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French singer Georges Moustaki dies at 79

Agence France-PresseMay 23, 2013 07:45

French singer and composer Georges Moustaki, whose romantic ballads including the 1958 hit "Milord" won him global fame, died on Thursday at the age of 79, his entourage said. Born on May 3, 1934 to an immigrant European Jewish couple who had settled in Egypt, Moustaki -- whose real name was Giuseppe Mustacchi -- penned some 300 songs, marked by their poetic and haunting quality. "He died early in the morning at 6:00 a.m. after a long illness. He passed away peacefully," a friend said.

IMF chief Lagarde appears in court in French fraud investigation over arbitration deal

The Canadian PressMay 23, 2013 06:12

PARIS - International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde faced hours of questioning at a special Paris court Thursday over her role in the 400 million euro ($520 million) pay-off to a controversial businessman when she was France's finance minister.

IMF chief grilled in Paris court over 2007 payout scandal

Agence France-PresseMay 23, 2013 04:46

French prosecutors were grilling IMF chief Christine Lagarde in a Paris court on Thursday to decide if she should be charged over a state payout to a disgraced tycoon during her time as finance minister. Lagarde has downplayed the investigation, but the stakes of the probe are huge for both her and the International Monetary Fund. Since March, the IMF has not commented on the affair but the board has reiterated its "confidence" in Lagarde. French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici told AFP that Lagarde "retains the full confidence of French authorities and myself".

IMF's Lagarde in court for French arbitration case

Thomson ReutersMay 23, 2013 03:15

By Chine Labbé PARIS (Reuters) - IMF chief Christine Lagarde was questioned in court by a French magistrate on Thursday over her role in a 285-million-euro ($366 million) arbitration payment made to a supporter of former president Nicolas Sarkozy. Lagarde risks being placed under formal investigation at the hearing for her 2007 decision as Sarkozy's finance minister to use arbitration to settle a long-running court battle between the state and high-profile businessman Bernard Tapie.

Far-right writer kills self in Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral

Agence France-PresseMay 22, 2013 02:45

France's far-right paid tribute to a writer and activist who shot himself dead in front of the altar of Paris's famed Notre Dame Cathedral on Tuesday after denouncing gay marriage and immigration. Police confirmed the man's identity as Dominique Venner, 78, an essayist and activist linked with France's far-right and nationalist group. He shot himself with a pistol shortly after 4:00 pm (1400 GMT) and the cathedral, which at the time contained about 1,500 people, was then evacuated without incident, they said.

Far-right writer kills himself inside Notre Dame de Paris

Agence France-PresseMay 21, 2013 16:30

A far-right writer and activist shot himself dead in front of the altar of Paris's famed Notre Dame Cathedral on Tuesday, after calling for "spectacular" action to protect France's identity. Police confirmed the man's identity as Dominique Venner, 78, an essayist and activist linked with France's far-right and nationalist groups. His suicide was hailed by Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right Front National (FN), as a political gesture.

France's Fabius says 'boss' needed at finance ministry

Agence France-PresseMay 14, 2013 14:15

Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Tuesday criticised the management of the finance ministry, suggesting it lacked a "boss" and fuelling talk of a reshuffle in France's embattled government. President Francois Hollande's government has suffered from a string of scandals and public spats between ministers, with many focused on the finance ministry headed by Pierre Moscovici. "I ran Bercy in the past and it's true that Bercy needs a boss," Fabius told RTL radio, using the name for the ministry from its Paris neighbourhood.

IMF's Lagarde urges all euro members to push for banking union

Thomson ReutersMay 7, 2013 13:14

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - For European banking union to succeed, all EU member countries need to be in agreement, Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, said on Tuesday. "You need to have all the players at the table," Lagarde, managing director of the IMF, told students at the University of Amsterdam when asked about Germany's concerns.

IMF chief Lagarde criticizes US government spending cuts; jeered by students in Amsterdam

The Canadian PressMay 7, 2013 06:30

AMSTERDAM - International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde criticized the U.S. government's budget policies as too tight on Tuesday, in an appearance in Amsterdam that was interrupted by student protestors. Lagarde said the U.S. government's debt reduction plans are too abrupt, including the $85 billion in federal budget cuts known as the sequester. She said the current policies, if maintained, could lead to a contraction of 1.5 per cent in the U.S. economy.

Thousands to mark Hollande's first year with protests

Agence France-PresseMay 5, 2013 06:30

Thousands are to protest in France on Sunday to mark President Francois Hollande's first year in office, with some accusing the Socialist leader of turning his back on the left and others denouncing his backing of gay marriage. On the eve of the anniversary of Hollande's May 6 win last year over right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy, the Communist-backed Left Front is hoping to rally 100,000 people for a march starting at the Bastille, the iconic square of the French Revolution.