France's Hollande heads to Japan for 'Abenomics' lesson
Just weeks after a visit to regional rival China, French President Francois Hollande arrives in Japan on Thursday, hoping to close deals on nuclear cooperation and in the aviation sector.
French move to ban industrial food from 'restaurants'
Worried its gastronomic reputation is being damaged by substandard eateries, France is considering banning establishments from calling themselves restaurants if meals are not made from scratch by in-house chefs.
UBS France placed under investigation
Paris investigators placed the French branch of Swiss bank UBS under formal investigation Friday on suspicion it helped try to persuade rich French clients to open undeclared accounts in Switzerland.
Judge in case linked to Lagarde probed for fraud
The judge in a corruption case linked to IMF chief Christine Lagarde has been placed under formal investigation for fraud.
US fines Total $398 mn over bribes in Iran
French oil giant Total agreed Wednesday to pay US authorities $398.2 million to settle charges that it bribed officials in Iran to secure oil and gas concessions.
France urges 'joint action' on southern Libya Islamists
France's foreign minister on Tuesday urged Libya and its neighbours to work together to tackle threats from "terrorist groups".
Almaty to host French luxury exhibition
French luxury exhibition Vitrine du Luxe Français au Kazakhstan 2013 will be held in Almaty’s Rixos hotel on June 5-6.
Women more at risk than men of smoking, drinking: study
Women who smoke and drink heavily are at a higher risk of early death than men who do the same.
France blacklists 17 countries for handling foreign aid
France has drawn up a blacklist of 17 countries including Switzerland that do not help investigate foreign aid fraud, banning the use of their banks to help distribute development funds.
France to probe samples from Syria for sign of chemical arms
French authorities will analyse samples brought back from Syria by two journalists after they reported the Syrian army was using chemical weapons against rebel forces.
Brussels expected to up pressure for economic reform
The European Commission is expected on Wednesday to increase the pressure on several countries, particularly France, to speed up structural reforms seen as the only reliable way to boost growth and job creation.
Daring lesbian love story wins Cannes top prize
A sexually graphic lesbian love story, "Blue is the Warmest Colour" by French-Tunisian director Abdellatif Kechiche, clinched the top prize Sunday at the Cannes Film Festival in a pivotal year for gay rights.
Thousands protest gay marriage in Paris
At least 150,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Paris to protest a new law allowing gay marriage, a largely peaceful gathering that later turned violent as riot police battled hundreds of right-wingers.
Syrian opposition divided amid international peace bid
International efforts to end the unrest in Syria accelerate Monday with key talks in Paris and Brussels, amid a push for a new peace conference despite growing divisions within the Syrian opposition.
IMF chief avoids charges in French payout scandal
IMF chief Christine Lagarde avoided immediate charges on Friday but was named an "assisted witness" after French prosecutors grilled her for two days over a state payout to a disgraced tycoon when she was finance minister.
Mobile app to help fight against racism in France
A French anti-racism association is launching a mobile application it hopes will help eradicate racist graffiti by enabling users to take photos of offensive tags, geo-locate them and get them removed.
IMF chief grilled for 2nd day over 2007 payout scandal
French prosecutors began questioning IMF chief Christine Lagarde for a second day Friday to decide if she should be charged over a state payout to a disgraced tycoon during her time as finance minister.
France wants to teach Astana EXPO
France has offered help to Astana in holding the international exhibition EXPO-2017.
Ardavichus to take part in truck racing Cup of France
Bronze winner of Dakar rally, Kazakhstan racer Arthur Ardavichus has decided to try himself in track racing on trucks.
Lagarde: global star threatened by French court case
Christine Lagarde smashed the glass ceiling at one of the world's preeminent institutions when she was named two years ago to lead the International Monetary Fund, capping a shooting-star career.