France

Comic-book hero Asterix did his bit for Middle East peace this weekend, when Arab and Hebrew translations of an Asterix album with a Middle Eastern touch were released simultaneously at the Paris book fair. ”Translation opens us up to others, to all peoples,” said Syrian Jamal Shehayeb, who usually translates literary works by Proust or poet Lamartine.

A Paris court on Thursday acquitted the editor of a satirical French weekly sued by two Muslim groups for publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, in a case seen as a test for freedom of expression. Applause broke out in the courtroom at the announcement of the verdict.

A Paris court on Thursday hands down its verdict in the closely watched trial of a satirical French weekly sued by two Muslim groups for publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Two influential Muslim groups took the editor of Charlie Hebdo, Philippe Val, to court for reprinting the cartoons in February last year.

A rebel leader from Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region said in an interview in Paris that the United Nations must either protect the area’s residents or arm them so they can defend themselves. "Either UN forces come to protect our people or the international community has to arm us to defend our people from genocide," Abdul Wahid Mohammed Nur said in an interview.

Rebel forces entered the Central African Republic town of Birao on Saturday, but government soldiers and a small detachment of French soldiers remained in the town, France’s defence ministry said. France in December sent special forces to dislodge rebel fighters from Birao and a large swathe of its former colony.

French TV host Jean-Luc Delarue was detained by police officers upon arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport on Sunday for allegedly attacking cabin crew on a flight to South Africa earlier this month. The TV star, travelling in first class, allegedly insulted, bit and slapped one of the flight attendants.

The collapse of two ice shelves in Antarctica has exposed an exquisite seabed ecosystem, including species of crustaceans and marine anemones that had never before been identified, researchers said on Sunday. The insight into this hidden marine world came from the break-up of the Larsen A and B ice shelves, 12 and five years ago respectively.

Prime Minister Pascal Yoadimnadji of Chad died early on Friday in a Paris hospital after a brain haemorrhage, the ambassador of the impoverished north-central African state said. The premier had been flown from the Chadian capital, Ndjamena, on Wednesday after he collapsed with high blood pressure.

Lille have hit out at being forced to adopt entrenched views in the friction with Manchester United following the crowd trouble at their Champions League game, which had echoes of the Hillsborough tragedy. French riot police used tear gas when they believed an uncontrollable situation was unfolding in a stand behind one of the goals.

European football’s governing body, Uefa, confirmed on Wednesday that they have officially opened an investigation into incidents that marred the Champions League last 16, first-leg match between Manchester United and Lille in Lens. Tear gas was used during the match, which United won 1-0 at the Stade Felix-Bollaert on Tuesday night.

French authorities issued an alert on Monday at the Canadian embassy in Paris when a staff member suffered from a nosebleed after receiving a suspicious envelope, firefighters said. But tests showed there was no danger and employees were allowed to return to their desks less than two hours later, said Florent Hivert, spokesperson for the Paris firefighters.

France has not found a way to bring Zimbabwe to its summit of African leaders this week, the government said on Tuesday. France was criticised for hosting Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe at a similar summit in Paris in 2003 and appears keen not to repeat the experience.