President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed on Thursday to track down the “yobs and traffickers” he accused of fomenting unrest in the high-immigration suburbs of Paris.
In a prime-time television interview, Sarkozy promised his government would take a tough line towards those behind a flare-up of violence that left more than 120 police wounded, some by gunfire.
“These people […]
Nicolas Sarkozy Condemns Rioters ‘Yobocracy’
Sarkozy Method Poses Three Risks
He still enjoys enviable popularity, but the honeymoon is over. [President] Nicolas Sarkozy’s ratings are falling, according to most opinion polls. His score varies according to the question asked. It is higher when the emphasis is placed on the president’s image rather than the effectiveness of his action.
According to LH2 (footnote: LH2 survey, Liberation 21-22 […]
Cooling Between Putin and Sarkozy
Vladimir Putin wore a grim expression as he stood next to [French President] Nicolas Sarkozy at yesterday’s joint press conference at the Kremlin. This was very different from the big smiles that they displayed Tuesday evening following their conversations at the Russian president’s dacha. Beneath the blue and gilt cupola of the majestic Catherine Hall, […]
Health Care in France
According to a United Nations report of a few years ago, France has the best health care system in the world. That said, like most French systems, health care is only as good as it is made out to be, when you know how it works.
If you are sick but it is not emergency, we […]
Wines and spirits exports bubbly
Exports of wines and spirits rose 7.5% in cash terms to €4.16 billion in the first half of the year, compared to the same period last year, said the French trade body, the Fédération des Exportateurs de vins et spiritueux de France.
The star performer for wines was champagne, up 13.1%, while spirits were led by […]
BNP boss on the carpet
The boss of the BNP Paribas bank had an embarrassing meeting with Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, who asked him to explain why the bank was holding so many dodgy loans in the United States.
Recent rises in interest rates in the US have caused many householders problems in paying their mortgages. Normally,
this would not concern a […]
Work more to earn more
From October 1st, earning more will be easier with the new tax-free overtime scheme promised by Nicolas Sarkozy. The new law which has passed through the Assemblée nationale will make overtime hours exempt from income tax and a lower rate of social security contributions owed by both employee and employer will apply to the extra […]
A bus with a mission
You may have spotted a red London double-decker bus in the south-west of France. It’s not driving tourists to the beach, and it’s no normal bus: this is the Ethiket’bus.
On the ground floor, there’s an educational grocery store with an ethical labelling system. Upstairs, you can relax at the snack bar, browse in the library, […]
Pedophile kidnapping stirs chemical castration controversy
Shortly after release from 18 years in prison for pedophile offences, a man was arrested at Roubaix (Nord) on charges of kidnapping and sexually abusing a five-year-old boy. The case has sparked the debate about how to control sex criminals who have served their sentences.
Francis Évrard, aged 61, was serving a 27-year sentence for three […]
Neuf’s cheap legal music downloads
Neuf Cegetel is the first Internet Service Provider in the world to offer legal music downloads. It has announced details of a six-month agreement with Universal, a French subsidiary of Universal Music. Subscribers to Neuf Cegetel’s fast internet services can now download unlimited music from one of nine Universal catalogues. For just under five euros […]
