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Hollande says French upward unemployment trend reversed (via AFP)French President Francois Hollande claimed Thursday to have met one of his key election pledges -- to reverse the upward trend in unemployment before the end of the year. Hollande, who is under fierce pressure to tackle unemployment with polls showing…
Continue reading "'The reversal of the upward unemployment curve has now started,' says Hollande" »
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A PICK of news headlines from France.
Ex-president Sarkozy ‘could launch comeback in 2014’
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy could take advantage of next year’s local and European elections to launch a comeback, a former government minister and close aide told the popular Europe 1 radio station Thursday.
'Paris shooter' had domestic violence record in UK
Alleged serial killer who went on a shooting rampage in Paris 'was convicted of domestic violence in Britain and wore electronic tag'.
Nursery school has right to ban employee from wearing burka, says French court
A French court has upheld the controversial sacking of a childcare worker who wore a veil to work.
Why the French are turning to fast food
From escargots to coq au vin to tarte tatin, no country has a greater affinity with food than France.
But last year 54% of total restaurant turnover in this country went to fast food and sandwich shops. It's the first time "convenience" food has outstripped the market of the traditional French brasserie.
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Tour de France to start with time-trial in 2015 (via AFP)Tour de France organisers Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO) revealed Thursday that the opening stage of the Tour de France in 2015 will be an individual time-trial. It had already been announced three weeks ago that the 2015 Tour would begin in Utrecht…
Continue reading "Tour de France 2015 to start with time-trial in the Netherlands" »
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SPANISH prime minister Mariano Rajoy and French president Francois Hollande have announced the start of high speed rail services between the two countries.
During a summit meeting the pair said that a direct link between Paris and Barcelona would start on December 15, with a journey time of six hours and 20 minutes.
The Spanish rail operator, RENFE, will work alongside its French equivalent, SNCF, to offer passengers connections between a number of cities.
The Paris to Barcelona service will offer two return trips a day, while there will also be one return trip between Lyon and Barcelona and one return trip between Toulouse and Barcelona.
There will also be one daily return trips between Marseille, Barcelona and Madrid, SNCF said.
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IF the building and home improvement sector provides an insight into the health of an economy, figures from two leading business paint a sombre picture.
Wolseley, the FTSE 100 plumbing and building suppliers firm, has said that the French market is finding things tough.
Like-for-like revenue in France fell by 4.8% in the three months to the end of October, which it blamed on continued weakness in the new residential market and 'negligible' inflation.
While Kingfisher, which owns Castorama and Brico Depot in France, reported to shareholders that it does not expect to see much improvement in consumer morale.
And while its total sales were up 1.9%, the company said its profits in France shrank by 5.6% in the last three months.
Ian Cheshire, Kingfisher chief executive, said: "Whilst we have delivered sales growth in each of our geographies our markets remain challenging, especially in France where consumer confidence is still weak and with no obvious signs of an imminent improvement."
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FOLLOWING an outcry by unions, and questions from politicians, Philippe Varin the CEO of car firm PSA Peugeot Citroen has said he would renounce his pension plan.
Philippe Varin, whilst not about to retire, has a €21 million pension pot put to one side that would ensure payment of €310,000 per year after taxes and social security contributions.
Now the car boss has said he will leave it up to the company board to come to a decision on what an 'appropriate' arrangement would be for his pension provision.
The questions come at a time when PSA Peugeot Citroen faces tumbling car sales, job losses and was rescued last year by government guarantees for its financing and credit arm.
The company also posted a record loss of €5 billion.
Finance minister Pierre Moscovici said more transparency was needed on the pension arrangements, while union representatives are shocked at the package available to Philippe Varin (pictured) at a time when the Peugeot plant at Aulnay-Sous-Bois is set to be closed.
PSA Peugeot Citroen were moved to issue a statement about Philippe Varin's pension deal explaining that it had been agreed and approved by shareholders.
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Elderly suicides in France stir euthanasia debate (via AFP)Two couples in their 80s have committed suicide in Paris, reigniting a debate in France on euthanasia which is still illegal in the country. The suicides came just four days apart. The second couple, aged 84 and 81, were found dead on Monday at their…
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THREE unions representing staff at Air France have agreed to support voluntary redundancies at the airline that will see 1,826 job cuts.
The job losses will take place amongst ground staff with employees voting to accept the plan after improvements were made in the compensation paid, meaning those leaving will receive payments worth up to €18,000.
Air France is undertaking a major restructuring programme as it looks to cut costs and compete with budget airlines, that will see the company cut around 2,800 jobs as it looks to return to profit next year.
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THE French sports minister, Valérie Fourneyron, has called for football games to be played to mark the impromptu 1914 Christmas truce that took place during World War One.
UEFA, the European football ruling body, has backed the idea and suggested games should be played as part of the 100th anniversary commemoration of the conflict.
The minister is calling on other EU countries to use the football matches as a way to recognise the bond of fraternity the soldiers showed during that first Christmas at war when games of football were played on the battlefield.
Valérie Fourneyron (pictured) said that the Belgian government would stage the games, with Ypres mentioned as one possible location while the games could take place in December 2014.
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In Paris, umbrellas built to outlast their owners (via AFP)Easily broken and frequently lost, the humble umbrella is not usually seen as a luxury item. But for Frenchman Michel Heurtault, whose creations can sell for thousands of euros, that is just what they are. The 48-year-old artisan uses the finest of materials for his umbrellas and parasols, which are made to last and intended to be handed down from generation to generation.
Despite his high prices, Heurtault's Paris shop attracts clients from around the world -- one Qatari princess went for an umbrella handle covered with shagreen, a type of leather, at a cost of more than 8,000 euros ($10,800).
Continue reading "Parisian umbrellas fit for a prince, and others" »
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