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What is Fête de La Musique, France's annual solstice celebration?

What is Fête de La Musique, France's annual solstice celebration?

Yahoo21-06-2025
When the Summer Solstice arrives on Saturday, millions of people across France will attend the impromptu street concerts of 'Fête de La Musique' hosted by restaurants, bars, museums and even libraries — a French summer tradition for more than 40 years now.
The Summer Solstice of June 21— the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere — also heralds France's beloved music festival, the Fête de la Musique, which is marking its 44th year.
Amid the heat, streets, bars, restaurants, gardens, museums and even libraries across France will host thousands of concerts for one night only.
From classical to techno to jazz and rap, the line-up features a mix of renowned artists and bands, including La Femme, Romain Pissenem, Major Lazer Sound System, and Abd al Malik — some of the many artists that will perform at the Olympic Cauldron, which will be re-lit for the first time since the Olympic Games.
Read moreA year after Olympics, Paris to party like it's 2024
In every corner of the city, artists from around the globe — from Brazil to Cambodia — will be present, bringing music for every taste.
Millions have attended in previous years, with some traveling from outside of France to join the festivities.
Read more on FRANCE 24 EnglishRead also:'Nuit Blanche': Art after dark in Paris's beloved all-night festivalChallenging the cowboy myth: Paris show revisits Richard Avedon's iconic 'In the American West'
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The return of Paul Pogba – no vengeance, no regret, but the hard work starts now at Monaco
The return of Paul Pogba – no vengeance, no regret, but the hard work starts now at Monaco

New York Times

timean hour ago

  • New York Times

The return of Paul Pogba – no vengeance, no regret, but the hard work starts now at Monaco

Paul Pogba is back — but not as you know him. Six hundred and sixty-nine days after his last appearance as a professional footballer — and following a shortened doping ban — the 32-year-old French midfielder was presented as a Monaco player on Thursday. When Pogba rejoined Manchester United for a then-world record €110million (£94.7m; $130m at current rates) fee in 2016, the Premier League side announced his signing with the hashtag #POGBACK across social media platforms. One video showed a hooded figure holding a ball before revealing himself to be Pogba, a red devil shaved into his dyed blonde hair. Another from Adidas featured him dancing to Stormzy lyrics. Advertisement The announcement of his Monaco signing was very different. There was some of Pogba's usual bravado in a video entitled 'La Renaissance' — rebirth — which showed his face being carved into a rockface, Mount Rushmore style. He joked around while holding a pickaxe, a reference to the literal translation of his nickname 'la pioche' — a joker, in Pogba's case. French fans once serenaded him as that after their 2018 World Cup win. But the clip that went viral was far more private. It showed Pogba fighting back tears as he signed his new Monaco deal, with the club's chief executive Thiago Scuro watching on. 'Thanks for the trust,' Pogba says in English, once he has regained some of his composure. 🥹 — AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) June 28, 2025 What was going through his head in that moment? 'It's true you saw a lot of emotion. It's very rare to see me cry like that, so I hope you enjoyed it,' Pogba said with a laugh at his Monaco presentation. 'A lot of images came into my head. The story of doping, injuries and so on, to come back and sign for a club that believed in me. All that came back when I was signing the contract. I couldn't hold back. It was a moment of joy, too, and that was important for me. A lot of determination, but also a lot of joy.' Some things never change with Pogba. He still attracts media attention like almost no other player, silencing Monaco's packed press room as soon as he walked in. He also commands the same respect from fellow pros. Just look at the love heart emojis posted under that video of him crying by former team-mates such as Raphael Varane and Paulo Dybala. Or how fellow Monaco signings Eric Dier and Ansu Fati spoke about him in their presentations on Thursday. Dier called his arrival a 'great thing for the club and for the league', while Fati said he had admired Pogba since he was a kid at Barcelona's academy. Advertisement Pogba said he still likes dancing, haircuts and nice clothes. He spoke of his wish for his three kids to celebrate one of his goals with a 'dab' (below, with Jesse Lingard), a reminder of a bygone era when he had the world at his feet. He laughed and joked with reporters while speaking of the importance of living in the present. But it was hard to believe him when he said he was 'the same Paul Pogba, but with another, maybe bigger determination'. After all, so much has happened since that return to United, the club he once joined as a youngster from French side Le Havre. He lifted the Europa League and the League Cup in that second spell at Old Trafford but often incurred fans' wrath for mixed performances. Then there was an ill-fated return to Juventus, where he made just 10 appearances in his first season back, even before the doping ban, due to repeated injuries. Off the pitch, that sanction capped an extremely turbulent few years. In 2022, Pogba was the victim of an extortion attempt by his brother Mathias, who was handed a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty in December 2024. Then, in February 2024, Pogba received a four-year suspension for a failed doping test the previous August, seemingly marking the end of his elite career at 30. His last game before that ban was a 2-0 win for Juventus against Empoli in September 2023. The test, carried out after a game against Udinese the month before, detected testosterone not produced in the body. At the time, Pogba said he felt 'sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me' and vowed to clear his name. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) eventually ruled he had ingested the substance dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) unintentionally after 'erroneously' taking a supplement prescribed by a Florida doctor. According to CAS, he had claimed to treat 'several high-level U.S. and international athletes' and had assured Pogba he would be 'mindful' of his anti-doping obligations. Pogba accepted he had committed a strict liability offence and, in October, his ban was cut to 18 months, meaning he could return to training in January this year and play competitively again in March. The question was: where? Even playing again did not seem guaranteed when he had his Juventus contract terminated by mutual agreement in November. Advertisement 'It's true there were moments or times of doubt when in my head there was an angel and devil, let's say: 'Are you going to return, maybe not, maybe it's finished',' Pogba said. 'It was difficult at times. But my family, above all my wife, pushed me (by saying), 'You're going to return, you're going to be back on the pitch'. There were always people around me who (said), 'No, Paul, this will pass'.' What was his day-to-day life like? 'Dropping the kids off at school,' he said with a smile. 'I was a very present dad. And after that, I'd go to training and then pick the kids up from school. I spent a lot of time with my family and training. When I travelled, I travelled with my trainer, and I tried not to go three days without training. Because I told myself that it (signing for a club) could happen at any time. I always had this positive thought in my head that I wanted to get back on the pitch.' Monaco presented an enticing project to Pogba, who has never played professionally for a team in France's leagues. Scuro, their CEO, spoke of the midfielder's experience and mentality, referring to Pogba's desire to return to the France squad for next summer's World Cup. But Scuro urged caution, too, explaining how Monaco are implementing a specialised three-month plan to get Pogba up to speed again. The midfielder expressed his desire to play in their opening Ligue 1 game against his boyhood side Le Havre on the weekend of August 17, before Scuro knocked that down in his separate briefing with reporters. 'There's nothing 100 per cent but I can guarantee you he's not able to be on the pitch against Le Havre, he was probably joking,' Scuro said. 'This has to be something very outstanding to happen. 'He was training by himself. In terms of load and intensity, it's very hard to reproduce being in an environment of a top club. It's a team sport, it's very hard for you to have 20 guys on the same level as you, challenging you in terms of intensity and technical decision-making. 'It's about building him physically first, then step by step going onto the pitch, getting used to the load of training and the intensity of our training sessions. The last stage of the building-up is to be able to train with the group, then you can increase the load.' The only apparent needle from Pogba came when he answered a question in Italian about his old side, Juventus. 'Juve is still in my heart,' he said. 'Lots of things happened. Some things were good, others less good. Andrea Agnelli (the former Juventus chairman) sent me text messages, that was support. When I didn't receive it, that was different. I've always loved Juve, I will always love them, but the past is the past. I don't want to talk about a war, there's no war.' Advertisement He declined to speak about other offers he received, saying, 'I don't regret anything'. And there was a similar, Edith Piaf-like sentiment when he was asked whether he was vengeful about his experience since that failed doping test. 'I'm not vengeful, I'm grateful because it helped me to grow, it helped me see real life, what can happen in life,' he said. 'I've got no revenge to take out on anyone, I'm just happy to be back on the pitch and do what I enjoy the most in the world.' Time will tell if he can return to the smiling Pogba of old there, too.

Sofía Vergara Embraces Summer Florals in a Flouncy Sundress
Sofía Vergara Embraces Summer Florals in a Flouncy Sundress

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Sofía Vergara Embraces Summer Florals in a Flouncy Sundress

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Sofía Vergara's summer fashion is in bloom. On Wednesday, the actor stepped out in Madrid, Spain, to celebrate her skincare and beauty line, Toty. Attending a presentation for the brand at the city's Four Seasons Hotel, Vergara looked like the essence of summer in an airy white chiffon midi dress featuring a melange of burnt-orange and red flowers. The floral patterned dress featured a plunging strapless neckline adorned with little ruffles, while a knotted scarf-like detail accented the waist above the design's flared skirt. The floral look wasn't the only outfit Vergara showcased at the Toty celebration. After her presentation—where she spoke to a room full of fans, consumers, and artists about her brand's products and new launches—the actor brought the party, transforming the room in a salsa dance club with live music and pink Toty-inspired cocktails. For the festive portion of the event, the Modern Family alum changed into an elegant ivory gown from bridal designer Nicole and Felicia Couture's Fall/Winter 2025 collection. The strapless dress featured a sweetheart neckline and a puckered, voluminous midi skirt. Vergara posed for photos, danced, and toasted in the dress, which she paired with strappy silver heels. Vergara's Toty celebration comes just days after the star spent a luxurious weekend on the new Ritz-Carlton Collection superyacht. While onboard the majestic floating resort, Vergara partied and lounged with a string of notable VIPs, including Kendall Jenner, Martha Stewart, Noami Campbell, Kate Hudson, and Ricky Martin. In an Instagram post from the luxe getaway, the actor can be seen dancing the night away in a Versace bodycon dress printed with summer-themed motifs, while enjoying a live Ellie Goulding performance and a lavish dinner. 'What a perfect weekend full of surprises! ❤️ gracias! luv u,' she captioned the post tagging Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. You Might Also Like 4 Investment-Worthy Skincare Finds From Sephora The 17 Best Retinol Creams Worth Adding to Your Skin Care Routine

Sofia Vergara Pairs Her Plunging Floral Dress With Sky-High Platforms
Sofia Vergara Pairs Her Plunging Floral Dress With Sky-High Platforms

Yahoo

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Sofia Vergara Pairs Her Plunging Floral Dress With Sky-High Platforms

Sofia Vergara wore a plunging floral dress at an event in Madrid, Spain on July 2, 2025. The actress accessorized with diamond pavé jewelry. Last month, Vergara shared a never-before-seen nude photo on her Vergara made the case for florals at an event celebrating her beauty brand, Toty, on Wednesday. The actress touched down in Madrid, Spain wearing a plunging silk mididress by AMUR. Vergara accessorized with nude open-toe platforms, completing her look with a matching diamond pavé bangle and ring. She wore her brunette tresses in waves, while her makeup consisted of brown eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, berry blush, and a muted mauve lip. Last month, the Modern Family star shared a never-before-seen nude photo on her Instagram, posting a series of snaps from her 2015 Vanity Fair photoshoot. "#tbt," Vergara wrote in the caption. In one picture, Vergara poses naked in a bathtub as renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz shoots her from above, while in another, she gets her hair done while wearing a leopard print bikini. The actress recently spoke about life as a single woman on the Today show. Sitting down with host Jenna Bush Hager, Vergara revealed what she's looking for in her next relationship. She was married to actor Joe Manganiello from 2015 to 2024. 'I want to say the basic stuff, like health and somebody that loves me,' Vergara said of her dream man. 'And somebody tall, handsome. I want somebody that has as much money as me or more, because if not, it's a nightmare. They end up resenting you.' Vergara also said she wants "somebody fun." "I need fun in my life," she added. The Emmy nominee explained the prospect of dating was scary after splitting with Manganiello, who is best known for his role in HBO's True Blood. 'I've been single now for a year and a half, and I kind of panicked once I got divorced,' she revealed. 'I was like, 'I'm 52, what's gonna happen? Where am I going to find [someone]?'' Read the original article on InStyle

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