French prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault delighted business and angered labour leaders yesterday by suggesting the 35-hour working week was not sacrosanct, although he stressed the socialist government had no plans to change it.

A funeral for a murdered union activist turned into a demonstration by around 3,000 mourners on Guadeloupe, who demanded better treatment of the Caribbean island from France’s government.

Long-awaited negotiations with striking transport workers began today, the eighth full day of a walkout which has paralysed train services throughout France.

An elaborate system of incendiary devices was discovered at a management school where French president Nicolas Sarkozy is to address business leaders.

Disadvantaged youths “deserve to be helped, recognised and encouraged,” French President Jacques Chirac said as he met today with a group of successful young entrepreneurs from the low-income neighbourhoods where rioting broke out this month.