Voters have used all past regional elections to punish the party in power. Plus, Sarkozy's supporters are showing little interest in the campaign, according to polls. So those voters who do show up are likely to do so to express discontent with what he's doing — or not doing — for France. "Employment is the No. 1 issue," said Jerome Fourquet of the Ifop polling agency. Joblessness is at its highest level in a decade, over 10 percent, and the effects of recession are still pinching industries from car making to hotels.

Claims the Pentagon skewed bidding rules for a tanker jet contract in favour of an American manufacturer will have serious consequences for EU-US relations, senior French officials said Wednesday. OH my serious consequences what ever will we do

"The risk cannot be ignored. Along with climate change, nuclear disarmament is one of two great global issues although it has to be said that nuclear bombs can kill a hell of a lot faster than CO2." The report is timely, coming on the eve of next month's non-proliferation conference in Washington, organised by US president Barack Obama.

THE owner of European aircraft giant Airbus nose-dived into the red last year after costs of building the Airbus super-jumbo and a new ­military transport aircraft spiralled out of control.

MILLIONS of men just a shade under five foot nine were devastated last night as it emerged that not even the French presidency can help a short man hang on to Carla Bruni. -

McDonald’s European division posted a 5.4-percent increase in February same-store sales on strong performances in France, the United Kingdom and Russia. Like their grandmère on the streets of Nazi "occupied" fwance, Mcdo franchises are cash cows.

PARIS — French President Nicolas Sarkozy is bent on taking a bigger role in the running of French companies, summoning bank leaders to his Elysee palace on Friday to order them to boost lending to the economy and smaller companies. Sarkozy — whose conservative party faces regional elections later this month that polls show favor the opposition Socialists — "asked banks to remain fully mobilized to finance the economy in the recovery that is starting," a statement issued by his office said. "He particularly insisted that small and very small companies have access to credit," it said. View a European Conservative. Same as an American liberal.

One mainstream, centre-right news magazine splashed the prime minister on its cover this week with the headline "President Fillon" -- a barb aimed directly at Sarkozy, who is criticised by opponents as hyperactive and confrontational.

US singer Stevie Wonder has collected one of France's top cultural honours in Paris, 30 years after he was first named to receive it. AND HE's WELCOME TO IT!

After repeated incidents of alleged improper performance enhancement by competitors, cycling's reputation has suffered. The impact has been especially hard felt in the sport's showcase–the Tour de France.

How can they let people like this guy out of prison.... Suspect John Albert Gardner is being held on suspicion of murder in the disappearance of Chelsea.

according to new Russian military doctrine, France – as a NATO state – is now officially an enemy of Moscow. "With ‘enemies’ like France selling super-modern assault ships," opined one Moscow military analyst, "Russian doesn’t need ‘friends’ like Venezuela, Iran or Cuba." that is so true, they are not only stupid and blind, they LOVE to be stupid and blind up to the suicidal level, they will do whatever Moscow wants them to... they will never change, prostitution is simply a part of their nature

“Nicolas Sarkozy has got back on the traditional path of French diplomacy: speaking to Moscow to hold more sway in Europe and beyond,” said Thomas Gomart, analyst at the French Institute for International Relations. But, Mr Gomart added, this time Paris was not aiming at counterbalancing Washington. France was also aware that it had to keep on board its Nato and European Union partners in eastern Europe. Mr Sarkozy implied that the defence sale was a quid pro quo for Russian co-operation in diplomatic efforts, of which Paris is the most vocal advocate, to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The west, he said alongside Mr Medvedev at the Elysée palace on Monday, could not ask Russia to act as a partner in global security issues and then treat it as an adversary in procurement questions.

If those ships are used to invade another country, France will be the one that is conquered.

It is incredible that the Christian churches (overall) historically positioned on the Right, rather than beside the Left, of which the ideals of sharing are incomparably closer to the Christian ideal of peace than the law of the strongest of the Right. Which is not even an ideal, but rather a return to the animal condition.

Parisians are traditionally viewed as rude, arrogant and unwelcoming in the popular British imagination. OH NO, SAY THIS ISN'T TRUE

The French Health Ministry has already agreed to push other countries in the E.U. to drop transsexualism from their lists of mental disorders.

Gold Medal in EPIC FAIL to....FRANCE!!! Marion ROLLAND of France - shortest downhill run ever!

CARSON CITY — Most of Nevada’s government will soon transition to a four-day workweek. But the reasons for it go beyond filling the state’s $887 million deficit.

Germany and France are putting together a plan to buy as much as €30bn (£26.7bn) of Greek debt to help the country avoid a calamitous sovereign default – but only if Athens commits to slashing public spending. [A good idea only if Greece cleans its economy..(Undeclared work.Too early Retirement age.Tax avoidance.Dissimulation of debt to enter in the EU,etc)]

Frogs and toads need road crossings, French say An animal protection group is urging French authorities to build special crossings to save millions of frogs and toads from being squashed on the country's roads.

Both the US, under Bill Clinton, and Belgium have apologised for their failure to intervene more effectively in the bloodshed. But the French president today insisted there was no need for such a move.

France. Where the right to strike is protected by the constitution but freedom of speech is not.

France's national library paid around seven million euros for the memoirs, which Casanova started writing while working as a librarian in 1789. "The Casanova manuscripts are the most important purchase ever made by the library ... And of course it is a great event from a cultural and heritage point of view," said Bruno Racine, head of the library.

French citizens are detained for even the most minor of infractions. Last year, French police detained 830,000 people.

France's national railway has been accused of racism after an poster warned of Romanian - FRANCE’S national railway has been accused of racism after an official poster warned passengers to be on the look-out for Romanians. - Train firm SNCF put up the “safety information” signs on Midi-Pryrenees routes in the south west of the country after a spate of thefts.

French crushed by South African wines at sales slump for our Gallic friends - Bottle of Bellingham Chardonnay - South African sales heading north - British drinkers are buying more South African wine than French for the first time, according to industry figures.

Roman Polanski has won the Silver Bear for best director at the Berlin Film Festival for his new political thriller, The Ghost Writer. - Polanski could not accept the award as he is under house arrest and fighting extradition to the US over a conviction for having sex with a minor in 1977.

Put end to end, the condoms would stretch out to a length of 18 feet, according to a border official.

Is the Mistral deal a red herring, a white elephant or the traditional white flag of courage?

Not to put Descartes before the horse but looks like the ole boy drunk a Deborgia cocktail. I drink therefore I am(not).(Armand's motto).

I thought you might like to watch this, You Frogs should take a look.

A French fast food chain's decision to serve only halal meat in eight restaurants with a strong Muslim clientele has sparked a wave of criticism from politicians decrying the step as unacceptable.

A dozen French winemakers and traders have been found guilty of a massive scam to sell 18 million bottles of fake Pinot Noir to a leading US buyer.

They are really sore loosers. What next? Arrest Lance Armstrong? Even if Landis was stripped of the title, they still are out to get him.

EADS said on Wednesday that a new finance offer from partner governments to try to rescue the troubled A400M military transport plane did not go far enough. Currently the A400M project is years and years late and $15 billion dollars over budget. Only one A-400 has ever flown...

LONDON (Reuters) - France must host a sukuk issuance this year to show it is serious about Islamic finance and overcome the legal uncertainties that caused a delay to a 1 billion euro ($1.37 billion) issuance, a lawyer working on the deal said on Wednesday.

LOL! Fwance has a ton of Sharia credentials. What losing one of them changes?

PARIS, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Workers at Total's (TOTF.PA) six French oil refineries and 15 oil depots went on a two-day strike on Wednesday, unions said, threatening to reduce France's supply of gasoline and home heating oil in the depths of winter.

Get ready for another Paris-Washington spat. France is close to its ambition of selling a powerful warship to Russia.

The stinkies are turning into charicatures of themselves. How much more backstabbing and weasly can they get? The Russians could end up regretting this though, when their prized Peugot warship spontaneously combusts and the propellers fall off.

Quick, one of France's most popular fast food chains, has taken pork off the menu at eight of its restaurants, turning them into halal-only outlets.

Stinkystan will declare itself an Islamic republic by Monday at the latest.