France – News Stories About France - Page 100

Massive Paris Police Action Quells Riots

Nov 29, 2007 6:47 AM CST

Massive Paris Police Action Quells Riots

But amateur video contradicts cops' story about boys' death

(Newser) - The Paris suburb of Villiers-le-Bel was relatively calm last night as hundreds of police dressed in riot gear restored order and a helicopter with searchlights hovered over the town. France's interior minister visited the suburb late last night, where a few rioters burned cars but no mass action took place,...

Sarkozy Vows to Punish Rioters

Nov 28, 2007 10:26 AM CST

Sarkozy Vows to Punish Rioters

Attacks against officers won't be tolerated, he says

(Newser) - Nicolas Sarkozy vowed to bring armed rioters to justice after visiting wounded policemen in the hospital today, saying, “Opening fire at officials has a name—attempted murder.” More police were deployed last night, bringing violence down, but buildings and cars were burned throughout Paris and Toulouse, the BBC...

TV Babe Helps Sarko Rebound

Nov 26, 2007 12:48 PM CST

TV Babe Helps Sarko Rebound

Newly divorced prez turns to half of French TV's 'Ken and Barbie'

(Newser) - It didn’t take Nicolas Sarkozy long to get over his recent divorce—the French president is already in a “close and loving relationship” with star journalist Laurence Ferrari, according to the Daily Mail. It began when Ferrari interviewed Sarkozy on the campaign trail, creating visible chemistry. “They...

Airbus Lands $17B in Chinese Orders on Sarkozy Visit

Nov 26, 2007 7:46 AM CST

Airbus Lands $17B in Chinese Orders on Sarkozy Visit

French net $30B total; prez seeks higher yuan

(Newser) - French companies, led by Airbus, have landed $30 billion in deals during President Nicolas Sarkozy’s first visit to Beijing, where he urged the Chinese to accelerate appreciation of the yuan. The aerospace giant’s $17-billion order put Airbus back in the lead over competitor Boeing for orders this year,...

Iran Warns Against UN Sanctions

Nov 23, 2007 5:44 PM CST

Iran Warns Against UN Sanctions

US, Europe allies call for penalties after inspectors' report

(Newser) - Iran warned today that UN sanctions might bring a halt to its cooperation with nuclear inspectors, Reuters reports. The warning comes a day after Britain, France, and Germany joined the US in calling for such sanctions because a report by international inspectors gave Tehran mixed marks on its openness. "...

Crippling French Rail Strike Ends

Nov 23, 2007 3:11 PM CST

Crippling French Rail Strike Ends

Service resumes after 9 days

(Newser) - The 9-day French rail strike that left thousands of commuters stranded ended today with a whimper, reports the New York Times. All but 2% of the striking transit workers returned to work, and government and transit officials promised reimbursements for commuters inconvenienced by the unpopular action. "Commuters can take...

Low-Rise Paris Mulls High-Rise Revolution

Nov 23, 2007 2:05 PM CST

Low-Rise Paris Mulls High-Rise Revolution

Mayor, president team up to advocate new skyline for capital

(Newser) - The mayor of Paris, Europe's most densely populated city, has unveiled an ambitious new plan to reinvent the city's skyline. Bertrand Delanoë wants to build a collection of skyscrapers in the north and east of the city, where a tall building hasn't been completed since 1977. Despite Delanoë's popularity,...

French Attack Internet Piracy

Nov 23, 2007 8:34 AM CST

French Attack Internet Piracy

Move to stem high-tech theft raises worries about civil liberties

(Newser) - French internet pirates, beware. Big Brother is watching. Or, he will be if a three-strikes-and-you’re-out industry proposal backed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy moves forward, the Financial Times reports. Under the plan, ISPs would forward data on users illegally sharing files to the government, which could terminate problem internet...

Chavez Fired
as Hostage Mediator

Nov 22, 2007 7:32 PM CST

Chavez Fired as Hostage Mediator

Colombian prez says he overstepped boundaries

(Newser) - Colombia ended Hugo Chavez's try at freeing 45 hostages from Marxist rebels today, Reuters reports. The Venezuelan prez had been brokering their release for weeks when he apparently breached protocol by talking to a Colombian general. "Can you imagine (Russia's president) calling the chairman of the U.S. chiefs...

Chirac Faces Pilfering Probe

Nov 22, 2007 3:12 PM CST

Chirac Faces Pilfering Probe

Ex-prez grilled for 3 hours about funds for friends, allies during years as mayor

(Newser) - A French magistrate launched a probe yesterday into claims that former President Jacques Chirac skimmed funds while in office, the Independent reports. Chirac, who turns 76 next week, is accused of using tax money to back friends and allies during his reign as mayor from 1977 to 1995. More accusations...

Sabotage Cripples French Trains

Nov 21, 2007 6:53 AM CST

Sabotage Cripples French Trains

Negotiations reopen, but fires, cable damage shut down network

(Newser) - France's transit strike turned ugly in its second week, as widespread sabotage to the country's high-speed rail network created huge delays to already crippled services. The Financial Times reports that while the majority of railway workers are now back on the job pending negotiations, fires and damaged cables have prevented...

Sarko: 'No Surrender' to Strikers

Nov 20, 2007 4:50 PM CST

Sarko: 'No Surrender' to Strikers

French prez vows his reforms will not stop

(Newser) - Nicolas Sarkozy, in his first public comments on the matter, said today he will not back down from pension reform in the face of a week-long transit strike, the AP reports. "France needs reforms to meet the challenges imposed on it by the world," he said as he...

Civil Servants Join French Strikes

Nov 20, 2007 6:38 AM CST

Civil Servants Join French Strikes

Hundreds of thousands participate in one-day work action

(Newser) - As the transit strike in France entered its seventh day today, hundreds of thousands of civil servants staged a one-day strike of their own to protest job cuts and demand pay increases. The walkout by teachers, nurses, air-traffic controllers and others further paralyzed the nation and increased pressure on President...

Noah's Flood Transformed Agriculture

Nov 19, 2007 10:33 AM CST

Noah's Flood Transformed Agriculture

Melting glaciers inundated Black Sea, scattered farmers

(Newser) - The real-life inspiration for the biblical flood may have been responsible for the widespread adoption of agriculture in Europe, according to a new study. About 8,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age, ice sheets melted, causing massive flooding in the Black Sea basin. That forced...

French Strikes Head Into Day 6

Nov 19, 2007 4:43 AM CST

French Strikes Head Into Day 6

Some trains back in service as support for action flags

(Newser) - The French transport strike headed into its sixth day today, with the unions losing some steam but hoping to hold out until tomorrow, when they will be reinforced by a separate strike of civil servants, lawyers and magistrates. Exasperated French commuters found some relief, as diminishing numbers of strikers meant...

Transit Strike Infuriates French

Nov 15, 2007 9:23 AM CST

Transit Strike Infuriates French

Sarkozy gamble may pay off as waits out unpopular strike

(Newser) - Anti-union sentiment rose as France's deeply unpopular transit strike entered its second day today, with most service on the national railways and the Paris metro suspended. Evidence is mounting, Reuters reports, that Nicolas Sarkozy will win this round, with union leaders already hinting at compromise, though they have not yet...

Transit Strike Cripples France

Nov 14, 2007 10:19 AM CST

Transit Strike Cripples France

Unions seek exit from huge work action

(Newser) - In France, the biggest strike since Nicolas Sarkozy's election paralyzed transportation services from national rail to the Paris metro today. Massive traffic jams, long waits for the few subway trains running, and fleets of bicycles were in evidence in the first day of what is seen as a critical showdown...

French Rail Workers Strike

Nov 13, 2007 8:02 PM CST

French Rail Workers Strike

Utility workers, teachers, civil servants plan strikes too; Sarkozy vows to fight

(Newser) - French rail workers tested Sarkozy's mettle today by walking off the job in defense of their pensions, the BBC reports. Only 90 of France's 700 high-speed trains will run tomorrow and subway service in Paris will be dead, according to the metro operator. "Tomorrow is going to be a...

Sarkozy, Unions in Showdown

Nov 13, 2007 11:20 AM CST

Sarkozy, Unions in Showdown

Strikes starting tonight will test French president's reform resolve, shape tenure

(Newser) - French railway workers will walk off the job again tonight, this time in an open-ended strike with some backup from subway, bus, electrical, and gas workers, all angry over Nicolas Sarkozy's proposal to end their special pension rights. The strike is expected to test the president's will for reforms aimed...

Sarko Vows a Friendlier France

Nov 7, 2007 5:28 PM CST

Sarko Vows a Friendlier France

He expresses love of America before joint session of Congress

(Newser) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy reaffirmed his love for America before a joint session of Congress today and pledged that France will be a "friend of the United States." Sarkozy was greeted warmly with standing ovations in a wide-ranging speech that touched on the American dream, the dangers posed...