as prime minister in an effort to address the country's deep political crisis, after a historic parliamentary vote ousted the previous government last week. Continue reading
Dec 07 Watch 7:50 Notre Dame’s ceremonial reopening also marks Trump’s return to the world stage By John Yang, Claire Mufson, Kaisha Young Against the Paris skyline, the Notre Dame Cathedral has risen from the ashes with its official reopening Saturday. Dozens of world leaders, diplomats and celebrities attended the celebration of the monument’s rebirth, including a high-profile return to the global spotlight… Continue watching
Dec 07 PHOTOS: An archbishop’s knock heralds Notre Dame’s reopening as world leaders look on By Thomas Adamson, John Leicester, Associated Press The evening’s celebration, attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, U.S. first lady Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscored Notre Dame’s enduring role as both a spiritual and cultural beacon. Continue reading
Dec 07 Trump meets with France’s Macron and Ukraine’s Zelenskyy during visit to Paris By Sylvie Corbet, Adriana Gomez Licon, Jill Colvin, Associated Press The president-elect's visit to France, ahead of a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire, comes as Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to maintain… Continue reading
Dec 06 PHOTOS: What to expect from Notre Dame’s reopening By John Leicester, Associated Press This weekend, a succession of ceremonies will breathe life back into the iconic cathedral and celebrate its recovery from a devastating fire in 2019. Continue reading
Dec 05 French president Macron vows to stay in office after prime minister resigns By Tom Nouvian, Sylvie Corbet, John Leicester, Associated Press In his address to the nation on Thursday, Macron came out fighting, laying blame at the door of his opponents on the far right for bringing down the government of Michel Barnier. Continue reading
Dec 04 French lawmakers oust prime minister in first successful no-confidence vote since 1962 By Tom Nouvian, Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press France’s far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined together Wednesday in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet members to resign, a first since 1962. Continue reading
Dec 03 5 things you probably didn’t know about Notre Dame Cathedral By Tom Nouvian, Associated Press Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral has some surprising stories to tell before it reopens this weekend after five years of restoration. Continue reading