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France: Socialism Bombs Out Again
Once again, socialism has put a silver fork in itself. Standard & Poor's downgraded France's credit rating, giving the country the side-eye on its claims to have its debt under control
What's New in France and Spain for 2012
While their economies may be undergoing turbulence in 2012, positive changes in France and Spain are also in the air -- making this year a good time to touch down in these essential European destinations
2012 could be the make-or-break moment for the embattled eurozone. Europe could either continue on the path of ever-greater integration - or return to being a regional group of rival states.
The euro should now be recognized as an experiment that failed. The political goal of creating a harmonious Europe has also failed
Moody's Downgrades Top Three French Banks
Moody's is downgrading the credit rating of all three of France's top banks because of the difficulty they have borrowing money
Stage Set For 2012 Euro Cup Finals
The stage is set for the 2012 Euro Cup following Friday's draw that saw host Poland and Ukraine getting the top draws while Spain placed in a tougher group. Poland was drawn in Group A along with Greece, Russia, and Czech Republic
Europe's Crisis: Beyond Finance
Everyone is wondering about the next disaster to befall Europe. Italy is one focus; Spain is also a possibility. But these crises are already under way. Instead, the next crisis will be political, not in the sense of what conventional politician is going to become prime minister, but in the deeper sense of whether Europe's political elite can retain power
Why Care About the French Presidential Race
For most people, the knee-jerk reaction to an event on the other side of the world is, 'Why should I give a toss what happens in France?' While such foreign-policy prowess might be a hit at the local pub, would it really be smart to ignore an election that will impact everything in your life for which you pay or require borrowed money? Bear with me as I explain
Euro Zone Rescue: Deja Vu All Over Again
The crisis won't be over until the underlying flaw of the euro is fixed -- namely the separation of monetary and fiscal policy. German public opinion has to realise that the euro was built on imperfect foundations and that these imperfections must be corrected. Meanwhile, the Italian president of the ECB will need all his technical and political expertise to keep the Eurozone together
Eurozone Rescue or Recession? Fallout of the October Package
It was short-term good news in that it defused 'the bomb' -- the possible catastrophe vortex of failing banks and defaulting sovereigns. The bad news is that it will induce a recession. Banks will create a credit crunch in trying to meet capital adequacy ratios, and the new austerity will create a fiscal contraction
European Union Leaders Reach Deal on Greece, but Worries Remain
European Union leaders have brokered a deal to reduce Greece's debt and hopefully stem the continent's lingering debt crisis. The deal is a major move forward, but it is still only one step in restoring stability on a continent beset by economic woes
What Happens if Italy's Economy Collapses?
While Europe panicked about Greece, Italy drew closer to the brink of economic ruin. No one was paying attention while Rome was burning. Until recently
Uncertainty Rises as Eurozone Crisis Deepens
With no end in sight for the two-year-old euro crisis, the question now is can the EU survive it while remaining united?
What made Europe a compelling political, economic, and social alternative wedged between Anglo-American free marketeers and Soviet nomenklatura is rapidly becoming a thing of the past
France Planning Eurozone Breakaway
The current European Union is under threat no longer just from the debt contagion caused by weaker members, but also by plans of more prosperous members to form a breakaway group
EU Leaders Announce New Eurozone Rescue Deal
EU leaders announced a new plan to contain the debt crisis in the euro area, after private banks and investors agreed to write off 50% of Greek debt from their books
Can Europe's Divided House Stand?
Conventional wisdom has it that the eurozone cannot have a monetary union without also having a fiscal union. Euro-enthusiasts see the single currency as the first steppingstone toward a broader economic union, which is their dream. Euroskeptics do, too, but they see that endgame as hell -- and would prefer the single currency to be dismantled
Bailout Fund Support May Cause France to Lose Top Credit Rating
Moody's Investors Service warned France that it may lose its top AAA credit rating because of French support for the bailout fund and the country's weakened finances
Hollande to Challenge Sarkozy in 2012 French Presidential Election
The French Socialist Party nominated Francois Hollande as their candidate for the 2012 presidential election. He is expected to battle incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy
Dexia Bank's Collapse and the European Financial Crisis
Peter Zeihan discusses the collapse of the Franco-Belgian bank Dexia and examines its effects on the European debt crisis
European Crisis: Precise Solutions in an Imprecise Reality
The plans all are financial solutions to a particular set of financial problems. But regardless of whether they are realistic in addressing the financial problem, the question of whether the financial issue really addresses the fundamental dilemma of Europe -- which is political and geopolitical -- remains
French Push Hard to Clinch Jet Deal with UAE
Fresh from battle experience over Libya, a French Rafale jet is heading to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to strut its stuff amid a heavy pitch to finally clinch a deal for the first foreign sale of the fighter aircraft
France Teetering on Edge of Financial Precipice
France, like all of Europe, is caught in an economic tsunami, and France is teetering at the edge of the precipice. Every week, it seems, presidents and prime ministers hold urgent meetings searching for a solution, culminating with the G-20 convocation recently. Still, the problem grows only worse
The Perverse Side Effect of the Euro
We may be looking at the possibility of a worldwide financial meltdown
Why Does America Defend the Weak and Small?
Only the United States seems to have an affinity for protecting tiny, vulnerable countries. Israelis, anti-communist Chinese, Kurds, Greeks and Armenians have a few things in common. They have relatively small populations, aggressive neighbors, few strong allies, many expatriates and refugees in the United States, and a tragic history of persecution and genocide
Behind Europe's Debt Crisis Lurks Another Wall Street Bailout
If you want the real reason for concern in the United States about what's happening in Europe, follow the money. A Greek (or Irish or Spanish or Italian or Portuguese) default would have roughly the same effect on our financial system as the implosion of Lehman Brothers in 2008. That is, financial chaos
Better Ways Forward for the European Union
The European Union is presently a source of great instability that leaders have yet to tackle. This column argues the current policy response is misguided. The adjustment programmes are bound to fail to achieve sustainable budget deficits, and may result in an unprecedented destruction of economic activity
Solving A Deadly Eurozone Sovereign Debt Crisis
Time is running out for EU leaders to put an end to the Eurozone crisis. This column explains how leaders could find a definitive solution to Greece insolvency, isolate solvent countries from possible Greek contagion, improve EU governance by creating a true European parliament, and refocus on a pro-growth policy mix
Exporters Armed Arab Spring Crackdown
Repressive regimes of the Middle East and North Africa had all the equipment they needed to quash Arab Spring protests, thanks to arms exporters
Assessing the Damage of the European Banking Crisis
Europe faces a banking crisis it has not wanted to admit even exists
Certain artists are so identified with particular places that it's hard to pry them apart. France, with its shimmering light and gorgeous scenery, has more than its share of these pairings. It's enjoyable to see the artists' masterpieces in museums, but you can get a better sense of what inspired them by visiting the places where they worked
The Crisis of Europe and European Nationalism
Europe was seen as a work in progress moving inevitably toward unification -- a group of nations committed to a common fate. What was a core vision in 2008 is now gone. What was inconceivable -- the primacy of the traditional nation-state -- is now commonly discussed, and steps to devolve Europe in part or in whole are being contemplated. This is not a trivial event
France Hikes Taxes to Reduce Deficit
French Prime Minister Francois Fillion announced tax hikes to reduce the country's budget deficit by $.17.3 billion (EUR 12 billion) over the next two years
European Union Spending Cuts and Tax Hikes Hurt GDP Growth
A new round of second-quarter GDP figures shows slowing growth in the EU, which makes for a complicated economic situation, as reduced government spending can further stifle growth. Some economists say that, in tackling this dilemma, European governments are focusing too closely on their balance sheets and neglecting to propose real growth policies
Eurozone Manufacturing Slowing
Manufacturing in the 17-nation eurozone slowed down in August, marking the first time since September 2009 that the manufacturing sector contracted, according to a survey by Markit.
Among their other headaches, some of Europe's biggest leaders are troubled by the lukewarm state of their countries' melting pots. A combination of economic recession, terrorism fears and electoral politics has made scapegoats out of immigrants and government multiculturalism policies
France: Lessons From a Parisian Wine-Tasting
France is peppered with wineries and wine-tasting opportunities. For some people, it can be overwhelming to try to make sense of the vast range of French wines, particularly when faced with a no-nonsense winemaker or sommelier. I'm no wine expert and would never claim to be, but I've learned a lot
Franco-German Call for Change in the EU Meets with Much Opposition
The European Union's leaders, Germany and France, decided to try to change the EU's Lisbon Treaty. This is a highly charged and divisive move. While the Germans and French want important changes, a large number of the other 25 members do not
Verdun, France: A Lesson About War
World War I, the 'war to end all wars,' ended on Nov. 11, 1918. The battlefields of Verdun in France provide a poignant tribute to the 800,000 casualties suffered here during the horrific war, which raged from 1914 to 1918. Verdun is in northeastern France, not far from the Champagne region, in a strategic location between Paris and the German border
'Save' Money by Staying Out of Town
My take is that the decision to stay outside of a city center rests on how you might answer several main questions
Defending Democracy in Cote d'Ivoire
In early April French and UN helicopters bombarded the presidential residence in Abidjan. This military operation sealed the fate of incumbent Laurent Gbagbo, paving the way for Alassane Ouattara to claim office. But the French and UN action had another effect: it triggered outrage about international interference -- in particular on the part of France -- in African affairs
It is important to understand that the crisis is not fundamentally about Greece. After all, Greece represents only 2.5 percent of the eurozone's GDP, and the bloc's fiscal numbers are not that bad when looked at in the aggregate. The real crisis is the more fundamental question of how the European continent is to be ruled in the 21st century
France's D-Day Beaches: A Powerful Memorial
This June marks the 67th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy, and the beginning of the end of World War II. The Normandy sites are spread along 75 miles of coastline
French Demonstrations Tell a Familiar Tale
The plethora of unwanted strikes and student and youth unrest in Western Europe is a morbid condition. It is not pension claims that are driving the current political uproar. It is popular fury at the people who created the present economic crisis and have been rewarded, with everyone else left to face the consequences
Can NATO Nudge Russia Westward?
The trilateral summit between French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made some gains in drawing Russia closer to NATO. However, many Russians, including Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, are skeptical of the West's intentions and many new NATO members from the former Soviet bloc are uncomfortable about closer ties with Russia
Nuclear Armament Still Our Central Issue
Of all of the sources of strategic delusion and political illusion today, nuclear weapons undoubtedly make the most prodigious contribution to hypocrisy and useless expense
A French Leftist Ritual Takes on Sarkozy
This week has seen the annual ritual by which the Left in France marks summer's end and the resumption of politics as usual. This ritual is a general strike called by the Left, whenever a rightist government is in power.
Muliculturalism has failed. So said Chancellor Angela Merkel in a speech in Potsdam last October. David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy both echoed her opinion early this year. But it is not easy to know just what they meant. The term is open to so many interpretations and used in so many different ways. Is it an ideology, a set of policies, or a social reality?
Dominique Strauss-Kahn Scandal an Embarrassment for France
What can only seem the irresistible self-destruction of Dominique Strauss-Kahn has already produced fundamental and irreversible consequences in French party-political affairs, in the presidential campaign that next spring will give France a new president or confirm the succession of the present one
How to Save the Euro and the European Union
The European Union is in danger of compounding its ongoing economic crisis with a political crisis of its own making. Over the last year, crises of confidence have hit the 17 EU members that in the years since 1998 have given up their own currencies to adopt the euro. Markets behaved as though the debt of peripheral EU countries was as safe as that of core EU countries
Unexpected Revelations in Libyan Intervention
Events surrounding the military intervention in Libya these last two weeks, and what already has happened in Tunisia, Egypt and Bahrain, and what continues elsewhere in the region, have produced two unplanned but important results.
France Offers Lesson in How Not to Integrate Immigrants
My transoceanic lyricism goes flat when I hear about things like France's preposterous plan to fine Muslim women for wearing a full-face veil in public. In our globalized age, there is no shortage of hostility on the part of native populations for the immigrants among them. What explains this law is a familiar pattern of cultural politics akin to what psychologists call displacement
European Union Funding Proposal Is Only the Beginning
The dramatic European Union funding proposal is an important first step. Next comes enforcement of tough fiscal reform guidelines, which introduces a series of new political challenges and risks.
Why Sometimes Pays to Be Like Gordon Brown
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.
Athens agrees with troika: Eurogroup to finalise deal
Author: New Europe After a long night in Athens on 8 February, the three political leaders backing the Papademos government in parliament concluded a seven-hour meeting with the prime minister.
Record German exports in 2011
Author: New Europe Germany's annual export in 2011 surpassed for the first time €1 trillion, after an 11.4% rise. This huge surge in exports helped Germany reach a €158 billion trade surplus, despite the rise of 13.2% in imports, which also reached a record high of €902bn.
Latest economic data released for Germany and France
Author: New Europe Financial reports show huge export surplus for Germany, while France's trade deficit hit a record high.
Athens decision moves closer
Author: New Europe The leaders of the three major Greek political parties are expected to meet Prime Minister Loukas Papademos on the evening of 8 February, to sign and seal or reject a deal to restore the country's creditworthiness, offered by the European Union, the European Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the country's banks.
Waiting for Athens to decide
Author: New Europe The leaders of the three Greek parties that support the Papademos government in parliament received the draft text of the agreement to accompany the new soft-loan package for Athens of €130 billion, early on 8 February.
Merkozy call for Greece to be placed ‘under control’
Author: New Europe German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have come up with a new plan for Greece – to create a 'blocked' bank deposit account, through which the Eurozone will pay for the interest rates and maturing bonds of the country's debt, so that Athens will not go bankrupt.
Further pressure applied for more Greek austerity
Author: New Europe Athens agreements set to test country's political stability.
France cuts 2012 growth forecast
Author: New Europe Just a day after the latest measures aimed at boosting the economy were proposed by the government of President Nicolas Sarkozy, Prime Minister Francois Fillon announced that the government is expecting a growth much less than initially foreseen for this year. 
Sarkozy announces Tobin tax before crucial EU Summit [ANALYSIS]
Author: Ivan Delibasic French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced plans to introduce a 0.1% financial transactions tax, regardless of decisions made at the EU level.
Hollande says will lift the economy if wins
Author: New Europe The Socialist Party candidate in the French presidential campaign Francois Hollande last week outlined a package containing 60 measures designed to refurbish the French economic health. Hollande aims to balance the budget by 2017, cutting down the deficit figure. 
What kind of ‘more Europe’ does Merkel want?
Author: Dionyssis Kefalakos The Eurozone these days appears to be stuck in the miser ideology of the average German family.
What should an investor be doing right now?
Author: Clem Chambers
With central banks and politicians still at the forefront of the recovery as the IMF predicts Europe is entering recession, the role of the free markets have come into question. Clem Chambers, CEO of stocks and shares information site ADVFN.com and author of 101 Ways to Pick Stock Market Winners, asks whether a free market actually exists or is the world economy rigged?
Turkey accuses France of racism
Author: Ivan Delibasic On 23 January, the French Senate approved a law criminalising the denial of genocide committed by Turkey over Armenians from 1915 to 1916, making it punishable by as much as a year's imprisonment and a €45,000 fine. Turkey rejected it as politicisation of history and a “racist” attack on freedom of speech.
Fresh stalemate in Athens
Author: New Europe Following two weeks of negotiations and two talk breakdowns, it became apparent on 20 January in Athens that a 50% ‘haircut’ (Private Sector Involvement (PSI)) to the Greek debt would not be enough to once again put the country on a ‘virtuous’ path towards a 120% ratio of debt to gross national income.
France comfortable on bond market
Author: New Europe The downgrade in credit ratings couldn’t effectively thwart France’s image on the bond market. 
France
France beat Italy in Six Nations opener
France kicked-off the 2012 Six Nations championship with a resounding 30-12 win over Italy at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday.
Breast implant scandal: What went wrong?
The founder of a French company that made breast implants linked to a major health scare has been charged by police investigating the scandal.
French Senate passes Armenian genocide bill
The French Senate voted late Monday to criminalize any public denial of what new legislation calls the Ottoman Empire's genocide of Armenians, triggering fresh condemnation from modern Turkey.
French prime minister downplays credit downgrade
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon insisted Saturday that France is a safe bet for investors, a day after the country's credit rating was downgraded by a ratings agency amid concerns over debt and low growth.
French criminal probe launched into journalist's Syria death
A criminal investigation has been launched in France into the death in Syria of a French journalist, television station France 2 said.
9 eurozone nations downgraded by S&P
Standard & Poor's said Friday that it has downgraded the credit ratings of nine euro area governments, including AAA-rated France and Austria.
Will S&P leave rating cut in France's stocking?
The S in S&P stands for Standard. But it might as well be Scrooge if the credit rating agency goes ahead and downgrades the sovereign debt of France and other European nations in the next few days.
Europe on downgrade watch
There's a good chance France and a few other euro area governments will have their credit ratings downgraded in the near future.
5 great European ski chalets
From France to Switzerland, these great European ski chalets pair contemporary design with traditional winter charms.
France admits lapses after breach of nuke reactor security
France's interior minister admitted Monday that lapses in security made it possible for Greenpeace activists to gain entry to a nuclear power plant southeast of Paris.
A French downgrade could derail eurozone rescue
In what would be another blow to Europe's beleaguered rescue fund, there is growing speculation that France will eventually lose its top-tier credit rating.
Why the euro crisis is an American problem
The Euro crisis is not just a Greek crisis, or an Italian crisis, or now even a French crisis.
Grant Wahl: Three thoughts from USA-France
Three thoughts after the U.S.' 1-0 loss to France on Friday:
Europe cracks down on ratings agencies
Standard & Poor's is facing a growing backlash in Europe after the ratings agency erroneously sent a message suggesting France's pristine credit rating had been downgraded.
Avi Creditor: U.S. vs. France play-by-play analysis
A talented France squad hosts the U.S. at the Stade de Paris on Friday, with coach Laurent Blanc planning to field a younger, more experimental lineup.
All Blacks edge France to claim Rugby World Cup
Hosts New Zealand edged out France 8-7 in a nailbiting finish to the Rugby World Cup final in Auckland Sunday to win the William Webb Ellis trophy for the second time.
French fans' hopes dashed
Outside France, nobody gave them a prayer. Les Bleus had coughed and spluttered their way to the Rugby World Cup Final, at which point they were expected to be thrashed buy the red-hot favorites and tournament hosts New Zealand.
Carter wary of 'dangerous' France
Sidelined superstar Dan Carter has told his New Zealand teammates to "expect the unexpected" ahead of Sunday's Rugby World Cup final against France in Auckland.
Moody's to France: We're watching you
In a carefully worded statement, Moody's Investor Service hinted that the outlook for France's top-tier credit rating could be at risk.
French get back famous painting stolen during World War I
A famous French painting stolen during World War I by the German Army was returned to the government of France by U.S. officials on Thursday. The 1876 Jules Breton work is called "A Fisherman's Daughter/Mender of Nets" or to the people of France it's "Une Fille de Pecheur/Raccommodeuses de Filets."
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy: France Is Not Interested in My Baby
"It's great news for me, but it's also something very banal," the French first lady says of being pregnant
All Blacks overcome bogey team France to reach Rugby World Cup quarterfinals
Four years ago a shock defeat by France sent a rugby-mad nation into mourning, but New Zealand's All Blacks erased some of that hurt with a comprehensive 37-17 vanquishing of their longtime bogey team on Saturday.
Natalie Portman Gives Her Son a Tour of Paris
⢠Natalie Portman and her French fiancé Benjamin Millepied took baby Aleph out for some sightseeing around Paris. The actress and her son shopped along Avenue Montaigne before joining Millepied for lunch with friends at Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Market Restaurant.
Explosion at French nuclear site kills 1
A furnace exploded Monday at a nuclear site in France, killing one person and injuring four, a spokeswoman for French energy company EDF told CNN.
European regulators ban short selling
Regulators imposed a temporary short-selling ban in four European nations, effective Friday, in order to tame the wild market volatility that has taken markets throughout the world on a roller coaster ride.
Sacre bleu! Market has downgraded France
Standard and Poor's only downgraded the credit rating of the United States on Friday. But the financial markets have picked up where S&P left off and essentially decided to downgrade much of Europe too.
Stocks set to fall again on France woes
Buckle up. U.S. markets are likely headed for another roller coaster ride Thursday, as investors weigh positive news at home against growing concerns about fiscal problems in Europe.
No rest for investors: Dow plunges 520
After a one-day respite, U.S. stocks plunged sharply yet again Wednesday as investors were confronted with mounting fears about Europe's ongoing debt crisis, this time in France.
Georgina Turner: U.S. vs. France play-by-play analysis
The thrill of Sunday's comeback against Brazil has barely died down; fans have watched and re-watched the clip of that 123rd minute equalizing goal so many times that you could blindfold them and roll them down a hill in a barrel and they would still be able to show you the precise trajectory of the ball from Megan Rapinoe's boot to Abby Wambach's head with a swish of their arm. It'll go down in women's soccer history, but now the U.S. has to move on and deal with France -- a semifinal debutante but arguably one of the most consistent and dangerous performers in Germany.
Diplomat: Russia, France spar over weapons drops in Libya
In a contentious closed-door U.N. Security Council meeting Tuesday, Russia criticized France's decision to airlift weapons to rebel forces in Libya, according to a Western diplomat present during the discussions.
France E.coli infection kills woman in Bordeaux
A 78-year-old woman has died in France after being treated for an E.coli infection in the south-western city of Bordeaux, regional health officials say.
Libya rebels claim talks with France over weapons supply
The French government is in talks with Libyan rebels about supplying them with weapons and ammunition, a Libyan opposition military spokesman in Misrata said late Thursday.
Ben Lyttleton: Ivory Coast international Gervinho will flourish in the Premier League
For a player on the verge of a proposed €13 million ($18.4M) move to Arsenal, the 24-year-old Gervinho certainly splits opinion and not just among the London club's fans, who would rather see his Lille teammate Eden Hazard join.
E. coli strain behind German deaths apparently resurfaces in France
The strain of E. coli blamed for 46 deaths in Germany appears to have resurfaced in France, the French Ministry of Health said.
Apocalypse prediction could spark mass suicide, French agency warns
The specter of a mass suicide tied to the widely predicted end of the world in December 2012 has prompted a warning from a government official in France, where people are already gathering at a place believers predict may provide the only escape from the apocalypse.
France faces fines over improper care of endangered hamsters
France is facing fines and penalties after Europe's highest court found the government has failed to do enough to protect its hamsters.
France 24 files complaint over its own Syria story
A French television network said Thursday it has filed a complaint with the Paris public prosecutor alleging identity theft and impersonation related to an interview it broadcast Tuesday with a woman the network identified as Ambassador Lamia Shakkour, Syria's ambassador to France.
Syrian ambassador to France denies having resigned
Syria's ambassador to France, Lamia Shakkour, denied Tuesday that she has resigned her post, declaring late in the day that she would remain in her job until President Bashar al-Assad no longer wants her to remain in it.
French TV, radio programs slapped with social media restriction
A decree from the early 1990s, reimplemented by French regulators, is putting an end to French television and radio announcers naming social networking sites on air except for news purposes.
Scandals put a spotlight on France's hidden sexism, privacy laws
Fresh political sex scandals, following closely on the Dominique Strauss-Kahn affair, have France gripped by a debate on the nation's hidden culture of sexism and how its tough privacy laws, which prevent journalists from exposing sexual misbehavior, help perpetuate it.
One child dead, seven critically wounded in police van mishap
A police officer in central France lost control of his van in a roundabout and struck a group of children Monday afternoon, fatally injuring one, according to a prosecutor.
Opposition: 8 dead in Syrian violence
Eight people, including two children, were killed Sunday when Syrian government forces, in tanks and armored personnel carriers, entered several towns in the Homs province in an attempt to quash protests, according to human rights activists.
In France, expect beaucoup de vacation
When I was a little boy, my family would take a couple of months -- yes, months -- off each summer to go on a long, leisurely vacation. All my friends' families did, everyone did.
Social media making mockery of privacy laws
The philandering celebrity has often had one failsafe option if caught out by tabloid snoopers: call the lawyers, go to court and hope those salacious details keep out of the public eye.
Why French media is soul searching after 'l'affaire Strauss-Kahn'
The French have always prided themselves on their maturity in matters of love and sex. For them, gossip is not news.
7 Islamist suspects arrested in France, police say
Police in and around Paris arrested seven suspected Islamists, national police told CNN Tuesday.
Ben Lyttleton: Laurent Blanc embroiled in France race row
Laurent Blanc has spent his first nine months in charge of the France team painstakingly repairing the damage of the 2010 World Cup: both to the image of the team, which became a global laughingstock after going on strike in South Africa; and its players, unhappy and underperforming with then-coach Raymond Domenech in charge.
Airline fees: The $500 surprise
Thinking of spending a weekend in Paris this spring? Think again.
Bodies found buried at missing family's home in France; father sought
French police are looking for a man Friday after bodies thought to be those of his wife and four children were discovered under the terrace of their family home in western France.
Migrant train delay causes European diplomatic rift
The Italian and French governments were both trying to defuse an escalating diplomatic row Monday after France refused entry to a train carrying North African migrants from Italy.
Burqa ban turns a right into a crime
The ban imposed by French President Sarkozy on wearing a face-covering veil, or niqab, is simply dangerous gesture politics, representing little more than pandering to the far right in France.
2 arrested as France's ban on burqas, niqabs takes effect
French police arrested two veiled women protesting the country's law banning face-hiding Islamic burqas and niqabs Monday, just hours after the legislation took effect.
Burqa ban ruffles feathers in Paris
April in Paris. The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining and Parisiens are out on the Champs Elysee enjoying the warm weather.
French police arrest burqa ban protesters
Police in Paris arrested dozens of people for trying to hold an unauthorized demonstration to protest a ban on the wearing of Islamic veils such as burqas, they said Sunday.
Japan, France vow to push for stronger global nuclear safety standards
The leaders of France and Japan vowed Thursday to work to bolster international safety standards for nuclear power plants, making the subject a prime topic at a pair of upcoming international summits.
Flight 447 crash probe also to include look at Air France-KLM
An investigation into the mysterious 2009 crash of Air France Flight 447 into the southern Atlantic Ocean will also include a probe into Air France-KLM, the airline's attorney said Friday.
Paris police recover $25m in stolen jewels
French police have recovered gems stolen during a burglary from luxury jeweler Harry Winston's store in Paris in 2008, they announced.
France's burqa ban in effect next month
France's law banning the burqa and other Islamic face coverings in public places will go into effect on April 11, the prime minister's office said.
French diplomacy questioned by uprisings
When a French evening TV program recently debated how well the nation's diplomatic service handled the uprisings around the Middle East, the show's host found himself inundated with caustic viewer comments and e-mails.
France to call for arms embargo against Libya at UN meeting
At a U.N. Security Council meeting Friday to discuss measures against Libya, France said it will ask for a complete arms embargo and sanctions against the North African nation and request that the International Criminal Court look at the violence directed at civilians there as crimes against humanity.
Iraqi Christians find refuge in France
At Sunday mass in the suburbs outside Paris, a score of Iraqi Catholics are praying for themselves and their families.
France's defense minister absolves French soldiers in botched rescue
France's defense minister said Monday that French soldiers who attempted to rescue two of their abducted countrymen in the capital of Niger were not to blame for the deaths of the men.
French hostages killed during rescue mission, ministry says
Two French citizens who were kidnapped in Niger's capital were killed -- apparently executed by their abductors -- during an attempted rescue mission, the French Defense Ministry said Sunday.
Winter hits Paris airport with double whammy
Part of Paris Charles de Gaulle airport was evacuated Friday due to the accumulation of snow on the roof, and hundreds of flights were canceled because of a shortage of de-icing fluid, authorities said.
Lady Gaga Feasts on Snails in France
⢠Lady Gaga may be going pantless in Paris, but the pop star isn't skimping on her meals. Gaga arrived at Chez Andre sans reservation with three bodyguards. According to restaurant staff, there was no diva behavior, and the pop star was very sweet. She ordered escargot and chicken with fries, but skipped dessert or alcohol, drinking only water. When she left, Gaga kissed the manager goodbye and left a very, very generous tip, the staffer says.
Christina Aguilera Takes Her Boyfriend to a Burlesque Show in Paris
⢠After a stop in London, Christina Aguilera and beau Matt Rutler arrived in Paris and stepped out to Le Crazy Horse, where the two caught the
cabaret's second show. The singer-actress was in town to premiere Burlesque with costars Cher and Kristen Bell, who spent her downtime in Paris sightseeing in Montmartre with two friends. Bell also posed for pictures in front of Moulin Rouge.
French mayor turns focus to school safety after students held hostage
The mayor of a French town where students were held hostage for more than four hours Monday wants to reassure parents that "schools in France are safe."
Wintry weather disrupts travel in Paris region
Heavy snow paralyzed travel in the Paris region Wednesday, where officials suspended air traffic at one of Europe's busiest airports, closed several highways and shut down the Eiffel Tower.
Ben Lyttleton: France undergoing a transformation under Laurent Blanc
Laurent Blanc claimed to have had no second thoughts about taking the job as France coach after its embarrassing World Cup campaign, and in his five months in charge, he has led the team to the top of its Euro 2012 qualifying group. France was in London this week for a friendly against England at Wembley, which it deservedly won, with the 2-1 score line greatly flattering the hosts. This week provided a good opportunity to look back at Blanc's comments from his first news conference as France coach, and see how much progress has been made.
Militants demand France pullout from Afghanistan for hostage safety
France must pull its troops from Afghanistan if it wants to ensure the well-being of five French nationals taken hostage in Niger, the head of al Qaeda's north African wing said.
Report: Iranian fencer goes missing
An Iranian fencer who competed at an event in France has gone missing, a semi-official Iranian news outlet reported Wednesday.
Paris terror suspects were planning suicide attack, minister says
Five terror suspects arrested in France this week are suspected of planning a suicide attack, Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said Wednesday.
France welcomes survivors of Baghdad church attack
About three dozen survivors of last month's brutal attack on a Baghdad church have found refuge in France, where they have been given temporary status as asylum seekers.
Protesters block French nuclear waste train
Anti-nuclear protesters blocked a train carrying nuclear waste in northwestern France Friday, chaining themselves to the railroad tracks on which the train was travelling, according to local police.
Five value destinations for winter travel
Looking to get away this holiday season? Who better to find the deals than agents catering to notoriously cash-strapped students?
French brothers arrested on terror charges
Two French brothers were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said Thursday.
UK, France sign military cooperation deal
The leaders of Britain and France signed a groundbreaking treaty on defense cooperation Tuesday that would combine many elements of their militaries, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced.
France's oil refineries reopen after strikes
All 12 of France's oil refineries have reopened after being shut down for two weeks or more following a series of massive union-led actions protesting the government's planned pension overhaul.
French lawmakers approve controversial reform bill
The lower house of the French parliament approved a controversial pension reform bill Wednesday, despite weeks of protests that brought millions of demonstrators into the streets to try to stop it.
Explainer: Why the French are striking
Millions of public and private sector workers, students and other French citizens have taken to the streets in cities across France.
Strikes cost France hundreds of millions a day, minister says
Strikes in France cost the country 200 to 400 million euros ($280 to $560 million) per day, plus "immaterial" and "moral" damages, French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said Monday.
Fresh clashes as French protests continue
Fresh clashes broke out Wednesday between protesters and police in France as hundreds of thousands rallied in opposition to planned pension reforms.
More than a million protest French retirement change plans
Fanny Cottard didn't go to school Tuesday.
Fuel imports into France surge as protests imperil transportation
Fuel continues to flow into France -- increasingly, from refineries out of the country -- as the nation deals with the ongoing effects of strikes that have affected car, train and plane travel throughout the European nation.
Official: New al Qaeda threat targets Europe, 'notably France'
Saudi Arabian intelligence services are warning of a new terrorist threat from al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula targeting Europe, especially France, French Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said in a radio interview Sunday.
Protesters rally across France over pension reforms
France entered a fifth day of nationwide strikes Saturday as tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets, rallying against a government proposal to raise the national retirement age to 62.
French unions stage open-ended strike
More than a million people went on strike in France Tuesday -- the biggest demonstrations yet in a series of rolling strikes against government plans to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.
Vessels collide in waters off France
A chemical tanker collided with a large bulk carrier in waters off the coast of France on Friday, a spokesman for the company that manages the chemical tanker said.
French burqa ban clears last legal obstacle
France's law banning the burqa and other Islamic face coverings in public places is legal, top constitutional authorities in France ruled Thursday, clearing the final hurdle before the ban goes into effect.
France warns citizens about UK travel
Amid a high alert over an alleged al Qaeda plot to attack cities in Europe, France has warned its citizens about travel to the United Kingdom, saying British authorities believe a terror attack is "highly likely."
12 arrested in France for terrorist links, police say
Police arrested 12 people in the south of France Tuesday for having links to terrorist networks, French national police said.
Arrests in France have Europe on edge in wake of terror alert
Police in France seized 12 people for suspected terrorist ties Tuesday as Europeans remained on edge over alerts of a suspected terror plot on their continent.
France seeks extradition of al Qaeda suspect in Italy
France has requested the extradition of an al Qaeda suspect arrested in Italy, a French court official said Monday.
Thousands rally in Paris against proposed pension changes
Thousands of people took to the streets of Paris on Saturday to register their disapproval of planned changes to the French pension system.
France won't back down on reforms, prime minister says
The French government will not stop its plans to reform the pension system, the French prime minister said Friday, a day after nationwide strikes against the measures.
Are vacation rentals still legit?
For years, Budget Travel has been advising readers to rent short-term apartments whenever they plan to spend more than a few days in expensive cities like Paris and New York.
French Senate approves burqa ban
The French Senate approved Tuesday a law banning any veils that cover the face -- including the burqa, the full-body covering worn by some Muslim women -- making France the first European country to plan such a measure.
European Commission blasts France's deportation of Roma
France's deportation of more than 8,000 ethnic Roma, commonly referred to as gypsies, "is a disgrace" that could trigger legal action, a senior European Commission official said Tuesday.
Thousands strike in France over pension reforms
Thousands of workers across France staged a one-day strike Tuesday to protest government plans to raise the retirement age.
French officials condemn activists' alleged vine destruction
The head of a government laboratory studying genetically modified plants said Monday that activists caused major damage during their weekend attack on a research facility in eastern France.
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