François Hollande

In boost to President Hollande, jobless claims plunged by 60,000 in March in sharpest drop in France since dot.com economic boom of 2000.

The Nuit Debout movement has unsettled France’s political elite which is still fearful of the power of street protests.

The French government was initially enthusiastic about the free trade agreement being negotiated between the European Union and the United States. However in recent months Paris, and in particular overseas trade minister Matthias Fekl, has taken a tougher line on the so-called TAFTA deal. Talks on the agreement resume in New York on Monday April 25th, while the day before President Barack Obama will raise the issue with German chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. But as Ludovic Lamant reports, the chances of a deal being struck before the end of Obama's term of office look increasingly remote.

French president, the first to sign, said the 28-nation EU should now 'lead by example' and ratify the Paris deal before the end of the year.

As economy minister Emmanuel Macron rises in polls, his mentor President Hollande is under pressure to slap him down - or sack him.

Paris confirmed contracts for Airbus Space Systems and Thalès Alenia Space to build military telecoms satellite for Egypt's defence ministry.

Polls show French president's recent high-profile TV appearance failed to convince voters and Left looks set to falter against Right and far-right. 

French president bringing delegation of business leaders while he is also expected to discuss various Middle East crises with hosts in Cairo.

Arriving in Beirut ahead of visits to Egypt and Jordan, the French president pledged increased financial and military aid for Lebanon, home to 1m Syrian refugees.

François Hollande, questioned by journalists and public, claimed his presidency had led to more growth, less deficit and taxes, more purchasing power.

Three quarters of voters said the French president, due to appear in a TV debate Thursday evening, should abandon his reelection hopes.

The French president thanked whistleblowers for the revelations in joint media investigations which he said would lead to recovery of unpaid taxes. 

President Hollande says if reports that its soldiers abused children in Central African Republic are true it would be a 'stain on France's honour'.

The French president announced his decision after the two houses of the French Parliament failed to agree on the nature of the reforms.

But after latest arrests linked to Paris and Brussles bomb attacks, French president says 'there are other networks' posing a 'heavy threat'.