Author: Paris Paper

Four years after a life-altering health diagnosis, global icon Céline Dion has delighted fans by announcing a return to the stage. The “Queen of Power Ballads” will perform a special 10-night engagement at the Paris La Défense Arena this summer, marking her first live performances since 2020.

After months of extensive restoration, the Paris Catacombs have reopened to the public. The new route features upgraded climate control to protect the historic ossuary and a new scenography that highlights the archaeological history of the millions interred beneath the city streets.

Paris has successfully swapped thousands of car lanes for bike paths, but the transformation hasn’t been without friction. Pedestrians and motorists alike are reporting increased “road rage” incidents as the city’s infrastructure struggles to keep pace with the sheer volume of new cyclists reclaiming the boulevards.

While Paris remains a bastion for socialist and green policies, the latest local election results reveal a deepening divide between the capital and the rest of the country. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally has seen a significant boost, capitalizing on public anger over pension reforms and rising inflation in provincial France.

In a historic diplomatic shift, French officials have signaled an openness to discussing reparations for the colonial era. Following meetings between President Macron and Ghanaian representatives, the talks have expanded to include the return of looted artifacts and addressing structural economic inequities rooted in the 19th century.

The debate over laïcité (secularism) has intensified following a new directive from the Education Ministry. The move, which specifically targets long traditional robes in classrooms, is framed by the government as a necessary step to protect the neutral environment of public education, though it has sparked renewed protests across the Paris suburbs.

In a significant shift for the French capital, Emmanuel Grégoire has officially taken the mantle of Mayor. Arriving at the Hôtel de Ville on a bicycle to symbolize his commitment to “Green Urbanism,” Grégoire promised to continue the radical transformation of Paris’s streets while focusing on “absolute moral rigour” and affordable housing

As global energy markets reel from the latest tensions in the Middle East, President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened a 51-nation summit in Paris this week. The leaders issued a joint statement demanding the “unconditional reopening” of the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that international trade routes cannot be subject to unilateral tolls or military blockades.