Links

Seven held after knife attack at scene of Charlie Hebdo massacre

Link

Following a stabbing attack on Friday against a man and a woman outside the former Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine where 12 people were gunned down by terrorists in January 2015, French police have arrested seven people, including the suspected perpetrator, described as an 18-year-old Pakistani national.

At least two hurt in atttack outside former Charlie Hebdo office

Link

Two men have been arrested after at least two people suffered knife wounds in an attack outside the former Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine where, in January 2015, 12 people were shot dead in a terrorist attack for which 14 people are currently on trial on charges of helping the jihadists. 

France to shut down bars, restaurants in Covid-19 hotspot zones

Link

French health minister Olivier Véran on Wednesday evening announced new measures to contain the rapid resurgence of novel coronavirus infections across the country, including the shutting down of bars and restaurants in the southern city of Marseille, while stopping short of earlier reports of drastic measures for Paris, although bars and cafés in the capital will from Monday have to close business at 10pm. 

Celebrated French chef Pierre Troisgros dies aged 92

Link

The celebrated chef Pierre Troisgros, head of France's greatest gastronomic dynasty who with his brother Jean helped found the nouvelle cuisine movement, died on Wednesday aged 92,

French singer and actress Juliette Gréco dies aged 93

Link

French singer and actress Juliette Gréco, whose career began in cabaret in the late 1940s and who became one of France's most acclaimed post-war stage and screen stars, a symbol of the Paris Left Bank intellectual set who continued to record and perform into her 80s, has died at her home in Ramatuelle, southern France, at the age of 93.

Paris kosher store worker recounts terrorist siege and murders

Link

At the trial in Paris of 14 people accused of aiding the January 2015 terrorist attacks in the capital, Zarie Sibony, 28, gave a harrowing account of the four-hour siege at the kosher store where she worked as a cashier, when Amédy Coulibaly murdered four hostages and, she recalled, told his captives 'You are Jews and French, the two things I hate the most'.

French rugby boss Laporte still in custody over corruption allegations

Link

Bernard Laporte, head of the French rugby federation, was questioned in police custody for a second day on Wednesday over allegations that he and two others placed pressure on the appeals committee of the French league to reduce a disciplinary punishment against rugby club Montpellier.  

Charlie Hebdo HR head forced into hiding amid threats

Link

Marika Bret said police bodyguards gave her ten minutes to leave her home and move into hiding because of the seriousness of threats to her, which came as the trial opened earlier this month of alleged accomplices of the January 2015 terrorist massacres at the Charlie Hebdo offices and a Jewish food store.

France to raise Covid-19 alert to highest level in Paris and major cities

Link

Amid the continuing resurgence across France of coronavirus infections, Paris and several other cities are to due be designated as highest-risk 'scarlet' zones by health minister Olivier Véran at a press conference later on Wednesday, government sources have said.

France doubles paid paternity leave

Link

Fathers of newborn children are to be allowed up to four weeks of paternity leave, up from the previous two, the cost of which is shared by employers and the state welfare system.