FRANCE - latest news report on France, French politics, French society, culture and economy

AIR FRANCE 447

Victims' families gather in Rio for memorial service

A private memorial service near Rio de Janeiro takes place on Saturday for the European and Brazilian families of the 228 people who died in the fated Air France 447 flight in June.

More extensive Air France crash probe to resume in autumn

FRANCE

Nigerian peacemakers win Chirac foundation prize

The 'Fondation Chirac' has awarded its first prize for conflict prevention to two Nigerian religious leaders. The award is intended to honour unsung peacemakers across the world.

(1) comment

FRANCE

Sliding polls greet Sarkozy's mid-term mark

Half way through his five-year presidential term, Nicolas Sarkozy has sank to his lowest poll score since he took office. But analysts see no serious challenger to thwart his bid for re-election in 2012.

(1) comment

FRANCE

Scandal-hit Chirac settles old scores in memoirs

With harsh words for his old rivals, fondness for his family, and an evasive approach when it comes to discussing Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French president hits the front pages again with the publication of the first volume of his memoirs.

AFP

Mont Blanc shrinks by foot-and-a-half

Western Europe's tallest peak, the snow-capped Alpine giant Mont Blanc, has shrunk by 45 centimetres (18 inches) in two years, experts said Thursday following an official survey.The new height of Mont Blanc, which lies on the three-way border ...

UNITED KINGDOM

Conservatives will ‘castrate’ Britain in the EU, says French minister

A French minister has accused the opposition Conservatives led by David Cameron (pictured) of "autism" on Europe, describing a campaign pledge to negotiate a return of powers from Brussels to London as "pathetic".

(6) comments

AFP

France to borrow up to 50 billion euros: presidency

France will take out a national loan of between 25 billion and 50 billion euros (37 billion-74 billion dollars), the office of French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday, eying post-crisis investments.

FRANCE

Sarkozy admits 'error' in nepotism row over son’s plum job

The French president has admitted to “having committed an error” by letting his son seek a job managing France's top business district, the La Defense skyscraper park west of Paris, according to a source at the Elysée presidential palace.

NUCLEAR IRAN

Kouchner hardens stance against Iran's nuclear dallying

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned Iran on Wednesday that Western powers would not wait "until the end of the world" for the Islamic Republic to give an official response to a UN-brokered nuclear deal.

(1) comment

OBITUARY

Anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss dies aged 100

Famous French anthropologist and ethnologist Claude Lévi-Strauss has died aged 100, his publisher announced. He passed away during the night from Saturday to Sunday.

(2) comments

FRANCE

Immigration minister launches great debate on 'national identity'

France's minister of immigration and national identity, Eric Besson (left of centre), has launched a debate on French national identity. The opposition, however, has denounced the move as a purely political exercise ahead of March regional elections.

(3) comments

FRANCE

Court action against former President Chirac to proceed

A Paris judge has ordered former French President Jacques Chirac to stand trial over the alleged misappropriation of public funds when he served as the French capital's mayor.

(5) comments