Links

French hostage Francis Collomp free in Nigeria

Link

Francis Collomp, 63, who was kidnapped on December 19, 2012, by the Ansaru Islamist group, reportedly escaped during a shoot-out.

Luc Besson’s Cité du Cinéma probed by France’s audit court

Link

Auditors criticised the public funding of the French film director's 170-million-euro private flagship film centre in Paris, dubbed 'Hollywood-sur-Seine'.

France's Hollande heads to Israel ahead of Iran talks

Link

President Shimon Peres and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu have urged France to maintain its firm stance over Tehran's nuclear programme.

France's flood of anti-left hoaxes

Link

Malicious rumours and fabricated stories, some of them racist, are doing the rounds of the internet and tapping into the French public's discontent.

LVMH chief in criminal probe over Belgium activities

Link

Probe relating to France's richest man Bernard Arnault concerns a capital increase of 2.9 billion euros in LVMH's Belgian holding company.

Celebrities condemn prostitution crackdown in France

Link

Around 60 big names, including rock stars, filmmakers and a former culture minister, call for 'real debate' over plans to outlaw paying for sex.

French motorways blocked by eco-tax protests

Link

Traffic slowed to a snail's pace on several motorways on Saturday as road-freight companies joined protests against unpopular green tax.

France arrests four suspected of sending militants to Syria

Link

The four, aged between 22 and 35, were arrested in the Paris suburb of Vitry-sur-Seine following an investigation that started in mid-2012.

France staring at Brazil World Cup qualification failure after loss to Ukraine

Link

A 2-0 defeat in Kiev means France will need stunning performance in Tuesday's return leg in Paris to avoid missing first World Cup since 1994.

EU adds voice to criticism of French reform pace

Link

Commission gives guarded blessing to 2014 budget but says French plans are only 'partly adequate' for getting grip on public finances.