LONDON, Jan 13 (Reuters) – French Prime Minister Francois
Fillon said on Thursday that euro zone members, especially
France and Germany, were ready to do “absolutely everything” for
the bloc’s economic stability.

His comments, during a visit to London to meet British Prime
Minister David Cameron, came as German Finance Minister Wolfgang
Schaeuble said in Berlin that euro zone governments were working
on a comprehensive package to solve the deep-rooted debt crisis
that they hoped would be agreed by February or March.
“The euro zone members, and especially France and Germany,
are ready do everything … absolutely everything to ensure the
stability of the euro zone,” Fillon said.

PARIS/NIAMEY (Reuters) – French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Monday he was almost certain that al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) was behind the abduction of two Frenchmen killed in Niger at the weekend.

The pair were found dead, apparently killed by their kidnappers, after French special forces joined a failed attempt to rescue them in the African state on Saturday. The bodies were charred, with their hands tied behind their backs, according to two hospital sources in Niger who had seen them.

PARIS (Reuters) – France needs tough laws against industrial espionage to defend itself in a “war” for new technology intensified by the hunger of emerging economies like China, a legislator for the ruling UMP party said on Friday.

Bernard Carayon, currently drafting legislation for the protection of economic information in France, said he was not surprised by news this week that carmaker Renault had suspended three executives for suspected industrial espionage.

PARIS (Reuters) – Tiny, bloodthirsty and relentless, the insect pest that became a nightmare for millions of New Yorkers has found its way to Paris, spreading fear of an outbreak that could turn into the ultimate tourism-killer.

Bed bugs, known in French as “punaises de lit,” or “bed drawing pins,” were a rarity in France just three years ago, far less prevalent in homes than mice or cockroaches and well under the radar of public health officials. No longer.

PARIS (Reuters) – Karim Benzema seemed like a man bogged down by too many problems of his own to come to the rescue of a demoralised France team.

The 22-year-old forward has struggled to adapt life at Real Madrid since joining them last season, was overlooked for the World Cup and then placed under judicial investigation on suspicion of soliciting sex with an under-age prostitute.

PARIS, Sept 8 (Reuters) – Karim Benzema seemed like a man
bogged down by too many problems of his own to come to the
rescue of a demoralised France team.

The 22-year-old forward has struggled to adapt life at Real
Madrid since joining them last season, was overlooked for the
World Cup and then placed under judicial investigation on
suspicion of soliciting sex with an under-age prostitute.

PARIS (Reuters) – France have no option but to fight back straight away after starting their Euro 2012 football qualifying campaign in humiliating fashion, defender Bacary Sagna said.

“Catastrophic,” screamed a headline on the front page of French sports daily L’Equipe on Saturday, a day after Les Bleus fell 1-0 to modest Belarus at Stade de France in new coach Laurent Blanc’s first competitive game in charge.

PARIS, Sept 4 (Reuters) – France have no option but to fight
back straight away after starting their Euro 2012 soccer
qualifying campaign in humiliating fashion, defender Bacary
Sagna said.

“Catastrophic”, screamed a headline on the front page of
French sports daily L’Equipe on Saturday, a day after Les Bleus
fell 1-0 to modest Belarus at Stade de France in new coach
Laurent Blanc’s first competitive game in charge.

PARIS (Reuters) – New France coach Laurent Blanc has told his players they must rediscover the values that once made them a proud and respected outfit as they prepare for a Euro 2012 qualifying campaign beginning against Belarus on Friday.

Zinedine Zidane attended training on Wednesday and in the inspiration behind France’s 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 triumphs Blanc could hardly have found a more potent symbol of the qualities he is looking for.

PARIS, Sept 1 (Reuters) – New France coach Laurent Blanc has
told his players they must rediscover the values that once made
them a proud and respected outfit as they prepare for a Euro
2012 qualifying campaign beginning against Belarus on Friday.

Zinedine Zidane attended training on Wednesday and in the
inspiration behind France’s 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000
triumphs Blanc could hardly have found a more potent symbol of
the qualities he is looking for.