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France's credit rating cut by S&P to AA

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Move comes almost two years after country lost its top AAA status; prime minister insists France is still one of best-rated nations in world.

Rotting grapes from Bordeaux to Burgundy cut French wine outlook

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Production forecasts lowered after rot due to wet weather causes grape losses, adding to damage from poor flowering and summer hailstorms.

Riviera murder mystery over bones plucked from sea

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Police have found a skull and other bones belonging to at least four people in the sea close to the French resort of Antibes.

French restaurants where your looks decide your seat

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Two Parisian restaurants are said to seat guests according to how good-looking they are to raise the tone of the establishments.

French couple win legal battle to take down wind farm spoiling their view

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In first judgement of its kind, judges rule that the siting of ten wind turbines blighted the countryside and that the wind farm should be taken down.

'Al-Qaeda killed' French reporters Dupont and Verlon in Mali

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Group Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) says it killed the two French journalists on Saturday in response to France's 'new crusade'.

France to miss deficit target: EU

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The latest European Commission economic forecasts say the French government deficit will hit 4.1 percent this year, 3.8 percent next year.

France confident in giant Seine canal project

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Boost for plans to build 106-km Seine-Nord freight waterway to Belgium, Holland and Germany after project gets more EU funds.

Racist France is back, says country’s first black newsreader

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The popular presenter Harry Roselmack claims the recent monkey jibes against the justice minister made him feel 'reduced to my negro condition’.

New French centrist alliance aims for foothold in European parliament

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The pro-EU centre-right alliance, which is to be called the Alternative, hopes to capitalise on frustration with President François Hollande.