Apple wins iPod hearing loss lawsuit
2009-12-30 10:45pm
A US appeals court on Wednesday upheld the dismissal of a class action lawsuit filed against Apple Inc. which claimed the iPod was defective and could cause hearing loss. "The plaintiffs simply do not plead facts showing that hearing loss from iPod use is actual or imminent," the San Francisco-based US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said in upholding the ruling of a district court. "The iPod has an 'ordinary purpose of listening to music,' and nothing they allege suggests iPods are unsafe for that use or defective," the court said.
United and Arsenal keep pressure on Premiership leaders Chelsea
2009-12-30 10:25pm
Manchester United closed the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea to two points with a 5-0 rout of Wigan, while Arsenal are also firmly in the title race after thrashing Portsmouth 4-1 on Wednesday. In the last Premier League games of the decade, it was fitting that United and Arsenal - who have enjoyed more success than most over the last 10 years - should produce resounding victories. Reigning champions United, second in the table, were far too strong for Wigan and bolstered their goal difference in emphatic fashion at Old Trafford.
Arrest order issued for Bolivian leader's political foe
2009-12-30 10:05pm
Officials in Bolivia issued an arrest warrant Wednesday for a leading political rival of leftist President Evo Morales, charging the conservative politician with tax evasion and election fraud. Manfred Reyes Villa, a former governor of the state of Cochabamba who challenged Morales for Bolivia's presidency, has been in hiding since the December 6 election. An arrest order has also been issued for his wife. Morales won the election in a landslide, which gave him unfettered control of Bolivia's legislature and a solid grip on the reins of governmental power.
US Treasury injects $3.8 billion into ailing GMAC
2009-12-30 9:45pm
The US Treasury announced Tuesday a 3.8 billion dollar fresh capital injection into ailing GMAC, the former finance arm of General Motors that became a bank to access federal rescue aid.
FRANCE: Constitutional court rules Sarkozy's carbon tax unfair
2009-12-30 9:05pm
French President Nicolas Sarkozy faced a political setback Wednesday after a high court ruled that his planned carbon tax to fight global warming unfairly placed the burden of cutting down energy use on a minority of consumers.
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FRANCE: French women freed from Dominican jail arrive home
2009-12-30 8:55pm
Two young French women jailed in the Dominican Republic for trafficking cocaine arrived in Paris on Wednesday after 18 months in prison following pressure for their release from President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
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FINANCE: French public debt exceeds 75% of GDP in third quarter of 2009
2009-12-30 12:04pm
According to the national statistics office INSEE, French public debt rose again in the third quarter of 2009 to hit 1,457.4 billion euros, a record level which amounts to 75.8% of GDP.
FRANCE: Interior Minister Hortefeux to unveil new airline security measures
2009-12-29 8:07am
France's Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux is expected to announce a plan to tighten airline security measures along US lines in the wake of the Christmas Day bomb scare, according to a French news report.
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FRANCE: French discos can stay open all night under new rules
2009-12-28 9:39pm
Party people across France will be able to dance all night under new regulations that will allow discotheques and bars with dance floors to remain open until 7:00 am. Business leaders say the rules will liven up French cities.
JOHNNY HALLYDAY: French court to look into ‘botched’ Hallyday operation
2009-12-28 1:00pm
A Paris judge has asked two medical experts to determine whether the French doctor who operated on Johnny Halliday was guilty of malpractice. The allegedly "botched" operation forced the French singer to undergo additional treatment in Los Angeles.
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French hotels polish up their star ratings
2009-12-28 4:25am
France, the world's top tourism destination, is polishing up its hotel star ratings and introducing a new luxury five-star category to help travellers know what to expect. The new rating criteria will apply to 18,000 hotels across France, many of which are showing off stars awarded under the previous ranking system that dates back to 1986. The upgraded star system went into force at the weekend when details were published in the government gazette.
FRANCE: Cosmetics entrepreneur Yves Rocher dies at 79
2009-12-27 1:57pm
Yves Rocher, who founded a plant-based cosmetics line which now has a turnover of billions of dollars a year, died in Paris on Saturday, aged 79.
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FRANCE: A turbulent year in French politics
2009-12-25 9:35pm
From a Green coalition gaining momentum in European parliamentary elections to debate on national identity to controversies surrounding Jean Sarkozy and Frédéric Mitterand, here is a look back at the year’s highlights in French politics.
Sarkozy calls French academic on trial in Iran
2009-12-24 7:45pm
French President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke by phone on Thursday with a French academic on trial in Iran for allegedly taking part in anti-government protests, his office said. Sarkozy telephoned Clotilde Reiss as she was celebrating Christmas in the French embassy in Tehran, where she has stayed since being granted bail in August. "The head of state assured her of his total support and said he hoped to see her return to France soon to be with her own people," the Elysee palace said in a statement.
TRAVEL: Eurostar nearly back to normal following severe disruption
2009-12-24 10:13am
Eurostar is back to near-normal capacity after thousands of passengers were stranded by a series of breakdowns and stoppages caused by extreme cold weather.
ENTERTAINMENT: Rock icon Hallyday leaves hospital for Christmas
2009-12-24 10:08am
French singer Johnny Hallyday left the Cedars Sinai hospital on Wednesday to spend Christmas with his family in his Los Angeles home. He will continue to undergo intensive medical treatment.
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FRANCE: UMP party to present bill banning burqas in public places
2009-12-23 3:38pm
Sarkozy's UMP party has announced plans to introduce a bill to ban full Islamic veils in all public areas in France. Talk of a ban has stirred a heated debate in France and could present the government with legal difficulties.
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IRAN: No verdict for Clotilde Reiss as trial drags on
2009-12-23 10:56am
No verdict has been reached after what was supposed to be French academic Clotilde Reiss' final hearing in Tehran. Reiss was arrested in Iran in the wake of June's disputed presidential election.
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BUSINESS: France to continue using stolen Swiss bank data
2009-12-22 9:16am
France has said that it will still use client data information stolen by a former employee of HSBC in Geneva to pursue cases of tax evasion, despite French authorities agreeing on Monday to return the data to Switzerland.
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FRANCE: Fillon uses China visit to call for more flexible yuan
2009-12-22 7:00am
French Prime Minister François Fillon, on the final day of his visit to China, urged Beijing to make its exchange rate more flexible to help promote economic cooperation between France and China.
FRANCE - CHINA: Aviation and nuclear deals signal improved relations
2009-12-21 5:53pm
France and China applauded efforts to buck up relations strained by the Tibetan issue on Monday, as a French delegation led by Prime Minister François Fillon signed a raft of business deals during a trip to Beijing.
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REPORTERS: A little part of Mali in Brittany
2009-12-16 11:52am
Collinée is a village of fewer than 1000 inhabitants. Thirty years ago, the local abattoir had a severe staff shortage. A dozen Malians came here to work and were later joined by their wives and children. Today, one inhabitant in ten is Malian.
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FRANCE: Blast at French bell foundry injures 46
2009-7-31 5:26pm
An explosion at a French bell foundry in Normandy has injured 46 people, all of whom were guests invited to watch the casting of a church bell. Most only suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation but one person has serious burns.
AVIATION: Airbus urges airlines to replace speed sensors in wake of AF 447 crash
2009-7-31 8:23am
Airbus is urging airlines to replace most of the "pitot probe" speed sensors on some 200 Airbus A330 and A340 planes in the wake of the crash of an Air France flight en route to Paris from Rio de Janeiro on June 1.
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INFLUENZA A (H1N1): France confirms first death from swine flu
2009-7-31 8:20am
French authorities have announced the death of a young girl who had contracted swine flu and also suffered from another serious illness complicated by a severe lung infection. It was the first death in France of a patient suffering from A (H1N1).
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FRANCE: Healthy Sarkozy chairs cabinet meeting before summer break
2009-7-29 7:06pm
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, declared healthy after a brief hospitalisation at the weekend, presided over a final meeting of his cabinet on Wednesday before the government's summer break. The future of La Poste was a major topic for discussion.
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ENVIRONMENT: French govt panel recommends steep carbon tax for 2010
2009-7-29 6:08am
A report on taxation of carbon-based emissions in France is set to considered by the government. According to leaked details, the report recommends a charge of 32 euros for every tonne of carbon dioxide emitted in 2010, rising to 100 euros in 2030.
THE WEEK IN FRANCE: Low-profile vacations for French ministers
2009-7-29 5:22am
In this edition of The Week in France we look at how French ministers are taking low-key holidays because of the credit crisis, explain Nicolas Sarkozy's health problem, and wonders whether the Tour de France really was drug free.
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LABOUR - RFI: Postal workers protest privatisation
2009-7-28 5:39pm
French postal workers demonstrated on the streets of Paris on Tuesday against government plans to privatise the postal service in accordance with EU directives for competition.
WEB NEWS: Nicolas Sarkozy's hospital visit raises questions on the net
2009-7-28 4:46pm
Nicolas Sarkozy quick visit to the hospital has raised questions online. Some wish the French president the best, while others speculate about his health.
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WILDFIRES: Southern European wildfires abate, but risk remains
2009-7-27 7:05pm
Firefighters in France, Italy and Spain have managed to quell the worst of the deadly fires that have ravaged the region, but the high temperatures and strong winds on the forecast could spark another flare-up of wildfires.
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FRANCE: Bleriot XI takes flight for centenary of Channel crossing
2009-7-25 3:13pm
A restored original of the plane in which Louis Bleriot crossed the Channel 100 years ago on Saturday successfully repeated the French aviator's historic feat in front of several hundred enthusiasts.
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FRANCE: Controversial hearings on banning the ‘head-to-toe veil’ begin
2009-7-15 10:35am
Parliamentary hearings on whether to ban the ‘head-to-toe veil’ have brought to the forefront France’s struggle to strike a balance between accommodating Islam and upholding a tradition of secularism.
FRANCE: 'Barbarians' gang leader gets life in murder case
2009-7-12 2:10pm
Youssouf Fofana, the leader of kidnap gang "The Barbarians", has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Ilan Halimi. The victim's family attorney has complained that the accomplices were treated too leniently.
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RFI EXCLUSIVE FRANCE: Third night of rioting after death in custody
2009-7-10 2:58pm
Youths in the central French town of Firminy torched shops and cars during the third night of rioting over the death of a young man in police custody.
IRAN: French ambassador meets arrested teacher
2009-7-10 7:25am
Clotilde Reiss, a young French teacher detained in Tehran's Evin prison after she was accused by Iran of spying, was able to briefly speak with ambassador Bernard Poletti, a diplomatic source has told the AFP.
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FRANCE: Refugees arrive in France under EU scheme
2009-7-10 6:41am
Ninety-two refugees arrived for a new life in France on Thursday under a pilot EU relocation scheme, aimed at spreading the burden of immigration around Europe.
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FRANCE: National electricity provider EDF calls for 20% price hike
2009-7-09 8:57pm
French electricity provider EDF says it wants to raise tariffs by 20% to make up for debts in excess of 24.5 billion euros, but it may have a hard time persuading the government to approve the hike.
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TERRORISM: Three Eta suspects charged in French court
2009-7-09 12:20pm
Three key members of the Basque separatist group Eta were charged by a French anti-terrorism judge Wednesday with theft, weapons possession and terrorism.
INTERNET: French Senate adopts amended version of anti-piracy bill
2009-7-09 9:55am
France's upper house has adopted an amended version of a hotly contested Internet piracy bill. This new version modifies the section on sanctions for offenders, which was struck down by France's Constitutional Council on June 10.
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AVIATION: France calls for global blacklist after Comoros crash
2009-7-08 5:31am
In the aftermath of the June 30 crash of Yemenia Airbus A310, France has called for a world aviation blacklist of companies that fail to meet safety standards, warning the Yemeni carrier that its name is on the line.
FRANCE: Sarkozy to the rescue of French businesses
2008-10-23 10:58am
Speaking to business leaders in the city of Annecy in eastern France on Thursday, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced the creation of a sovereign wealth fund to help strategic national businesses struggling amid the global financial crisis.
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FRANCE: Sarkozy piqued by voodoo doll
2008-10-23 2:41am
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has threatened to sue a publishing house if it does not withdraw a "voodoo manual" that comes complete with a doll, pins and instructions on how to needle the toy.
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FRANCE - ARMS: Increasing arms sales – but at what cost?
2008-10-23 2:19am
Anxious to sell for 7 billion euros worth of weapons by 2010, France has introduced measures to jumpstart its international weapons sales. But it’s an aim that troubles human rights groups.
FRANCE - DIPLOMACY: French minister opposed to Georgia's entry to Nato
2008-10-22 9:23pm
Jean-Pierre Jouyet, French secretary of state for European Affairs, declared he was personally opposed to Ukraine and Georgia joining Nato because it is "not the right time" and "not in Europe's interest".
FRANCE: Secrecy lifted on Chirac's alleged Japanese bank account
2008-10-22 7:08pm
France has lifted secrecy rules regarding information on an alleged secret bank account held by former French president Jacques Chirac. He has always denied rumours of this count, calling the charges "calumny."
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HOMAGE: Mourners pay tribute to Sister Emmanuelle
2008-10-22 11:59am
Sister Emmanuelle, a Catholic nun who dedicated her life to helping the poor, died Monday at the age of 99. Mourners gathered in the small town of Callian, in southern France, on Wednesday to pay their last respects.
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AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY: Bordeaux Ford factory to shut down due to poor sales
2008-10-21 4:24pm
The automobile industry is one of the hardest hit by the financial crisis. On Monday, Ford France announced the closure of its factory near Bordeaux from late October until at least early January.
ENTERTAINMENT - FRANCE: No crisis for French Disneyland
2008-10-21 2:23pm
France's Euro Disney announced a record number of visits this year, with 15.3 million people coming to theme park despite the international crisis. In September, its sales rose 9 per cent to reach 1.33 billion euros.
ENVIRONMENT: French opposition approves environment package
2008-10-21 11:42am
A year after its instigation, a law reflecting the commitments of the so-called Grenelle Environment Round Table was approved by France's lower house on Tuesday afternoon, after opposition Socialist lawmakers opted to support it.
JUSTICE: Libel case goes to court over Tasers
2008-10-21 10:20am
The head of a company that supplies Tasers is seeking damages from the leader of the Communist Revolutionary League for publicly stating that the stun guns can be lethal.
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OECD: France, Germany push for tax haven blacklist
2008-10-21 8:47am
Seventeen member nations of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), barring Switzerland and Luxembourg, met in Paris to debate curtailing the use of offshore jurisdictions to evade taxes.
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FINANCIAL CRISIS: French bank stocks soar on details of rescue plan
2008-10-21 8:29am
European stocks opened higher Tuesday after the French government announced details of a plan to pump 10.5 billion euros into the country's six largest banks in exchange for guarantees on lending to households and firms.
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EUROPEAN UNION: Sarkozy pushes eurozone 'economic government'
2008-10-21 4:36am
Speaking at the European Parliament, French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for the creation of an "economic government" to work with the European Central Bank and help finances within the eurozone.
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BANKING - FRANCE: Caisse d'Epargne bosses resign after record trading loss
2008-10-20 7:49pm
Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has expressed her 'satisfaction' at the resignation without compensation of the chairman and director general of French bank Caisse d'Epargne following the loss of 600 million euros in a trading "incident".
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RELIGION - OBITUARY: France's Sister Emmanuelle dies at 99
2008-10-20 8:38am
Sister Emmanuelle, a Catholic nun who dedicated her life to helping the poor, has died at the age of 99, according to a statement from ASMAE, an aid organisation she founded.
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FRANCE - EDUCATION: Teachers march against government cuts
2008-10-19 3:47pm
Thousands of French teachers marched in Paris on Sunday to protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's reform proposals for the national education system, which include slashing 13,500 jobs and modifying school district zones.
ROAD ACCIDENT: French motorway pile-up leaves one dead, scores injured
2008-10-19 3:08pm
A 28-car pile-up accident, including a bus transporting British tourists, left at least one man dead and 39 more injured on a French motorway on Sunday. The accident occurred a few kilometres outside the north-eastern city of Metz.
IMMIGRATION: Woman dies after self-immolation protest against deportation
2008-10-19 12:52pm
A French woman who set herself on fire to protest her partner's deportation order in the western city of Le Mans died in hospital Sunday. The incident raises fresh questions about France's measures against illegal immigration.
FRANCE: 'Small sums' stolen from Sarkozy's bank account
2008-10-19 6:49am
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has become the victim of minor theft from his bank account. Thieves apparrently managed to obtain his personal account number and withdrew small amounts of money.
ECONOMY: France will miss 2012 deadline to bridge exchequer deficit
2008-9-26 9:48am
The French government unveiled a gloomy annual budget on Friday, abandoning a promise to wipe out public deficit by 2012. Against a backdrop of global financial crisis, it revealed that the economy shrank by 0.3 percent in the second quarter of 2008.
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ARCHITECTURE : A new tower in Paris, 30 years later
2008-9-26 9:32am
Paris unveiled plans for a pyramid-shaped tower in the southwest of the capital, the first new high-rise building to be built for 30 years. The construction of the pyramid - up to 200 metres - is due to begin in 18 months.
FINANCIAL CRISIS: Sarkozy demands overhaul of world capitalist system
2008-9-26 3:40am
"We need to rebuild the whole world financial and monetary system from scratch", French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in a keynote speech in Toulon.
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FRANCE - VIETNAM: Controversy continues over Tran Van Ba memorial
2008-9-26 12:53am
The brother of an anti-communist Vietnamese hero is trying to get to the bottom of why the French authorities have refused permission to erect a memorial in Paris.
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FRANCE - CONSUMPTION: Downturn gnaws away at French spending on food
2008-9-24 3:49pm
Some 3,000 restaurants went bust in France during the first quarter of 2008, as the current economic downturn and the recenty approved smoking ban helped force a change on people's eating habits.
JUSTICE: French writer on trial for inciting racial hatred in Rwanda book
2008-9-24 3:27pm
A French investigative journalist is on trial in a Paris court under accusations of inciting racial hatred in a book on the Rwandan genocide that described ethnic Tutsis as prone to lying and deceit.
TERRORISM: French police arrest suspected Basque separatists
2008-9-24 2:26pm
French police have arrested a dozen people linked to Basque separatist groups as part of efforts to catch the perpetrators of a 2006 hotel bomb attack and investigate the financing of separatist groups straddling the border with Spain.
OLYMPICS 2018: France will bid for Winter Games
2008-9-24 11:11am
Henri Serandour, president of the French Olympic committee, has announced that France will compete to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. The name of the city representing the country will be unveiled in March 2009.
FRANCE - POLITICS: Would-be leaders unveil manifestos for the Socialist Party
2008-9-23 9:11pm
Candidates to the leadership of France's bitterly divided Socialists presented their manifestos before a party committee Tuesday, with four platforms emerging as the most credible. A new leader will be elected at the party congress in November.
UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: French president calls for summit on financial crisis
2008-9-23 3:22pm
Speaking before the UN General Assembly, French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for the creation of an international institution to regulate the globalised economy, and a "joint economic community" between Europe and Russia.
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POLICING: Decree authorises use of tasers by French local police
2008-9-23 12:18pm
France's 20,000 municipal police officers will join the country's national police in using the controversial Taser stun guns after a decree published Tuesday gave them the green light, despite protests from human rights groups.
ECONOMIC REFORM: French postal workers strike against privatisation
2008-9-23 6:44am
French postal unions called for a strike to protest the decision to privatise the state-run company, demanding a public debate on the subject. More than half of the French population opposes the privatisation.
ISLAM - MARRIAGE: Muslim non-virgin case goes to appeals
2008-9-23 12:23am
A French Muslim couple now goes to a court of appeals to have their marriage annulled on the grounds that the bride was not a virgin. A court's April ruling granting the annulment sparked outrage in the country.
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AFGHANISTAN: France to beef up Afghan mission
2008-9-22 9:10pm
French PM François Fillon announced France would send additional helicopters, drones and troops to Afghanistan. He also told parliament members that "lessons" had been learnt from the Aug. 18 ambush that left 10 French soldiers dead.
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SPAIN - BOMBINGS: One soldier killed in suspected ETA bombing
2008-9-22 3:42am
A suspected ETA car bomb killed one soldier and injured another on Monday, in Spain's northern town of Santona. The attack came in the wake of two other blasts on Sunday.Two of the three cars used in Spain were stolen in France, police said.
FRANCE: Socialists make gains in French Senate
2008-9-21 6:24pm
While the right wing held onto its historic majority in France's Senate, the Socialist Party won more seats than expected in Sunday's elections.
AEROSPACE: EADS threatens to freeze airlifter production
2008-9-20 9:41pm
Aerospace giant EADS said it may freeze production of its Airbus subsidiary's flagship military airlifter that has become "a heavy loss-maker" for the company, according to a German news report Saturday.
FRANCE - FINANCE: French stocks rise by 3.97 percent in opening trade
2008-9-19 7:42am
Following a worldwide sigh of relief brought on by US and world financial bailout plans, the French CAC-40 index rose 3.97 percent at the start of trading on Friday.
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DATABASE CONTROVERSY: France narrows scope of information database
2008-9-19 5:47am
The French government is still going forward with the controversial Edvige database that will gather personal information on politicians and unionists, but will "explicitly rule out data on sexual orientation or health".
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TERRORISM: French prisons, recruiting ground for Islamists
2008-9-11 9:06am
In an interview with French daily Le Figaro to commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, French Interior Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie said Islamism in France was very much alive and had found an ideal recruiting ground in the country's prisons.
FRANCE - WEDDING: Sarkozy's son marries retail heiress
2008-9-11 7:46am
French President Nicolas Sarkozy's son Jean married Jessica Sebaoun, a member of the family behind the Darty chain of appliance stores. The couple tied the knot in Neuilly-sur-Seine, where father and son were both first elected to public office.
RELIGION: Christians observing Ramadan
2008-9-10 6:47pm
Ramadan is not just for Muslims. FRANCE 24 met with a few Christians in Paris who observe the holy month.
FRANCE: Sarkozy orders rethink of controversial police database
2008-9-10 6:30am
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for a rethink of the so-called "Edvige" files, a database meant to gather information on crime suspects. Questions on sexual orientation and health could be dropped from the controversial programme.
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THE WEEK IN FRANCE: Trouble on the farm
2008-9-09 5:08pm
A young farmer fights to save his farm after his herd was slaughtered and his family threatened.
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AUTOMOTIVE: Renault announces 4,000 layoffs
2008-9-09 8:49am
French auto giant Renault announced plans for 4,000 voluntary layoffs and 1,000 relocations . Back in July, the French company had unveiled drastic economic measures, including massive staff cuts, due to flagging sales.
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FRANCE - RELIGION: Church of Scientology to be tried for fraud
2008-9-08 12:24pm
Scientology, which France, unlike the United States, doesn't recognize as a religion, is about to be brought to court for "organised fraud" there. The court will also investigate the role of seven people suspected of illegally prescribing drugs.
BEIJING 2008 - PARALYMPICS: Smétanine earns France first gold in the pool
2008-9-07 3:29pm
After Alain Bernard's heroics in the 100m freestyle race in August, David Smétanine earned the French squad its first gold of the Paralympics by winning the same race in the Beijing 'Water Cube' on Sunday.
FRANCE - AFGHANISTAN: French soldier recounts deadly attack in Afghanistan
2008-9-07 1:29am
“We were sitting ducks,” explained a French soldier who survived the August 18 attack which killed 10 French troops in Afghanistan, while recalling the heavy insurgent fire his unit came under.
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NIGERIA - FRANCE: Kidnapped French oil workers freed in Nigeria
2008-9-06 2:36am
Two French oil workers abducted in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt (photo) over a month ago have been released, according to a French foreign ministry statement. No details were provided on the circumstances surrounding their release.
AFGHANISTAN - FRANCE: Taliban linked to French fatalities ‘killed’
2008-9-05 12:40am
Two Taliban subcommanders involved in the August 18 attack that killed 10 French soldiers were among a group of insurgents killed in a coalition attack in Afghanistan August 30, according to a statement by the US-led coalition forces.
FRANCE - POLITICS: Justice minister's pregnancy in the spotlight
2008-9-04 8:21pm
French Justice Minister Rachida Dati confirmed Wednesday that she was pregnant, but refused to reveal the father's identity. Amid media speculation, former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar denied being the one.
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FRANCE - AFGHANISTAN: French military presence in Afghanistan under scrutiny
2008-9-04 5:14pm
A French magazine has published photos of the insurgents who killed 10 French soldiers two weeks ago, while lawmakers called for extra equipment to be sent to the French troops stationed there.
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FRANCE - UNEMPLOYMENT: French unemployment rate still much the same
2008-9-04 9:24am
France's unemployment rate remained steady at 7.2 percent for the second consecutive quarter amid flagging economic growth. Over 2 million French men and women remain out of work, despite a slight decrease from last year.
FRANCE - SYRIA: Sarkozy faces the Syrian enigma
2008-9-03 6:13pm
After Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's landmark visit to Paris in July, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is heading for Damascus for talks with his counterpart.
FRANCE - SOCIeTe GeNeRALE: Suspected rogue trader Kerviel back in hearing
2008-9-03 12:22pm
Jerôme Kerviel, the suspected rogue trader involved in the multi-billion-euro loss scandal plaguing French bank Société Générale, appeared in a Paris court Wednesday along with his former aide Thomas Mougard.
FRANCE - CORSICA: Sacked for failing the president's chum?
2008-9-02 5:30pm
A senior security official has been sacked after Corsican nationalists occupied the villa of a French comedian Christian Clavier, a friend of President Nicolas Sarkozy. Critics are claiming inappropriate interference.
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FRANCE - EDUCATION: More English, no more Saturdays in French schools
2008-9-02 10:33am
Nearly 12 million students returned to their classrooms across France on Tuesday, but teacher's unions are already organizing a day of protests on September 11 against new school reforms that include thousands of job cuts.
FRANCE - IMMIGRATION: Last goodbyes in a Roma slum
2008-9-02 7:51am
Constantin Drezaliu and his family have joined an integration scheme to obtain decent housing after the Parisian suburb of Saint-Ouen decided to tear down a Roma shantytown. FRANCE 24 followed them during their last hours in the camp.
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UNEMPLOYMENT - TAX - FRANCE: Controversy over French tax for unemployment benefits
2008-8-28 8:51am
France's political establishment is divided over President Nicolas Sarkozy (right) and High Commissionner for Solidarity Martin Hirsch's (left) proposed €1.5 billion unemployment aid package funded through a 1.1% levy on capital gains.
RUSSIA - GEORGIA - EU: Sarkozy tells Russia to pull back amid new Cold War fears
2008-8-27 2:32pm
During a conference Wednesday with French ambassadors, France's president Nicolas Sarkozy called on Russian forces to retreat to their pre-conflict positions, saying that no one wanted to "go back to the time of the Cold War".
FRANCE - AVIATION: Ryanair plane makes emergency plunge
2008-8-26 9:20pm
A Ryanair Boeing 737 carrying 168 passengers from Bristol to Barcelona suffered a sudden loss of cabin pressure and had to make an emergency descent of 8,000 metres while flying over France.
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FRANCE - AFGHANISTAN: France stands by Afghanistan commitment
2008-8-26 4:03am
French PM Nicolas Sarkozy paid tribute to the ten soldiers killed in Afghanistan while French Defence Minister Herve Morin and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner face questions from a parliamentary committee about the Afghan war.
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CLIMBING - DISASTER: Mont Blanc climbers still missing, search off
2008-8-25 2:15pm
With unstable conditions continuing on Monday, rescue services have suspended the search for the bodies of eight missing climbers caught in a serac-triggered avalanche in the Mont Blanc massif on Saturday.
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FRANCE - WWII: France remembers Maille
2008-8-25 11:16am
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has attended a ceremony in the town of Maille, honouring the victims of a 1944 massacre by retreating Nazi German troops.
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FRANCE - MIDEAST TOUR: Kouchner meets al-Assad in Syria
2008-8-25 2:32am
French Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner announced that Syria and Lebanon will continue their peace process and exchange ambassadors before the end of 2008, after meeting Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.
CLIMBING - DISASTER: Eight missing in Mont Blanc avalanche accident
2008-8-24 10:41am
A rescue operation to find eight missing climbers caught up in an avalanche within the peaks of Mont Blanc on Saturday has been called off due to dangerous weather conditions.
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FRANCE - TIBET: Sarkozy snubs Dalai Lama, Carla does not
2008-8-22 10:29am
The Dalai Lama capped his 12-day visit to France with a meeting with Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. Despite a presidential snub, the Tibetan leader met with first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. But the issue continues to strain Sino-French relations.
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FRANCE - AFGHANISTAN: France pays tribute to fallen troops
2008-8-21 3:02am
France pays tribute to the 10 soldiers killed in an ambush in Afghanistan on Tuesday. President Nicolas Sarkozy conducts a ceremony on Thursday to honour their memory at the Invalides monument in Paris.
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FRANCE - AFGHANISTAN: Bodies of French soldiers return from Afghanistan
2008-8-20 9:38pm
The bodies of 10 French soldiers killed in Afghanistan this week arrived in Paris late evening on Wednesday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy made a crisis visit to Kabul after one of the deadliest attacks on French troops in recent history.
FRANCE - AFGHANISTAN: French wounded soldiers 'back from hell'
2008-8-20 10:58am
Some of the French soldiers injured in a deadly attack in Afghanistan arrived in Paris as French President Nicolas Sarkozy made a crisis visit to Kabul after one of the deadliest attacks on French troops abroad.
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FRENCH ECONOMY: French premier confident despite slowing economy
2008-8-18 2:19pm
At a special meeting of six key ministers, French Prime Minister François Fillon said it was "not fair" to talk about an economic recession in France. On Thursday, official figures showed a drop in France's second-quarter growth.
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FRANCE - ALGERIA: Algerian official arrested in France
2008-8-16 8:02am
Mohamed Ziane Hassani, an Algerian official wanted under an international arrest warrant for his alleged role in the 1987 murder of Algerian government opponent Ali Mecili (photo) in Paris, was arrested by French police in Marseilles on Friday.
FRANCE - TIBET: French FM Bernard Kouchner to meet Dalai Lama
2008-8-15 1:56am
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner wis expected to meet the Dalai Lama next week a close aide of the exiled Tibetan leader said. The meeting could draw an angry reaction from China.
BEIJING 2008 - SWIMMING: France's Alain Bernard clinches 100m freestyle gold
2008-8-14 2:03am
As day six of the Games got under way, French swimmer Alain Bernard beat Australia's Eamon Sullivan in the men's 100m freestyle final at the Beijing Olympics. Brazil's Cesar Cielo Filho and Jason Lezak from the US were joint third.
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SECURITY - FRANCE: Bombs defused in French tourist area
2008-8-08 10:13am
Two bombs were found in the French Basque country and one on a high-speed train in the French region of Landes. All were easily defused, officials said.
CHINA - HUMAN RIGHTS: Media watchdog takes over Chinese radio frequency
2008-8-08 8:26am
In a symbolic call for free speech, Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders briefly took over a Chinese radio frequency shortly before the opening of the Beijing Olympics. Pictured: Robert Menard, the group's secretary general.
RWANDA - FRANCE: France slams Rwandan genocide accusations
2008-8-07 3:25am
The French defence ministry has questioned the legitimacy of a Rwandan commission accusing French officials, including late President François Mitterrand, of involvement in the 1994 genocide. CAUTION: Images may be disturbing to some viewers.
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UNITED KINGDOM - FRANCE: UK police make new arrest in French students murder probe
2008-8-06 9:30pm
A 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of two French exchange students in London in June, British police said.
AFGHANISTAN - FRANCE: France takes charge of NATO troops in Kabul
2008-8-05 7:03pm
France has taken command of NATO's 5,000-strong contingent deployed in and around Kabul, with the aim of handing over responsibility for the capital region to Afghan security forces within a year.
FRANCE - JUSTICE: French court grants bail to former Red Brigade member
2008-8-05 3:12pm
A French appeals court has ordered the release on bail of Marina Petrella, a convicted former member of the Red Brigades facing extradition to Italy, after her family and doctors voiced serious concerns about her health.
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FRANCE - OBESITY: France may levy special tax on junk food
2008-8-05 12:38pm
To help fight obesity, the French government may introduce new taxes on fizzy drinks, crisps, ice cream and hamburgers.
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BANKING - JUSTICE: French rogue trader's assistant charged
2008-8-04 4:44pm
Thomas Mougard, assistant of Jérôme Kerviel, the trader involved in the multi-billion-euro Societe Generale scandal, has been charged with "complicity to introduce false data into a computer system".
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FRANCE - WEATHER: Bizarre tornado in northern France kills three
2008-8-04 10:08am
Several northern French towns, including Hautmont and Boussieres-sur-Sambre, were hit by a freak tornado Sunday night, killing three and injuring at least nine others.
CYCLING - BEIJING 2008: Longo defies her years to earn Olympic selection
2008-8-03 8:18pm
At the ripe old age of 49 Jeannie Longo is a legend on two wheels. An Olympic champion back in 1996, she's once again earned the right to aim for further glory, after winning a 54th national title to qualify for Beijing.
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NIGERIA - OIL: Two French nationals kidnapped in Nigeria
2008-8-03 3:43pm
A group of gunman have kidnapped a pair of French nationals in Onne port, in the oil-rich south of Nigeria. It is the latest in a spate of kidnappings that have seen Nigeria's oil production drop in the last two years.
FRANCE - PERSONALITIES: Yannick Noah wins French personality poll
2008-8-03 3:24pm
1983 French Open champion turned singer Yannick Noah has topped this year's poll of most popular French personalities, fighting off a determined challenge from actor Dany Boon.
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SUMMER - SALES: End of summer sales in France
2008-8-03 2:33am
This summer's sales period is coming to a close, with mixed results. Starting 2009, legislation will modify the bi-annual sales periods, allowing shopkeepers more freedom to hold bargains when they please.
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HOLIDAYS: French motorists face holiday gridlock
2008-8-02 4:51pm
It's now the holiday season in France with millions of motorists making their break for the summer sun, only to get caught in traffic jams up to 80 kilometres in length.
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AFGHANISTAN - FRANCE: French aid workers freed in Afghanistan
2008-8-02 3:47pm
Two French aid workers, who were originally kidnapped on July 18 in the town of Nili in central Afghanistan, have been released and are reported to be in good health according to French authorities.
JUSTICE: Former Action Directe member leaves jail after being paroled
2008-8-02 10:32am
Sentenced to life in prison in 1989 and 1994 for two high-profile murders, Natalie Ménigon, a former militant in the French far-left armed group Action Directe, was granted parole on July 17.
IMMIGRATION - HUMAN RIGHTS: UN report criticises French human rights record
2008-7-29 7:10am
According to the UN Human Rights Committee, France does not treat potential immigrants properly. The report also slammed prison conditions.
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FRANCE: French government drops appeal in Adidas row
2008-7-28 8:13pm
The French government will not appeal a debated court ruling requiring the state to pay businessman and former Addidas owner Bernard Tapie between 20 and 50 million euros.
CYCLING - TOUR DE FRANCE: Sastre wins 95th Tour de France
2008-7-27 3:56pm
Spaniard Carlos Sastre (CSC) keeps the yellow jersey to become the winner of the 95th Tour de France. The final sprint stage, ending on Paris' Champs Elysées, saw the victory of Belgian Gert Steegmans (Quick Step).
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SPAIN: Two ETA suspects detained in France
2008-7-26 12:05am
A man and woman, suspected of belonging to Basque separatist group ETA, have been arrested during a road check near Dijon. Asier Eceiza Ayerra (photo left) is thought to be the deputy head of ETA's military command.
OBAMA - WORLD TOUR: Obama in Paris to meet Sarkozy
2008-7-25 2:40pm
US presidential hopeful Barack Obama arrived in Paris on Friday shortly after 3:30 pm GMT+2 for a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who told the French press: "Obama? He's my friend."
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NUCLEAR ENERGY: EDF close in on British Energy takeover
2008-7-25 2:48am
Sources believe that French utility Electricite de France has agreed terms for a takeover of nuclear operator British Energy, which has attracted much interest since Britain gave the green light to the building of new nuclear power stations.
FRANCE - DEFENCE: French PM announces defence shakeup
2008-7-24 11:40am
French Prime Minister François Fillon announced a modernisation plan for a leaner and more mobile military reflecting new priorities. The plan involves shutting 83 units, including regiments, logistics centres and air force bases, from 2009 onwards.
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VITICULTURE: Winemakers ponder new name after Tricastin leaks
2008-7-24 12:27am
A French wine named Coteaux du Tricastin seems set to change its name for the 2009 harvest, following a number of contamination scares at the eponymous 'Tricastin' nuclear facility.
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FRANCE - POLITICS: French parliament votes to end 35-hour week
2008-7-24 12:02am
The French parliament passed a law on Wednesday allowing companies to bypass the existing rule limiting employees to just 35-hours work per week, thereby burying a flagship reform of the previous socialist government.
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MAYOTTE - ACCIDENT: Six migrants drown off French Indian Ocean island
2008-7-23 12:20pm
At least six people have drowned and several others are missing after a vessel carrying migrants sank trying to reach the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte, officials said.
FRANCE - POLICE: Police database critized by French rights groups
2008-7-22 7:51pm
French police introduced a new database on July 1 to collect information on politicians, businessmen and trade unionists. Human rights organisations, as well as the CNIL watchdog (photo), have slammed the system.
FRANCE - REFORM: Sarkozy triumphs in key parliament vote
2008-7-21 5:09pm
French lawmakers gave President Nicolas Sarkozy’s hotly debated constitutional reform package a narrow go-ahead. The bill scraped through with just one vote, in what Sarkozy called "a victory for democracy".
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IRELAND - EU: French president defends Lisbon Treaty in Ireland
2008-7-21 4:04pm
As he flew in to Ireland on Monday to find a way out of the crisis sparked by the Irish veto of the Lisbon Treaty, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was greeted by angry militants and tense politicians.
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FARC - HOSTAGES: Colombian anti-FARC rallies echoed in Paris
2008-7-20 3:34pm
French-Colombian former hostage Ingrid Betancourt staged a concert in Paris as part of worldwide anti-FARC rallies held on Colombian independence day. Around five million people are expected to demonstrate throughout Europe and Latin America.
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FRANCE - CRIME: French police hunt stolen explosives
2008-7-18 9:18pm
French anti-terrorist police are investigating the theft of 28 kilos of explosives from a security services site at Corbas, near Lyon, according to police sources.
FRANCE - NUCLEAR: New uranium leak discovered in Areva factory
2008-7-18 9:25am
French nuclear firm Areva said another uranium leak had been discovered at a factory in the southeastern French city of Romans-sur-Isere, though stressing that the leak does not pose a threat to the environment.
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REFORMS - FRANCE: Crunch vote on French constitutional reform package
2008-7-17 8:46pm
Senators gave Sarkozy’s key constitutional reform package a clear go-ahead on Wednesday. But French lawmakers are gearing up for a close vote during a congress in Versailles on Monday.
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FRANCE - IRAN: French MPs support Iranian opposition
2008-7-17 8:45am
A group of 290 French deputies denounced "terrible human rights violations" in Iran and told exiled opponent Myriam Rajavi they wanted her group, the People's Mujahedeen Organisation, off the European Union's terrorist list.
COLOMBIA: Red Cross emblem used to rescue Betancourt
2008-7-16 5:38pm
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has admitted that his army broke the Geneva Conventions and used the Red Cross emblem during the operation that secured the release of 15 FARC hostages including Ingrid Betancourt.
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FRANCE - UTILITY: GDF and Suez shareholders approve merger
2008-7-15 11:34pm
Gaz de France shareholders have approved a merger with French utility company Suez, giving birth to the second biggest energy consortium in Europe. Suez shareholders had already approved the merger earlier today.
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BEVERAGES: Twelve-year ban lifted on Original Red Bull
2008-7-15 8:08pm
Previously sold without taurine, Red Bull energy drink is now allowed in France in its original recipe. The government was forced to legalise the drink, as there is no definitive proof that taurine causes harm. Health authorities remain sceptical.
WWII - FR24 REPORT: Germany investigates 1944 massacre in France
2008-7-15 1:59am
German investigators are expected in the French village of Maille on Tuesday in the hope that they can help shed light on a WWII massacre in which German forces killed 124 villagers. There is no statute of limitation on war crime in Germany.
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UK - FRANCE - MURDERS: Second man in court over French student murders
2008-7-14 3:29pm
Daniel Sonnex, the second man charged with the brutal murders of two French students in London appeared in court on Monday, from where he was remanded in custody.
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BASTILLE DAY: France celebrates UN on national day
2008-7-14 4:24am
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is President Nicolas Sarkozy's guest of honour at the July 14 Bastille Day military parade. For the first time, two contingents of UN peacekeepers will lead the parade.
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FRANCE - DEFENCE: On watch in the Paris skies
2008-7-13 10:02pm
At an air base near Paris, the Cambrésis squad is on round-the-clock duty. Their mission is to defend the French capital's air space and its surrounding region.
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FRANCE - BINGE DRINKING: France to crack down on binge drinking
2008-7-13 7:48pm
France is set to ban the sale of alcohol to minors as well as the drinking of alcohol in public near schools, as the government attempts to crack down on binge drinking among the young.
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MEDITERRANEAN SUMMIT: Sarkozy hails Arab 'gesture of peace' at summit
2008-7-13 2:18pm
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has hailed the "gesture of peace" made by Arab leaders attending the landmark Mediterranean summit, which opened in Paris on Sunday.
TOULOUSE - MURDERS: Family murder suspect critical after suicide bid
2008-7-13 3:32am
55-year-old Jean-Claude Vacquier, chief suspect for the murders of his two brothers, two sons and a daughter-in-law near the southwestern city of Toulouse, shot himself in the head when he was about to be arrested.
CUISINE: French oyster industry in jeopardy
2008-7-12 8:00pm
The French oyster industry is being hit by abnormal mortality rates with between 40 and 100% percent of young oysters dying, depending on location. Farmers are currently mystified as to the cause of the anomaly.
SYRIA - FRANCE: Assad makes international comeback with French visit
2008-7-12 11:57am
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in Paris Saturday on the eve of a Mediterranean summit, marking his return to the world stage. WATCH FRANCE 24's SPECIAL COVERAGE AT 3 PM (GMT + 2).
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ISLAM - IMMIGRATION: Muslim woman denied French citizenship for 'radical' practice
2008-7-12 6:14am
France has denied a Muslim woman, who wears a "burqa", citizenship on the grounds that her religious beliefs are incompatible with basic French values in a case guaranteed to reopen the debate about Islam in France.
BUSINESS - SPORTS: Former Adidas owner Tapie wins cash back
2008-7-12 12:57am
The ubiquitous politician, businessman, actor and football coach Bernard Tapie has won a 230-million-euro compensation from Credit Lyonnais after a 14-year legal battle over the purchase and sale of sports equipment company Adidas.
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crime - GANG VIOLENCE: Corporal arrested for assault on Jewish teen
2008-7-12 12:05am
Two French men including an Air Force corporal were arrested in connection with an attack on a Jewish 17-year old, now awake from a coma after the brutal beating on June 21.
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FRANCE - CRIME: Five dead in shooting near Toulouse
2008-7-11 8:55am
French police found five people shot dead northeast of the southern city of Toulouse on Thursday night. One of the victims alerted the police to the incident before dying of his wounds in hospital.
UK - FRANCE - MURDERS: Fourth suspect arrested in French student murders
2008-7-11 2:05am
British police have arrested a fourth suspect in connection with the brutal murders of two French students; the first charged suspect appeared in court Thursday. The victims were found stabbed in a burning flat in London last week.
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TELEVISION: Sacked iconic French anchorman signs off
2008-7-10 9:26pm
Patrick Poivre d'Arvor, host of the top-rated 8 o'clock news on TF1, gave his final newscast on Thursday. His dismissal has raised questions of political meddling. "I got a letter. I was fired," he said in a radio interview.
MURDER - FRANCE: Fresh evidence could reopen French child murder case
2008-7-10 9:56am
New DNA testing could be used to solve the mystery of the 1984 murder of four-year-old Gregory Villemin, who was found tied up and drowned in the Burgundy region in a case that has gripped France for over two decades.
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EU – FRENCH PRESIDENCY : Sarkozy wants a solution to the Irish ‘No’ before December
2008-7-10 7:18am
In a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the French presidency hoped to find a solution to the EU treaty impasse following the Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by the end of the year.
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FRANCE - TOURISM: A greener, less crowded Eiffel Tower
2008-7-10 4:09am
Eiffel Tower managers announced plans to reduce lighting costs and introduce online ticketing in an effort to make the iconic Paris monument an energy-efficient building with shorter visitor queues.
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FRANCE - CHINA: China 'strongly' opposes Sarkozy-Dalai Lama meeting
2008-7-09 4:03pm
France's foreign ministry called in the Chinese ambassador to explain his warnings over a meeting between President Sarkozy and the Dalai Lama, and later announced that it ‘rejected' any outside pressure over the possible gathering.
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MUSIC: France's first lady launches new album on Web
2008-7-09 2:45pm
France's first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy gave Internet users a free listen to her new album on Wednesday, ahead of its official launch later this week.
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FRANCE - NUCLEAR: Nuclear spillage from French power station
2008-7-09 11:00am
Early Tuesday morning, a technical problem caused 30 cubic metres of uranium-contaminated water to leak from the Tricastin nuclear plant in southern France.
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FRANCE - POLITICS: Royal sees conspiracy in house burglary
2008-7-09 8:07am
Former French presidential candidate Segolene Royal said she suspected a connection between the June 27 burglary of her house and her criticisms of President Nicolas Sarkozy. Prime Minister François Fillon called her words "shameful."
PARIS - SKYSCRAPERS: Paris to allow high-rise buildings
2008-7-08 8:42pm
The Paris city council voted Tuesday to commence plans to scrap a 30-year old ban on high-rise towers within city limits, an unpopular - yet necessary - idea, according to the city's mayor.
JUSTICE - IVORY COAST: Ivory Coast first lady summoned over missing journalist
2008-7-08 4:16pm
Simone Gbagbo has reportedly been summoned to testify before a French judge in Paris on Thursday, over the disappearance of Canadian journalist Guy-Andre Kieffer in 2004. The first lady's lawyer, however, said she is yet to receive any summons.
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ITALY - TERRORISM: France asks Italy to pardon ex-Red Brigades member
2008-7-08 12:10pm
President Nicolas Sarkozy asked Italy to pardon Marina Patrella, convicted by an Italian court in 1992 of murder, kidnapping, and other crimes while a member of the Red Brigades. Exiled in France, Petrella is awaiting extradition to Italy.
SYRIA - ISRAEL: Syrian president ready for 'direct negotiations' with Israel
2008-7-08 7:15am
In an interview appearing on the French daily Le Figaro, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he welcomed France's new conciliatory policies towards his nation, adding that he was ready to negotiate with Israel.
UK - FRANCE: Second man arrested in French student murders
2008-7-07 7:19am
British police said they arrested a second man in relation to the fatal stabbing of French students Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo in London on June 29, while the man arrested last week was released on Sunday.
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COLOMBIA - FARC: Betancourt turns to remaining hostages
2008-7-07 5:22am
As the former FARC hostages freed alongside Ingrid Betancourt checked out of hospital, the French-Colombian politician embarked on a campaign to obtain the release of the 700 still held by the rebel group.
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FRANCE - IMMIGRATION: Immigration priority for French EU presidency
2008-7-07 3:10am
France is to outline a new blueprint to control immigration in Europe, days after human rights groups and South American countries criticised the EU over moves to force illegal immigrants out.
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LABOUR - FRANCE: Strike one for Sarkozy over strike 'gaff'
2008-7-06 9:48pm
At a national meeting of his UMP party, French President Nicolas Sarkozy joked that France is changing so much, strikes weren't noticed anymore. But French trade unions are not laughing.
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UK - FRANCE: Police release e-fit in French student murders
2008-7-06 8:07am
London police released a computer-generated likeness of a man seen near the scene of the double murders of two French students as a 21-year-old man arrested in connection with the brutal homicides was released.
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FRANCE - COUNTER-TERRORISM: French anti-terror laws criticised for breaching rights
2008-7-06 12:48am
France's aggressive judicial counter-terrorism program is seen as highly effective, but a new report by Human Rights Watch says it violates rights, such as the right to a fair trial.
EU - POLAND - FRANCE: Sarkozy throws gauntlet to Poland over EU treaty
2008-7-05 9:44pm
Following Polish President Kaczynski's threat that he would not ratify the Lisbon Treaty, French President Nicolas Sarkozy Saturday urged his Polish counterpart to ratify the treaty.
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FRANCE: Five suspended over live ammo incident
2008-7-05 1:50am
The French defence minister suspended five officers following last weekend's incident when a soldier fired live ammunition during an mock combat demonstration in Carcassonne, citing breaches of the rules on the control of munitions.
SOCIETE GENERALE - KERVIEL: Societe Generale found guilty by regulators
2008-7-04 5:14pm
French bank Societe Generale was found guilty of "grave deficiencies" in its internal controls that enabled one of the biggest rogue-trader scandals in history. The bank was fined four million euros.
FRANCE - NUCLEAR: France to build sophisticated nuclear plant
2008-7-03 6:46pm
President Nicolas Sarkozy announced Thursday that France was to build a new generation EPR nuclear plant, in order to combat rising fuel prices. France's 58 current reactors will begin to phase out of operation beginning in 2015.
FRANCE - ACCIDENT: Continental and five people to stand trial for Concorde crash
2008-7-03 12:15pm
Continental Airlines, two of its employees and three other people are to stand trial for manslaughter over the crash of an Air France Concorde that killed 113 people outside Paris in 2000, according to French judicial officials.
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FRANCE - EU: EU trade chief Mandelson trades barbs with Sarkozy
2008-7-02 3:49am
EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson’s accusation that French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s comments on trade talks were “undermining” him is just the latest salvo on a war of words tearing the 27-member bloc.
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FRANCE - INTELLIGENCE: DCRI: France's very own 'FBI'
2008-7-01 8:48pm
France's secret service and counter intelligence units have merged into a new domestic intelligence agency, the DCRI, or France's own 'FBI'. The merger was President Nicolas Sarkozy's idea when he was interior minister in 2005.
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INFLATION - FRANCE: Wages crawl up as inflation booms
2008-7-01 8:33pm
Prices of commodities and services are reviewed on July 1, as are France's minimum and public sector wages. Scroll down to read the sectors affected by the inflation hike.
FRANCE - EU PRESIDENCY: Sarkozy promises remedies to EU problems
2008-7-01 5:03pm
As France took on the EU's rotating presidency, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he had no doubt Polish President Kaczynski would honour his pledge to ratify the Lisbon treaty.
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NAVY - SHIPBUILDING: UK to dismantle French asbestos-laden aircraft carrier
2008-7-01 2:38pm
The Clemenceau, France's retired aircraft carrier laden with asbestos, will be dismantled in a British shipyard. Decommissioned in 1997, the carrier has since been to India and back in a failed bid to have it dismantled there.
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FRANCE - DEFENCE: French army chief resigns after incident
2008-7-01 11:14am
French army chief of staff Gen. Bruno Cuche resigned Tuesday, after an incident in Carcassonne where a soldier fired live ammunition instead of blanks at a weekend military show injuring 17 people. All have survived, including a three-year-old boy.
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UNITED NATIONS: French diplomat named head of UN peacekeeping
2008-6-30 9:21pm
French diplomat Alain Le Roy was appointed to head the UN department of peacekeeping operations. Under his predecessor, fellow Frenchman Jean-Marie Guehenno, the UN's peacekeeping efforts underwent unprecedented expansion.
TRANSPORTATION - FRANCE: Striking French truckers block traffic
2008-6-30 9:28am
Truckers staging a go-slow strike over rising fuel prices blocked highways, snarling traffic and causing jams around some of France's major cities - including Paris - on Monday.
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CONSUMERS - FRANCE: Consumer confidence lowest since 1987
2008-6-26 10:26am
Data from French statistic institute INSEE shows that consumer confidence fell in June for the 12th consecutive month, to its lowest point since 1987. The index fell to minus 46 in June from minus 42 in May.
FRANCE - LAW: Senate paves way for surrogate mother laws
2008-6-25 8:27pm
The French Senate revealed Wednesday the contents of a closed-door hearing to propose guidelines regarding the legality of surrogate mothers, banned in France in 1994. The talks are a precursor to a revision in bioethical law, slated for 2009.
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FRANCE - TV: Advertising off French public television by 2012
2008-6-25 7:02am
By 2012 French public television networks will stop showing advertising on air, a move which could cause them to lose up to 450 million euros in revenue.
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FRANCE - SYRIA: Chirac to skip Bastille Day ceremonies
2008-6-24 8:31pm
Former French president Jacques Chirac will not be attending the national Bastille Day ceremonies on July 14. Although no official reason was provided, it's believed the decision is due to the presence of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
EU - FISHING: EU upholds ban on bluefin tuna fishing
2008-6-24 8:03pm
Despite angry protests by the French government, the EU's fishery chief refused to soften his stance on banning bluefin tuna trawling across the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, suggesting France and Italy had gone over their quota limits.
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IMMIGRATION - FRANCE: Fire at Paris detention centre sparks heated debate
2008-6-24 5:18pm
As controversy mounts in the wake of Saturday's arson attack at a detention centre for illegal immigrants near Paris, eight detainees who had been transferred to another centre have since been set free.
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FRANCE - CRIME: 'Rudy H' - anti-Semitism or turf warfare?
2008-6-24 5:13pm
The 17-year-old French Jewish boy dubbed "Rudy H" awoke from a coma on Monday, the victim of a severe beating Saturday night during ethnic gang clashes in Paris' 19th arrondissment. Was anti-Semitism the motive?
FRANCE - ISRAEL : Incident mars Sarkozy's farewell to Israel
2008-6-24 3:50pm
French President Nicolas Sarkozy left Israel amid a security frenzy after an Israeli soldier allegedly shot himself during the farewell ceremony, as the French leader and his wife wrapped up a fruitful three-day trip in Israel and the West Bank.
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CUISINE - MONACO: Star chef drops French nationality to avoid tax
2008-6-24 5:28am
Famous chef Alain Ducasse has given up his French nationality and become a citizen of the principality of Monaco. The move means he no longer has to pay income tax and benefits from numerous other fiscal advantages.
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FRANCE - CRIME: Helicopter carrying half a tonne of cannabis seized
2008-6-23 6:49pm
Several people were arrested in the south of France after police intercepted a helicopter coming from Morocco with 560 kg of cananabis on board. A haul of this size has a street value of 600,000 euros.
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FRANCE - ISLAM : New French Muslim Council leader pledges reform
2008-6-22 8:53pm
Mohammed Moussaoui was elected on Sunday to lead France's official Muslim council. The imam will seek to reform an organization that has been crippled by internal power struggles.
NIGER - FRANCE: Four French hostages in Niger in 'good health'
2008-6-22 5:27pm
Speaking to FRANCE 24, ex-Targui war chief Rhissa Ag Boula said the four French hostages kidnapped Sunday in Niger were safe and sound. Ag Boula also clarified the kidnappers’ claims.
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ALGERIA - FRANCE: Bouteflika still sceptical of Mediterranean Union
2008-6-22 4:22pm
The Algerian President stopped short of saying whether he would attend the inauguration of the Mediterranean Union on July 13 in Paris, despite the French PM’s insistence. President Bouteflika wants 'clarifications' on a project he deems 'vague.'
FRANCE - MUSIC: Fête de la Musique kicks off
2008-6-22 3:45am
Summer solstice means la Fête de la Musique in Paris. It's an all-day and all-night street music festival... and a celebration of the spirit of Paris' diverse neighbourhoods.
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FRANCE - ALGERIA: French PM hails change in French-Algerian relations
2008-6-21 10:49am
Along with drumming up support for Sarkozy's Mediterranean Union project, French Prime Minister François Fillon and his Algerian counterpart signed an accord on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. (Story: K.Williams)
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FRANCE: French PM unveils long-awaited plan to 'fix' suburbs
2008-6-20 3:22pm
The French government has launched its long-awaited plan to help people living in France's low-income suburbs escape isolation and unemployment. But details as to how much it will cost are sparse.
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THE OBSERVERS - GENDER: Cultural domain not immune to sexism
2008-6-20 12:39pm
Cultural domain not immune to sexism
TOURISM - FRANCE: French tourism industry holds on to place in the sun
2008-6-20 10:05am
French tourism industry holds on to place in the sun
FRANCE - AFGHANISTAN: French businessman released in Afghanistan
2008-6-20 8:23am
French businessman Johan Freckhaus, who was kidnapped in Afghanistan last month, was released unharmed along with his two Afghan companions on Thursday, the French foreign ministry announced. Correspondent Claire Billet reports.
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FRANCE - RELIGION: 'Women only' tournament aborted after scandal
2008-6-20 7:52am
In the Paris suburb of Vigneux-sur-Seine, a Muslim association organised a women's basketball tournament, planning to close the gymnasium to men. After complaints, the mayor's office ended up cancelling the event. (Report: France 2/ M.MacCarthy)
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FRANCE - DEFENCE: US embraces France's return to NATO's command
2008-6-18 4:27am
The United States on Tuesday welcomed France's announcement that it was rejoining NATO's integrated military command, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates is wary of the massive budget cuts announced by President Sarkozy.
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FRANCE - STRIKES: Low turnout for French strikes
2008-6-17 5:52pm
Tens of thousands of French workers protested against a government plan to revise the 35-hour work week and pensions, but the turnout was lower than expected.
FRANCE - DEFENCE: Sarkozy unveils major defence shakeup
2008-6-17 1:14am
French President Nicolas Sarkozy presented a new security strategy designed to take on “the immediate threat” of terrorism via increased military cooperation with NATO and the EU. But it’s a plan that will cost about 54,000 defence jobs.
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FRANCE - EUROPEAN UNION: Sarkozy: must push forward with Lisbon Treaty
2008-6-16 2:42pm
On a visit to Prague, French President Nicolas Sarkozy stated in a press conference that one of France's priorities when it takes over the EU presidency in July will be to push forward the Lisbon Treaty "calmly but seriously."
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OIL - TRANSPORT: Protests against oil prices continue in France
2008-6-16 2:33am
A new wave of strikes by truckers protesting high fuel prices takes place in France Monday. Private ambulances and taxi drivers are also expected to demonstrate.
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ALGERIA - AL QAEDA: Al Qaeda claims Algerian bomb attack
2008-6-14 6:36pm
In a statement posted on the Internet, al Qaeda's North African branch claimed responsibility for a June 8 double bomb attack in Algeria that killed a French engineer.
Economic patriotism: Sarkozy's naval maneuver
2008-6-13 9:52am
France is buying a small stake in a French shipbuilder from a South Korean firm to safeguard French jobs and technology. The government defends an "active industrial policy". But some have another name for it: "economic patriotism". read more
USA - FRANCE: Bush hails 'excellent' relations with 'friend' Sarkozy
2008-6-13 8:24am
After an audience with the pope, US President George W. Bush continues his farewell European tour with a visit to France - a country better disposed towards the US under Nicolas Sarkozy than it was under Jacques Chirac.
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FRANCE- SYRIA: Syrian president invited to Bastille Day in France
2008-6-12 9:28pm
France announced it has invited Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the official Bastille Day military parade on the Champs Elysées, a new sign of warming relations between the two countries.
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PARIS CONFERENCE: Donors pledge 20 billion dollars for Afghanistan
2008-6-12 7:14pm
Donors led by the United States pledged about $20 billion in aid to Afghanistan on Thursday but said Kabul must do far more to fight corruption. Cyril Vanier and Armen Georgian explain.
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FRANCE - ECONOMY: Sarkozy pushes for more budget reforms
2008-6-12 2:42am
France's government announced a new reform package on Wednesday, pursuing its policy of cutting public spending. The third and latest package forecasts 8 billion euros in savings with important downgrades in the diplomatic service.
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OIL - FRANCE: Total agrees to help poor households with fuel bills
2008-6-10 6:22am
French oil group Total has agreed to contribute 102 million euros to help poor French households pay their fuel bills this winter, CEO Christophe de Margerie said. In 2007, Total made a net profit of 12 billion euros thanks to rising oil prices.
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FRANCE - GERMANY: Sarkozy and Merkel finally agree on less pollution
2008-6-09 8:58pm
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel resolved a months-long dispute on car CO2 emissions, as Germany agreed to abide by tighter standards by 2012, an EU goal it had previously been against.
CHIRAC FOUNDATION: Chirac returns to public eye with new foundation
2008-6-09 1:58am
Putting aside his recent legal troubles, former French president Jacques Chirac is set to launch his foundation for cultural diversity and sustainable development Monday at an inauguration in Paris attended by several distinguished friends.
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FRANCE - ISLAM: Divided French Muslim Council elects new leaders
2008-6-09 12:32am
A Moroccan-backed mosque network topped the elections for France's official Muslim council following a boycott by its former leaders from the Algeria-backed Paris Grand Mosque.
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