Paris

Air France-KLM to slash up to 3,000 jobs

Air France-KLM to slash up to 3,000 jobs Paris - French-Dutch air carrier Air France-KLM said Wednesday it would cut between 2,500 and 3,000 jobs by 2011.

A spokesman for the airline said there would be no direct layoffs, but positions lost to retirement would not be refilled.

Last month, the company said it would post an operating loss of about 200 million euros (264 million dollars) for fiscal year 2008- 2009 because of the effects of the economic crisis and variations in the cost of crude oil.

That would be its first loss since the airline was created in 2003.

French writer Maurice Druon dies aged 90

French writer Maurice Druon dies aged 90 Paris - French author Maurice Druon, a former culture minister and fighter for France's World War II resistance movement, died Tuesday aged 90, the Academie francaise announced. Druon, author of numerous novels, was hailed by President Nicolas Sarkozy as "grand scribe and a grand soul."

He is best known for Les Rois Maudits, or The Accused Kings, a series of historical novels published in the 1950s.

Gunman kills two in France before surrendering to police - Summary

Gunman kills two in France before surrendering to police - Summary Paris - A gunman wielding a hunting rifle shot two people to death outside his house in the northern French town of Douchy-les- Mines, France Info radio reported Monday. The 63-year-old gunman, a retired lorry driver, fled into his residence after the shootings, but surrendered to police several hours later. Earlier reports spoke of three people killed.

The victims were identified as a young couple who were about to visit the gunman's neighbours.

Gunman kills two in France before surrendering to police - Update

Gunman kills two in France before surrendering to police - Update

Sarkozy, Bruni get bullet threat by post

Sarkozy, Bruni get bullet threat by postParis, Apr. 11 : French president Nicolas Sarkozy has received a letter containing two bullets, prompting speculation that one was intended for him and the other for his wife, Carla Bruni.

It is the second time in a month the president has been sent death threats by post, but the first time France''s First Lady has potentially been targeted.

The menacing package, which was addressed to Sarkozy, was delivered to the Elysée palace on Thursday, the Scotsman reports.

Two pirates, one hostage killed in French rescue move, Paris says

Two pirates, one hostage killed in French rescue move, Paris says Paris - French naval forces overwhelmed pirates who had seized a private yacht in the Indian Ocean a week ago, but at the cost of the lives of one of the hostages and two pirates, Paris disclosed Friday evening. The presidential office said the three other pirates involved in the capture of the yacht Tanis on April 4 had beencaptured.

President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his condolences to the family of the hostage who had died. He stressed France's determination not to give in to blackmail and to keep the pirates in check.

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