Edouard Philippe

The number of novel coronavirus cases worldwide passed 2.4 million late on April 19, according to a running tally by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

The university's data showed the number of deaths has reached 165,044 while 623,911 have fully recovered.

A total of 2,401,379 confirmed cases have been recorded worldwide.

A crippling French transport strike dragged into its 39th day on Jan. 12 despite the government's offer to withdraw the most contested measure of the pension reform plans that sparked the protest.    

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Jan. 11 offered a major concession to unions contesting his government's overhaul of the pension system, in a move aimed at ending strikes which are now in their fifth week.

France will start setting quotas for migrant workers next year, the labor minister said today. This is part of President Emmanuel Macron's government action to strive to strengthen immigration policies in response to right-wing criticism, AFP reported.

Four police officers were killed with a knife inside police headquarters in Paris. The attacker was their colleague, who was later shot dead.

The version of personal conflict is being investigated, police sources say. The attacker was killed in the courtyard of the headquarters. He worked for the Intelligence Directorate in the technology department.

Throughout history, France has been a key partner to Romania, we have a Strategic Partnership with a strong perspective for the future, that creates the premises for a more structured and more ambitious cooperation, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said on Friday at the official reception organised in celebration of July 14 - the National Day of France.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has announced plans to punish people who hold unsanctioned protests after seven weeks of anti-government unrest, reported BBC. 

His government wants to draft new legislation that will ban troublemakers from protests and clamp down on the wearing of masks at demonstrations.

France plans to introduce legislation to toughen sanctions on undeclared protests in response to violent "yellow-vest" demonstrations, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Jan. 7 in a hardening of the government's stance on the unrest.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Monday announced plans to ban participation in unauthorised demonstrations as the government scrambles to try to end weeks of violent "yellow vest" protests, reports AFP. 

The French government has backed down on planned fuel tax hikes in a bid to draw the heat out of fierce protests that have escalated into the deepest crisis of Emmanuel Macron's presidency, reports AFP.