A woman in the southwestern city of Bordeaux died from an e.coli infection, according to a regional health agency. The death marks the first fatal case of the disease in France More: http://www.france24.com/en/20110701-greece-bars-gaza-strip-bound-aid-flotilla-audacity-freedom-humanitarian
French Socialists are hoping that former IMF chief Dominique Stauss-Kahn could return to the political scene after reports that the sexual assault case against him is collapsing. Strauss-Kahn is to make a surprise appearance in court Friday where prosecutors are expected to tell the judge that they have problems with […]
By Clea Caulcutt Two French television journalists were freed in Afghanistan yesterday, after being held hostage by the Taliban for a year and a half. Stephane Taponier and Herve Ghesquiere were taken captive in December 2009 in a mountain region east of the capital Kabul. More: http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20110630-french-journalists-freed
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A tragic accident caused the death of a 24-year-old French tourist while riding the bonde (streetcar) that runs from Largo da Carioca in downtown Rio de Janeiro, to Santa Teresa. As the bonde passed the Arcos da Lapa, the famous white aqueduct, the man leaned […]
France’s Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, 55, has been named the first woman to head the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Ms Lagarde fought off Mexico’s Agustin Carstens for the job, although an IMF statement said that both candidates “were well qualified”. She received backing from America and Europe and key emerging […]
This news item dates back to October, 2009. We show it so that our readers can see the views of the new Director General of the International Monetary Fund, regarding Islamic Finance. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde (photo) is leading a governmental drive to attract investment from Muslim countries, in […]
By RFI France has opposed Italy’s call for a suspension in hostilities in Libya. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini on Wednesday called for a “humanitarian” pause, but French officials said that it would help Moamer Kadhafi’s forces. “We have seen the effects of the crisis and therefore also of Nato […]
By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News, Paris The announcement will be made at the Paris Air Show on Wednesday. It will come from European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, who has overall responsibility in Brussels for the flagship EU space project. He is using the event at Le Bourget […]
PARIS (AFP) – France is deeply concerned about Israel’s authorisation for the expansion of 2,000 settlement homes built on occupied Palestinian land in East Jerusalem, the foreign ministry said Monday. “Our position is constant: settlement building is illegal in the eyes of international law, in the West Bank as well […]
A forum on the status of Islam in the West will be held by Cultural-Social Center of Paris on June 25. (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – The program has been organized in the form of three sessions. The first session will be held with the presence of Al-‘Arabi Kashat, head of the center and […]
By RFI France wants to extend European sanctions against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to “economic entities”, as security forces fire on Friday demonstrators killing six, according to opposition sources. More: http://www.english.rfi.fr/europe/20110617-france-wants-tougher-syria-sanctions-friday-protests-continue
Russia’s Rosoboronexport military corporation and DCNS, the warships’ French maker, signed the contract on the sidelines of the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum. French Foreign Trade Minister Pierre Lellouche, who was present along with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, estimated the contract at 1.12 billion euros. A Mistral-class ship can carry up […]
By RFI Ex-IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn tried to claim diplomatic immunity when he was arrested over the attempted rape of a hotel maid, police transcripts revealed Thursday. More: http://www.english.rfi.fr/americas/20110617-strauss-kahn-tried-claim-diplomatic-immunity
Germany’s opposition parties have poured scorn on the compromise brokered between Angela Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy on a new Greek bailout package, which calls for the private sector to contribute voluntarily. “The idea of a voluntary contribution from the banks is ridiculous,” said Carsten Schneider, financial spokesman for […]
France’s Energy Minister Eric Besson is urging the European Commission to tackle the knock-on effects of Germany’s decision to abandon nuclear power, fearing energy supplies problems, in a letter seen Friday. “Our national decisions can have a substantial impact on the balance between electricity demand and supply in other European […]
Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy were speaking after Greece’s Prime Minister George Papandreou announced a cabinet reshuffle. The changes include a new finance minister, Evangelos Venizelos. Mr Papandreou wants to impose political stability as Greece awaits approval for the next tranche of bail-out money. More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13809433
Guardian.uk. A court this week heard the first case against women for wearing the niqab – or Islamic face veil – since a ban came into force in April. One of the defendants was banned from entering the courthouse because she was still wearing the niqab. The two women on […]
Bachelot is confident that in future same sex marriages will be allowed. La ministre de la Cohésion sociale, Roselyne Bachelot, a estimé mercredi à propos du mariage homosexuel que «de toute façon, cela se fera», c’est une «question de mois, d’années». Affirmant qu’elle aurait voté la proposition de loi socialiste […]
By RFI Demonstrators are camped out in front of the Greek parliament and workers are on general strike as MPs debate a new austerity package. Credit ratings agency Moody’s is threatening to downgrade three French banks because of their exposure to Greek debt. More: http://www.english.rfi.fr/economy/20110615-anti-austerity-general-strike-hits-greece-french-banks-threatened-downgrade