Sir Winston Churchill’s statue will be freed from its protective box by Thursday in time for French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to bestow the Legion of Honour on London. Macron’s visit will also mark 80 years since exiled wartime resistance leader Charles de Gaulle called on France to resist the Nazis from the BBC studios. … Read more
France will reopen for business on Monday after President Emmanuel Macron announced a ‘first victory’ against coronavirus. In an upbeat live TV address on Sunday night, the head of state said virtually all lockdown restrictions for bars, restaurants and cafes would end at the start of this coming week. Schools, colleges and nurseries will then … Read more
Cafe society returns to Europe – where two metres isn’t the social distancing rule – as Britain’s restaurants, bars and coffee shops remain closed France opened restaurants partially in Paris and fully in the rest of the country Germany has a 1.5 social distancing rule but all sized-shops are allowed to open Italy has opened … Read more
Police protest across France over ban on chokeholds in the wake of George Floyd’s death – and warn ‘we are appeasing a certain part of the population at the expense of the law’ Interior Minister Christophe Castaner banned chokeholds for detaining suspects Officers marched along the Champs Elysees in Paris to the interior ministry Police … Read more
Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron spent a weekend exchanging WhatsApp messages about quarantine-free travel between Britain and France – blindsiding officials on both sides of the Channel Boris Johnson uses WhatsApp to regularly converse with Emmanuel Macron The two world leaders were in touch throughout last weekend on messaging app PM announced travellers from France would … Read more
Quarantine chaos: France WON’T be exempted from 14-day isolation rules but business travellers could be let in as announcement is postponed UK had initially said it would force anyone flying into Britain to remain in isolation Boris Johnson then agreed mutual tourists exemption with Emmanuel Macron However the UK has now ended proposals for a … Read more
Paris has seen a second night of riots break out over police ‘heavy-handed’ treatment of ethnic minorities during the coronavirus lockdown. Anger erupted in the French capital last night and during the early hours of Monday morning over alleged ‘racist’ police attacks. In response, police used tear gas and baton charges in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, northern Paris, … Read more
Extensive work to repair Notre-Dame cathedral has ground to a halt a year after it was nearly destroyed by a devastating blaze. Work was suspended on the Paris 13th-century cathedral, one of the world’s most revered monuments, amid France‘s coronavirus crisis. It means President Macron‘s promise to have the UNESCO heritage site restored within five years in time for … Read more
French President Emmanuel Macron tonight apologised for his government ‘not being prepared enough’ for the coronavirus crisis as he extended lockdown until May 11. The head of state said that restrictions that started on March 17 would be enforced as strictly as possible until the middle of next month, and that ‘joyous days were ahead’. … Read more