France Offers Lesson in How Not to Integrate Immigrants
Mary Sanchez

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
Ian Bremmer and Preston Keat

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.

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.

 

EU reaches deal on cross-border financial supervisors
Europe has reached a "crucial milestone" in efforts to reform the financial sector by introducing cross-border agencies to oversee banks, insurers and the markets.

Le Havre fast ferry link axed
CROSS-Channel ferry operator LD Lines has cancelled its high-speed catamaran service between Le Havre and Portsmouth as as safety precaution. The Norman Arrow has been taken out of...

Air France budget flights next year?
AIR France has moved one step closer to launching a low-cost operation to rival Ryanair and Easyjet. According to Le Figaro, the new service will be called Air France Express. It...

Obama thanks Sarkozy for supporting Mideast peace
US President Barack Obama called his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy Thursday to thank him for supporting current Middle East peace efforts, the White House said."Sarkozy...

Romanian PM fires five ministers in surprise cabinet reshuffle
Romania's centre-right Prime Minister Emil Boc has announced a surprise cabinet reshuffle as his unpopular government battles to cut spending and meet targets set by the...

Air France mulls 'low-cost' option: sources
Air France-KLM is considering setting up a "low-cost" domestic carrier to meet intense competition in the French market from budget rivals, company sources said on...

Germany, Britain strongly back Mideast peace talks
The foreign ministers of Germany and Britain have given their strong backing to Middle East peace talks, calling them a "historic opportunity." They warned, however, that radicals...

Pressure rises on scandal-hit French minister
French Labour Minister Eric Woerth plunged deeper into scandal Thursday when he admitted endorsing his wife's employer for a state honour, after denying for weeks that he had...

EU parliament to take up plight of Roma
The European parliament will debate the plight of the Roma minority in Europe next week in the wake of France's controversial deportation of hundreds of gypsies.The decision...

Rare Degas sculpture exhibit opens in Bulgaria
A rare exhibit of 74 bronze sculptures by French painter Edgar Degas opened Thursday at Sofia's National Art Gallery, the first ever in Bulgaria of the Impressionist artist's...

Expatica - French Headlines
Expatica - French Headlines

 

Bettencourt enquiry continues
French financial investigators on 25 August continued to question the former accountant of LOreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt in their enquiry into possible tax fraud and illegal political donations the daily Le Figaro reported.Following a summer break Claire Thibout was being interrogated over illegal secret recordings made by Bettencourts former butler...

France to seek bids for offshore wind farms
France is set for another boost in its renewable energy segment.Local media last week reported citing an anonymous official that the government would seek bids for 3 000 megawatts of offshore wind farms.The project is expected to cost about €10 billion to develop.The tenders for projects with a total of...

Groupe Royer inks New Balance distribution deal
Groupe Royer a French shoe wholesaler recently inked a strategic partnership in Europe with US-based high performance running shoes and lifestyle footwear group New Balance the just-style.com website reported. The deal reportedly includes the distribution of New Balance products in France Germany and the Benelux. New Balances current sales and marketing...

EBT France refuses to pay independence to Haiti
Haiti France recently turned down an interesting claim made by Haiti to pay off an age-old debt. Haiti claimed roughly $22 billion the modern equivalent of 90 million gold francs that it was forced to pay France in exchange for its independence over two centuries ago. The French Foreign Ministry recently...

Cabinet approves retirement plans
The French cabinet has approved an unpopular bill to raise the retirement age after the minister in charge of the reform stepped down from his role as treasurer of the ruling UMP party. Under-fire French Labor and Social Affairs Minister Eric Woerth presented President Nicolas Sarkozys controversial pension reform to...

Bettencourt money manager taken into custody
The campaign finance scandal involving French President Nicolas Sarkozy took a dramatic turn on 15 July when police took into custody three people with links to LOreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt the daily Le Monde reported on its online edition cited by Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa . Among them is the man...

Russia offers Renault-Avtovaz share swap
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin offered France an increased share in Russias ailing carmaker Avtovaz on 30 June in return for a stake in the French automaker Renault. If there is a need a desire to expand your stake then we are ready for this Interfax quoted Putin as telling...

Total stops gasoline sales to Iran
French oil major Total has discontinued the sale of refined products to Iran amid new US sanctions aimed at choking off its gasoline imports. A spokesman for Total told reporters on 28 June that the company had halted the sales of petrol and other refined petroleum products to Iran but...

Delek Group to buy BP France operations
The recently placed offer of Delek Europe BV to acquire BP France SA from BP plc was accepted by the current owner the parent company Delek Group Ltd announced on 24 June. Delek however stopped short of disclosing the amount of the offer or any terms of a possible deal....

Putin hails move of Total to invite Qatar in Yamal
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is totally in favor of a proposal by French oil major Total to invite Qatar to join major gas projects on Russias Yamal Totals Chief Executive Officer Christophe de Margerie said. After a meeting with Putin in Paris two weeks ago de Margerie said that...

France to raise retirement age
The French government has drawn up a pension reform plan that will raise the age of retirement from 60 to 62 by the year 2018. In the plan made public Wednesday by Labour Minister Eric Woerth the retirement age will rise by four months every year beginning on July 1...

France Telecom eyes Le Monde partnership
The French telecommunications major France Telecom recently divulged its interest to partner with French daily newspaper Le Monde to help develop its digital operations. However France Telecom made it clear that it had no plans to take part in the recapitalization of the daily. According to a company spokesperson Chief...

French premier says slumping euro is good news
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon recently commented that the weakening euro was good for Europe. I currently see only good news regarding the euro-USD exchange rate Fillon said at a press conference in Paris with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. We have been complaining for years that the exchange rate...

New Bahrain-France bid to bolster ties
The Greater Paris Investment Agency recently inked a deal with the Economic Development Board EDB of Bahrain that would see both sides increasing efforts to boost bilateral business ties and investments local media reports revealed last week. The memorandum of understanding MoU focused on promoting the countries as business hubs and...

France must cut spending or lose AAA rating
The French government must work fast and stick to its task as it has planned in order to rein in the ballooning deficit figure Budget Minister Francois Baroin said. In a televised interview Baroin stressed that the authority must carry out its planned cuts in spending and reduce its deficit...

Investors ready to help Le Monde newspaper
The publishers of Parisian evening newspaper Le Monde were attracting new investors despite the crisis currently hitting the news industry the weekly Journal du Dimanche said in a recent report. The group has been rehabilitated director general of the Le Monde group David Guiraud told the paper. With a contribution...

French CCS project to cut emissions
The French Environmental and Energy Management Agency or ADEME selected a multinational consortium to move ahead with the so-called France Nord project to transport and store carbon dioxide to help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The consortium comprises six of Frances biggest manufacturers Air Liquide EDF GDF SUEZ Lafarge Total and Vallourec...

Kouchner hails eased tensions in Mideast
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on 23 May welcomed an easing of tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors as he visited Beirut and Damascus to urge respect for a 2006 ceasefire in Lebanon. Nobody is speaking of tension any more and so this tension has eased he was quoted...

Yingli Green Energy to power solar PV system
Yingli Green Energy recently inked a deal with Maetel a Spanish engineering and installation firm for a project involving a French facility the company said last week. Maetel is part of the still larger ACS infrastructure development company in Europe. Under the terms of the contract Yingli Green Energy will...

France eyeing Brazil as its Rafale jets market
A recent meeting between the French and the Brazilian leaders raised high hopes in the French defense aviation industry as news reports claimed that the Elysee Palace was confident that Brazil would choose the French-made Rafale fighter jets for its air force. An anonymous Elysee source was quoted as saying...

Carrefour first wholesale outlet in India
Joining the foray to grab a bigger pie of the Indian market the second largest south Asian market after China the French retail major Carrefour has finally stepped in. The worlds second largest retailer last week officially announced its plan of opening soon its first wholesale store in India without...

Darty France lifts Kesa
A notable increase in Darty Frances revenue in the period to end-April pushed up the overall figures for Kesa Electricals the company announced last week. A statement from the company said its total group revenue in this period increased 1.1% in GBP value. Darty Frances revenue rose 3.6%. After the...

Air France mulls A380 on Paris-London route
The French carrier Air France announced on 11 May that it was considering the use of an Airbus A380 superjumbo on its route between Paris and London local media reports reevaled. No decision has been taken. Its something that were studying a spokesman for the French airline was quoted as...

Thousands turn out to demonstrate against Sarkozy
Tens of thousands of people on 1 May took part in May Day protests in Paris and other large French cities against the policies of President Nicholas Sarkozy. Unions had called for demonstrations and protest marches across the country planning around 280 events. Demonstrators this year directed their protests against...

Alstom posts profits rise
French power-station equipment and train maker manufacturer Alstom said on 4 May that net profits for the fiscal year 2009-10 rose by 9.7% to €1.217 billion over the same period one year ago. Sales reached a record €19.65 billion up 4.86% over fiscal year 2008-09 Alstom said in a press...

Sarkozy targets wider economic links with China
French President Nicolas Sarkozy on 28 April said he wanted to expand economic ties with China in nuclear power aviation environmental protection and other fields. Sarkozy discussed bilateral and international issues with Chinese President Hu Jintao in talks that both sides signaled a rapprochement after diplomatic grumbles last year.  Chinese state...

Germany France Poland call for joint military forces
The foreign ministers of Germany France and Poland called on 27 April for the establishment by 2013 of a so-called Weimar Battlegroup combining the three countries military forces after talks in the German city of Bonn. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and his French and Polish counterparts Bernard Kouchner and...

LEI for France increases in February
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index LEI for France increased 0.2% and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index CEI decreased 0.1% in February a press release read. The Conference Board LEI for France increased again in February as positive contributions from the yield spread and inverted new unemployment claims more...

Kouchner: Europe did not react well to ash crisis
The European Union did not react well to the travel crisis caused by a cloud of ash from an Icelandic volcano French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on 21 April. Europe did not react well. We must adjust instructions for such cases . It was unprecedented France Info radio quoted...

Regional elections deconstructed
The presidential majority UMP-Gauche moderne-Nouveau centre did not win the regional elections of March in France. This counter performance could be explained by different factors. At first a plethora of reforms undertaken since 2007 did not achieve their goals due to the crisis: even if France is not in the...

EBRD launches new strategy for FYROM
The Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD has adopted a new strategy for FYROM which reinforces the Banks commitment to further support the FYROM economy and outlines priorities for its activities in the country over the next three years the bank said in a...

Iran divides nuclear world
Following talks between US President Barack Obama French President Nicolas Sarkozy and their Russian and Chinese counterparts Dmitry Medvedev and Hu Jintao at last weekrsquo;s Nuclear Security Summit in Washington sanctions on Tehran could be agreed soon. But obstacles remain. ldquo;I think that Russia will agree on imposing sanctions on...

Renault-Nissan Daimler announce cooperation
The French-Japanese car-producing partnership Renault-Nissan and Germanys Daimler AG said on 7 April they had agreed upon a broad strategic cooperation plan. This is the right step at the right time for the right reasons Daimler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche told journalists in Brussels at a joint news conference with...

Erdogan Sarkozy discuss bilateral issues
French President Nicolas Sarkozy received Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for a working lunch on 7 April in order to discuss bilateral issues and to close the Season of Turkey in France that had been opened officially by Sarkozy and Turkish President Abdullah Gul on 9 October 2009. Turkeys...

Sarkozy dumps plans for carbon tax
Two days after suffering a severe electoral defeat French President Nicolas Sarkozy has dropped plans to initiate a carbon tax. Prime Minister Francois Fillon told law-makers from the ruling UMP party on 23 March that the July date for initiating a carbon tax would not be kept. Fillon said that...

A majority of the French want brothels legalized
A substantial majority of French adults want to have brothels legalized again according to a poll published on 23 March in the daily Le Parisien. In the poll which was carried out by the CSA institute 59 % of the 852 adults contacted said they were in favor of reopening...

Renault-Nissan open joint factory in India
French carmaker Renault and its Japanese partner Nissan inaugurated on 17 March in India their first joint factory dedicated to the global market Renault said. The new site in the city of Chennai will begin production in May with a goal of producing up to 400 000 vehicles per year...

Merkel Sarkozy warn against US protectionism
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned against protectionism on 16 March after Europes EADS lost out on a contract to build tanker aircraft for the US. The leaders said they were concerned at the circumstances under which a partnership between US firm Northrop Grumman and EADS ended...

Cost overruns on military plan will cost EADS $1billion loss
European aerospace giant EADS staggering from giving up its bid for a $40 billion contract for a United States Air Force refueling plane got another blow when it said it had suffered a loss of 763 million euros $1.04 billion in 2009 due primarily to cost overruns on the A400M...

French leaders support EU monetary fund stand by Greece
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has called on for strong economic governance within the European Union EU to complement a possible IMF-style European Monetary Fund EMF while President Nicolas Sarkozy said his country would stand by Greece which is facing near-default and a deep fiscal crisis. Fillon said the economic...

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...

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

 

Late free throws by Batum, Gelabale carry France past Canada
IZMIR, Turkey (AP) -- Nicolas Batum and Mickael Gelabale each hit a pair of free throws in the final 17 seconds to help France clinch a 68-63 win over Canada on Tuesday at the basketball world championship.

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.

Carla Bruni Films Woody Allen Movie in Paris with Owen Wilson
France's First Lady is seen shooting scenes for the upcoming film, Paris In Midnight

Air-traffic control strike in France disrupts air traffic
A strike by air-traffic controllers affected flights Wednesday across France, resulting in cancellations of 10 percent of scheduled flights from Paris' main international airport, the civil aviation authority DGAC said.

Burqa ban passes French lower house overwhelmingly
France's lower house of parliament Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a ban on any veils that cover the face -- including the burqa, the full-body covering worn by some Muslim women.

French parliament debates burqa ban
The French parliament begins debate Tuesday on a bill that would ban women from wearing Islamic veils, such as the burqa, that fully cover the face and body.

Passengers stranded after French station struck by lightning
Thousands of travelers in France were stranded after lightning shut down a main train station on Saturday, the first day of the summer holiday for students.

France's soccer empire in ruins?
The world watched with awe and derision this past week as the French national soccer team, boasting a roster of star players, imploded on and off the field at the World Cup.

France orders Hamas TV station off air, agency says
France has asked that the official Hamas-run TV channel Al-Aqsa not be broadcast through French-based satellite provider Eutelsat on the grounds that the station has violated a prohibition on incitement to hatred or violence based on race, religion or nationality, the French broadcasting monitoring agency said in a release.

Renée Zellweger Jogs Through Paris
• While boyfriend, (not fiancé), Bradley Cooper talked A-Team with journalists in Paris on Monday, Renée Zellweger took off - on foot! Sporting headphones, the actress went for a late-afternoon run along the scenic Seine River, heading from the tony Avenue Montaigne to the Eiffel Tower and back. The night before, Zellweger and Cooper joined Kate Hudson and her rumored new beau, musician Matt Bellamy, for dinner at a tiny French bistro.

Andrew Lawrence: One writer's Roland Garros pilgrimage offers lesson in self-reliance
PARIS -- The thing I love most about this city is its indifferent personality, particularly when it comes to hosting out-of-towners. Where other places bend over backwards to be at a visitor's beckon call, Paris hisses "get it yourself."

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest in Paris
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, throwing rocks and beer bottles, fought police Monday night in an attempt to reach the Israeli Embassy in Paris.

Basking in France's Dordogne River Valley
A reader once asked me if I were to bring a spry, 73-year-old grandmother to Europe, where would I go? My response: France's Dordogne River Valley. I'd take her for a float down the river in a canoe, then cap the day with a great riverside meal -- letting her enjoy goose liver (explaining what it was later) with the finest glass of French red wine she's ever had.

Precious artworks stolen in Paris heist
Five paintings, including a Matisse and a Picasso, were stolen overnight from a Paris museum, the Paris mayor's office said Thursday.

France moves one step closer to burqa ban
The French Council of Ministers approved a measure Wednesday to ban the wearing of full-face veils, sending the bill to parliament.

Europe's transport system feels strain as disruption continues
Rail and ferry services across Europe have been swamped by thousands of frustrated passengers forced to seek alternate modes of transport, as a volcanic ash cloud continues to disrupt European air travel.

Going to the heart of France's nuclear power ambitions
As an intrepid producer for CNN, I have been in some strange situations. Possibly the strangest, however, was on a recent trip to France to produce a piece on nuclear energy for the latest episode of Earth's Frontiers. We were about to be taken on a rare behind-the-scenes tour of Tricastin Nuclear Power Station's nuclear reactor.

Taliban militants threaten to kill kidnapped French journalists
Taliban militants in Afghanistan are threatening to kill two kidnapped French journalists unless their demands are met, including the release of some detainees held by France.

'Talking' is the best way to discipline kids
Spare the rod, period. That's what parents across the globe told us when we asked how they discipline their children.

French theme park goes au naturel
The construction of a theme park in France's Loire Valley might cause the most benign environmentalist's strident tendencies to be awakened.

French police officer killed in 'ETA shootout'
A French police officer has died in a shootout with suspected members of the Basque separatist group ETA near Paris, the Spanish Interior Ministry said Wednesday.

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.

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

 

E.U. Casts Legal Doubt on French Roma Expulsion
A European Commission report highlighted failings in France’s law and pointedly declined to endorse the government’s actions.

Crescendo, in Double Time
Russians entered the French festival scene this summer with an open throttle and an open checkbook.

Laurent Fignon, Tour De France Winner, Dies at 50
The Frenchman won the race twice in the 1980s and lost to Greg LeMond in the closest Tour finish ever.

France Mounts Defense of Its Deportation of Roma
The French government — amid wide criticism for deportation of hundreds of Roma — defended its actions on Tuesday and accused Romania of not doing enough to integrate members of its Roma minority.

France Beats Spain at FIBA World Championships
France made 10 of its last 12 free throws and beat defending champion Spain, 72-66 in a tournament opener.

Art Theft Underworld Frustrates France
The vulnerability of museums and high-end art owners to costly thefts has been a concern in France for years, but two events are forcing the issue into the open.

Rights Panel Criticizes France Over Roma Expulsions
A United Nations-backed committee of experts sharply criticized France for deporting large groups of Roma, saying the country should do more to foster integration.

France Vows to Continue Deporting Roma
The French government's focus on Roma, who number more than 15,000 in France, has been lambasted as a political tactic.

Lost Score Unlocks Honegger’s Wartime Views
The rediscovered score of Arthur Honegger’s “Chant de Libération” sheds new light on his efforts to improve his ambiguous wartime political position.

Hacker’s Arrest Offers Peek Into Russian Criminal World
American authorities said Vladislav A. Horohorin headed “one of the most sophisticated organizations of online financial criminals in the world.”

A Battle Between Economic Mainstays in Brittany
An unwelcome visitor — sea algae that feed on the runoff of hog farms — has created a health problem and conflicts between farmers, environmentalists and the government.

Expulsion of Roma Raises Questions in France
Many Roma have been caught up in a crackdown on crime and illegal immigration.

Anelka, 3 Others, Suspended for France’s World Cup Mutiny
The veteran Nicolas Anelka was suspended from the French national team for 18 games after his actions at the World Cup in South Africa.

France Punishes Players for Behavior at World Cup
France attempted on Tuesday to draw a line under the national team's disgraceful departure from the World Cup in June.

On Motorcycle, European Pilgrims Race Toward God
The Madonna of the Bikers is meant as a religious gathering open to all comers, organizers say, and an opportunity for the church to penetrate the biker flock.

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

 

Finance Crisis May Force European Armies to Work Together
How cutting military budgets could make Europe’s military stronger

Is Quebec Becoming the World's First Post-Marriage Society?
Cohabitation in this province exceeds the rest of Canada combined.

Sarkozy: Germany and France to Harmonize Tax Policy

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?

theTrumpet.com: France
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