by Damian MCCALL PERROS-GUIREC, France (AFP) — French police appealed for witnesses Sunday as they launched a probe into the giant domino-effect pile-up that marred the opening stage at the Tour de France, caused by a spectator who leant into the path of the speeding peloton holding up a sign. The woman held up a sign with ‘Granny and Grandad’ written in German and looked up the road towards the race’s motorbike cameras, crucially, with […]
Tag: France
France to end mandatory outdoor masks and Covid curfew
PARIS, France (AFP) — France on Wednesday said it was ending the obligation to wear masks outside and would bring forward the lifting of a nighttime curfew, as Covid infections fall and the country’s vaccine drive picks up. Prime Minister Jean Castex said the requirement for people to wear masks outdoors in much of the country would be lifted from Thursday, with some exceptions, while an unpopular 11:00 pm Covid curfew will be scrapped on […]
France opens Covid jabs to over-12s in herd immunity drive
by Françoise KADRI / Clare BYRNE PARIS, France (AFP) — France on Tuesday expanded its Covid-19 inoculation drive to children aged 12 and over in a bid to achieve herd immunity and slow the spread of variants, including the Delta strain behind a surge of cases in the United Kingdom. The jabs are not compulsory for children and have no bearing on whether they can attend school or go on holiday in France. But as […]
France, Belgium ease virus curbs as US decision boosts travel hopes
by AFP Bureaus France and Belgium further relaxed their Covid-19 restrictions Wednesday, allowing restaurants and cafes to serve indoors, while the United States eased travel warnings for dozens of countries as vaccinations boost hopes of a return to normal life. The pandemic’s impact on life around the planet was also illustrated Wednesday with a shake-up of the list of the world’s most liveable cities, with Auckland rocketing to the top on the back of […]
France’s Macron slapped in the face while greeting crowd
by Jerome RIVET with Adam PLOWRIGHT in Paris TAIN- I’HERMITAGE, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron was slapped in the face while greeting a crowd in southeast France on Tuesday, in a shock incident he shrugged off as “isolated” but which drew widespread condemnation in a tense political climate. Video footage on social media shows Macron shaking hands with voters when a man in a green t-shirt takes hold of his forearm and slaps […]
Macron sees ‘difficult’ choices, refuses to confirm re-election bid
by Laurence BENHAMOU MARTEL, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that he planned to make “difficult” decisions this summer and again refused to confirm he will seek another five-year term in what is expected to be a hotly contested election next year. “I can’t manage this summer taking it easy,” Macron told a group of pensioners in the southern French village of Martel as part of a nationwide tour. “I’m going to […]
France to widen Covid vaccine drive to 12 to 18-year-olds from June 15
SAINT-CIRQ-LAPOPIE, France (AFP) — France will start offering Covid-19 vaccines to all young people aged 12-18 years starting on June 15, President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday. During a visit to the village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie in southern France, Macron also noted that 50 percent of French adults have now received at least one Covid vaccine jab, calling it “truly a turning point” in the country’s inoculation drive. Vaccine supplies have increased sharply recently, prompting officials to […]
France opens Covid jabs for all adults in race against variants
by Juliette COLLEN PARIS, France (AFP) — France on Monday opened up Covid-19 vaccines to all adults, a week before Germany, as Europe races to avoid another wave of infections caused by new virus variants. So far, 25.4 million people have received a first shot of a vaccine, representing about 38 percent of the population and nearly one in two adults. Until now, people over 50, workers in professions particularly exposed to the virus and […]
France to honor health workers killed by Covid
PARIS, France (AFP) — France will confer a special honour on health workers who die from Covid while fighting the pandemic, President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday. He said a status called “died in the service of the republic” would be created to honour public employees who lose their life “in exceptional circumstances”. A similar “died in the service of the nation” status already exists for police and the military, while “died for France” is […]
Eiffel Tower to reopen July 16 as France eases Covid curbs
PARIS, France (AFP) — The Eiffel Tower will reopen on July 16 after several months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Paris landmark’s operator said on Thursday. Visitor numbers will be limited to 10,000 a day to meet social distancing requirements, fewer than half of their pre-Covid levels, operator Sete told AFP. All floors of the monument will be accessible to visitors, except some areas where renovation work is ongoing. Only 50 percent […]
Sanofi, GSK say Covid vaccine shows positive result
PARIS, France (AFP) — French pharmaceuticals giant Sanofi and Britain’s GSK reported on Monday “strong immune responses” in early tests of their Covid-19 vaccine, raising hopes it could join the fight against the pandemic. The companies said the results of the Phase 2 study will enable them to move to a late-stage trial in the coming weeks — a reversal of fortune after their research was dealt a setback late last year. The experimental vaccine […]
France hits 20 million milestone in Covid vaccination drive
PARIS, France (AFP) — France reached its target of injecting 20 million initial doses of coronavirus vaccines Saturday, days ahead of a hugely anticipated reopening of restaurant terraces, part of an easing of the nationwide lockdown. President Emmanuel Macron announced the milestone in a tweet that said “20 million” with a green checkmark, a number that represents around 30 percent of the population. Health officials said the exact figure was 20,086,792; with 8,805,345 people having […]





