France

New virus is not 'swine flu', Paris-based health organization says

New virus is not 'swine flu', Paris-based health organization says Paris - The virus currently circulating in Mexico and the United States and which has killed at least 20 people is not swine flu, the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said Monday. "The virus has not been isolated in animals to date. Therefore, it is not justified to name this disease swine flu," the OIE said in a press statement.

Four of five Louvre visitors come to see the Mona Lisa

Four of five Louvre visitors come to see the Mona Lisa Paris - About four out of five people who visit the Louvre Museum in Paris come expressly to see Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the head of the museum, Henri Loyrette, was quoted Monday as saying. "It's true that 80 per cent of our daily visitors come to see the Mona Lisa. (The Louvre) is the only museum in the world to have an icon like that," Loyrette said in an interview published in the daily Le Parisien.

He said that the economic crisis was also affecting the Louvre, with 10 to 20 per cent fewer American visitors to the museum.

Cryolor intends to setup a manufacturing unit near Chennai

Cryolor intends to setup a manufacturing unit near ChennaiCryolor, French industrial gas tanks manufacturer and a 100 per cent subsidiary of Cryolor SA, has decided to set up a manufacturing facility near Chennai.

The plant would be setup at Melmaruvattur in Chennai, covering a built up area of 15,000 sq. m.

The company intends to pump an investment worth Rs 45 crore on the plant through its fully owned subsidiary Cryolor Asia Pacific.

Sarkozy earmarks 1.3 billion euros to fight youth unemployment

Sarkozy earmarks 1.3 billion euros to fight youth unemploymentParis - French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Friday the government had drawn up a plan that earmarks 1.3 billion euros (1.7 billion dollars) to aid jobless under the age of 26.

In a speech in the town of Jouy-le-Moutier, north of Paris, Sarkozy said his plan would lead to the recruitment of 320,000 apprentices by June 2010.

Cannes veterans featured in 2009 festival

Cannes veterans featured in 2009 festival Paris - Quentin Tarantino, Pedro Almodovar, Lars von Trier and numerous other veterans of the Cannes film festival will be vying for its top prize in this year's edition of the annual celebration of world cinema, organizers said Thursday in Paris.

Among the 20 films selected to compete for the Palme d'Or, one of the world's most coveted awards, four were made by directors who have already received the honour.

French government to prosecute violent workers, prime minister says

French government to prosecute violent workers, prime minister says Paris - The French government will look to charge workers at a factory belonging to Germany's Continental tyre group who trashed a police station to protest the closing of the site, Prime Minister Francois Fillon said Wednesday.

"What happened is unacceptable violence ... We are going to prosecute," Fillon told France Inter radio, but said that the government was also actively looking to find a buyer for the factory, which employs 1,120 people.

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