News stops: UK and France bottom of language class

FRENCH airline Air France has announced it will cut more than 5,000 jobs, which amounts to around 10% of its workforce by the end of 2012.

In a detailed statement, Air France said it would 'increase economic efficiency by 20% by limiting changes to the payroll and by increasing the efficiency of time worked, by not replacing staff who leave and by improving processes'.

Whether unions revert to strike action, or decide to consult with airline bosses, remains to be seen but with the summer holidays just around the corner any threat to flights during this period has to be taken seriously.

The European Commission has said that France is one of ten countries that has to improve cages for egg-laying hens in line with EU law.

The countries have failed to comply with regulations that came in on 1 January, 2012, which said hens must be kept in 'enriched cages' with extra space to nest, scratch and roost.

If the countries fail to take steps to improve the situation then they could be taken to the European Court of Justice.

The UK has come bottom, with France second from bottom, in a study of how well school children can use a foreign language.

A European Commission study of 14 EU countries found on average 42% could deal with 'straightforward' matters in another language.

The findings put England at the bottom of the table, after France, while Sweden came top.