Citizens across our vexed continent will be heartened by the impending marriage in Paris of two people known until now only to the immensely wealthy and the strewn remnants of Europe’s royal dynasties: Jean-Christophe Napoleon Bonaparte and Countess Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinnerberg.

Most French people do not want Francois Hollande to seek a second term in the country’s 2017 presidential election, a poll showed, in the latest blow to the president whose popularity is already at record lows.

Racing Metro’s 22-17 win over Munster in Paris will never go down as one of the more glorious examples of ‘le beau jeu’ or the beautiful game but it seems a win is a win as far the French sporting press are concerned.

IMF director Christine Lagarde arrived at last month’s World Economic Forum on a mission.

THE interest rate France pays to borrow money rose again yesterday — and along with it fears that the country will lose its cherished AAA credit rating.

A POLICE probe into pimping at a French luxury hotel has uncovered evidence that Dominique Strauss-Kahn attended sex soirees with prostitutes paid for by businessmen.

Paris: Nestle SA is studying a possible joint bid for French yoghurt company Yoplait with Lactalis, Le Figaro reported, without saying where it got the information.

Patrice Evra insists he is “surprised” that he and four France team-mates have been singled out by the French Football Federation following their farcical World Cup campaign.

Rogue trader Jerome Kerviel whose unauthorised billion-pound deals nearly broke France’s second-biggest bank definitely acted alone, a report said today.

THE European Commission and Irish Government are withholding information from the Irish people to “smooth the passage” of the Lisbon Treaty, according to no campaigner, Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald.

The French trader accused of massive bank fraud is co-operating with police, who were expected to hold him for a second day of questioning today, officials said.

CROSSHAVEN and Cork bid ‘adieu’ to the 50 lionhearted Le Figaro sailors as they set off on the second leg of the race to Brest yesterday.

A FRENCH police intelligence agency has warned that rioting could break out again in poor, multi-ethnic neighbourhoods around Paris one year after unrest swept the nation’s suburbs.

WHEN it comes to holding a party the French can compete with anyone, but as the pre-match festivities get into full swing, the Italians seem to be one-nil up.

The French media were very much impressed by the Irish performance on Saturday, but were a little harsher in assessing their fellow countrymen. Hugh Delaney reports.

A Paris newspaper editor said there had been positive movement in the effort to free two captive French journalists in Iraq, while a separate militant group said it had killed three Turkish captives.

Galeries Lafayette is thought to be the new owner of Marks & Spencer's French stores.