Britsh prime minister Gordon Brown
(c) Nancy Ohanian

Why Sometimes Pays to Be Like Gordon Brown
by William Pfaff

Flamboyance of the Latin kind gets you into the newspapers, but for bad reasons as well as good.

Nicolas Sarkozy of France is not a man noted for charm but for his unchecked energies and the restless activity. Italy's Silvio Berlusconi is another matter entirely. He is a success in politics apparently because the majority of Italians like him.

Indeed, sometimes pays to be a nondescript politician like Gordon Brown of Britain.

 

Russian rocket to launch from French Guiana in 2010
A Russian rocket will next year for the first time blast off from a European launch pad in South America, officials said Saturday, as the first rockets headed for the site on board a ship.

French give 500 films after Burkina deluge
French state organisation Culturesfrance offered 500 copies of African films to Ouagadougou's film institute Friday, after the Burkina Faso capital was flooded by torrential rains.

Dockers strike disrupts French ports
A strike by French dockers paralysed freight and transport and an oil terminal at France's biggest port of Marseille on Friday and caused severe disruptions at Le Havre, the second busiest, operators said.

UN in Afghanistan to evacuate 600 foreign staff
The UN insisted it was not abandoning Afghanistan, where 100,000 US-led foreign troops are battling a bloody insurgency eight years after the extremist Taliban regime was driven from power.

Italy plays down safety concerns on planned nuclear plants
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government announced shortly after taking office last year that it would begin building nuclear power stations to reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil and gas supplies.

World leaders descend on Berlin 20 years after Wall's fall
The celebrations will culminate in a gathering of luminaries past and present with an estimated 100,000 revellers at the Brandenburg Gate, a potent symbol of unity that was long on the fault line between East and West.

Mont Blanc shrinks by foot-and-a-half
Western Europe's tallest peak, the snow-capped Alpine giant Mont Blanc, has shrunk by 45 centimetres (18 inches) in two years.

French minister retreats on criticism of British Tories
A French minister has backtracked after branding Britain's opposition Conservatives' EU policies "pathetic", causing a firestorm around the party tipped to form the next government in London.

Frank talk from France as foreign ministers let rip
French was once known as the language of diplomacy but French politicians have left normal niceties aside recently in a series of frank attacks on allies.

German Opel workers fear for their futures under GM
Workers at Opel's four German plants protested on Thursday to voice their anger at a shock decision by GM this week to back out of a planned sale of the firm.

Expatica - French Headlines
Expatica - French Headlines

 

US governor backs Constellation-EdF deal
The governor of the US state of Maryland Martin OMalley is now supporting a joint venture between Constellation Energy Group and French utility Electricite de France EdF news agencies reported. But the governors backing for the $4.5 billion deal to sell half of Constellations nuclear business to EdF depends on...

Sarkozy Obama Medvedev maintain unity on Iran
The United States Russia and France agreed to maintain a united front on a proposal to enrich Iranian uranium the White House said. US President Barack Obama underlined close mutual support for the deal on Irans nuclear issue recently in phone calls with his French and Russian counterparts even as...

Airbus sued over Air France crash in Brazil
The families of eight victims of Air Frances crash over Brazil in June have sued European planemaker Airbus for damages their lawyer said on 20 October. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in an Illinois state civil court on 19 October Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa quoted attorney Floyd Wisner as saying....

No wave of suicides at France Telecom
The case of 25 France Telecom workers who have taken their own lives since the beginning of 2008 does not represent an unusually high number a respected statistician claimed on 20 October in an editorial that is certain to stir up the already controversial issue. The supposed wave of suicides...

Suspended sentence demanded for Villepin
The Paris public prosecutor demanded on 20 October that former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin be found guilty of helping slur President Nicolas Sarkozy and be handed a suspended sentence of 18 months in prison. In his closing speech the prosecutor Jean-Claude Marin asked that Villepin be found guilty...

Jordan says Areva offer encouraging
JORDAN Atomic Energy Commission JAEC Chairman Khalid Touqan described as encouraging on 6 October an offer presented to the government by French nuclear group Areva for the development of Jordans nuclear energy programme. The proposal outlining Arevas contribution to the construction of two nuclear reactors was put forward during the...

France Telecom workers go on strike
WORKERS for the French telecommunications giant France Telecom went on strike on 6 October after a wave of suicides in which 24 company employees have taken their own lives over the past 18 months. Labour unions charge that a restructuring of the company which allegedly forced employees to accept new...

Total to develop Timimoun gas project in Algeria
TOTAL 37.75% Sonatrach 51% and Cepsa 11.25% on 7 October announced that the Algerian National Oil and Gas Development Agency ALNAFT has approved the development plan for the Timimoun natural gas project located between Timimoun and Adrar in south-west Algeria. This project is the outcome of an exploration and appraisal...

Appeals trial in 1999 oil pollution disaster opens
FRENCH oil giant Total and five other defendants went on trial once more on 5 October in a Paris appeals court for a 1999 ecological disaster caused by the sinking of an oil tanker. Dozens of plaintiffs including towns and communities are demanding that the ecological damage they suffered be...

Elcoteq says Videocon signs letter of intent to buy stake
ELCOTEQ said in a statement that it had signed a non-binding letter of intent with Indias Videocon over a potential definitive deal to buy a stake in the Finnish electronics maker NewsRoom Finland reported on 2 October. The statement added that the transaction was expected to close by the end of...

Sarkozy and bankers discuss economic crisis
SENIOR French bankers and government officials met on 1 October with President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss the outcome of the meeting of the G20 leading economic nations two weeks ago. Bankers at the meeting included BNP Paribas SA Chairman Michel Pebereau Frederic Oudea Chairman and Societe Generale SA Chief Executive...

Russia may buy French helicopter-carrying warship
Russia said it has started talks with France for an unprecedented deal to buy a new helicopter-carrying assault warship from France. We are carrying out negotiations for the purchase of the Mistral naval ship Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin told radio station Echo of Moscow. The Russian defence ministry had said...

Dairy farmers dump milk
German and French dairy farmers who have been dumping milk on the ground as a protest against low farm-gate prices poured a token quantity on September 19 into the Rhine river between their two nations. Between 60 and 70 German tractors and 10 from France hauling 35 big tanks of...

Google goes on trial for digitizing books
American internet giant Google went on trial in Paris on 24 September on charges of copyright infringement and forgery in its attempt to digitize millions of the worlds books without prior authorization Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa reported. The trial was provoked in 2006 by the head of the publishing group La...

France sees an influx of investment in CRE market
Recent official figures confirmed that France despite the crunch of recession still continues to be the second-most-popular commercial real estate market in Europe after the UK. Investment levels in the market doubled in the second quarter after being stagnant in the first three months of the year. Nine out of...

Digicel gets France Telecoms Dominica business
Digicel the Caribbean mobile operator announced the completion of its acquisition of Orange Dominica Ltd from France Telecom. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Digicel also said that it had made a significant investment in expanding the capacity of its network to ensure that Orange customers will enjoy...

French give Sarkozy low grades on handling of money crisis
Although he has been typically hyperactive in his efforts to limit the effects of the economic crisis French President Nicolas Sarkozy has not convinced the French people that his policies are working according to a poll published in the daily Liberation. According to the survey 58 percent of French adults...

France wants France Telecom to act on suicides
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said that the management of telecommunications giant France Telecom must undertake measures to halt a series of suicides by company employees. We need a strong message to all employees from the top management level Lagarde told France 3 television. She urged executives to determine if...

Sarkozys war on the banks takes some casualties
As the French authority was gearing up to curb banker bonuses in response to public anger local media reported that 20 bankers from Frances Societe Generale recently left to set up their own hedge fund business. The executives including the head of the banks global hedge funds business reportedly already...

France to spend 1.22 billion euros on rail freight
A governmental report has unveiled a French plan designed to increase the share of railways in Europes second largest transport market over the next 10 years. The plan would involve an investment of 1.22 billion euros USD 11.8 billion according to local media reports citing the official revelation. According to...

French lawmakers approve new version of Internet piracy law
The lower house of the French Parliament the National Assembly has approved the second version of a bill that would cut off Internet access to people who repeatedly download copyrighted content from the web. By a vote of 285 to 225 lawmakers sent the controversial bill on to the Senate....

Kouchner wants a world tax on financial transactions
A tax imposed on global financial transactions could raise billions of euros to support economic development French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in an interview published in the daily Les Echos. We are talking about only five cents USD .073 on every 1 0­00 Euro Kouchner said. Applied on a...

Swiss and French bank war of words over assets
A senior private banker has sparked a row with foreign financiers in Switzerland at a time when the entire sector is at a tipping point suggesting they would sell their assets and branches in Switzerland. Patrick Odier a senior partner at the private bank Lombard Odier one of the largest...

Sarkozy says a carbon tax is coming but wont cost
The French government intends to impose a new tax on the carbon content of fossil fuels next year that would make it more expensive for the French to drive their cars and heat their homes French President Nicolas Sarkozy said. At the same time the French president promised his citizens...

Struggling Air France offers workers a voluntary walk
The beleaguered carrier Air France has announced a voluntary redundancy plan designed to shave about 1 500 jobs off its payroll. The company said it took the decision in view of current difficult economic conditions. The airline stated that it was lowering its activity level by reducing both passenger and...

France plans objection to Google Books digitization plan
After facing Italian resistance the US search engine major Google was set to experience a French challenge shortly media reports indicated. Reports citing a French culture ministry official said that the government was planning to file its objections to Google Incs plan to digitise millions of books at a New...

Brazil to buy 36 Rafale fighter planes from France
Brazil will buy 36 Rafale fighter planes made by French firm Dassault Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Nicolas Sarkozy of France said in a joint statement. The deal is reportedly worth around USD four billion but the exact costs were not made public. Negotiations with Sweden...

EU dairy farmers call from Paris for a strike
Milk farmers from eight European countries said after a meeting in Paris that they were prepared to strike to press their demands for higher prices and a cut in milk production quotas. The current European farms policy is destroying European milk farmers European Milk Board EMB head Romuald Schaber said...

French jobless rate climbs to 9.1 percent no letup seen
The French unemployment rate soared to 9.1 percent in the second quarter of this year the highest level in more than three years the governments statistics office INSEE announced on September 3. In the first quarter of 2009 the jobless rate had stood at 8.5 percent. In a statement Finance...

Cough it up France will impose carbon tax in 2010
The French government plans to tax households and companies 14 Euros USD 20 for every ton of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere Prime Minister Francois Fillon said in a recent interview published by Le Figaro magazine cited by Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. The amount is substantially less than the 32...

Molex ends discussions with potential buyer in France
A private equity firm identified by the French government regarding the potential reindustrialisation of Molexs manufacturing facility at Villemur-sur-Tarn failed to turn-up with an acceptable offer. As a result Molex announced that discussions had ended with the firm. The French government which pledged to support reindustrialisation efforts for the Molex...

Not so good for the food chain Auchan profits fall
Supermarket retailer Auchan has posted its first-half figures reporting a 17.8 percent year-on-year plummet in net profits. Hurt by write-downs and loans the company could earn 143 million euros in net profit in the six months to June the figures showed. However revenues remained stable for the period edging up...

China and France kiss and make up want closer ties
Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan came to France last week where he called on the French government to enhance its efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between the countries. Wang met Jean-David Levitte a diplomatic adviser to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and said China had always valued its relationship with France...

France got three banks to spill the beans on clients
French Budget Minister Eric Woerth said that confidential data on some 3 000 bank accounts held in tax havens by French individuals did not necessarily come from Switzerland. These are three banks that provided data . I am not saying if they are Swiss or not Swiss. They are three...

Sarkozy says he has just the right thing – more loans
The current French regime is planning to inject more cash into the industry sector to help it to counter the ongoing recession phase. President Nicolas Sarkozy last week outlined the plans for a national loan to rebuild and redesign the ailing French industry. However the presidential speech carried a clear...

Russia chooses France for big warship deal
In a fresh blow to their domestic arms producers who keep vying for the lucrative Asian market a top military officer from Russia last week divulged a plan of buying an advanced warship from France this year. If completed this deal would be the countrys first major foreign military purchase...

France to mediate US plant dispute with workers
The French government last week failed to satisfactorily mediate a dispute between the workers and the management of a US-owned electronics plant in the country. Despite the top-level government mediation the bitter dispute didnt show any signs of thawing with managers vowing to keep the company closed until workers ease...

French warplanes to take part in Libyan flypast
As France courts Libyas oil and expanded trade two French warplanes are to take part in a flypast in Libya marking the 40th anniversary of Moamer Gaddafis ascent to power the newspaper Le Point said. In addition to the Rafale jets a contingent of the French Foreign Legion will also...

Credit Agricole racks up strong gains in second quarter
Second quarter net income rose dramatically to 201 million Euro USD 286.2 million at French bank Credit Agricole due in part to a strong jump in investment banking business the bank announced. That was a significant jump over second quarter figures for 2008 when the bank had only reported net...

French banks report losses: Natixis stock still rises
French banks suffered larger-than-expected losses in the first half of 2009 according to data released on August 26. BPCE a French financial giant formed this summer from a fusion of associations of savings banks and cooperative banks wrote down losses of 757 million Euro USD 1.1 billion for the first...

France proposes expansion of G-8 summit into G-14
France would seek to expand the structure of the Group of Eight G8 summit to 14 countries by adding emerging economies at a 2011 summit which France presides over President Nicolas Sarkozy said. Sarkozy floated the idea in a foreign policy speech he delivered at a meeting of French ambassadors...

French warplanes to take part in Libyan flypast
As France courts Libyas oil and expanded trade two French warplanes are to take part in a flypast in Libya marking the 40th anniversary of Moamer Gaddafis ascent to power the newspaper Le Point said. In addition to the Rafale jets a contingent of the French Foreign Legion will also...

Credit Agricole racks up strong gains in second quarter
Second quarter net income rose dramatically to 201 million Euro USD 286.2 million at French bank Credit Agricole due in part to a strong jump in investment banking business the bank announced. That was a significant jump over second quarter figures for 2008 when the bank had only reported net...

Air France-KLM pullover leaves Czechs in the air
Plans for a privitisation deal with Czech Airlines have stumbled with the decision by Air France-KLM Europes largest air carrier not to pursue the deal. The Franco-Dutch group said the ongoing recession and reduced number of passengers made the idea of a takeover not timely and that it was going...

France wants to go green to stop slowdown
Developing the green energy sector is now a key goal of the French authority as they hope that the flourishing green economy would inject the desired boost to the countrys ailing economy that has been suffering amid the global financial crisis local media reported recently citing government officials. Some notable...

France Telecom to close US research lab
Confirming earlier reports the French telecommunications major France Telecom said it was planning to pull down the shutters of its research and development centre in Boston in the US. About 50 researchers are employed there. The centre is to shut down in October. This closure is part of our project...

New airport lounge at Fort-de-France
Air France has announced the opening of its refurbished 138 square metre lounge reflecting the Caribbean atmosphere in Aime Cesaire Airport Fort de France Martinique. The airline said it was now welcoming its Business Class customers as well as Flying Blue Gold Platinum and SkyTeam Elite Plus cardholders to this...

EasyJet to be prosecuted for labour law breaches
On charges of violating French labour law the budget airline easyJet is set to be prosecuted in France. Local media reports said citing court officials that the airline would have to face prosecution being alleged to have violated the laws by failing to declare staff employed at Paris airports under...

France talks oil and mineral cooperation with Yemen
Yemens Minister of Oil and Minerals Amir al-Aydarus recently met with the French envoy in the region to discuss ways of boosting cooperation between both countries in the field of oil and increasing French investment in Yemen Yemeni media reports said last week. Al-Aydarus welcomed the French investments in Yemen...

Call for limits on Orange TV deals
France Telecoms FTE Orange Sport pay-TV channel seems likely to be slapped with fresh restrictive measures from the state competition watchdog. In a statement published on July 7 at the newspaper El Pais the French competition council said internet providers exclusive content policy has to remain an exception and limited...

France News - New Europe News
France News - New Europe News: The European News Source.

 

French bankers bid 'adieu' to guaranteed bonuses
Banks in France, including non-French ones, will no longer be allowed to offer guaranteed bonuses to traders and other staff under new rules announced Nov. 5. The only exception is for signing bonuses for new employees, and they are limited to a maximum of one year.

Physicist held in France over 'terror links'
A man arrested in France on suspicion of links to terrorist organizations is a physicist who was working with the agency known for being home of the Large Hadron Collider -- the world's most powerful particle accelerator.

France passes tough anti-piracy measure
French lawmakers passed a tough new measure to crack down on illegal downloading.

France bulldozes migrant 'Jungle'
French authorities on Tuesday dismantled a makeshift camp dubbed "the Jungle," which housed illegal migrants fleeing dangerous homelands to seek a more prosperous life in Europe.

H1N1 virus forces French to bid adieu to kiss
It goes without saying that France is a land that puts a certain value on kissing.

To market, to market in Provence
Market days are an especially big deal throughout France. No single event better symbolizes the French preoccupation with fresh products and their strong ties to the farmer than the weekly market. And in no other region is it more celebrated than in Provence.

France to relax Sunday shopping ban
The French Senate early Thursday narrowly passed a controversial law to allow many more shops across the country to open on Sundays, in what would be a significant cultural shift.

Air France wreckage arrives in France
Debris from Air France 447, which crashed en route from Brazil to France last month, killing 228 people, has arrived in France, the French air accident investigation agency BEA said Wednesday.

France seeks release of student held by Iran
The French government says it is "determined" to free a French woman being held by Iranian officials, who accused her of being a spy after she took pictures at recent protests.

'Miracle' plane crash survivor back in France
The 13-year-old girl who survived for hours in the Indian Ocean clinging to the debris of a downed plane arrived home in France on Thursday where she was reunited with her father.

France: Yemenia plane's distress signals located, not 'black boxes'
Rescue workers have located the downed Yemenia Airways plane's distress signals, but not its flight data recorders, France's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

Al Qaeda threatens France for perceived anti-burqa stance
Al Qaeda threatened to "take revenge" on France "by every means and wherever we can reach them" because of a debate in France over whether the burqa, a traditional Islamic woman's covering, violates French law, according to a statement posted on radical Islamist Web sites.

French parliament to consider burka ban
The French National Assembly announced Tuesday the creation of an inquiry into whether women in France should be allowed to wear the burka, one day after President Nicolas Sarkozy controversially told lawmakers that the traditional Muslim garment was "not welcome" in France.

World's best Chardonnay...from Canada?
Ask most wine hounds and sommeliers on either side of the Atlantic where the best chardonnay originates, and the answer will almost certainly be California or France.

Obama joins WWII vets for D-Day tributes
World leaders gave thanks Saturday to military veterans for their efforts in the D-Day landings of 65 years ago at a ceremony in northwest France, warning that their legacy must not be forgotten as the world faces renewed threats of tyranny.

France opens Gulf military base
France established Tuesday its first strategic foothold in the Gulf, when President Nicolas Sarkozy opened a French military base in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

Gitmo detainee hospitalized in France after release
The Algerian released from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and taken to France has been hospitalized, CNN affiliate France 2 reported Saturday.

Violence mars some May Day festivities
Traditional May Day celebrations to recognize the achievements of organized labor turned violent in some cities Friday, as workers decried government efforts to deal with the economic downturn.

Suspected Basque separatist leader arrested in France
The suspected leader of the Basque separatist group, ETA, and two alleged accomplices were arrested over the weekend in France.

Caterpillar workers release hostage managers
Workers in France have released four managers they had been holding hostage for more than 24 hours.

France to ban bonuses for bailed out firms
France will ban bonuses and stock options for executives whose companies get government bailout money, the president's chief of staff said Thursday.

Obama to visit France for D-Day anniversary
U.S. President Barack Obama will visit France in June for the 65th anniversary of D-Day, French President Nicolas Sarkozy's chief of staff said Thursday.

Sarkozy wins French NATO re-entry vote
Opposition lawmakers Tuesday ridiculed President Nicolas Sarkozy for taking France back into NATO's military command after more than 40 years, but were unable to stop the move when it came to a vote.

No shorts in Notre Dame, free museums in Nice
Fantastique France continues to make its heritage and culture easier for travelers to appreciate. Being up-to-date on changes for 2009 will help your visit go smoothly.

France 'responsible' for Holocaust deaths
France bears responsibility for deporting Jews to their deaths in concentration camps during World War II, the country's highest court ruled Monday.

Four boys killed in roof collapse as storms batter Spain, France
Hurricane-force winds have swept across Spain and France, leaving 16 people dead, authorities and media have reported.

Briefing: Nuclear power
Of all the power supplies in the energy mix, nuclear has historically been the most criticized and controversial. But this most unpopular of power sources has recently resurfaced in political and economic dialogue.

Commentary: How far left should socialists steer?
They pushed and plotted, elbowed and jabbed -- and then voted and voted. After months of maneuvering and debates, and weeks of party polling, the opposition Socialist Party in France finally came up with a party leader.

World marks end of 'war to end all wars'
The handful of surviving World War I veterans were celebrated Tuesday as part of 90th anniversary commemorations of the conflict that was meant to "end all wars."

Will NATO Navies Stop Somali Pirates?
France captured nine pirates and handed them over to Somalia for trial. But it's the weakness of the Somali state that has encouraged piracy in the first place

No survivors in French helicopter crash
Eight people were killed Thursday when an Italian military helicopter crashed in the countryside in northeastern France, according to area officials and the Italian government.

Global markets slide
Global stock indexes mostly fell Tuesday, as the positive sentiment stemming from France's plan to inject $14 billion in banks and talk of a second economic stimulus package in the United States faded.

Booing the Marsellaise: A French Soccer Scandal
A handful of soccer fans booing La Marseillaise sends the political class into a lather. That, of course, is exactly what the boo-boys hoped to do

Dollar mixed after bailout
The dollar was mixed Friday after the House approved a massive intervention in the nation's financial system.

No Gloating in France on Finance Crisis
As the Bush administration resorts to a mega-dose of French- style intervention, the main concern in Paris is that it works

How We Became the United States of France
Viewpoint: As Washington rushes to nationalize troubled parts of the economy, the inescapable reality is that we're all French now

Thousands stranded by Channel Tunnel fire
Authorities on Thursday halted all traffic running through the 50-kilometer (30-mile) Chunnel after a fire broke out inside the tunnel, which runs between Britain and France underneath the English Channel, Eurotunnel and fire officials said.

The Pope's Purpose in France
Once termed "the eldest daughter" of the Catholic Church, France is now emblematic of Rome's loosening hold in the developed world

Cycling the Tour de Cheese
Every year more than 200 professional cyclists set off on the epic Tour de France, some preparing for this brutal and astounding journey by embarking on various programs of extreme workouts, strict diet and intense focus. Plus huge quantities of drugs.

Brad and Angelina: Eligible for Child Support?
France offers the multimillionaire couple up to $2,600-a-month – though they are unlikely to accept

France Firm After Afghan Deaths
Having upped contributions to NATO's forces, Sarkozy has public support. But does NATO have a winning strategy?

Eco Quiz: Wine
Which country, in 2008, will be the world's biggest wine consumer?

Herpes Hits French Oyster Industry
An outbreak of Oyster Herpes virus type 1 has lovers of the salty delicacy crying

France denies role in Rwandan genocide
France on Wednesday said accusations by Rwanda that French politicians and military officials helped prepare and carry out the 1994 Rwandan genocide are "unacceptable."

France Frees Sick Italian Terrorist
A former Red Brigades terrorist is freed by France. Let the recriminations begin

Too Young to Bullfight?
Anti-bullfighting activists in France are trying to ban a 10-year-old boy from taking part in the bloody sport

France's Wine Terrorists
Angered by cheaper foreign imports and plummeting wine prices, financially strapped grape growers are resorting to "terroir-ism" to extract financial assistance from the state

Goodbye to France's 35-Hour Week
The conservative government ends the Socialists' once-celebrated attempt to put more people to work for shorter hours

When Jellyfish Attack
Global warming and overfishing have turned the surf off France's south coast into a gelatinous mass swarming with menace

French Doubts Up After Nuke Mishaps
A pair of nuclear leaks have led to water-use restrictions and a nagging sense of unease among the nuke-enthusiastic French

Drugs Scandal Hits Tour de France
Italian rider Riccardo RiccÒ is thrown out of the world's most famous cycle race after testing positive for a banned blood booster

French Combat Youth Binge-Drinking

Austin Murphy: Cyclists out to regain public trust at 95th Tour de France
Rhetorical question posed on the eve of the 95th Tour de France, which begins Saturday in Brest, at the tip of the Breton peninsula: Wouldn't it be surprising if cycling, for so long the poster child of pharmacologically jacked-up sports, turned out to be cleaner than, say, the NFL, or the NHL, or Major League Baseball?

Your opinions on France
As part of its Eye on France coverage, CNN is asking its viewers -- including the French living in France and abroad -- about what defines the nation today.

Six children dead after French bus crash
A regional train in southeastern France crashed into a school bus killing six children in the Haute-Savoie department Monday morning, said regional authorities in Annecy.

France Debates 35-hour Work Week
Political opposition precludes repealing the law, but conservatives seek to gut an entitlement vigorously defended by unions

France on the move: CNN profiles a nation
As both the French and the international community reflect on Nicolas Sarkozy's first year in power, CNN International's "Eye on.." strand decamps to some of France's most iconic landmarks to put the nation under the spotlight as it redefines its place on the world stage.

Eye On France: France On The Move
CNN International is showing a special week of programming from Monday 2nd to Sunday 8th June.

We want to hear your opinion on France
As part of its Eye on France coverage, CNN wants to hear from viewers -- including the French living in France and abroad -- about what defines the nation today.

Translation software still fails - badly
My public relations agency, NettResults, based in Irvine, Calif., and Dubai, employs 18 people speaking a total of nine languages. Through a partner, we work with 58 other agencies in 26 countries. So I was excited to test three new language-translation software suites: If they worked, I could e-mail clients myself and cut down on the pricey human translators we use every day.

Basque ETA leader arrested in France
The suspected leader of the Basque separatist group ETA was arrested late Tuesday in southern France in an operation that has also netted five other suspects, Spain's Interior Minister said Wednesday

France milks cheese for all its worth
We're up in the north central part of France -- Normandy -- to see what's happening with French cheese. Cheese lovers will be happy to know, just about nothing, at least as far as the traditional cheeses are concerned.

Novelist's Mother Fires Back
In what has to be the consummate nightmare of any male with a fearless reputation, Michel Houellebecq is getting a very public spanking from his own mother

Pirates held for questioning in Paris
Six pirates who hijacked a French luxury yacht off the coast of Somalia are now in custody in France, a diplomatic official said Wednesday.

French Art for the French
France's Culture Ministry fears that the country's lack of interest in purchasing art is bleeding an enormous vein of national culture dry

Death Sets French Euthanasia Debate
The terrible agony of Chantal Sebire is over, but the cause she championed may change laws after her death

French Movie Finds Success in Unlikely Quarter
A new Ch'ti comedy is setting box office records and turning northern France into the hottest, trendiest entertainment draw in French history

More Sex Please, We're French
According to a new survey, in France they're starting younger and doing it longer. More importantly, Gallic women are catching up with the traditionally more amorous men

A trip inside the bonbon factory
When I first saw this old diner, I knew it would be integral to the business I would create with my husband, Pascal Siegler - and to our home. We'd seen many traditional commercial spaces, and none of them suited us. But this salmon-pink concrete building was perfect. With its original features, including diner stools and large steel sinks, the 39- by 19-foot main room was just the kind of space we needed.

Faster trains and smoke-free dining in France
Like all of Europe, France has some changes in store for visitors in 2008 -- starting at the top. France's newly elected president, Nicolas Sarkozy, and recently appointed prime minister, Francois Fillon, appear to be America-friendly, so we can expect no more cries for Freedom Fries from people who don't get out much.

French Aid Workers Sentenced
The ruling brings the saga of humanitarian assistance group ZoÉ's Ark to its legal conclusion, but emotions are running high

France's $7.2 Billion Hit
A multi-billion dollar fraud hits the country's second-biggest bank, leading to questions about how such insider schemes can be prevented

France Overruled on Gay Adoption
The European Court of Human Rights has overturned French court rulings that prevented a single lesbian woman from adopting a child

France faces end of coffee and cigarettes
As a look, it is about as quintessentially French as it gets. All the same, from the New Year enjoying a cigarette while you sip on your cafe au lait will become a thing of the past.

French aid workers leave Chad
Six French charity workers sentenced in Chad to eight years of hard labor for trying to kidnap children were on their way back to France on Friday, the French president's office said.

Fallout from Aid Workers' Sentence
Now that a Chad court has handed down their convictions, mending damaged relations with France will be the real challenge

ETA gunmen kill Spanish guard
Members of the Basque group ETA have shot dead a Spanish civil guard and seriously wounded another in southern France, Spanish officials said.

French Riots Enter a Second Night
Concern is rising that rioting may spread across the nation as it did in 2005 if it manages to ignite resentment bottled up in other areas of the country

French Unions Halt Transport Strikes
Moving around France just got a whole lot easier. But amid relief over union decisions to suspend the nine-day transport strike is whether the return to normal will last

Transport 'sabotage' hits France
Striking railway workers have carried out "a coordinated campaign of sabotage" on the tracks of France's high-speed TGV rail network, setting fire to cables and signal boxes and causing delays of up to three hours, France's national rail authority said Wednesday.

Transport Strikes to Derail Sarkozy?
As the French get ready for another round of disruptions, there are fears from the President that his vast reform program is now in doubt

France Strikes as Sarkozys Split
Both events were as widely expected as they were painstakingly choreographed

A touch of Paris...in San Francisco
My interior design business, Randall Koll Lifestyle & Design (randallkoll.com), takes me on frequent trips to France, where I wish I could just relax at my favorite cafés but hardly ever have the time. So when I come home to San Francisco, I go to Café de la Presse (cafedelapresse.com).

Iran anger over French war warning
Iran's foreign ministry criticized France on Monday for a blunt warning over the weekend that Europe must prepare for war if Tehran continues to flout international demands to stop producing nuclear fuel.

ETA suspects held over 'bomb plot'
Four alleged members of Basque separatist group ETA were arrested Saturday in France, Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said.

Austin Murphy: My own long ride up a mountain stage
Friday's flat stage was snatched by Sandy Casar, a Frenchman riding for Francaise des Jeux. It was one of those long, flat hauls that set up well for a breakaway by a group of Nothing Burgers -- a colleague's expression for riders who've taken up residence in the southern reaches of the general classification.

A history of bad hairstyles
Through the years, there have been many unforgettable and sometimes unfortunate hairstyles.

The French Revolution, Tabloid Style
She lost an election. Now SÉgolÈne Royal has shed a mate. The marital exploits of France's pols are becoming fair game

France Set for Second Sarkozy Win
Conservatives are expected to win a commanding majority in legislative elections, giving the new President a free hand to transform France

French pause for thought before vote
France paused Saturday for a "day of reflection" -- in which campaigning is barred -- before voting begins in presidential elections on Sunday.

Election night: The bloggers
On the night of the French Presidential election, CNN followed the work of popular French bloggers. You can find background on each below, along with links to their blogs.

French presidential election: CNN story log
The following is a log of stories about France's presidential election campagin:

France's presidential election system
Voters will go to the polls on April 22 to elect the sixth president of the Fifth Republic of France.

12 candidates in the running for French president
There are 12 candiates running for president of France in the first round of voting on April 22. Here is a brief description of the candidates:

TGV breaks train speed record
France broke the world speed record on rails Tuesday with a souped-up fast train, a feat to showcase the technology it is trying to sell to overseas markets including China.

ETA suspects arrested in France
French police arrested two suspected members of the Basque separatist group ETA, just hours after Spain detained eight ETA suspects, a Spanish Interior Ministry spokesman told CNN.

Why the Acadians wandered
The story of the Acadians usually starts in the middle, with the Great Upheaval. The real beginning came with the early-1600s arrival of French Catholic settlers in the land that became known as Acadia (consisting of much of the modern-day Maritime coast of Canada).

3 ETA suspects arrested in France
Police arrested three suspected members of the Basque separatist group ETA in southern France on Tuesday, acting on a Spanish judge's arrest warrant, Spain's Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Wining, dining and waterways
Meursault, Montrachet, Santenay and Puligny are all liquid assets of France's Burgundy region, wines that are the product of chalky, sloping hillsides and a precise measure of sunlight.

Marseille city guide
Check out The Scene's recommendations for France's second city and send us your suggestions.

France: News & Videos about France - CNN.com
Find stories, videos, and photos about France from CNN.com.

 

French Minister Calls British Tories ‘Pathetic’
Pierre Lellouche, the minister for European affairs, said the British Conservatives’ policy on Europe reflected a “bizarre sense of autism.”

France to Mark Fall of Berlin Wall With Musical Tribute
France will mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with an open-air musical spectacle.

Chirac Ordered to Face Trial in France
If his case comes to trial, Jacques Chirac will be the first former French head of state to be prosecuted for corruption.

French Ideal of Bicycle-Sharing Meets Reality
Paris’s bike-rental system has inspired a new urban ethos, along with some old urban curses: vandalism and theft.

French Airport Zone Poses Risk to Arriving Minors, Report Says
Hundreds of unaccompanied foreign children arriving at the main Paris airport, Charles de Gaulle, are being detained in a so-called airport transit zone where they are denied the full protection of French law.

French Papers Aim at Younger Readers
The government detailed plans for a project called “My Free Newspaper,” under which 18- to 24-year-olds will be offered a free, yearlong subscription to a newspaper of their choice.

French Branch of Scientology Convicted of Fraud
The French branch of the Church of Scientology was fined nearly $900,000 on Tuesday by a Paris court. But the judges did not ban the church entirely.

French Power Elite Face a Fall From Grace
A Paris court handed a prison sentence to a former interior minister, Charles Pasqua, and a heavy fine to Jean-Christophe Mitterrand for their involvement in arms trafficking to Angola in the 1990s.

France to Renew Search for Plane’s Data Recorders
France is preparing to spend as much as 20 million euros next year on a renewed search for the flight recorders and undersea wreckage of the Air France A330 jetliner.

Violence in Marseille After Game Postponed
Nearly a dozen people were injured after violence broke out between rival fans after Paris Saint-Germain's French league match at fierce rival Marseille was postponed because players had contracted swine flu.

France, Land of Epicures, Gets Taste for McDonald’s
The lack of outrage over a McDonald’s under the Louvre shows how the French have grown fond of it.

Pumpkin Eaters
In France, the topic of Halloween pumpkins can become more sensitive than village politics.

Historians Reassess Battle of Agincourt
Some historians are doubting the Battle of Agincourt’s status as perhaps the greatest military victory against overwhelming odds, while also drawing some modern comparisons.

Where Next for French-German Ties?
As the European Union plans to raise its stature on the international stage, the two biggest nations in continental Europe are warily preparing to renew their ties.

When Ancient Artifacts Become Political Pawns
Egypt has requested the return of a bust of Nefertiti and other artifacts from European museums, a move motivated as much by politics as by culture.

NYT > France
World news about France. Breaking news and archival information about its people, politics and economy from The New York Times.

 

The Biggest Heist of All Time
Germany is conquering Europe without firing a shot.

French General Given Key NATO Command
The EU gets an opportunity to control how NATO looks in the future.

Ode of a Broken Promise
A generation fades from the scene, and the English-speaking nations repeat the mistakes of the past—in a nuclear age!

France on Strike
As the economy goes down, the French revive their national pastime.

Europe and the Specter of 1968
France’s President Sarkozy fears a return to the youth riots of 40 years ago.

Guns, Safes and Treasuries: America's Top Sellers
Making money today is a lot tougher, but economic crisis breeds opportunities. The next big sellout items: bunkers, mattresses and Bibles.

UK Defense Secretary Backs EU Army
John Hutton is the latest public figure to support a European military.

Report: Sarkozy Wants to Head New Eurozone "Economic Government"
The credit crunch pushes Europe together.

Berlusconi: World May Close Stock Markets, Leaders Considering New Bretton Woods Agreement
The dollar’s day at the top is almost over.

British Energy Sold Out to the French Government
France becomes a nuclear power in Britain. But the government doesn’t care.

Pope Benedict XVI Warns France--and Europe
What the pope’s visit to France reveals about the future of Europe

The EU and the Irish
The Irish have done it again. For the second time in seven years they have rejected an EU treaty. Will this be the end of the EU’s drive for federation?

Why Ireland Cannot Stop European Unification
Ireland’s rejection of the Lisbon Treaty will not be the end of a forming European Empire. Here’s why!

Let Them Eat Cake
Famine and revolution go hand in hand.

Germany's Grand Strategy
Few voices are yet being raised within the English-speaking nations over the dangers of Germany’s rise to world power status. Those few that are should be heeded before it is too late.

France vs. Germany: The Rivalry Heats Up
Europe’s two leading powers are jostling for continental dominance. Who will emerge the victor?

France, UAE, Qatar Conduct Joint Military Exercises
France reinforces its own security role in the Middle East.

The Weekend Web
Ehud Olmert’s nine lives and Barack Obama’s Muslim summit; plus, what a difference a year makes at the World Economic Forum.

Société Générale Shakes Banking World
Banking giant Société Générale stirs new worries about the balance sheets of the world’s leading banks.

Europe Waking to the Iranian Threat
France and Germany call for a stronger position against the Islamic Republic.

Europe's Shaky Leadership
The leaders of the European Union’s top four member nations face a rough year ahead.

French Bank Reveals Massive Banking Fraud
Another revelation prompts the question: Just how widespread are the problems in the banking sector?

France to Build Military Base in UAE
France’s upcoming installation gives Europe a rare presence in the Middle East.

Germany Joins France in Pushing for Mediterranean Union
The European Union makes known its desire to move south.

Riots in France: Is History About to Repeat Itself?

theTrumpet.com: France
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