France

Akari uncovers secrets of the cold and dusty Universe

Akari uncovers secrets of the cold and dusty UniverseParis, Nov 20 : The Akari infrared surveyor, a Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency mission with ESA (European Space Agency) participation, is uncovering a number of secrets of the cold and dusty Universe.

For example, Akari observations of Betelgeuse, a bright red supergiant star located in the constellation Orion about 200 light-years from Earth, show the star making a big splash by creating a bow shock as it crosses the interstellar medium.

Pac-Man and Donkey Kong return to Parisian bars

Pac-Man and Donkey Kong return to Parisian barsParis  - Video games from the past such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong are making a comeback in Paris.

More and more bars, cafes and clubs in the French capital are setting up the old coin-operated machines. Classic games such as Pac-Man, Street Fighter and Arkanoid are being played by men in their 30s who remember the games from their youth.

The party may be over for Beaujolais Nouveau

The party may be over for Beaujolais NouveauParis  - As has been the custom every year since 1985, shortly after midnight French time on the third Thursday of November 2008, wine drinkers around the world celebrated the new vintage of the Beaujolais Nouveau.

But this year's party may have been celebrated with a little less gusto than usual in the French wine-growing region of Beaujolais, as sales of the light, fruity wine continued to fall abroad.

Extradited senior Rwandan politician arrives in France

Paris Bourse slumps as recession fears take hold Paris , Frankfurt - Rose Kabuye, a senior Rwandan politician, was extradited Wednesday from Germany to France, where she is wanted for questioning in connection with the 1994 assassination of former Hutu president Juvenal Habyarimana.

EU to tie state auto aid to green research

EuropeStrasbourg - Any state aid for European carmakers will concentrate on technological development and on the production of environmentally-friendly vehicles, French European Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Jouyet told the European Parliament on Wednesday.

EU commissioner: Opel a "special case"

Opel LogoStrasbourg - As the discussion about state aid for ailing German carmaker Opel continues, EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen on Wednesday described the firm as a "special case" in Europe.

"Extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary measures," Verheugen said in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, although he went on to say that he was not fully decided about the proposed multibillion-euro aid package from the German government.

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