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Swiss bank UBS bars staff from travelling to France

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Reports say wealth management staff were ordered to stay away from France where the bank is under investigation for helping tax evasion.

French unions hold rival May Day marches

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The rival marches saw protests at the government's austerity plan, while the far-right held its traditional Paris rally in tribute to Joan of Arc.

France gives workers right to donate days off to colleagues with sick children

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The law is inspired by the case a French man whose colleagues donated 170 days paid leave while his son battled with cancer.

Actor James Cromwell protests Air France's 'cruel' transport of monkeys

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The Babe star was placed in a narrow cage in protest at alleged cruelty by the airline while transporting monkeys to research laboratories.

Strauss-Kahn to sue pimp over 'DSK' brothel

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Disgraced IMF chief does not see the funny side to his name on a Belgian brothel whose owner claims the initials mean 'Dodo Sex Klub'.

Alstom board approves GE offer but Siemens still in the running

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No binding decision on GE's bid for Alstom's energy division will be made before end of May, giving Siemens time to renew a counter offer.

French parliament approves government's 50bln-euro spending-cut plan

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PM Manuel Valls's drastic plan to meet EU deficit requirements split his Socialist Party and was opposed by the Greens and conservatives.

Air France pilots' May-long strikes to cause major disruption

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The strikes throughout May are in protest at a law requiring two-day advance notification of strike action and the use of foreign pilots.

Orange sees end of price war in France

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Chief financial officer of the country's largest mobile operator said 'prices have reached a floor' after two years of fierce competition.

Study finds French rural children contaminated by dangerous pesticides

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Thirteen pesticides or more were found in hair samples of every child tested, all of whom live or study within 200 metres of agricultural zones.