France

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.

Peugeot Citroen turnover down nearly 25 per cent in first quarter

Peugeot Citroen turnover down nearly 25 per cent in first quarter Paris - French car maker PSA Peugeot Citroen said Wednesday that turnover for the first quarter of 2009 had fallen by 24.9 per cent, to 10.973 billion euros (14.2 billion dollars).

Every segment of the group's business was hit by the economic crisis, with sales in its automobile division down 23 per cent, at 8.68 billion euros.

In addition, turnover of the group's auto equipment supplier Faurecia plunged by 38 per cent, to 2 billion euros.

UNESCO, Library of Congress launch first World Digital Library

UNESCO, Library of Congress launch first World Digital LibraryParis - UNESCO, the US Library of Congress and 32 partner institutions around the world launched Tuesday the World Digital Library, the first cultural website of its kind.

The site includes manuscripts, maps, rare books, films, sound recordings and prints and photographs from libraries and archives around the world.

Are Sarkozy and Obama still "buddies"? By Siegfried Mortkowitz,

Are Sarkozy and Obama still "buddies"? By Siegfried Mortkowitz, Paris - With schools and politicians on Easter holiday, the big news in France these days is what President Nicolas Sarkozy reportedly told a group of lawmakers about several Western leaders, as reported by the left-leaning daily Liberation.

Most of the controversy concerns the president's assessment of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero as "not very clever."

Four hurt, scores arrested as Tamil protest turns violent in Paris

Four hurt, scores arrested as Tamil protest turns violent in ParisParis - Four people were hurt and more than 200 were taken into custody when a protest demonstration by ethnic Tamils in Paris turned violent, France Info radio reported Tuesday.

More than 500 Tamils had gathered late Monday near the Gare du Nord railway station to call attention to the deaths of nearly 1,500 Tamils, including hundreds of children, during a recent offensive by Sri Lankan government troops against Tamil rebels.

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