Michael GoldfarbFebruary 15, 2012 09:09

European austerity by the numbers: in or out of the euro zone today's figures are grim.

Statistics prove yet again: cutting alone will not help an economy

this story is part of globalpost's continuing coverage of world business. for more visit our new business page.

The European economic numbers flow across my computer screen, not quite as quickly as the ticker tape crawl at CNBC or Bloomberg, but there are a lot of them and virtually every one is bad. And in or out of the euro zone, they all point to the same thing: austerity isn't working.

In Greece: the economy contracted by 7 percent in the last quarter. Since austerity budgets began to be implemented two years ago Greece's debt had jumped from 115 percent of GDP to 166 percent of GDP, the Guardian reports.

In Britain: Unemployment is at 8.4 percent according to the Office of National Statistics, a 16 year high (I have reported on other sources of unemployment statistics here).

French judge says Monsanto poisoned farmer

Amy SilversteinFebruary 14, 2012 14:37

It was the first case of its kind in France and could pave the way for other pesticide-related lawsuits.

Michael GoldfarbFebruary 7, 2012 12:23

Syria: France, Britain and Italy recall ambassadors

European countries play what cards they have against Assad regime.

There is not a lot European countries can do to stop the Bashar al-Assad regime's onslaught against its own people - especially in light of this weekend's vetoing of a Security Council resolution by Russia and China.

Recalling ambassadors from Damascus for consultation is about the only card they can play. That is exactly what Britain, France and Italy have done. No word about the German government's intentions. But police in Berlin have arrested two men suspected of spying for Syria.

Michael GoldfarbFebruary 6, 2012 12:56

Sarkozy and Merkel hold special meeting

French President makes his close relationship with Merkel a campaign issue.

Say this about French President Nicolas Sarkozy, he takes risks. 80 days before he stands for re-election he held a cabinet meeting and invited a guest to attend: German Chancellor Angela Merkel. It is their 14th joint meeting - giving new meaning to the term "special relationship." Merkel said it was "quite noram" for her to be involved in the French presidential election campaign.

The BBC has a full report here.

Sarkozy's close alliance with Merkel has become a serious issue in the election campaign. Marine Le Pen, leader of the ultra-right National Front is running on a platform of taking France out of the euro. She is running a credible third in recent opinion polls. Socialist Francois Hollande is leading Sarkozy and he too is taking a very anti-Europe line as arch euro-skeptic, Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, gleefully wrote in today's Daily Telegraph:

Alberto Contador banned for two years over doping, loses 2010 Tour de France title

Luke BrowneFebruary 6, 2012 12:27

One of only five men with titles in the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España, Contador tested positive for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol, a muscle-building and weight-loss drug, on the final rest day of the 2010 Tour.

France labels Scientology a fraud, not a church

Clea CaulcuttFebruary 3, 2012 07:00

PARIS — Scientology is fined for targeting vulnerable people for commercial gain.

French election favorite François Hollande flour-bombed

Luke BrowneFebruary 1, 2012 17:16

The attacker, who claims that police are monitoring her movements and her life has been threatened, ran onto the podium where Hollande was standing to sign a “social contract” and threw flour on him.

Michael GoldfarbJanuary 31, 2012 12:35

When the going gets tough the arms dealers get going

France lands mass order for fighter jets from India

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A Rafale fighter jet at an air show in Bangalore last year. The Indian government must have liked what it saw since today it was announced it had purchased 126 of them from French arms manufacturer Dassault. (DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)

this story is part of globalpost's continuing coverage of world business. for more visit our new business page.

Here's an old truism: When first world economies are in the doldrums there is still one tried and true place to get a jolt: the arms market. Prime Ministers and Presidents make calls on behalf of private firms in the hopes of sealing the deal.

France, looking at projected GDP growth in 2012 of a mere 0.5 percent received its jolt today with news that its aircraft manufacturer Dassault had completed a deal to sell 126 Rafale fighter jets to India. The price tag is estimated at between $10 and 11 billion. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is smiling.

France to resume troop training in Afghanistan but pull out by end of 2013

Luke BrowneJanuary 27, 2012 14:31

The French president says that US President Barack Obama has been informed of the plans, which will be presented at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in early February.

Top EU official Kader Arif resigns in protest against ACTA anti-piracy treaty

Luke BrowneJanuary 27, 2012 13:25

Kader Arif, a French MEP and the European Parliament’s rapporteur for ACTA, said he had witnessed “never-before-seen manoeuvres” on the part of officials involved in preparing the treaty.