-
Photos as snow falls – and settles – across France
Many areas in the north have seen snow, including in the capital
-
Fact check: Does France offer world’s most generous health reimbursement?
It comes after a government spokesperson made the claim this week
-
Why parking fines in France are now more likely to be cancelled
It comes after France’s highest administrative court found in a driver’s favour
Forensic probe at Notre Dame begins
A week and a half after blaze ravaged Paris cathedral, forensic police begin sifting through debris
Forensic police on Thursday started sifting through the debris of the fire at Paris's Notre Dame cathedral as investigations continue into the cause of the blaze.
One theory under investigation is whether the fire was caused by a short circuit. The blaze was discovered near electricity cables running to the cathedral spire, reports say.
Investigators are also considering whether a fault in the alarm system meant firefighters were not called until it was too late.
An alarm was triggered at 6.20pm, but a security sweep of the area failed to discover anything untoward. The fire was only discovered when a second alarm was triggered 23 minutes later. By this time, the flames were reportedly several metres high.
Meanwhile, the company that was erecting scaffolding at the site has confirmed that some of its workers had been smoking, but has insisted the discarded cigarettes did not cause the fire.
Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France