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.

 

Sudan's land of 'black pharaohs' a trove for archaeologists
French, Swiss and British archaeologists are in a "paradise" of discovery, unearthing the mysteries of a civilisation that once conquered ancient Egypt.

Galileo is here!
How the EU’s new satellite system Galileo will make life easier for motorists and pilots and even help farmers.

Sarkozy's 'power women' struggle on the campaign trail
As the French president’s popularity continues to hit new lows, his political allies struggle to steer regional election campaign back on track.

OECD countries should tackle gender wage gap
A recent OECD report suggests governments and firms should do more to bridge the gender pay gap.

UN urged to quickly establish super-agency for women
Luxembourg’s Viviane Reding insists that the time for talking about a UN agency for women’s issues is over: “It’s time to act.”

What next for Google?
The conviction of three Google bosses by a court in Milan could have serious consequences for the internet giant, experts say.

Child sex anti-smoking ad sets French tongues wagging
The poster launched by Non-Smokers’ Rights compares nicotine addiction to sexual abuse and is intentionally "shocking and disturbing".

French air controllers turbulent as Europe's skies merge
Fearing ‘social consequences’, French air traffic controllers launch a five-day strike to protest against the creation of a single European sky.

Sarkozy backs France's troubled oil refineries
President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government wants Total to make commitments not to close its refining operations in the coming years

More flights disrupted at Paris' main airports
Dozens of flights were cancelled on the second day of an air traffic controllers strike.

Expatica - French Headlines
Expatica - French Headlines

 

France tells Serbia to get over it Kosovo is gone
Serbias slim chance of preventing other European countries from recognizing its once-upon-a-time province Kosovo which declared its independence in 2008 is slip sliding away now that France has assured the government of the former Serbian territory that it is a sovereign country and that Serbia has to recognize that. France...

Elgi Equipments gets the go-ahead to buy Belair
The board of Elgi Equipments EEL an Indian manufacturer of industrial compressors has approved the acquisition of Belair France local media reported last week. Belair is engaged in assembly sales and service of industrial compressors piping fittings and accessories for more than 25 years. The cost of the acquisition was...

Sarkozy and Abbas want Mideast peace talks re-started
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the head of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas have called for the rapid resumption of negotiations that will lead to a Palestinian state. Following a meeting of the two leaders in Paris Sarkozy said that he would work for the creation of a modern viable...

France wheels and deals with Syria to boost their relations
In another sign that the European Union is warming to Syria France and Syria signed 11 cooperation agreements during a visit of French Prime Minister Francois Fillon to Damascus. The deals were signed after Fillon met with his Syrian counterpart Mohammad Naji al-Otri to discuss ways of boosting economic relations...

Government to fight tax havens with high taxes
The French authority looks poised to launch an affray with the tax offenders those seeking to bypass the state coffer through the countries earmarked as tax havens globally recent media reports indicated. The French government would impose heavy taxes on domestic firms that have any kind of establishment in 18...

BNP Paribas nearly doubles profits in 2009
French bank BNP Paribas said on February 17 it had posted profits of €5.832 billion in 2009 up a healthy 93% over the previous year. The results exceeded analysts forecasts but the bank said in a statement that they were still well below pre-economic crisis levels. In 2007 BNP Paribas...

LOreal sees profits fall in 2009
French cosmetics giant LOreal said on February 16 its 2009 profits excluding special one-time items fell by 3.2% to €1.997 billion due to the falling demand for luxury products during the economic crisis. Turnover for last year stood at €17.54 billion down marginally compared to 2008 the company said in...

GDP sees largest annual postwar drop in 2009
The French economy suffered its largest decline since World War II in 2009 but rebounded more strongly than foreseen in the fourth quarter the governments statistics office INSEE said in its recently published first evaluation report. French GDP shrank by 2.2% for the year the largest annual drop of the...

Michelin profits off sharply in 2009
French tire producer Michelin recently posted profits of €104 million for full-year 2009 off by 70.9% compared to the previous year due to the effects of the economic crisis. Net sales in 2009 were down a relatively modest 9.8% to €14.8 billion Michelin said in a press statement. The world...

Iran France discuss uranium-exchange deal
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said he met with a French government representative to discuss a uranium-exchange deal the ISNA news agency reported recently. Mottaki met with an unnamed adviser of French President Nicolas Sarkozy on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland the report said. Mottaki said...

PSA Peugeot Citroen recalls 97 000 cars across Europe
French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen confirmed on 1 February that it was recalling 97 000 of its cars in Europe because of problems with a sticking accelerator pedal. The recall mirrors a similar one made by Toyota last week. In both cases the sticking pedal can cause the car to...

Sarkozy uses Facebook as campaign weapon
French President Nicolas Sarkozy began an intense media offensive on 25 January with polls suggesting his ruling conservative coalition will suffer a bitter defeat in March regional elections. Ahead of a 90-minute appearance on national television on 25 January evening Sarkozy urged the French users of Facebook to tune in...

EDF abandons sale of UK electricity grid
French energy giant EDF has given up plans to sell its electricity distribution network in Britain because the French state electricity giants new boss is against the move a financial news website reported on 24 January. Henri Proglio who has always been opposed to this project that was initiated by...

Sarkozy wants French site for electric cars
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on 19 January that he intends to turn the French overseas territory of La Reunion into the worlds first site for the mass use of electric automobiles. On a visit to the Indian Ocean island Sarkozy said La Reunion would become a great laboratory for...

Airbus marks delivery of 6 000th plane
Airbus the European jet plane company delivered on 18 January the 6 000th aircraft it has made to the airline Emirates. Airbus said it was the 25th overall of the A-380 series to be completed and the eighth for Emirates. Tom Enders Airbus Chief Executive said the plane-maker aimed to...

Renault vows to keep part of Clio production in France
Car manufacturer Renault has promised keep some of the production of its Clio model in France after protests from the French government the Elysee Palace in Paris reported after a meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Renault head Carlos Ghosn. Ghosn promised not to close the Clio production site...

Airbus announces record deliveries in 2009
Toulouse France-based planemaker Airbus said 12 January it had delivered 498 aircraft last year as a result beating the record set in 2008. The total deliveries in 2009 was 15 more than in 2008 said Airbus. But the groups production last year came in at 5% lower than what Airbus...

Peugeot Citroen global vehicle sales fall by 2.2%
French car-maker PSA Peugeot Citroen said on 11 January it sold 2.2% fewer new vehicles around the world in 2009 than the previous year. That compares favorably to a 3.5% decline in the global car market. As a result the 3.19 million vehicles sold in 2009 by PSA increased its...

Sarkozy vows to curb spending
In his efforts to fight the economic crisis French President Nicolas Sarkozy on 6 January vowed to push on with modernizing the economy and curb spending but not raise taxes. France has born up better than others in the economic crisis having exited recession in the second quarter of last year...

Law to compensate nuclear radiation victims
French legislation was published in the official register on 6 January to provide compensation to radiation victims 50 years after the start of Frances nuclear testing in the Sahara. The national budget for 2010 foresees €10 million to compensate victims. By defense ministry estimates some 150 000 civilians and military...

EDF gets Chinese approval of nuclear reactors JV
Majority state-owned French energy giant EDF said recently it had received final approval from Chinese authorities for the creation of a joint venture to build and operate two EPR nuclear reactors in Taishan. According to the agreement EFD will hold 30% interest for 50 years of the partnership with the China...

Cosmetics brand founder Yves Rocher dies aged 79
Yves Rocher the founder of the natural cosmetics and beauty brand that carried his name died at the age of 79 in Paris on 26 December. French President Nicolas Sarkozy paid homage to Rocher calling him a great French industrialist who had provided natural beauty products while also working to...

Frances November auto sales soar nearly 50 %
The French automotive industry now seems to have achieved a stable growth rate after experiencing successive growths in the last three months. Figures released on 2 December from the French Car Makers Association CCFA showed auto sales in the country in November reached 216 452 units up 48.4% from a...

Alstom-Schneider wins bid for Frances Areva
A joint bid tabled by Alstom SA and Schneider Electric SA finally outshined the overseas contenders General Electric Co and Toshiba Corp vying to enter the French nuke market keeping the company in French hands. The companies announced last week that they were already in exclusive negotiations with Areva SA...

IFC the Netherlands to help FYROM enhance business
IFC a member of the World Bank Group in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice of FYROM will introduce mediation an important tool to enhance the business environment by helping businesses unlock capital tied up in litigation and reduce pressure on clogged courts a press release read. The Ministry of...

EADS case comes before French market regulator
The most high-profile cases of insider trading in Europe of recent years entered a crucial phase on 23 November when 17 current and former executives of aerospace giant EADS and its subsidiary Airbus began testifying before a French market watchdog. The executives and three companies - EADS and its major shareholders...

Airbus transport customers cant agree on troubled order
The seven nations that ordered A400M military transport aircraft failed to reach any joint decision recently at talks in Berlin on the future of the Airbus plane which has become a design nightmare. Defense departmental heads are to return for more talks early next month a German Defense Ministry spokesman...

Airbus sells first configured A380 aircraft
European aircraft maker Airbus said on 17 November that it had sold its first A380 airliners configured to carry a maximum of 840 passengers in a single class. French carrier Air Austral based in the overseas territory of La Reunion ordered two of the aircraft to serve its high-density route...

Iraqi president meets with Sarkozy
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani met on 16 November with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss relations between their two countries. Although no details were provided about the talks it was believed that several agreements were signed or would be signed during Talabanis four-day stay in France in matters of...

Budget deficit more than doubles in one year
The French governments budget deficit more than doubled in one year because of the effects of the economic crisis the Budget Ministry reported. At the end of September the deficit stood at €128.5 billion compared to €56.6 billion at the same time last year. The change is explained mainly by...

BNP Paribas profits up 44% in Q3
French bank BNP Paribas reported it made profits of €1.3 billion in the third quarter of this year up 44.8% over the same period last year. Turnover for the quarter totaled 10.663 billion 40% better than for the third quarter of 2008 the bank said in a press statement. As...

Sanofi-Aventis sees Q3 profits rise 7.7%
French pharmaceuticals giant Sanofi-Aventis said its net profits calculated at constant exchange rates rose by 7.7% in the third quarter of 2009 to €2.229 billion $3.31 billion compared to the same period last year. Turnover for the quarter was €7.4 billion up 6% over the third quarter of 2008 the...

France Telecom sees turnover fall
French telecommunications giant France Telecom said its turnover for the third quarter of 2009 fell by 6.4% to €12.686 billion $18.7 billion compared to the same period last year. Turnover for the first three quarters of the year was off by 4.3% compared to 2008 to €38.144 billion the company...

Airbus may be forced to cut back production
European plane maker Airbus may be forced to make further production cutbacks because of the weak financial state of some airlines board chairman Thomas Enders said. Next year production would more likely be reduced than increased Enders said pointing out that many airlines faced problems because of reduced liquidity. Enders...

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...

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

 

France sprucing up cultural treasures
Mixing an abundance of cultural treasures and national pride, France is spiffing up its sights and museums from the Rhine to the Pyrenees. Of course, the biggest news is in Paris, where 2010 brings important changes that smart travelers will want to know about.

What does it mean to be French?
Fine wine, fashion, long lunches and secular laws -- the answer to what France is all about depends on who you ask.

France taps private sector for scientific research funds
In the heart of Paris's Latin Quarter, quantum physicist Serge Haroche has spent 15 years on the public purse, working toward his research goal: trapping sub-atomic light particles, known as photons, long enough to observe them without destroying them.

Why France is best place to live in world
Bindi Dupouy, an Australian living in Paris, and her French husband, just had their first child, a son born in the country.

Opinion: Why I'm proud to wear the burqa
I wear the burqa for the simple reason that I am a Muslim and the Koran says that I must wear the full veil in order to be modest.

Veiled wife costs man French citizenship
France has denied citizenship to a man because he allegedly forced his wife to wear a full Islamic veil, the French immigration minister said in a statement Wednesday.

France moves toward partial burqa ban
French lawmakers Tuesday recommended a partial ban on any veils that cover the face -- including the burqa, the full-body covering worn by some Muslim women.

France moves closer to ban on burqas
French lawmakers could recommend Tuesday that the fiercely secular country ban the burqa, the full-body covering worn by some Muslim women.

Journalists kidnapped in Afghanistan, official says
Two French journalists and an Afghan translator have been kidnapped by "enemies of the government" in Afghanistan, a military official said Thursday.

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.

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

 

Contador Follows Through and Wins Paris-Nice Race
Alberto Contador won by 11 seconds, making good on his prediction before the start of this weeklong trek that his bicycle victory would be a matter of seconds.

In Scotland-England Mud Fest, Not Even a Footnote to Glorious History
On the strength of two games Saturday in the Six Nations competition, being the best of the "home nations" is a hollow honor.

Socialists Lead in Early Voting in France
The results in a first round of regional elections point to a resounding defeat for the governing party of President Nicolas Sarkozy in the final round next Sunday.

Sarkozy's Party Gloomy Over Local Elections
Voters appear determined to use the last nationwide ballot before the 2012 presidential elections to send a sharp warning to President Nicolas Sarkozy.

A Pair of Europe's Titans Topple
The failure of Real Madrid and A.C. Milan to reach the Quarter Finals of the Champions League was particularly humiliating: Madrid overspent and Milan oversold.

Absorbing the Blows That Buffet Europe
France has not only weathered the global economic storm but has emerged as one of the strongest economies in Europe.

Nestlé Bringing American-Style Diet Plans to Europe
With obesity on the rise in Europe, Nestlé is betting that Europeans are ready to embrace a concept that has proved successful in North America.

Contador Settles More Easily Into the Saddle
Meet the new Alberto Contador, just 27 years old, the winner of two Tours de France and el primo in both the ranking of the world's bicycle racers and, more important, finally in his own mind.

Montpellier Squanders Chances but Still Gains Draw at Bordeaux
Alberto Costa scored in injury time to earn Montpellier a draw against 10-man Bordeaux and keep the teams level on points at the top of the French soccer league.

E.U. to Begin Press on Nuclear Standards
A push to make European safety standards for nuclear power plants binding worldwide might benefit France.

Risk and Opportunity for Women in 21st Century
If progress has been dramatic since the Nobel physicist Marie Curie was barred from France’s science academy a century ago, it has been slower than in other parts of society.

France Seeks to Boost Manufacturing
France will play a more active role in managing its state shareholdings, President Nicolas Sarkozy said in unveiling policies aimed at halting the decline of French industry.

Some Wannabes Seize Stage in Rehearsals
On a night of World Cup rehearsals, some merely went through the motions, but other grabbed their chances.

Contemporary Arts Fair Veers Into 'Emerging' Territory
Works by artists from emerging regions - like Asia and Africa - are among those being showcased at the revamped Paris fair at the Grand Palais that runs from March 18 to 22.

85 Euros and a Bicycle
A priest from Burkina Faso inspired a Breton woman to set up an NGO to aid the girls of his village.

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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