Tag Archives: Paris

The Associated Press reports: France’s high-speed rail network was hit Friday with widespread and “criminal” acts of vandalism including arson attacks, paralyzing travel to Paris from across the rest of France and Europe only hours before the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics. Outgoing French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said that sabotage and arson that hit key parts of France’s …

The BBC reports: Protesters have thrown soup at the glass-protected Mona Lisa in France, calling for the right to “healthy and sustainable food”. The 16th Century painting by Leonardo da Vinci is one of the world’s most famous artworks, and is held at the Louvre in central Paris. The Louvre said the work was behind protective glass and was not …

Reuters reports: The suspect detained over the killing of three Kurdish people in Paris told investigators of his “hatred of foreigners”, the Paris prosecutor said on Sunday. The 69-year-old man was arrested on Friday after shooting dead two men and a woman at a Kurdish cultural centre and nearby Kurdish cafe in the 10th district of Paris. The suspect said …

Reuters reports: Paris police intercepted at least 500 vehicles attempting to enter the French capital Saturday, in defiance of a police order, to take part in protests against virus restrictions inspired by Canada’s horn-honking “Freedom Convoy.” The police said on Twitter that several convoys were stopped from entering at key city arteries and over 200 motorists were handed tickets. Elsewhere, …

Agence France-Presse reports: Paris police said Thursday they would ban so-called “freedom convoys” inspired by a truckers’ protest against coronavirus restrictions that has paralyzed the Canadian capital Ottawa. Convoys of vehicles from across France are expected to converge on the French capital on Friday, risking a possible standoff with the police similar to the violent “yellow vest” protests that rocked …

France 24 reports: Wearing masks even outdoors will be mandatory in Paris starting on Friday, French authorities have announced, as the country struggles to come to grips with an Omicron surge. France is leading Europe in new infections, with a record 208,000 new cases confirmed over the previous 24 hours on Wednesday. That figure was preceded by a previous daily …

The Washington Post reports: French Prime Minister Jean Castex on Thursday announced that Paris and several other parts of the country will enter a new lockdown Friday night, as the more transmissible coronavirus variant first identified in Britain is prompting a surge in hospitalizations. The lockdown measures are expected to be in place for four weeks, Castex said during a …

The BBC reports: Paris will shut all bars completely from Tuesday after the French government raised the city’s coronavirus alert to maximum following a period of high infection rates. Bars, gyms and swimming pools will all be closed for two weeks in a bid to curb the spread of the virus, the city’s police chief said. But restaurants will remain …

Bloomberg News reports: The Louvre museum in central Paris remained closed on Monday as staff declined to turn up because of worries over the coronavirus outbreak. Employees at the world’s most-visited museum stopped work on Sunday under rules designed to protect against serious health risks. The decision applies until further notice, CGT union representative Christian Galani said. The move comes …

Reuters reports: For the first time in more than 200 years, worshippers will not be able to attend Christmas mass at Notre-Dame cathedral, still being restored after a devastating fire. “There won’t be a midnight mass at Notre-Dame. The last time this happened was during the French Revolution. Since 1803, there have always been Christmas masses at Notre-Dame,” a Paris …

Deutsche Welle reports: A total of 60,000 police were deployed across France on Saturday as the country prepared for the latest protest by the “gilets jaunes” or Yellow Vest demonstrators. At least 5,000 police were being stationed in Paris alone, as authorities warned protesters to keep away from Notre Dame cathedral and the banks of the Seine. For many Yellow …

ABC News reports: Ravaged by a massive fire that completely destroyed its roof, the Notre Dame Cathedral will likely not be reopened to the public for three years, a spokesman for the 13th Century basilica told ABC News. Andrew Finot, head of communications for Notre Dame, said he got a brief look inside the decimated sanctuary and reported the “entire …

Buzzfeed News reports: Two French billionaires have pledged to donate a total of 300 million euros to help reconstruct the Notre Dame Cathedral after a catastrophic fire tore through the historic structure, collapsing its spire and causing significant damage. Their donations came as Paris firefighters declared Tuesday morning that “the entire fire is out”. “A group of experts are analysing …

The Hill reports: Fire officials said late Monday that Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was saved from “total destruction” after a massive fire broke out, engulfing much of the building and destroying its iconic spire and stained-glass windows. The blaze spread to the cathedral’s two rectangular towers Monday evening but was later contained. The news that the building has been …

USA Today reports: The fire burned for hours, virtually unabated despite the efforts of hundreds of firefighters. The flames continued to glow when darkness fell. “A special mission has been launched to try to save all works of art that can be saved,” Emmanuel Grégoire, first deputy to the mayor of Paris, said on French TV. “Everything is burning, nothing …

Reuters reports: A fire broke out at Notre Dame Cathedral in central Paris on Monday afternoon, a spokesman from the fire department said. Smoke could be seen billowing out from the top of the medieval cathedral, as flames lept out besides its two bell towers, a Reuters witness said. A major operation was under way, the fire department added, while …

The BBC reports: Breakdancing has been proposed for inclusion in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, organisers have announced. It is among four sports that organisers will propose to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as well as surfing, climbing and skateboarding, which will all debut at Tokyo 2020. Squash campaigned unsuccessfully for inclusion in the Paris Games, as did billiard sports …

The Orlando Weekly reports: Although Gay Days has been celebrated at the Disney parks for decades, ever since the first one in 1991 (right here in Orlando!), Disneyland Paris has just made history by becoming the first to organize an official LGBTQ Pride event, finally acknowledging openly that pink money pays their bills, too. Magical Pride happens June 1, 2019, …

The BBC reports: US singer Chris Brown has been arrested in Paris on suspicion of rape, French police say. A 24-year-old woman alleges that the star assaulted her in a hotel suite in the city earlier this month. She reportedly told police that the pair met at a nightclub in central Paris, close to the Champs-Elysées, before they returned to …

Reuters reports: Rioters in Paris torched motorbikes and set barricades ablaze on the upmarket Boulevard Saint Germain on Saturday, as protests against high living costs and the perceived indifference of President Emmanuel Macron turned violent on the fringes. The latest “yellow vest” marches began peacefully but degenerated in the afternoon as protesters threw missiles at riot police blocking bridges over …