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France's top leaders vie for popularity

Most countries make do with just one head of government. But in France these days, there appear to be three.

The titular head, of course, is Jean-Pierre Raffarin, the country’s rumpled and amiable prime minister, whose popularity ratings took a battering over the past year. Then there is President Jacques Chirac, the canny 71-year-old survivor of France’s turbulent political currents, who is taking an increasing interest in the day-to-day running of the state.

But prominently center stage stands presidential wannabe Nicolas Sarkozy, the country’s cocky, popular interior minister, who has made no secret about his ambitions to take over Chirac’s job in the 2007 elections.

France's get-tough approach to tobacco fails to light up EU

France urged its EU partners Tuesday to stub out “tobacco tourism” by smokers shopping around for the best cigarette prices, warning that this was costing tax revenues and undermining health campaigns.

But French proposals to raise the minimum excise duty charged by EU member states for a packet of cigarettes received a lukewarm response at a meeting of EU finance ministers, and are likely to stay on the backburner for some time.

Power workers start wave of protests in France

PARIS, Jan 20 (Reuters) – French power workers downed tools on Tuesday and commuters feared chaos from a looming rail strike at the start of a week of protests intended to put pressure on the government over pay, conditions and reforms.

Workers at Electricite de France [EDF.UL] staged protests across the country and planned to lower power output in a 24-hour strike against privatisation of state utilities. Blackouts were not expected in French homes.

French tableware maker lays out 1st Japan store

Gien, a French tableware manufacturer and purveyor to European royal families, recently opened its first boutique in Japan near the fashionable Aoyamadori street in Minato Ward, Tokyo, in an effort to become more accessible to Japanese consumers.

“I believe, in a country like Japan, where people have a great understanding of French culture, the beauty of Gien will also be appreciated,” said Louis Grandchamp des Raux, the company president, who flew to Tokyo for the opening of the shop.

France Telecom cuts 14,500 positions

PARIS, France (Reuters) — France Telecom said on Monday it will cut about 14,500 positions through early retirement or reassignment to other public companies in 2004 as the former monopoly pushes ahead with its massive restructuring.

A France Telecom spokesman said the cuts were in line with forecasts made in late 2002, when the company announced a restructuring plan to repair its balance sheet after a rapid expansion spree nearly crushed it with debt.