French far-right party leader Marine Le Pen will go on trial for comparing Muslim street prayers to wartime Nazi occupation, party officials and the prosecutor’s office said yesterday.

France’s far-right National Front party leader Marine Le Pen is expected to dominate in the first round of local elections in the northern region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais in December, mustering around 40% support, according to a poll published yesterday.

French health officials are investigating three suspected cases of a deadly new respiratory virus related to Sars, while a man confirmed to have the virus remains in hospital.

EU figures tonight highlighted a wide disparity in the wealth of different regions in Ireland.