End of Ramadan saves France's tourist industry from wet summer blues - France - Middle East. Economic crisis and unseasonal rain took their toll on the French tourist industry in July.
After a healthy start to the month, hotels saw a five per cent drop in bookings later in the month, according to a study by the Protourisme company. But with the end of Ramadan on 19 August four-star and five-star hotels saw a new wave of arrivals, mostly from the Gulf states and other Middle Eastern countries, a new study by consultants MKG. At the beginning of August Asian and American tourists started to arrive. Later in the month wealthy Muslims started checking into luxury hotels in the capital and on the Côte d’Azur.
In the swish Riviera resort of Cannes they saw bookings leap by 4.8 per cent and the average price of a room go up 22.1 per cent to 441.50 euros a night. Proprietors no doubt hope that guests will pay their bills, unlike Maha al-Sudani, the former wife of Saudi Crown Prince Nayef ben Abdel Aziz, who tried to sneak out of Paris's swanky Shangri-La hotel at the end of May. France carries out third Roma camp clearance this week. Police descended on the two camps at Stains, north of Paris, at shortly after 7.00am and reportedly cleared them without incident.
The majority of the inhabitants had already left, having heard that the raid was to take place, according to Le Parisien newspaper. Later in the morning an earth-mover levelled the shacks, which have sprung up over the last few months, on an industrial site at Le Clos-Saint-Lazare and which officials declared were insanitary. Earlier in the month Stains Communist mayor, Michel Beaumale, called on President François Hollande to organise a round-table on the Roma presence in the area, claiming that about 1,000 lived in his town and about 5,000 in the surrounding area. On Tuesday police cleared a Roma camp at Saint Priest, near the Rhone Valley city of Lyon, while on Monday a camp at Evry, near Paris, was evacuated. Socialists face tough questions after three months in power - Analysis: France's new government. Three months after they completed a clean sweep of both houses of parliament and the presidency, the Socialists are already facing accusations that they have broken promises made during Hollande’s election campaign.
No wonder former hard left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has seized the chance to lay into the government, last week describing the first 100 days of Hollande’s presidency as “next to nothing”. Hoping to capitalise on the disappointment, he has since then appealed to the Socialist Party’s left wing to come over to his Left Front alliance with the Communist Party. The right-wing opposition has also sought to make political hay from the govenrment’s discomfort.
Senegalese man leaves suitcase with 27,000 euros on Paris train - France - Senegal. Video report: A French woman in the man's world of trucking - Report: France. Four years ago Chalal was faced with one of the toughest decisions of her life - whether to continue in her career at the world-renowned express delivery company, TNT, or to quit and join the family business.
Her father, who left Algeria for France 30 years ago, wanted to retire. He had spent the past 15 years building up his own express delivery company, called Time Services. Chalal’s father started Time Services with just one van and a loan from his eldest daughter to buy a warehouse. Video report: Electric cars break France's social barriers - Report: France. Transport is one of the keys to social mobility.
Public transport in Paris is extensive, affordable and reliable especially in the centre of the city. However, in the suburbs and districts around Paris the car is still king. Many people living in poorer suburbs don’t have access to a car. But Autolib', an electric-car-sharing scheme, is aiming to change this. They have over 2,000 cars stationed in and around Paris, as well as in other large cities in France. Woman takes flight for Paris, wakes up in Lahore - France - Pakistan. Paris temperatures set to fall after heatwave weekend. Despite the heat, Paris plages – the much-copied annual artificial beach on the banks of the Seine – closes Sunday night.
Officials say they would have liked to prolong it to make the most of late-arriving summer weather but that the logistics would have been too complicated. Weather forecaster Météo France predicts a fall in temperatures in Paris and several other regions at the beginning of next week, although the south-east may get even hotter. “There has never been such an intense post-15 August heatwave,” commented Météo France’s Etienne Kapikian on Sunday. But, with 34 départements on alert, no serious health problems have been reported so far and Health Minister Marisol Touraine declared that the situation was “perfectly calm”. A heatwave must last 72 hours to be recognised as such by Météo France, which says that homes do not get overheated before that length of time.
Ribéry, Benzema to face trial over sex with underage prostitute. Ribéry, who plays for German club Bayern Munich, and Benzema, who plays for Spain’s Real Madrid, will stand trial along with six other people, some of whom will be accused of “aggravated pimping”.
They could face up to three years in prison and fines of up to 45,000 euros. The much-publicised case has tarnished the image of French football. Judge André Dando on Friday ignored a recommendation by Paris prosecutors to drop the case on the grounds that the two could not have known that Dehar, who was born in Algeria in 1992, was under 18. French Socialists under fire as Roma evicted and deported. Two Roma camps on state-owned land near Lille were evacuated on Thursday morning.
About 200 people were expelled from one and “15 caravans” from the other, according to Villeneuve d’Ascq deputy mayor Maryvonne Girard. And officials sent about 240 Roma back to Romania from Lyon, the biggest such deportation since President François Hollande took office in May. Rights campaigners accuse Hollande of breaking an election promise that camps would not be dismantled unless alternative accommodation was available.
“At least the last president had the honesty to say what was going to happen,” commented Father Arthur, a Catholic priest who had planned to baptise six Roma children in Lille as a sign of resistance to evictions. Last week Interior Minister Manuel Valls declared that he would not oppose evictions that a court ruled legal. French press review 11 August 2012 - Most of the French press have reserved a section to the 2012 London Olympics and the victory of Renaud Lavillenie, who with the help of a massive pole, hoisted himself over 5m97 and obtained the gold medal for France.
Le Figaro notes that Lavillenie is the first Frenchman to have gone over 6 meters -- presumably not last night, though. And he is the first since Marie-José Perec in the 1996 Atlanta Games to have won gold for France in athletics. Swedish Prince Carl Philip punched in French night club. The prince, third in line to the throne, "was together with friends outside a club in Cannes, France, in the early hours of August 11" when he "was attacked, unprovoked, by a person unknown to the prince and his party," a statement from the palace said.
"The prince is fine, under the circumstances, and was not injured in the incident," it said. Palace spokesman Bertil Ternert told reporters the palace had not yet decided whether charges would be pressed and said it was looking into the matter. According to Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet, the incident took place at the Baoli nightclub around 3:00 am (0100 GMT), when a crowd surrounded the royal and a man punched him in the back of the head. The prince is holidaying on the Riviera with his girlfriend, Sofia Hellqvist, it said. One French soldier killed, another wounded in Afghanistan - Afghanistan. The attack took place in a village in Kapisa, the province where French troops were responsible for security until a handover to Afghan forces at the beginning of July. Nevertheless, the two were among a detachment of 130 French troops giving back-up and advice to the Afghans, according to the French presidency.
The detachment came under fire from about 20 insurgents at about 6.00am during an operation to secure a bridge in the village of Tagab. Shark bites off surfer's hand and foot in Réunion island's third attack this year - France - Réunion. Despite his ordeal, the surfer, who is in his 40s but whose name has not been made public, managed to swim to the beach where rescuers took care of him.
Officials confirmed that he had suffered “serious injuries to his right foot and hand” but said that his life was not in danger. The incident took place an hour and a half before sunset. Experts advise against swimming in shark-infested waters at dawn and sunset when many sharks feed. Sharks are not generally keen on eating humans, preferring less bony food, such as fish or seals, and most attacks appear to be mistakes.
But Réunion has experienced eight in the last 20 months, three of them fatal, and three attacks this year. Despite massive traffic jams the car still the choice for vacationers. With the mass exodus from France’s major northern cities, namely Paris, comes the residual problem of traffic. 2009 was by far one of the worst years, when on 1 August 2009, five million vacationers anxious to hit the roads all found themselves waiting together on the road to no where in a jam that spanned 866 kilometres. The problem of course is most vacationers head south to the land of sea and guaranteed sunshine. And after a horrid start to the spring, and the one week of summer-like weather, it’s almost a guarantee that everyone will be heading back on that same route.
Those leaving from major cities have easy access to airports and train stations, making the car a likelier choice for those living in smaller towns. However, despite rising costs in gas, the car is still the favoured choice for vacationers. The most popular man in France. The Franco-Cameroonian singer shot to fame in 1983 when he won the French Open, Roland Garros, becoming the first Frenchmen to do so in 37 years.
Since retiring from professional tennis in the late 1990s Noah has become a popular singer in France. For the past 55 years the French Sunday newspaper, Journal Du Dimanche together with the Ifop poll-taker have published annually the Top 50 Most Popular French Personalities. Noah has held the top spot for eight years running. Omar Sy, the Oscar-nominated actor, and Jean Dujardin who won Best Actor in this year’s Oscar Awards, were voted second and third most popular personalities respectively. The footballer, and former captain of the French national team, Zinédine Zidane, was knocked off the third spot he held last year to fifth in this year's poll.
The French president, François Hollande, moved up 33 places to become the 15th most popular French personality. Only two women made it into the top ten most popular French personalities. French summer camp workers sacked over Ramadan fast. The four workers, who had been employed for the summer by the town of Genevilliers just outside Paris, to help run a sports camp in southwestern France, were dismissed on July 20, the first day of Ramadan, after being told they were endangering children's safety by not eating or drinking between dawn and dusk.
They are now planning to contest their dismissal through France's labour courts and the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) said on Tuesday it was considering suing Genevilliers council for discrimination. In a statement, the Communist mayor of Genevilliers defended the decision to suspend the employees on health and safety grounds after an official who visited the camp noticed that they were not eating or drinking at lunchtime. "They did not respect the terms of their contract in a way that could have endangered the physical safety of the children they were responsible for," the statement said. Abdallah Zekri, a spokesman for the CFCM, echoed his remarks. Man-eating sharks given reprieve in French Reunion Island. French authorities seize luxury mansion belonging to son of Equatorial Guinea President Obiang - France - Equatorial Guinea.
The luxury mansion is six stories high with 101 rooms and a view of the Arc de Triomphe. It is nestled in one of the most prestigious streets in Paris on avenue Foch, in Paris’s sixteenth arrondissement, and is worth about 100 to 150 million euros. Back in February, judges Roger le Loire and René Grouman had already seized valuables from the home worth nearly 40 million euros. About three truckloads of antiques, fine wines and art work were carted away. Among the collection was a desk belonging to King Louis XIV worth 1.5 million euros. Unmarried couple stoned to death in Northern Mali - Mali. Having just returned to Mali after receiving medical treatment in France for the past two months, interim Mali President Dioncounda Traore is faced with making an immediate decision on how best to deal with the Islamist occupation of the North.
This latest execution has put more pressure on the interim government to find a solution as soon as possible. No topless sunbathing please say Paris police. Madonna challenges Le Pen at Paris concert but no swastika video. British man stopped from swimming to America from Biarritz - France. “It’s a bit of a crazy story,” gendarme Laurent Saintespes who is based at the Biarritz airport, told the AFP news agency.
Rajoelina, Ravalomanana meet on remote Seychelles island - Madagascar. "A return to stability in Madagascar is crucial for all the countries in our southern and eastern Africa and Indian Ocean region," Seychelles President James Michel said in a speech Tuesday. Over 400km of traffic jams on third French holiday weekend - France. Madagascar troops mutiny ahead of Rajoelina-Ravalamanana meeting - Madagascar. Gunfire broke out at the Ivato military base which houses the Intervention Forces Regiment (RFI) near Antanananarivo international airport at 6.00 am, abated after four hours and then resumed intermittently.
Flights were suspended. "This morning there was indeed a mutiny led by certain elements. The chief of staff has things in hand," Defence Minister Andre Lucien Rakotoarimasy told the AFP news agency. He did not know the mutineers’ demands, he said. The leader of the renegade troops was identified as Koto Mainty, known as the "Black Corporal", a former member of the regiment said, adding that several young recruits had joined him. The violence comes ahead of a meeting, due to take place on Wednesday in the Seychelles, between current President Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana, who was ousted by an army-backed coup in 2009. An agreement between the two is expected within 24 hours of the start of their discussion. Hollande vows to fight anti-Semitism at Vel d'Hiv round-up commemoration - France.
Amid fears that Mohamed Merah’s Jewish school murders signal a revival of anti-Semitism in France, Hollande writes “everywhere it appears it must be exposed and punished” in the introduction to a booklet distributed to mark the 1942 Vel d’Hiv raids in the Paris region. Madonna to appear in Paris again as Front National sues over swastika video - France. American inmate Warren Hill to be executed despite appeal from France - France - United States.
France commemorates victims of Vel'd'Hiv roundup - France. France's budget minister outraged at PSG footballer Ibrahimovic's 'indecent' salary - France. Indian 'untouchables' threatened by Michelin tyre factory - France - India. President Hollande addresses nation in Bastille Day speech - France. Front National to sue Madonna over swastika images of Marine Le Pen - France. Families of Mont Blanc victims arrive in Chamonix - France. China ties a priority for France, says French foreign minister - France -China. Hollande keeps Sarkozy's promise to ban denial of Armenian genocide - France - Turkey - Armenia. France to turn out the lights at night - France. France says farewell to Minitel, precursor of the internet - Report: France. Socialist deputy Olivier Ferrand dies at 42 - France.
Briton jumps to death from Eiffel Tower in Paris - France - Britain. French interior minister to issue 'objective' rules on immigrants' right to stay - France's new government. Gunmen attack French uranium plant in Central African Republic - army - France - Central African Republic. Slideshow: Pro-Azawad demonstrators take Mali's conflict to French parliament - Slideshow + report: Mali - France.
Police arrest 70 at far-right protest in Lyon railway station - France. Rare Louis XI portrait exhibited in Paris before auction - France - Britain. Socialist win majority in French parliamentary elections - France. French impressionist throws light on Sarkozy party's bid for far-right votes - French parliamentary election 2012. French court sentences four Somali pirates to 4-10 years for Le Ponant hijack - France - Somalia. Ex-president Sarkozy's 10 bodyguards to cost over 700,000 euros a year - France. Hollande, Sarkozy pay tribute to slain French soldiers ahead of Afghan withdrawal - France - Afghanistan.
Trierweiler tweet continues to shake things up - France. No more immunity for Nicolas Sarkozy - France. Queen Maria Sharapova wins French Open 2012 - Report: French Open 2012. Socialists set to form next French government but Front National may enter parliament - Analysis: French parliamentary elections 2012. Sharapova loves Paris, Nadal likes fishing, Shvedova loses elegantly - Report: French Open 2012. Nadal wins record-breaking seventh French Open - Report: French Open 2012. French Open crowd won over by French speaking Djokovic - Report: French Open 2012. Europe's oldest woman dies in France aged 114 - France. Unknown Belgian David Goffin makes idol Roger Federer sweat - Report: French Open 2012. Tsonga capitulates, Federer loses his cool - Report: French Open 2012.
Saudi princess tries to sneak out of Paris hotel owing six million euros - France - Saudi Arabia. Hollande government fires three top cops - France's new president. French police hunt Canadian porn star over grisly murder - France. Rwandan army had French missiles at time of Habyarimana death, report reveals - France - Rwanda. Assad forces barbarians, say French Socialists after Houla massacre - France - Syria. Débat entre Emmanuel Todd et François Lenglet animé par Elisabeth Lévy / Les dernières actus / Accueil / Racine - Site de la CCI du Havre. Entretien: Emmanuel Todd: « Genève est une vraie chance pour la France » - News Monde: Europe. Comment Emmanuel Todd recompose les familles - Livres. EMMANUEL TODD - le jour où l'euro tombera.
Emmanuel Todd: mes quatre mesures... Emmanuel Todd - Les états font semblant d'être affolés - Bourdin 2012 - BFMTV. Pourquoi les pauvres ne votent pas en fonction de leur intérêt économique. France has done its duty in Afghanistan, says Hollande - France - United States - Nato. Ce que François Hollande doit dire à Angela Merkel (1) Goodbye Merkozy - Will new French president François Hollande get along with Angela Merkel? - France - Germany. La France manquera de diplômés du supérieur en 2020.
Les innovations média de la présidentielle 2012.