News stops: Views of the past from Pondicherry

A LOOK over some of the headlines from France.

In pictures: Former French colony of Pondicherry in India
Photographs, including some from late 19th century, of the former French colony of Pondicherry in India.

Naked Mohammed cartoons fuel French Muslim outcry
French weekly Charlie Hebdo published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed naked on Wednesday, ignoring disapproval from the government which called for “responsible behaviour”, amid growing unrest over an anti-Islamic film that has left dozens dead.

Standards are high at Mont Blanc's new mountain climbers' shelter
At 3,800 metres, France's new Refuge du Goûter lodge is set to be a marvel of self-sustainability – but outside, rising temperatures make climbing conditions ever more hazardous.

EuroDisney gets 1.3 bn euro loan from Walt Disney
Euro Disney, the struggling theme park near Paris, said Tuesday that it has received a loan of 1.3 billion euros ($1.7 billion) from its parent the Walt Disney company, allowing it to refinance a large part of its existing debt.

Chinese actress Zhao Wei owner of a Saint-Emilion château, welcomed by Bordeaux winemakers
Famous Chinese actress and new chateau owner was welcomed as a member of an exclusive French society near Bordeaux steeped in the French winemaking tradition.