France

New coronavirus cases drop sharply in France’s second week of lockdown

New coronavirus infections and hospital admissions for COVID-19 dropped sharply at the end of the second week of a new nationwide confinement in France, health ministry data showed on Friday.…

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Nice church attack and teacher’s beheading are linked

The man suspected of knifing to death three people in a church in the French city of Nice had on his telephone pictures of the man who beheaded a middle…

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Five years after Paris attacks, France back on maximum alert

Five years after a squad of Islamist killers waged the deadliest attack during peacetime in modern-day France, Prime Minister Jean Castex on Friday paid tribute to those killed, with the…

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Macron hails chance to “make our planet great again” after Biden win

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday welcomed the prospect of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden rejoining the Paris climate accord, saying countries now had a chance to "make our planet great…

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France extends lockdown for two more weeks

French Prime Minister Jean Castex said there would be no easing for at least two weeks of the country's second COVID-19 lockdown, with the number of people in hospital with…

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French PM says now is not the time to relax COVID measures

It is not the right time to relax restrictions imposed upon France to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, French Prime Minister Jean Castex told Le Monde newspaper in an interview published…

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France’s Le Maire: I want to save Christmas for shopkeepers

French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday the crucial Christmas season for businesses and shopkeepers could be saved, provided people stick to strict guidelines under the current lockdown…

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New cases of coronavirus in France overtake Russia

France reported 35,879 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, taking the total to 1.86 million, overtaking Russia and making France the worst affected country in the European region. With a total…

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Macron and Merkel urge for Schengen reform

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was urgently necessary for Europe to reform the open-border Schengen area in light of recent terrorist attacks. "I want to mention the entry-exit system…

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Paris prosecutor advances criminal investigation into COVID-19 crisis handling

A criminal investigation into whether the public officials who orchestrated France's response to the COVID-19 crisis committed offences including manslaughter and endangering lives will be split into four inquiries, the…

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French minister, in Cairo, affirms respect for Islam in dispute over cartoons

The French foreign minister asserted his country’s “profound respect for Islam” during a visit to Cairo on Sunday in a dispute with the Muslim world over France’s defence of the…

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France Covid-19 death-toll surpasses 40,000

The total number of deaths in France from COVID-19 has topped 40,000 for the first time while the number of new cases hit a fresh record, health ministry data showed. New…

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French PM vows to fight radical Islam

French Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Saturday the government would keep "fighting relentlessly" against radical Islam as he paid tribute to the three victims of a knife attack in…

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Photo Story: Ceremony for the victims of knife attack in Nice

Notre-Dame de l'Assomption Basilica's Priest Franklin Parmentier (R) carries a portrait of Vincent Loques during a ceremony on Saturday for the victims of the recent attack at Notre-Dame de Nice…

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France posts record 60,486 new coronavirus cases

France registered a record 60,486 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday, after posting a record 58,046 on Thursday, health ministry data showed. The new cases took the total number of…

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Paris bans nighttime food and drink delivery to tackle worsening COVID-19 crisis

Paris will ban delivery and takeaway services for prepared food and alcohol between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. from Friday to limit the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected…

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France places parts of country on high alert for bird flu

France is putting part of the country on high alert for bird flu after cases of the disease were reported in western Europe since last month, the government announced on…

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New headache for France, parts of country put on high alert for bird flu

France is putting part of the country on high alert for bird flu after cases of the disease were reported in western Europe since last month, the government announced on…

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Paris mayor Hidalgo: COVID restrictions to be widened in Paris

Paris will be placed under more restrictions to curb the worsening COVID-19 pandemic, including a requirement for more shops to close in the evening, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told BFM…

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France’s COVID-19 deaths rise by almost 1,000

France’s daily COVID-19 death toll spiked by 854 on Tuesday, an increase unseen since April 15, while the number of people hospitalised for the disease went up by more than…

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Police arrest man armed with machete in Paris

A man who walked around the Pere Lachaise area of central Paris armed with a machete on Tuesday has been arrested in his hotel room, a police spokesman said. Bystanders…

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Paris to re-impose evening curfew

The French government will reimpose an evening curfew on Paris, and possibly the greater Paris Ile-de-France region, to tackle the country's worsening COVID-19 figures, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on…

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French manufacturing sector strengthened slightly in October

Activity in France's manufacturing sector strengthened slightly in October, although the country's new lockdown will likely hit the sector soon, according to a monthly survey published on Monday. Data compiler…

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French pupils return to school for first time since teacher’s beheading

Twelve million pupils returned to school in France on Monday for the first time since an Islamist militant beheaded teacher Samuel Paty, who had used cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammad…

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Some French shops may reopen in 10 days if virus slows

France may ease its lockdown rules and allow some shops to open if circulation of the coronavirus slows, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on RTL radio on Monday.…

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France announces ban on sale of ‘non-essential’ items in supermarkets

France is to introduce a ban on the sale of all 'non-essential' items in supermarkets from Tuesday, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced in a televised interview Sunday on TF1, under measures already imposed by…

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Charlie Hebdo trial suspended after suspect tests positive for Covid

The main suspect in a trial over the 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre has tested positive for coronavirus, prompting the court to suspend hearings until Wednesday. Ali Riza Polat is accused…

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French death toll up by 224 at 36,788

France said on Saturday that 224 more people had died from the new coronavirus over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 36,788, as the number of confirmed cases…

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France’s Macron to Muslims: I hear your anger, but will not accept violence

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday he respected Muslims who were shocked by cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad but that was no excuse for violence, as his officials ramped…

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Orthodox priest wounded in shooting in Lyon

An orthodox priest has been injured in a shooting in the French city of Lyon and the assailant has fled, a police source said on Saturday. The priest was fired…

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Three in custody in France following Nice attack

A third person was taken into custody in France in connection with a knife attack which left three dead in Nice on Thursday, a police source said on Saturday, as…

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Amazon withdrawing French Black Friday campaign

Amazon is withdrawing advertising for pre-Black Friday discounts in France, after the government said the campaign was unfair to small shops at time when a coronavirus lockdown has forced them…

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France reports close to 50,000 new cases over 24 hours

France on Friday reported 49,215 new confirmed coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, compared to 47,637 on Thursday and a record high of 52,010 on Sunday. A new national…

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France strengthens up security at home, abroad

French ministers said on Friday that they were calling up gendarmerie reserves and boosting security at home and abroad, a day after three people were killed in what authorities say…

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Air France-KLM warns of bigger losses amid lockdowns, Dutch government rejects restructuring plan

Air France-KLM unveiled a 1.05 billion-euro ($1.24 billion) quarterly operating loss and warned of worse to come as a resurgent coronavirus brings new travel curbs. The Franco-Dutch airline group reported…

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French economy now seen contracting by 11% in 2020 -Le Maire

The French economy is now expected to contract by 11% in 2020, compared to an earlier forecast for a 10% contraction, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told radio on…

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Nice residents mourn church attack dead

France's interior minister said on Friday more militant attacks on its soil were likely and the country was engaged in a war against Islamist ideology following the second deadly knife…

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French Interior Minister warns “war against Islamist ideology” means more attacks in France

More attacks on French soil are likely as France is engaged in a "war against Islamist ideology", its interior minister said on Friday. A knife-wielding Tunisian man shouting "Allahu Akbar"…

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France raises security threat level to highest after Nice attack

France has raised the security alert for French territory to the highest level after the knife attack in the city of Nice, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Thursday. Castex…

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LVMH, Tiffany agree on lower price in $16 bln takeover deal

U.S. jeweler Tiffany & Co has agreed with LVMH to slightly lower the price of its acquisition by the French luxury goods group, ending a bitter legal dispute between the…

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UPDATED: Another attack in France thwarted

French police shot dead a man in Montfavet, near the city of Avignon in southern France, after he had earlier threatened passersby with a handgun, police said, confirming media reports. Police in…

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New French COVID lockdown may have to go beyond Dec. 1 – government adviser

France's new national lockdown, aimed at curbing the resurgence of COVID-19, may have to be extended beyond its initial deadline of Dec. 1, government scentific adviser Professor Jean-François Delfraissy said…

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France’s Macron announces new nationwide lockdown starting Friday to combat virus outbreak

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a second national lockdown, banning travel between regions. Mr Macron said under the new measures, starting on Friday, people will only be allowed to…

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Turkey hits at “Crusades” against Islam in cartoons row with France

Turkey's president said on Wednesday that Western countries mocking Islam wanted to "relaunch the Crusades", heightening a confrontation with France over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad that have stirred anger…

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Carrefour’s sales accelerate, keeps goals

Carrefour, Europe's largest retailer, delivered its strongest underlying sales growth for at least two decades in the third quarter, reflecting a better performance in its key markets of France, Spain…

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Global wine output squeezed as coronavirus crisis weighs

Global wine production will remain below the five-year average this year, dented by low South American volumes and European Union output caps after the coronavirus crisis sent sales sliding, an…

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France increases security due to ‘very high’ terror risk

France is increasing security at religious sites as the interior minister said that the country faces a “very high” risk of terrorist threats, amid growing geopolitical tensions following the beheading…

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France considering one-month lockdown

The French government may be considering a one-month national lockdown in response to surging coronavirus cases and higher deaths. The lockdown could take effect from midnight on Thursday, France’s BFM…

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France cautions its citizens on risk of retribution over cartoons

France warned its citizens living or travelling in several Muslim-majority countries to take extra security precautions on Tuesday as anger surged over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad. In a sign that some countries…

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French Muslim leader urged Muslims to ignore cartoons

A senior French Muslim leader urged fellow Muslims on Tuesday to ignore cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad rather than resorting to violence in a call for moderation amid outrage across…

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Erdogan backs boycott of French goods – European countries rally behind Macron

Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan asked his compatriots to stop buying French goods on Monday in the latest expression of anger in the Muslim world over images being displayed in France…

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Car rental group Europcar drops 2020 outlook as Q3 results hit by COVID

French car rental company Europcar - one of many in the transport sector to have been hit by the impact of the COVID-19 crisis - dropped its 2020 financial outlook…

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France urges Middle Eastern countries to stop boycott of French products

France urged Middle Eastern countries to stop retail companies from boycotting French products. The foreign affairs ministry said in a statement that in recent days there had been calls to…

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Malta condemns brutal murder of French teacher Samuel Paty

The Maltese Government has issued a strong unreserved condemnation of the brutal murder of the French teacher Samuel Paty. In a statement this afternoon, Government said: "We must work together…

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Pogba denies retiring from French team over Islam claims

Paul Pogba has strongly denied claims which made the rounds in this morning's press that he had quit the French national team, describing the story as ‘unacceptable fake news’. Reports…

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France may be experiencing 100,000 new COVID cases per day

France may be experiencing 100,000 new COVID-19 cases per day -- twice the latest official figure -- Professor Jean-François Delfraissy, who heads the scientific council that advises the government on…

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Turkey’s Erdogan says French Macron has ‘lost his way’ in second verbal attack

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday Emmanuel Macron had "lost his way", in his second sharp criticism of the French leader in two days over the treatment of Muslims.…

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