PARIS – France will impose a nightly curfew on almost one third of the country’s 67 million people to tackle a resurgent coronavirus, but a new national lockdown is not envisaged, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday.
Macron announced the curfew, which will take effect from Saturday and run each night from 9 p.m. to 6 p.m. the following morning, shortly after the government declared a new public health state of emergency. The restrictions will last for at least four weeks.
The president said curfews would be imposed in the greater Paris region, Marseille, Toulouse, Montpellier and five other cities.
‘We’re in a second wave’, Macron said in an interview on national news. ‘We have to react’.
France, like other European countries, is grappling with how to slow the virus’ spread and ease pressure on a once-again strained healthcare system while keeping its 2.3 trillion euro economy open and protecting jobs.
On Wednesday it reported 22,591 new coronavirus cases, the third time in six days the daily tally has gone beyond the 20,000 threshold. The virus has claimed more than 32,000 lives in France.
Macron said France had not lost control of the virus, but added: ‘We are in a worrying situation’.
People under curfew would have to forget about night-time visits to restaurants or to friends’ houses, though essential trips during curfew would still be allowed, Macron said.
Anyone violating the curfew would be fined 135 euros.
There would be no restrictions on public transport, and people would still be able to travel between regions without restrictions. Family gatherings, however, should be restricted to no more than six people.
Saudi Arabia’s FII: World Leaders To Discuss Building A Strong Economy Post – Pandemic
MILAN – – World Leaders, former presidents, CEOs and heads of economy will be among those converging for Saudi Arabia’s fourth annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) Conference this week. Discussion about the future of global economies in a post – pandemic world are on the agenda. The event will feature over 140 speakers and will officially be opened … Continue reading Saudi Arabia’s FII: World Leaders To Discuss Building A Strong Economy Post – Pandemic
BREAKING NEWS | Saudi Crown Prince Announces New 5-Year Strategy For Kingdom’s Economy
JEDDAH – – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday launched a new five – year strategy for the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund as Saudi Arabia drives toward achieving its Vision 2030 goal to diversify the economy away from dependence on oil. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) will pump at least $40 billion a … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Saudi Crown Prince Announces New 5-Year Strategy For Kingdom’s Economy
CORONAVIRUS ALERT | French Health Body Recommends Delaying Second Covid Shot To Six Weeks After First
PARIS – – France’s top health advisory body on Saturday recommended doubling the time between people being given the first and second Covid-19 vaccination to six weeks from three in order to increase the number getting inoculated . The gap between the first and second injection in France is currently three weeks for people in … Continue reading CORONAVIRUS ALERT | French Health Body Recommends Delaying Second Covid Shot To Six Weeks After First
BREAKING NEWS | Police Round Up More Than 350 At Russia Protests Backing Jailed Kremlin Foe Navalny
Police detained more than 350 people across Russia on Saturday and broke up rallies around the country as protesters defied bitter cold and a ban by authorities to demand the release of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Navalny had called on his supporter to protest after being arrested last weekend as he returned to Moscow … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Police Round Up More Than 350 At Russia Protests Backing Jailed Kremlin Foe Navalny
BUSINESS | UAE Confirms It Inked $23 Billion To Buy F-35 Jets, Drones From U.S.
WASHINGTON – – The United Arab Emirates confirmed that it signed agreements with the United States on former President Donald Trump’s last full day in office to purchase up to 50 F-35 jets, 18 armed drones and other defense equipment in a deal worth $23 billion. The UAE embassy in Washington said in a statement … Continue reading BUSINESS | UAE Confirms It Inked $23 Billion To Buy F-35 Jets, Drones From U.S.
Breaking News | Saudi TV Says Missile Or Drone Intercepted Over Riyadh
RIYADH – – Saudi Arabia said Saturday it intercepted an apparent missile or drone attack over its capital, Riyadh, amid the kingdom’s yearlong war against neighbouring Yemen’s Houthi rebels.Social media users posted video of what appeared to be an explosion in the air over Riyadh. Saudi State TV quoted authorities in the kingdom acknowledging the … Continue reading Breaking News | Saudi TV Says Missile Or Drone Intercepted Over Riyadh
TRAVEL | Denmark Suspend Dubai Flights Amid Doubts Over Virus Tests
DUBAI – Denmark has temporarily suspended all flights from the United Arab Emirates for five days after suspicion arose that the coronavirus tests that can be obtained before leaving Dubai are not reliable, authorities announced Friday. The development, which comes amid a surge of infections in the UAE, poses a direct challenge to the mass … Continue reading TRAVEL | Denmark Suspend Dubai Flights Amid Doubts Over Virus Tests
BUSINESS | Google Seals Content Payment Deal With French News Publishers
PARIS – – Google and a French publishers’ lobby said on Thursday they had agreed to a copyright framework for the U.S. tech giant to pay news publishers for content online, in a first for Europe.The move paves the way for individual licensing agreements for French publications, some of which have seen revenues drop with … Continue reading BUSINESS | Google Seals Content Payment Deal With French News Publishers
Business News | BioNTech Investors, Amid Worry Over Shortage, Vows Vaccines To Be Delivered For Second Shot
MILAN – European countries should use all available vaccine doses provided by biotech firm BioNTech and its partner Pfizer because there will be enough for the requisite second booster shot due to a planned production ramp – up, BioNTech’s largest investor said. Some countries were believed to be withholding some vaccines for fear of shortage … Continue reading Business News | BioNTech Investors, Amid Worry Over Shortage, Vows Vaccines To Be Delivered For Second Shot
BREAKING NEWS | Arab Coalition Thwarts Two Houthi Attacks
The Saudi – led coalition fighting against Yemen’s Houthi movement said it thwarted two attacks by the Houthis on Friday morning, including destroying an explosive – laden boat in the southern Red Sea, Saudi State TV said on Twitter. The coalition also intercepted and destroyed an explosive – laden drone launched by the Houthis toward … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Arab Coalition Thwarts Two Houthi Attacks
ARTS & CULTURE | Lebanon Return Two Stolen 18th – Century Religious Icons To Greece
ATHENS – – Lebanon handed back two 18th – century religious icons of Jesus and Mary to Greece on Tuesday after they were seized during an auction, a judicial sources said. The paintings were stole from an exhibition in Athens in 2016, and Greece put out an international notice calling for their return. Icons are … Continue reading ARTS & CULTURE | Lebanon Return Two Stolen 18th – Century Religious Icons To Greece
CORONAVIRUS | Saudi Arabia Reschedules COVID-19 Vaccinations Amid Pfizer Delay
RIYADH – – Saudi Arabia has rescheduled appointment for the administration of COVID-19 vaccine due Pfizer delivery delays, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday in a tweet. Authorities said that those with appointments to receive their first dose will be rescheduled ‘due to the delay of the manufacturer in supplying the Kingdom and all … Continue reading CORONAVIRUS | Saudi Arabia Reschedules COVID-19 Vaccinations Amid Pfizer Delay
ENTERTAINMENT | Dubai Suspends Live Entertainment Permits As Covid-19 Cases Surge
MILAN – – Dubai has suspended live entertainment permits for hotels and restaurants amid a surge in COVID-19 cases according to an official circular issued by Dubai Tourism. ‘The Department observed, through field inspection, an increase in number violations during entertainment activities in hotels and restaurants. Accordingly. the Department directs all concerned in hotel establishments … Continue reading ENTERTAINMENT | Dubai Suspends Live Entertainment Permits As Covid-19 Cases Surge
BREAKING NEWS | Trump Pardons Ex – Aide Bannon But Not Himself Or Family
U.S. President Donald Trump granted clemency to former White House aide Steve Bannon as part of a wave of pardons and commutations issued in his final hours in office, but did not pardon himself, members of his family or lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Trump leaves office on Wednesday, when Joe Biden is sworn in as the … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Trump Pardons Ex – Aide Bannon But Not Himself Or Family
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
