French wives encouraged to cheat… as protesters march against same-sex marriage

This week, leaflets in support of this Sunday’s march against same-sex marriage in Paris were distributed to Parisians outside metro stations. But once inside, commuters came face-to-face with posters encouraging them to cheat on their partners.
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French psychiatrist convicted of manslaughter after murder by… her patient

In a verdict that could affect the way psychiatric patients are treated in France, a court in Marseille this Tuesday handed a psychiatrist a suspended sentence for manslaughter after her patient committed a gruesome murder. Read more…
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The day I met the French president - in his garden

This Sunday was only the second time that the gardens of the Élysée palace, home to one François Hollande, were open to the public on a Sunday. I decided to take a look - and managed to meet the French president in the process.

Pets abandoned in their thousands: the dark side of summer in France

Summer is not a good time to be a pet in France. Between 60,000 and 100,000 furry creatures are abandoned every year when their owners go on holiday, according to animal welfare groups. Intrigued by these figures, I decided to find out more...
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Giant pandas now on display on both sides of the Channel

This Saturday saw two giant pandas go on display to the public in their new home in France, the ZooParc de Beauval. France is now upsides with the UK in the panda department, after Edinburgh Zoo acquired its own pair late last year.
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France-Soir: death of a newspaper

Amid all the recent excitement about Marks & Spencer reopening in Paris - on the chic Champs Elysées, no less – I feel somewhat less attention has been paid to events happening on the floors above M&S.
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The Dominique Strauss-Kahn conspiracy theory: the truth must be out there

“Parole contre parole”. This is the neat French expression for a situation that comes down to one person’s word against another's. This week it again took on particular significance in the Dominique Strauss-Kahn case.

Hitting the Euromillions jackpot: too much of a good thing?

This week saw good news for at least one person in France. While markets were getting jittery over French banks’ exposure to Greek debt, someone in Normandy had just won the Euromillions jackpot. The lucky winner will pocket 162.2 million euros.
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Relief comes amid questions as French journalists are finally released in Afghanistan

Wednesday saw some good news for a change: the release of the two French journalists, Hervé Ghesquière and Stéphane Taponier, who had been held hostage in Afghanistan for the past 18 months. I was at work when the news broke.

Seduction: 'the key' to understanding France?

In her new book, “La Seduction: How the French Play the Game of Life”, Elaine Sciolino, Paris correspondent for the New York Times, gives the French some much-needed good press. Well, up to a point.
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