François Hollande

A state visit to France by Chinese President Xi Jinping has rubber-stamped some 18 billion euros-worth of industrial and energy deals.

The magazine must pay 15,000 euros for breaching Julie Gayet's privacy with photos revealing her relationship with the French president.

The far-right FN wins its first mayoral seat since 1995 and appears well placed to gain other towns as ruling socialists hit by record low turnout.

Major gains possible for far-right National Front in elections for mayors across the country with president's poll ratings at record low.

Paris police say 10,000 people joined demonstrations over Hollande's 'responsibility pact' which aims to slash labour costs, unions claim 60,000. 

Pierre-Yves Bocquet, graduate of top French school for civil servants and future presidents, has double life as Pierre Evil the hip hop music critic.

The country's statistics office also says that French industrial output began the year on a weak footing due to a slowdown in energy production.

The poll shows most find the disgraced former IMF chief more competent than both François Hollande and his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy.

On a visit to the Central African Republic, the French president pledged strong military support to avoid a break-up of the strife-torn country.

The French president, the only Western leader invited to Nigeria's centenary celebrations, pledged to support fight against terrorist groups.

The row centres on a French police bid to quizz Moroccan spy chief, and a French diplomat's alleged comments on rights abuses by Morocco.

Activists said they hoped for more after news that Germaine Tillion and Geneviève de Gaulle-Anthonioz are to be placed in the Panthéon.

Number of women buried at France’s famed memorial set to double as President Hollande prepares announcement on honouring France's greats.

During his recent visit to Washington French president François Hollande surprised many observers by calling for a speeding up of the negotiations for a EU-US free trade agreement, the biggest deal of its kind in the world. The president's demands are in sharp contrast with France's earlier caution over the free trade zone, an issue which has provoked concern and opposition across Europe. For some, it also seems a curious stance to adopt just weeks before important European elections at which the proposed deal is set to be a controversial issue. Ludovic Lamant reports.

President meets 30 top executives for talks on business climate after France suffered a 77 percent drop in foreign direct investment last year.