Concerns over African force in Mali grow as France withdraws
As France begins withdrawing its troops from Mali, a top US defence official has said a UN-mandated African force was "incapable" of taking over the battle against Islamist extremists.
French ministers to declare assets publicly after scandal
France's Socialist government said Monday it had ordered ministers to declare their assets publicly within days, as it seeks to limit the damage from a tax fraud scandal involving an ex-minister.
France launches major offensive on Mali Islamists
A French force of 1,000 soldiers in a major offensive has swept a valley thought to be a logistics base for Al-Qaeda-linked Islamists near the Malian city of Gao.
Swiss banks eager to root out undeclared funds: experts
Amid a massive scandal involving France's former budget minister and an undeclared Swiss bank account, Swiss banks are more eager than ever to kick out tax cheats and clear their names.
Depardieu due back in court on drink-driving charge
Gerard Depardieu was due in a Paris court Friday to face a drink-driving charge but it was unclear whether the eccentric French actor would show up after skipping a previous court date.
Munching sheep replace lawn mowers in Paris
Four little black sheep on Wednesday left the countryside and began their new careers in the city: working as eco-friendly lawn mowers in a largely working-class district in northeastern Paris.
Japan, France firms to build Turkey nuclear plant: report
Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and France's Areva are expected to win a $22 billion contract to build a nuclear power plant in Turkey.
France says 75% tax will apply to footballers
France said Tuesday that a new 75 percent tax rate on upper incomes would apply to top football players despite claims from clubs that they would be exempt.
Blow for Hollande as ex-minister charged in tax fraud probe
France's ex-budget minister Jerome Cahuzac was charged Tuesday in a tax fraud probe after he admitted having a foreign bank account, dealing a fresh blow to President Francois Hollande's embattled government.
Kazakhstan knights to take part in international tournament in France first time
Kazakhstan team will take part in the Battle of the Nations historical medieval battle in France for the first time.
Paris's landmark Crillon hotel closes for makeover
The Hotel de Crillon in Paris, one of the world's oldest luxury hotels, is closing this weekend for a two-year-long makeover that includes a new spa and sweeping renovations.
New quest to study 'living fossil' coelacanth
French and South African biologists will dive to deep-sea caves in the Indian Ocean next month in a bid to locate the coelacanth, the "living fossil" fish whose history predates the dinosaurs.
'I love Paris' may soon be passe for Chinese tourists
Mass muggings and attacks on Chinese tourists in Paris have spawned alarm and warnings of a decline in the number of free-spending visitors from the Asian giant who swarm to France.
Digital kills beauty: supermodel photographer
Sante D'Orazio, a photographer at the heart of the supermodel era, said the switch to digital cameras means greater detail than ever before, but the loss of something more important: beauty.
Hollande says judge slur by Sarkozy backers unacceptable
French President Francois Hollande on Thursday said respect for judges was sacrosanct after backers of his predecessor questioned the credentials of a magistrate who charged Nicolas Sarkozy in a corruption probe.
France says Mali troops to be cut to 1,000 by year-end
The 4,000 French soldiers deployed in Mali to fight Islamist rebels will be reduced to 1,000 by the end of the year.
Judge in Sarkozy probe receives bullet in post
The judge who charged former president Nicolas Sarkozy with taking financial advantage of France's richest woman has received a bullet and a death threat in the post, say lawyers.
French woman drowned babies found in freezer
A 32-year-old Frenchwoman has admitting drowning two of her own new-born children, a prosecutor said Tuesday after infant corpses were found in a freezer at her home.
Children born outside marriage in Europe rise to 40 percent of total
The number of children born outside marriage in Europe has doubled over two decades to 40 percent, with Estonia, Slovenia and France registering almost three out of every five births out of wedlock.