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French Government

latest news & developments

Sarkozy urged to press Chad on missing politicians

French President Nicolas Sarkozy travelled to Chad on Wednesday as rights groups urged France not to ”cover up” for President Idriss Déby Itno, accused of having a hand in the…

New twists ahead in France’s rogue-trader saga

A new court battle will be held on Monday over the detention of French rogue trader Jerome Kerviel. The decision by a Paris appeals court on Friday to back a prosecution demand…

Second trader quizzed in French banking scandal

A second trader suspected of involvement in the multibillion-dollar losses at Société Générale bank was taken for questioning by judges on Saturday. The unnamed broker at Société…

Chad president offers pardon for French aid workers

Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno said on Thursday he was willing to pardon six French aid workers convicted of trying to fly more than 100 children out of the country, now…

Digital music sales soar, but piracy a problem

Global digital music sales rose by 40% to an estimated -billion in 2007, but the strong growth failed to compensate for the continued slump in CD sales, the International…

SA explores joining ‘rich man’s club’ of nations

Talks are under way to explore the possibility of South Africa being invited to join the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) — the so-called "rich man’s…

Pretoria’s silence on Kenya puzzling, says DA

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for the Presidency to break its silence over the ongoing fracas in Kenya. ”An upfront reiteration by the South African Presidency that it…

US driver whines about cancelled Dakar Rally

Nascar driver Robby Gordon says the cancellation of the Dakar Rally cost him approximately ,5-million, and he disagreed with the decision not to race at least a portion of the…

Dakar Rally cancelled over security fears

This year’s Dakar Rally has been cancelled over security concerns, in particular direct ”terrorist” threats to the race, organisers announced on Friday. The race had been due to…

‘International law protected French aid workers’

Six French aid workers on trial on kidnapping charges in Chad were trying to save children they believed to be Darfur orphans, and therefore are protected by international law…

Sabotage hits French railways, strike continues

Widespread sabotage has damaged France’s high-speed rail network and caused huge delays to services already hit by an eight-day transport strike, a senior executive at the SNCF…

Report done on France’s alleged role in genocide

A special Rwandan commission handed over on Friday a 500-page report on France’s alleged role in the country’s 1994 genocide, the commission’s president said. Paris has already…

Rwanda tribunal’s most wanted remains elusive

Félicien Kabuga has a reward of several million dollars on his head, and tops the list of fugitives of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Yet, he’s managed to…

Chad protesters: ‘No to child-trafficking’

Chadians chanting ”No to the slave trade, no to child-trafficking” protested on Wednesday against a French group accused of trying to illegally fly children from the the country…

Spain ‘disagrees’ with charges against nationals

Spain ”disagrees” with charges filed against seven Spaniards in Chad over an alleged operation by a French charity to abduct 103 children to France, its Foreign Ministry said on…