Page 2 - Paris

Jane Birkin's original Hermes bag sells at auction for 7 million euros

Sketched out on an air sickness bag, the first Birkin bag that gave birth to fashion's must-have accessory sold for a record 7 million euros (about $8.2 million) at auction in Paris on Thursday. The huge amount which drew gasps and applause from the audience crushed what auctioneer Sotheby's had said was the previous record for a handbag. That was $513,040, for a White Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Retourne Kelly 28. Now, the original Birkin bag, named after the actor, singer and fashion icon that Herms created it for the late Jane Birkin is in a new league of its own. The bidding started at 1 million euros ($1.17 million) and quickly became stratospheric. The Paris fashion house exclusively commissioned the bag for the London-born star in 1984 branding it with her initials J.B. on the front flap, below the lock and delivered the finished one-of-a-kind bag to her the following year, the auction house said. The subsequent commercialized version of Birkin's bag went on

Joyful Parisians take first legal plunge into Seine in over 100 years

Cries of It is warm! rang out across the Seine on Saturday morning as Parisians jumped into the river legally for the first time in more than 100 years. Public swimming was allowed in designated areas of the Seine, including two newly built wooden decks near the Eiffel Tower and the Ile Saint-Louis in central Paris. Before sunrise, a municipal officer skimmed away the last few patches of algae with a fishnet. Soon after, a line of eager Parisians formed, towels in hand, waiting for their chance to jump in. Woos and cries of joy echoed across the riverbanks as the first swimmers entered the emerald-green water. Every swimmer wore a bright yellow lifebuoy tied around their waist, part of strict safety measures enforced by a dozen lifeguards in high-visibility vests. The current was weak, just enough to tug gently at their limbs a reminder that this is still a living, urban river. It's so nice to swim in the heart of the city, especially with the high temperatures we've been having

24 Million Green Jobs by 2030: Here’s How to Get One

In this episode of Manager’s Mantra, Dr. Miniya Chatterji, CEO of Sustain Labs Paris, shares how sustainability is reshaping careers and why B-school grads should take note.

Over 140 pricked with needles at France's World Music Day celebrations

Paris prosecutors said three separate investigations had been opened after a 15-year-old girl, an 18-year-old male, and a third individual reported being pricked in different areas of the city

Neeraj Chopra beats Germany's Weber to win Paris Diamond League title

Indian javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra won his first Diamond League title in two years as he upstaged Julian Weber of Germany after back-to-back second place finishes here on Friday. The 27-year-old Chopra won the title with his first round throw of 88.16m in a star-studded field having five competitors in the 90m club. His second throw measured 85.10m and he then fouled his next three attempts before recording 82.89m in his sixth and final effort. Weber was second with his opening throw of 87.88m, while Luiz Mauricio Da Silva of Brazil was third with his third round attempt of 86.62m. Chopra had breached the 90m mark in the Doha leg of the Diamond League on May 16 with a throw of 90.23m for a second place finish. Weber had won the title in Doha with his last round throw of 91.06m. The 31-year-old Weber had also beaten Chopra at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet on May 23 in Poland where both performed below their best under chilly and overcast conditions. Weber had produced 86.12

Air India cancels Delhi-Paris flight amid technical snag, wider disruptions

Air India cancels multiple international services, including to Paris, London, and Mumbai, due to technical issues, safety checks, and airspace restrictions

Jaishankar discusses global rebalancing with Paris strategic community

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday discussed global rebalancing that is currently underway and the promise of a strong India-Europe partnership with the strategic community here. Jaishankar also visited France's National Library at Paris and saw classical Indian manuscripts and texts in their collection and discussed with its president the opportunities for greater collaboration on heritage conservation. A pleasure interacting with the strategic community in Paris today. Discussed global rebalancing underway, the growing importance of data, technology & energy, and the promise of a strong India-Europe partnership, the external affairs minister posted on X. Pleased to visit @laBnF, Paris. Saw classical India manuscripts and texts in their collection. Was a reminder of the depth of Indology in France. Also discussed with President, BNF @GillesPecout opportunities for greater collaboration on heritage conservation, Jaishankar said in another post. On Friday, ...

Star items and Zero-G flight on offer at Artcurial's Paris charity auction

Scheduled for June 18 at Le Bourget, the Paris auction will raise funds for Aviation Without Borders' hospital-plane project with rare collectibles, flight experiences, and celeb donations

2 dead, 550 held after PSG's Champions League win leads to chaos in France

Celebrations in French capital take a chaotic turn after PSG secures a 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final

France to ban smoking in public spaces where kids are present from July 1

Starting July 1, France will ban smoking in public spaces like parks, beaches, and bus stops to protect children's health; violators may face fines up to 135 euros ($154)

Le Pen supporters rally in Paris, making it a populist show of force

Convicted of embezzling public funds and banned from running for office, far-right politician Marine Le Pen stood unshaken before a sea of French flags in Paris on Sunday. For 30 years I have fought against injustice, she told the crowd. And I will continue to fight. Thousands of supporters gathered at Place Vauban, near the golden dome of Les Invalides and the tomb of Napoleon, for what was billed as a protest but observers said it had all the markings of a campaign rally. The National Rally, Le Pen's party, organized the event in response to what it calls a politically motivated verdict. But with chants of Marine Prsidente! and They won't steal 2027 from us, the message was clear: this was more than a protest. It was a show of populist defiance aimed squarely at France's institutions. At the heart of that charge stood Jordan Bardella, Le Pen's 29-year-old protg and president of the National Rally. His speech was fiery, accusing France's judges of trying to silence the ...

Deepika Padukone oozes vintage glam at Paris Fashion Week 2025-fans react

Deepika Padukone, a Bollywood actress and worldwide ambassador, wore a timeless Louis Vuitton outfit to the Louis Vuitton Show during Paris Fashion Week on Monday

AI Action Summit in Paris calls for human-centric approach towards AI use

With a focus on safety, and security, the summit called for urgent action to address inequalities and support capacity-building in developing countries

PM Modi meets US VP JD Vance, wife Usha and their kids in Paris

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US Vice President J D Vance and his Indian-origin wife along with their two young sons on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit here. PM Modi posted images of the Tuesday meeting on X, showing the Vance family including their sons Ewan and Vivek with the PM. The Prime Minister's post read: Had a wonderful meeting with US VP J.D. Vance and his family. We had a great conversation on various subjects. "Delighted to join them in celebrating the joyous birthday of their son, Vivek! Vance also took to social media to thank "gracious and kind" Modi as he referenced gifts the prime minister offered to his kids. "Prime Minister Modi was gracious and kind, and our kids really enjoyed the gifts. I'm grateful to him for the wonderful conversation," he said. Earlier, in a video shared by PMO India, the Prime Minister was seen holding bilateral talks with Vance, while his wife Usha watched on. It came soon after Vance's address at the summit, in which he welcom

Macron unveils $112.5 bn AI investment to boost France's tech ambitions

French President Emmanuel Macron compared this initiative to the $500-billion AI data centre project announced by US President Donald Trump last month

Paris AI summit draws world leaders, CEOs eager for technology wave

Eagerness to rein in AI has waned since previous AI summits in Britain and South Korea that focused world powers' attention on technology's risks

Trump's AI ambition, China's DeepSeek overshadow AI summit in Paris

The geopolitics of artificial intelligence will be in focus at a major summit in France where world leaders, executives and experts will hammer out pledges on guiding the development of the rapidly advancing technology. It's the latest in a series of global dialogues around AI governance, but one that comes at a fresh inflection point as China's buzzy and budget-friendly DeepSeek chatbot shakes up the industry. US Vice President JD Vance making his first trip abroad since taking office will attend the Paris AI Action Summit starting Feb 10, while China's President Xi Jinping will be sending his special envoy, signalling high stakes for the meeting. Here's a breakdown: Summit basics Heads of state and top government officials, tech bosses and researchers are gathering in Paris for the two-day summit cohosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The event aims to address how to harness artificial intelligence's potential so that it benefits

PM Modi to co-chair AI Summit with France on February 11 in Paris

PM Modi will co-chair the upcoming Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron with global leaders such as US Vice President JD Vance and China's Vice PM

Trump supporters who stormed US Capitol begin to leave prison after pardon

Donald Trump is ushering in a Golden Age for people that break the law and attempt to overthrow the government

Jean-Marie Le Pen, co-founder of French far-right front, dies at 96

Jean-Marie Le Pen, co-founder of France's far-right National Front, has died at 96, Sebastien Chenu, a senior party official, said Tuesday. A polarising figure in French politics, Le Pen was known for his fiery rhetoric against immigration and multiculturalism that earned him both staunch supporters and widespread condemnation. His controversial statements, including Holocaust denial, led to multiple convictions and strained his political alliances. Le Pen, who once reached the second round of the 2002 presidential election, was eventually estranged from his daughter, Marine Le Pen. In 2011, she rebranded the party to shed its demonised image and expand its electoral appeal, culminating in her own presidential successes. It is now called the National Rally. Despite his exclusion from the party in 2015, Le Pen's divisive legacy endures, marking decades of French political history and shaping the trajectory of the far-right.