
Sarkozy's son signs up for French far-right magazine
The first contribution from Louis Sarkozy, 27, is set to appear in a relaunched edition of the magazine on Wednesday and will be devoted to "the values of the right".
"He's ebullient, cultured, creative: it's the perfect combination for a column at the end of the magazine," director Tugdual Denis told AFP.
Valeurs Actuelles, which is hoping to shed its association with the far-right, backed virulently anti-Islam politician Eric Zemmour in France's 2022 presidential election and regularly focuses on immigration and crime.
Louis Sarkozy, born to Sarkozy's second wife Cecilia Attias, spent most of his childhood in the United States but has appeared on French television recently as a commentator on American politics.
He raised eyebrows with a speech last month at a meeting in Paris of the youth wing of his father's Les Républicains party - and was invited to Donald Trump's inauguration as US president in Washington last week.
Nicolas Sarkozy, who is now married to former supermodel Carla Bruni, remains mired in legal problems since his single 2007-2012 term in office.
Already convicted in two cases, he is currently on trial over allegations he and his entourage conspired with late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi to receive millions of euros in illegal campaign financing.
Sarkozy's eldest son Pierre has become a DJ and hip hop producer, while his second son Jean briefly entered politics before becoming embroiled in a favouritism scandal.
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Euronews
43 minutes ago
- Euronews
Celebrities react to Trump immigration raids in LA
A small marble sculpture by French artist Auguste Rodin, which was long thought to be a copy, has fetched €860,000 at an auction in France, at the Château de Villandry (Indre-et-Loire), according to the website of the Rouillac auction house. 'Le Désespoir' ('Despair'), a variation on the famous 'Porte de l'Enfer' ('The Gates of Hell'), was produced around 1892. It depicts a woman hugging her knees and holding her foot. It had disappeared after being sold at an auction in 1906, and its owners had it sitting on a piano in their home, believing it was a replica. After a six-week investigation, they were informed of its authenticity. French auctioneer Aymeric Rouillac told AFP that he went to the Comité Rodin in March and the body, considered to be the leading authority on the French sculptor, confirmed it was not a fake after much research and a genealogical survey. Rouillac described the 28.5cm marble as an 'extremely rare' find. "We have rediscovered it," he added. And sold it for nearly one million dollars to an anonymous American buyer. Following Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles, artists have been speaking out against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation raids and offering support to protestors in LA. As reported by Euronews, Trump deployed another 2,100 National Guard members and 700 US Marines, in what the authorities have dubbed Task Force 51 meant to "provide continuous coverage of the area" as unrest in Los Angeles continues. Many celebrities posted messages on social media supporting the protestors and criticising the National Guard's deployment, including Eva Longoria and Mark Ruffalo. Longoria took to Instagram to express her frustration and described the actions as 'Un-American', while Ruffalo shared a lengthy message to Instagram with the caption: "When you have working class people going after the poor and other working class people you know you are living in an oligarchy." He added: "The billionaire up at the top is stealing you blind, and you are worried about the poorest of the poor ruining your life? You are pointing your guns in the wrong direction... The president is a grifter." Ruffalo's post went viral, racking up to 200,000 likes—including from other celebrities, including Jennifer Garner and Halle Berry. Une publication partagée par Mark Ruffalo (@markruffalo) Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong posted a scene from one of the LA protests to his Instagram over the weekend, which he captioned with a middle finger emoji and an ice cube emoji, while Tyler, The Creator wrote on his Instagram Story: 'FUCK ICE.' Singer and actress Reneé Rapp also condemned ICE's actions, writing: 'Fuck ICE fuck this administration fuck all of yall who are complicit in ensuring that this happened this is a fucking disgrace.' One of the most notable reactions came from Oscar-winning singer-songwriter Finneas, brother of Billie Eilish, who attended the 'very peaceful protests' himself and claimed to have been teargassed by authorities. 'Tear-gassed almost immediately at the very peaceful protest downtown. They're inciting this,' he wrote on Instagram. Finneas also reposted a clip that appeared to show a reporter, Lauren Tomasi, being shot in the leg with a rubber bullet by law enforcement while she was reporting from the scene. Elsewhere, Grammy-winning rapper Doechii spoke out against the immigration raids in Los Angeles at the 2025 BET Awards last night. During her speech, Doechii said that though she was 'honoured' by the award, she wanted to 'address what is happening right now outside of the building'. 'There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order,' she continued, citing Trump's deployment of the National Guard. 'Trump is using military forces to stop a protest,' Doechii added. 'I want you all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that?' The heated situation has also prompted a fierce political backlash. Governor Gavin Newsom took to X to announce his plans to sue the federal government over the National Guard deployment, calling it 'an unconstitutional act.' "This is exactly what Donald Trump wanted. He flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard. The order he signed doesn't just apply to CA (California). It will allow him to go into ANY STATE and do the same thing. We're suing him." Tom Felton has ignited fierce debate online after voicing support for Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling during an interview with Variety at the 2025 Tony Awards. The 37-year-old actor, best known for his decade-long portrayal of Draco Malfoy in the film franchise and set to reprise the role on Broadway in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, was asked about his stance on the controversy surrounding Rowling's views on transgender rights. 'I'm not really that attuned. The only thing I always remind myself is that I've been lucky enough to travel the world. Here I am in New York. And I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter, and she's responsible for that. So I'm incredibly grateful.' His comments have sparked a wave of differing reactions - while some applauded him for what they called a 'classy response,' others condemned it as 'atrocious,' 'spineless,' and 'disappointing.' 'Thank goodness someone in that franchise learned not to bite the hand that feeds him,' one user wrote on X. Another added, 'Who would have thought Draco would be the most level-headed.' However, many feel let down by his comments. 'This is what privilege looks like, and we shouldn't ignore how much harm looking the other way because things don't affect us directly does,' one declared. Another said: 'That's the problem ain't it, people not caring about issues that don't 'impact them'.' Since 2020, the once-widely celebrated J.K. Rowling has alienated and angered many fans through her contentious online comments regarding gender identity and trans rights - including her claim that trans women 'are not women' and her refusal to use people's preferred pronouns - writing that she would 'rather go to jail' than do so. Critics have labelled her a 'TERF' (trans-exclusionary radical feminist), a term Rowling has since embraced publicly. Her remarks prompted the three lead actors of the original film franchise - Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint - to publicly distance themselves from her. Radcliffe told The Atlantic last year that her views 'make me really sad,' adding: 'Because I do look at the person that I met, the times that we met, and the books that she wrote, and the world that she created, and all of that is to me so deeply empathic.' Watson has expressed her support for the trans community, saying: "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are." Grint echoed this sentiment: "I firmly stand with the trans community... Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgement." Rowling has made it clear she won't forgive the actors who publicly disagreed with her. 'Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights... can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces,' she wrote on X. Meanwhile, the wizarding world of Harry Potter continues to expand. A new HBO reboot series is in the works, with Rowling on board as an executive producer. The casting for the central trio was announced last month, with Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout set to play Harry, Hermione, and Ron, respectively. Over 30,000 children auditioned for the roles in an open casting call last year. They will join a stacked supporting cast including six-time Emmy-winning actor John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Luke Thallon as Professor Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse as caretaker Argus Filch. New additions were also revealed early this week: Johnny Flynn will portray Lucius Malfoy, with rising star Lox Pratt as Draco. The Morning Show's Bel Powley and BAFTA-winner Daniel Rigby will play Petunia and Vernon Dursley, while Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd) will take on the role of Molly Weasley. Despite continued controversy around Rowling's public statements, HBO has stood by her involvement in the project: 'J.K. Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.'


Euronews
an hour ago
- Euronews
Guterres urges countries to join ocean pact before point of no return
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If it comes into force, the treaty would be the first legally binding international agreement to protect biodiversity on the high seas, which cover nearly two-thirds of the world's oceans. It is considered vital to counter overfishing, end plastic pollution, regulate seabed mining, and meet the global '30 by 30' conservation goal, which aims to protect 30 per cent of the planet's oceans by 2030. Stressing the urgency, Guterres also reminded delegates that climate change goals cannot be ignored. "Last year, for the first time, the annual global temperature was 1.5 degrees Celsius hotter than pre-industrial times. Scientists are clear that that does not mean that the long-term global temperature rise limit of 1.5 degrees is out of reach," he said. "It means we need to fight harder. And the ocean depends on it, and so do we." Eighteen countries ratified the treaty on Monday, bringing the total to 49, just 11 short of the 60 needed for the ocean agreement to enter into force. The surge in support adds momentum to what could become a historic shift in how the world governs the open ocean. The French Senate overwhelmingly backed a new bill designed to regulate low-cost clothing giants on Tuesday, mainly targeting Chinese e-commerce platforms Shein and Temu. The text aims to tackle the environmental and economic consequences of fast fashion, a model that thrives on mass production and low prices. The legislation introduces an eco-score system that will evaluate the environmental impact of products sold by fast fashion companies, including emissions, resource use, and recyclability. Brands with the lowest scores could be taxed up to €5 per item starting in 2025, increasing to €10 by 2030. However, the tax cannot exceed 50% of the item's retail price. It also includes a ban on advertising for ultra-fast fashion brands and sanctions for influencers who promote them online. While the bill takes aim at ultra-fast fashion platforms like Shein and Temu, it notably spares major European players such as Zara, H&M, and Kiabi from the harshest penalties. Environmental groups have criticised the revised bill for what they see as a weakened ambition. 'It's a missed opportunity,' said Pierre Condamine, campaign manager at Friends of the Earth France. 'We've got a text that's going to target two brands and therefore leave out what represents at least 90% of production and clothing sold in France. So it's a missed opportunity. We could have a real environmental ambition. We are very disappointed because, in the end, we can see that it's economic protection that has become the major driving force behind this bill. In contrast, at its beginning, there was an ambition to move the sector towards more sustainable practices," he told Euronews. But some French lawmakers argue the bill needs to protect European industries first. 'Unfortunately, we have no choice,' said conservative Senator Sylvie Valente Le Hir. 'Today, we still have to defend what's left of our European industries. We have to make a distinction between the production that's done in China by these giants. We're talking about scales that are 100 times larger than us. So we're preserving European and French industries for the time being, because if we don't, there will be nothing left," she told Euronews. Shein spokesperson Quentin Ruffat responded to the bill earlier this week, warning that the text could "impact the purchasing power" of French consumers. Between 2010 and 2023, the value of advertised fast fashion products in France rose from €2.3 billion to €3.2 billion. In France, 35 clothing items are discarded every second, according to the country's environment agency Ademe. The Senate passed the bill with 337 votes in favour and only one against. The text will now move to a joint committee of senators and deputies in September. The European Commission will also need to be notified to ensure the bill complies with EU regulations. If passed, it would mark one of the most aggressive legislative efforts in Europe to address the toll of fast fashion, though its ultimate impact remains to be seen.


France 24
2 hours ago
- France 24
Man-in-demand Woodkid composes for Death Stranding sequel
The author of hit 2013 debut album "The Golden Age", who has previously worked with Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey, has produced dozens of hours of music for the Japanese-made action-adventure title. "The main challenge is creating procedural music -- music that evolves with the player, depending on their actions. And yet, still writing pop songs with vocals," Woodkid, whose real name is Yoann Lemoine, told AFP. "You have to unfold the songs almost like origami, turn them into versions that last several hours, which are then condensed and reprogrammed by developers," he explained. A longtime video game enthusiast, Lemoine calls it a "completely different approach" from scoring a film or writing a conventional album. An album of 16 tracks taken from the game is set to be released on Friday, titled "Woodkid for Death Stranding 2". They include a collaboration with American actress Elle Fanning, who appears in the game, and another with Bryce Dessner, guitarist of indie rock band The National. Impressionistic Woodkid -- who said playing video games was "an escape" during his youth -- said he jumped at the chance of working with legendary "Death Stranding" creator Hideo Kojima. Kojima's work in the 1990s, particularly the original "Metal Gear Solid", left a mark on Woodkid. The pair met in 2020 through a mutual friend. Kojima had already used one of Woodkid's tracks in the first "Death Stranding", a celebrity-packed adventure game that sees players act as couriers in a post-apocalyptic world. The first one was set in the United States, while the second takes place in disaster-struck Mexico and Australia. As well as a debut from Fanning, the sequel again includes actors Norman Reedus ("The Walking Dead") and Lea Seydoux ("No Time to Die") who play the main characters. "We connected quickly, I think because we share common fantasies," Woodkid said of his collaboration with Kojima, which involved several months of immersion in Tokyo. "There's a darkness in us — dreamlike, fanciful, sometimes deeply melancholic — that bonds us." Man in demand Their work was "very impressionistic," Woodkid explained. "We start with fragments: percussion, beats, textures, vocal sketches I might try. He brings scenes and characters he describes to me, and we build everything together like a ping-pong exchange," he added. "Unlike a film, I didn't actually compose much to picture — it's more like thematic background music." His skills as a composer and director have seen him called on by Taylor Swift for her video for "Back to December", Lana Del Rey for "Blue Jeans" and "Born to Die", and Katy Perry for "Teenage Dream". Woodkid also directed French classical musician Mylene Farmer's most recent album, "L'Emprise" (2022), co-writing seven tracks. For "Death Stranding 2", he worked with pianist Yvan Cassar, a long-time collaborator of the singer. "I like staying in the shadows. I'm not a star. I believe in the works more than the artists, so I prefer focusing on the things I create," he said. Asked whether he appears in Kojima's game himself, he lets the question hang, but can't help smiling. "Death Stranding 2" will be available from June 26. © 2025 AFP