News

Mopping-up starts after huge storms

CLEAR-UP operations have started after violent rainstorms in the Bouches-du-Rhône, Var and Alpes-Maritimes saw mudslides, rivers bursting their banks and cars swept away.

Hundreds of firefighters an…

Trial begins for ex-PM Villepin

FORMER PM Dominique de Villepin goes on trial today, charged with defaming President Sarkozy.

Villepin is the most high-profile figure among five defendants and is accused of involvement in a smear, …

Giscard hints at affair with Diana

FORMER president Valéry Giscard d?Estaing has dropped a playful hint that he had a romantic liaison with Princess Diana.

The 83-year-old has written a novel called The Princess and the President wh…

Milk strike anger continues to grow

DAIRY farmers across France are continuing to throw away hundreds of thousands of litres of milk in protest at a lack of support from the government and the EU.

The strike actions, which are now in t…

GDF fined ?1,500 for incorrect bill

AN ELDERLY woman who was threatened by gas supplier GDF over a disputed ?7,000 bill has successfully sued the group for ?1,500.

The ruling by a court in Paris could make it easier for other energy …

15,000 heritage sites open doors

FRANCE?S monuments, famous buildings and heritage sites open their doors this weekend for the 26th Journées du Patrimoine.

Last year the Palais de la République, the Elysée, Matignon, Sénat and …

Sarkozy hospital visit criticised

A HEALTH union has criticised what they see as over-the-top arrangements for a planned presidential visit to a hospital in a Paris suburb.

Sud-santé says the numerous security checks being planned a…

Ségo site is for sore eyes

DAYS after critics lambasted the ‘cheap’ new look on Ségolène Royal’s website its appearance has changed again.

Replacing the ‘sunrise over the prairie’ landscape and silver font is a purple ‘potat…

Swine flu declared an 'epidemic'

THE number of cases of swine flu has doubled over the last week ? to 103,000 cases ? and health minister Roselyne Bachelot says the epidemic has arrived.

Health watchdog InVS said the week of Septe…

Talk on French and English humour

Author Jean-Loup Chiflet explains how to be funny in both languages at a book event in Paris on September 22