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France can frack without destroying environment, minister says

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Industry minister Arnaud Montebourg seeks way around presidential pledge to retain a ban on hydraulic fracturing of natural gas from shale.

Bickering French opposition missing from parliament

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With the UMP paralysed by a bitter leadership dispute, the ruling Socialists have pushed ahead with contentious legislation almost unchallenged.

France launches Twitter probe in racism test case

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A criminal investigation into a raft of anti-Semitic messages posted on Twitter could test the microblogging site's refusal to mediate content.

French jobless total hits 14-year high

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Labour Ministry data shows the number of jobseekers rose by 45,400 in October to hit 3.103 million, the highest level since April 1998.

France to back Palestinian bid for UN status

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Foreign Minister said France had long backed Palestinian ambitions for statehood and would vote yes "out of a concern for coherency".

France’s conservative party splits into two

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Defeated UMP leadership candidate Francois Fillon says he and followers are splitting from the party to form their own parliamentary group.

Carla Bruni backs gay marriage - but not feminism

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France's former first lady Carla Bruni says she disagrees with husband Nicolas Sarkozy and supports plans to allow gay marriage and adoption.

France UMP crisis: Jean- François Copé confirmed as head

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Internal party commission confirms that Copé won presidency of centre-right UMP but election rival François Fillon says verdict is 'illegal'.

ArcelorMittal not welcome in France anymore, says minister

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Industry minister Arnaud Montebourg has accused the steel giant of "not respecting France" saying it has "never honoured its commitments". 

Audiard's 'Rust and Bone' lends iron and form to French cinema success in US

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The emotional drama of Jacques Audiard's latest work propels his reputation in a new direction and fuels France's current Hollywood momentum.