Tag Archives: France

Paris, France | AFP |  Pop star Shakira was forced to cancel the first swathe of concerts of her world tour Friday because of a problem with her vocal cords, the tour’s promoters said. The Colombian singer postponed two concerts this weekend in Paris and a Belgian date on Sunday …

Paris, France | AFP | Despite signing up to the Paris climate accord Syria has not been invited to a summit on the pact in the French capital in December, the French foreign ministry said Wednesday. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad joins US President Donald Trump in being omitted from the list …

Bamako, Mali | AFP | A senior UN official, on a visit to Mali, has warned about “violations committed during anti-terrorist operations” after Bamako said French troops killed Malian soldiers during a raid against jihadists. An official from Mali’s defense ministry on Tuesday confirmed that Malian soldiers captured by jihadists …

Bamako, Mali | AFP | France has sent high-level representatives to talk to the Malian government after a French anti-terror raid killed Malian troops held by the jihadists. Defence Minister Tiena Coulibaly met on October 31 with the French ambassador and the commander of France’s military force in Mali, according to …

Paris, France | AFP | Two novels about the Nazis took France’s biggest literary prizes on Monday, with Eric Vuillard’s story of how German industry and finance backed Adolf Hitler winning the top Prix Goncourt. “L’ordre du jour” (in English “Agenda”) had been among the favourites for the Goncourt prize — …

Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | The opening this week of the glittering Louvre Abu Dhabi museum marks the latest stage in a multi-billion-dollar “soft power” showdown between energy giants Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Culture, media and sports have turned into battlegrounds for branding and global recognition. “There …

Bamako, Mali | AFP | An anti-terrorist raid by French forces at the end of last month left 11 imprisoned Malian soldiers dead, military sources said Sunday. The incident occurred in the northeastern Kidal region on October 23-24, after the Malian military had received proof that their soldiers, who had been …

Paris, France | AFP | A new law will impose on-the-spot fines for harassment of women in the streets of France, a minister said Monday, as the sex scandal engulfing Hollywood honcho Harvey Weinstein encouraged French women to tell their stories. The legislation is being piloted by 34-year-old Marlene Schiappa, …

Paris, France | AFP | France on Saturday urged the US Congress not to rip up the Iran nuclear deal, after President Donald Trump decertified Iran’s compliance with the 2015 agreement. “We strongly hope that Congress, which is now responsible for a possible rupture, does not jeopardise the deal,” French Foreign …

Abidjan, Ivory Coast | AFP | Four Moldovan nationals were killed and three French soldiers hurt on Saturday when a transport plane chartered by France’s army crashed off Ivory Coast, authorities said. There was a storm over Abidjan early in the day, but it was unclear whether heavy weather had played …