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The ex-president, who was head of state from 1974 to 1981, and who died after after contracting Covid-19, was known for steering the modernisation of French society during his time in office.

In common with Germany and Italy, France is shutting its ski lifts over Christmas to stop the spread of Covid-19, but Swiss slopes are already open.

Kevin Escoffier has been forced to abandon ship in Vendée Globe race; he was found off Cape of Good Hope 11 hours after sending an alert.

Muslim Council is due to meet President  Macron to confirm the text of a new 'charter of Republican values'  for imams in France to sign.

The measure known as 'Article 24', which is part of a “global security” law, would make it an offence to film and identify police officers online if there is intent to harm.

Sarkozy has become France's first modern head of state to appear in the dock on charges of corruption and influence peddling.

The four officers are reported to have been placed under formal investigation in connection with the beating of music producer Michel Zecler.

Official estimates reported a nationwide turnout of more than 130,000 people, including 46,000 in Paris, in demonstrations against draft legislation to introduce heightened security powers, including restricting the dissemniation of images of on-duty police officers, and in protest over police violence after shocking events this past week involving assaults by officers.

One month after the second lockdown was imposed in France to contain the resurge in Covid-19 cases, non-essntial shops and businesses, except bars and restaurants, were allowed to re-open as of Saturday amid a slow but regular fall in recorded deaths and new infections nationwide.    

Seven serving and former officers, including a brigadier general, from France's 198-year-old Saint-Cyr military academy were sent for trial on manslaughter charges over the death in 2012 of cade Jallal Hami, 24, who drowned during an initiation ritual for first-year recruits.