France

France, Germany propose €500 bln Recovery Fund to be fully financed by the EU

France and Germany proposed on Monday a 500 billion euro ($543 billion) Recovery Fund that would offer grants to European Union regions and sectors hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, pushing…

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Hotels firm Accor gets 560 million euros credit line, sees signs of recovery

French hotel company Accor - one of many in the tourism sector to have been hit hard by the impact of the coronavirus - said on Monday it had secured…

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New Covid-19 outbreaks rattles French food chain

Around a hundred people are believed to have been infected by the coronavirus in newly discovered outbreaks in two French abattoirs. One abattoir is in the central Val de Loire…

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Macron, Merkel to announce new “Franco-German initiative” on Monday

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will present a new Franco-German initiative later on Monday, Macron's office said in a surprise statement. The two leaders will hold…

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Coronavirus has killed more than 28,000 people in France

An additional 483 coronavirus patients in France have died over the past 24 hours, the National Health Agency confirmed Sunday, bringing the total death toll to 28,108. According to the…

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French boy and British baby die of coronavirus-linked Kawasaki disease

A nine-year-old boy from Marseille is reported to have died of Kawasaki disease, the mysterious inflammatory syndrome linked to coronavirus. The boy is believed to be the first victim of…

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Iran sentenced French-Iranian academic to 5-year imprisonment

Iran has sentenced a 60-year-old French-Iranian academic to five years in prison over national security charges and allegations of propaganda against the state, her lawyer said on Saturday according to Middle East Eye. …

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Cases of children with rare inflammatory syndrome spike in Italy and France

Doctors in northern Italy, one of the areas hardest hit by the new coronavirus, and in France have reported spikes in cases of a rare inflammatory syndrome in young children that…

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France unveils “unprecedented” plan to save its tourism industry

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has announced an “unprecedented” 18 billion euro plan to support the country’s tourism industry. Under the plan, tourism businesses will be eligible for grants of…

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Study says only 4.4% of French population infected by coronavirus

A study led by the Pasteur Institute says a mere 4.4% of the French population - or 2.8 million people - have been infected by the novel coronavirus, much higher…

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France braces for end of lockdown

France is set to end eight weeks of strict lockdown as the government urged people to behave responsibly to avoid a sudden spike in coronavirus cases. Hours before the…

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No quarantine for people flying into the UK from France

Travellers coming to the UK from France will not have to be quarantined after the two countries agreed a reciprocal arrangement. Boris Johnson had announced on Sunday evening that…

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Photo Story: France remembers VE Day

French President Emmanuel Macron (C-L), lays a wreath of flowers at the statue of General Charles de Gaulle during VE Day ceremonies in Paris, France, 08 May 2020. Victory in…

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France records 178 deaths in 24 hours as hospitalisations continue to fall

France on Thursday recorded 178 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours, a 0.7 percent rise from the previous day in the lowest rate of increase in four days, taking the total…

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France to limit international travel this summer

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that it was unlikely that French people would be able to undertake major foreign trips this summer and that even trips within Europe may…

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Dismay in France as millions of masks on sale from supermarkets when healthcare professionals faced shortage

French supermarkets have come under intense spotlight after they announced millions of masks on sale to protect against Covid-19. Nothing strange so far, one would think: yes, this news came…

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‘They’re my only link to the outside world’: Caregivers hailed as heroes amid pandemic

France’s caregivers are being hailed as heroes among the frontliners fighting against COVID-19 for over two months, whose courage and efforts have helped to save many lives. Cécile Aime has…

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French Senate votes against easing of restrictions

The plan to ease restrictions announced by French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe was given thumbs down by the upper house of the French Parliament, the Senate. In a tight vote…

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France seeking to permanently reduce traffic, Orly airport not to reopen any time soon

The French state will help national railway firm SNCF survive the coronavirus crisis but France must drastically reduce demand for transport and Paris’ second airport, Orly, will not reopen any…

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France says will not quarantine EU, Schengen area citizens

France said that it would not quarantine anyone arriving from the EU, the Schengen area or Britain due to the coronavirus, as it prepares to start easing confinement measures after…

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France proposes 14-day quarantine on entry

Those entering France after the end of lockdown on 11 May could be subjected to a minimum of a fortnight in quarantine as part of a new proposed law which…

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May 11th is only first step towards normality – Macron

President Emmanuel Macron warned on Friday that ending the national lockdown on May 11 would be only a first step for France to pull out of the coronavirus crisis, for…

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Photo Story: Mask distribution in French public transport stations

Ile-de-France region staff members distribute protective masks to commuters at the Argenteuil rail station, in Argenteuil, France, 30 April 2020. The French government plans to decrease containment measures taken…

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France enters recession

France's gross domestic product contracted 5.8 percent in the first quarter and is officially in a recession, mainly because of the coronavirus lockdown imposed since mid-March, the national statistics agency…

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Face masks mandatory for schools and public transport in France

France will make face masks compulsory on public transport and in secondary schools when it starts easing its coronavirus lockdown on 11 May, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has said. Schools…

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An aggressive COVID-19 testing will be the basis for unwinding its coronavirus lockdown

France will adopt an aggressive new doctrine on COVID-19 testing from May 11 so that it can slowly unwind its coronavirus lockdown and avoid economic meltdown, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe…

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France PM expecting to announce easing of lockdown this afternoon

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe is expected to announce an easing of restrictions this afternoon in Parliament. The French Government has indicated that it will seek to balance the need…

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France seizes 140,000 ‘illegal’ masks near Paris

France seized around 140,000 "illegal" masks during a police operation near Paris over the weekend. Two men were arrested in the afternoon whilst unloading "several boxes" from a cargo coming…

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France Covid-19 death toll reaches 22,856

The death toll in France from the coronavirus has risen by 242 to 22,856, the health ministry said on Sunday, as the government prepares to see how it might ease…

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The Centre Pompidou launches video game that invites the public to discover some its major works

The Centre Pompidou in Paris, France, is launching Prisme7, its first video game, which invites the public to discover some major works from the collection of the Musée national d’art…

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Study shows lockdown saved as many as 60,000 lives in France

The French government agrees with a study by analysts from the French School of Public Health (EHESP), which concluded that lockdown measures prevented 60,000 deaths in France, Health Minister Olivier…

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France rules out coronavirus aid for tax-haven businesses

French finance minister Bruno Le Maire has said companies registered in tax havens, or with subsidiaries in such places, cannot benefit from the billions of euros of support being provided…

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France testing whether nicotine could prevent coronavirus

Nicotine could protect people from contracting the coronavirus, according to new research in France, where further trials are planned to test whether the substance could be used to prevent or…

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Renovation of France’s Notre-Dame set to resume

Work on restoring the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris will gradually resume Monday after the coronavirus lockdown forced a halt to repairing the gothic landmark nearly destroyed by a fire…

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Hospital cases in France continue to fall

France on Thursday reported 516 new deaths from the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, bringing its overall toll to 21,856 fatalities, the country's health department said. But it…

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France eyes opening retail outlets on May 11, but not bars and restaurants

The French government wants all retail outlets other than restaurants and bars to be able to reopen once a nationwide lockdown is lifted on May 11, Finance Minister Bruno Le…

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Half of France’s private sector workers on temporary unemployment scheme

The French minister of labour, Muriel Pénicaud, has said more than 10 million workers have signed up for the country’s temporary unemployment scheme. That means around 40% of France’s…

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Violence flares in tense Paris suburbs over lockdown

Three nights of unrest in the French capital’s northern suburbs have stoked fears of a major flare-up in deprived neighbourhoods where weeks of lockdown have exacerbated the simmering tensions between…

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France gets EU Commission approval for €7 billion aid to businesses

The European Commission has approved a €7 billion French “umbrella” scheme to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large corporates in France affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme,…

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Traces of coronavirus found in water in France

Traces of the coronavirus has been found in the water in Paris, but only the water used for fountains and to wash down the streets. The alarm was raised by…

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France says coronavirus crisis far from over but easing

The coronavirus situation in France is improving “slowly but surely” and shortages of protective gear such as face masks are easing, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Sunday, although he…

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France says no evidence so far of link between Covid19 and Wuhan laboratory

France said there was no evidence so far of a link between the new coronavirus and the work of the P4 research laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where…

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France announces €1,500 bonus for health workers on Covid-19 front line

France's Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said healthcare staff working in areas most impacted by the new coronavirus would receive a bonus of 1,500 euros as well as higher pay than usual…

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Nearly 700 French sailors have tested positive for the coronavirus

Nearly 700 sailors assigned to the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle’s naval group have tested positive for the coronavirus, the armed forces ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said…

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Cannes Film Festival postponed

The Cannes Film Festival won’t take place in June due to the coronavirus pandemic, but organizers continue to explore different options for 2020. “Following the French President’s statement, on Monday,…

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A year after blaze, Covid-19 putting rescue of Notre Dame at risk

The rescue of Notre Dame Cathedral, which was almost destroyed in a fire one year ago, is at risk due to the coronavirus lockdown in France. Work to remove 40,000…

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France striving for global ceasefire

French President Emmanuel Macron said he has secured the agreement of three of the five permanent members of the United Nations’ Security Council to back a call by the UN…

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France’s lockdown extended until May 11th

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday announced he was extending a virtual lockdown to curb the cornavirus outbreak until May 11, adding that progress had been made but the battle…

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Covid-19 crisis on French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

France on Sunday began an unprecedented operation to isolate 1,900 sailors after 50 naval personnel tested positive for Covid-19 aboard its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. The flagship of…

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Macron set to warn France virus lockdown must continue

President Emmanuel Macron is on Monday expected to warn France its lockdown to combat the coronavirus must go on for several more weeks at least, while also outlining how the…

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EU Commission approves €10 billion French guarantee scheme to support insurance market in coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €10 billion French guarantee scheme to support the domestic credit insurance market in the context of the coronavirus outbreak.…

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France reports lower number of Covid-19 deaths

France reported a lower number of Covid-19 deaths over the last 24 hours, with the total toll from the coronavirus epidemic in the country now 14,393, the health ministry said.…

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French to be allowed outside to adopt a pet

France has decided to allow people outside to adopt a pet from animal shelters, despite strict home confinement measures to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The interior ministry announced on Saturday…

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France to give ‘massive’ support to Air France-KLM

The French government is prepared to provide “massive support” to Air France KLM to help the French-Dutch air carrier make it through the downturn, France’s finance minister Bruno Le Maire has told…

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A year after blaze, Notre-Dame to hold Good Friday service

A small congregation of worshippers will hold a Good Friday service at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, a year after it was devastated by fire, but attendance will be limited…

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Recommendation to extend French lockdown

France should extend its lockdown period for several weeks in order to contain the coronavirus epidemic, the head of the medical council advising the government said on France Info radio…

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French economy officially in recession, worst performance since 1945

In its worst performance since 1945, the French economy shrank around six percent in the first quarter of this year as the coronavirus pandemic decimated business activity, the Bank of…

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