Taking a look at the news from France

HERE is a quick round up of news from France which has appeared across the internet over the past week.

The stories take in everything from long-lost diamonds, voodoo dolls and a cartoon book featuring life in the Elysée Palace.

And don't forget throughout the week, This French Life has a page featuring a collection of news articles that is updated every day.

Hope diamond 'is Sun King's legendary gem' - The Australian
Evidence unearthed in France's National Museum of Natural History shows beyond reasonable doubt that the Hope Diamond is the same steely-blue stone once sported by the Sun King.

Sarkozy Voodoo Dolls Must Be Sold With Warning Label - Bloomberg
French President Nicolas Sarkozy voodoo dolls can still be sold by a publisher as long as they come with a warning that sticking pins in the toy is an affront to his dignity.

Number of unemployed tops two million - France 24
For the first time since May 2007, the number of jobless people in France went past the two million mark in October.

French media, read all about it - The Connexion
French papers are among the least profitable in Europe, in a sector where advertising revenue has plunged 40% since 2000.

Cartoon Carla: fiction – or fact? The Independent
A comic book on life in the Elysée Palace portrays the President's wife as the real power behind the throne.

Martine Aubry wins France's Socialist opposition party battle - Times Online
France’s opposition Socialist party last night sought to end a vicious leadership war by anointing Martine Aubry, a former Labour Minister, as its chief.

Property in France: Cherchez La Maison - Telegraph
At the end of a surprisingly benign and golden October, everybody in France – even estate agents – are finally willing to admit that the credit crunch est arrivé.

An inside look at Islamic militants - LA Times
Iranian French researcher's interviews with militant inmates in French prisons offer insight in efforts to curb radicalisation.

World Cup-winner with France, Lilian Thuram, campaigns against racism - Telegraph
Lilian Thuram, World Cup-winner and football's most conscientious and articulate voice, has another fear to add to the fallout from the credit crunch: racism.

Why the French maid is about to clean up - Times Online
Laurent Wauquiez, the Employment Minister, said that fiscal incentives would help 130,000 people to find work as cleaners, gardeners, nannies, home-helps and other services à la personne.