Aug 03 Notre Dame Cathedral's organ will undergo a 4-year-long cleaning By Nadine Achoui-Lesage, Angela Charlton, Associated Press The mammoth task of dismantling, cleaning and re-assembling France’s largest musical instrument started Monday and is expected to last nearly four years. Amazingly, the 8,000-pipe organ survived the 2019 fire that consumed the cathedral’s roof and toppled its spire. Continue reading
Jul 15 French prime minister defends police amid brutality concerns By Associated Press In his first major policy speech, Prime Minister Jean Castex vowed to fight racism and anti-Semitism, but didn’t directly address recent protests in France against racial injustice and police violence unleashed by George Floyd’s death in the United States. Continue reading
Jul 13 In the U.K. and France, debate over whether to require face masks spreads By Angela Charlton, Danica Kirka, Associated Press Scientists say the two countries' governments should have done so ever since they started easing lockdowns — like many other European nations did. Continue reading
Jul 10 France ordered to fight pollution or pay millions in fines By Associated Press The Council of State's unusual ruling Friday came after the government failed to fulfill a 2017 order to reduce pollution in accordance with EU rules. The national government and local governments have announced multiple anti-pollution measures in recent years. But… Continue reading
Jul 10 Activists protest against French minister accused of rape By Arno Pedram, Associated Press Women’s rights activists held protests in cities in France and abroad against President Emmanuel Macron’s appointment of a new interior minister who is accused of rape and a justice minister who has minimized the #MeToo movement. Continue reading
Jul 07 Study shows virus hit African immigrants hardest in France By John Leicester, Associated Press A new study from the French government's statistics agency shows that death rates doubled among immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa and tripled in the Paris region at the height of the country's coronavirus outbreak. Continue reading
Jun 08 France to abandon police chokeholds amid George Floyd protests By Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press France's interior minister says police in the country will no longer be allowed to conduct chokeholds during arrests. The minister says the immobilization technique is now banned after it came under renewed criticism following George Floyd's death in the United… Continue reading
Jun 02 French virus tracing app goes live amid debate over privacy By Sylvie Corbet, Kelvin Chan, Associated Press France is rolling out an official coronavirus contact-tracing app aimed at containing fresh outbreaks as lockdown restrictions gradually ease. Continue reading
Jun 02 World outrage grows at George Floyd's death By Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press French authorities have banned a protest over racial injustice and heavy-handed police tactics as global outrage about the death of George Floyd in the United States kindled frustrations across borders and continents. Continue reading
May 28 French hospital workers protest lack of funds By Associated Press Hospital workers gathered outside Robert-Debré hospital in North-East Paris Thursday to protest what they describe as the government's lack of interest in France's public health system. Continue reading