There are almost no front pages to show here in France due to Thursday’s general strike. Le Figaro and Les Echos are the only papers in print today.

Le Figaro (France)

“Et maintenant?”

Now what?

French President Sarkozy says he’s listening to people’s anxiety and that he will talk with the unions.

Between one and two million French workers took part in yesterday's pan-union strikes. The action was mainly a reaction to the governments handling of the financial crisis, as French people see their purchasing power drop and their jobs in jeopardy. Different protests took place in over 200 towns and villages in France.

The story has been picked up around Europe.

The  Independent (UK)

Sarkozy Versus the Street

In the biggest demonstration France has seen for more than a decade there was a “carnival atmosphere of political defiance rather than deep popular anger” – but as a recession begins to bite here, will that atmosphere change?

The Guardian (UK)

Food aid cut to starvation levels for millions in Zimbabwe, as cash dries up for UN programme.

The World Food Programme, a UN agency, is cutting its rations to Zimbabwe by half. The supplies will now be below what’s enough to keep an adult alive – as numbers of people dependent on aid increase and donations from foreign governments fall short. Most Zimbabweans will be lucky to eat once a day. 

The Guardian (UK)

Soleful tribute: Bush shoe-throwing now a work of art

As Iraq gets ready to vote in provincial elections – an unusual sculpture has been unveiled. The artist responsible for the work says it should be a source of pride for all Iraqis. The statue honours the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at George Bush during his final trip to Iraq. Muntazer al-Zaidi was charged with assaulting a foreign leader and is in detention awaiting trial.

Below: a final story out of Switzerland, and it’s nothing to do with Davos.

The Times (UK)  

Switzerland slaps ban on menace of naked ramblers

Beginning this spring Switzerland will be fining nude ramblers. Apparently the pastime has become more popular since a German mountaineering website declared the Swiss Alps “ a paradise for naked rambling”.  But many Swiss have been upset by the hoards of mainly German nudists roaming around the wilderness.

The hobby becomes more popular as the weather gets warmer.

Swiss legislators have spent the winter coming up with a law, to come into place in April, discouraging people from taking their kit off when the ice thaws.