G-20 leaders promise tighter regulations

PITTSBURGH -- World leaders took credit Friday for pulling the economy "back from the brink," and promised a new world order of tighter financial regulation and more inclusive global governance to protect the world from future meltdowns.
The gathering of the world's 20 top economies cautioned that the recovery remained fragile and agreed to keep stimulus plans, which include government spending and low interest rates, in place in their respective countries.
Turning from the crisis-management of previous summits, the Group of 20 leaders pledged to set up more rigorous financial rules that would cut down on some of the risky behavior and excesses that have been blamed for rocking the global economy. And they vowed better coordination over economic policies.
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World leaders vow to restart stalled trade talks

L'AQUILA, Italy – Leaders of the exclusive club of eight industrialized leaders plus five of the fastest developing nations are calling for open markets and a battle against protectionism as the answer to the world's economic meltdown.
But the need to save jobs back home is pulling them in the opposite direction. How can the goal set by the leaders — completing a long-stalled world trade deal by next year — be reconciled with major pressures to protect local industries?
Meeting in the quake-stricken Italian city of L'Aquila, the leaders said they wanted to finally reach an agreement next year on a long-stalled world trade deal, according to a draft of a joint declaration obtained by The Associated Press. It's a familiar pledge that has failed to prompt action in the past.
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France's Sarkozy heaps praise on Obama, Brown

Sometimes it pays to kick up a fuss.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who earlier had threatened to walk out of a G-20 summit if dissatisfied with its progress, claimed Thursday to have obtained a better outcome than he expected.
"I'm very happy with the result," he said after world leaders signed on to a broad raft of measures designed to hasten the end of the global financial crisis and tighten regulations.
"Honestly, we never thought we would we have such an agreement," he said in a press conference after a meeting of leaders from rich and developed countries in London.
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French Left: From the fringe to vindication

PARIS - As printing presses churn out revolutionary leaflets, one of France's most popular leftist politicians says plunging stocks, frozen credit markets and bank failures are signs the world economic system is rotten — and needs to be overthrown.

"A page is being turned," declares Olivier Besancenot, leader of France's Revolutionary Communist League.

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American version.

PARIS - When storied Wall Street firm Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. fell, France looked on in disbelief as the U.S. government refused to rescue the 158-year old firm and its 25,000 employees.

Uncle Sam was pictured in a front page cartoon in Le Monde chucking a wreath at the bank's headquarters as it sank in turbulent waters.

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French Premier Sees Beyond GDF-Suez Deal

PARIS - When then-French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin decided to fend off an amorous Italian and play matchmaker between two French utilities last year, he probably could not imagine the marriage might never be consummated.

Yet as Gaz de France shareholders gathered in Paris on Wednesday, Villepin's successor announced that the national gas champion's alliance with Suez remained uncertain. Francois Fillon, France's brand new prime minister, said the government is considering other possibilities and will review the deal in late June or early July - after parliamentary elections.

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Royal Aims to Return Focus to Sarkozy After Gaffes

Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Segolene Royal is struggling to shift the focus of her French presidential campaign back to the man she's running against, and away from the one she's lived with for the better part of 25 years.
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Royal Wins French Socialist Nomination in 1st Round

Nov. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Segolene Royal took her biggest step toward becoming France's first woman president, trouncing two opponents to win the Socialist Party primary.
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Royal Takes on Socialist `Elephants' in French Presidential Bid

Sept. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Segolene Royal, campaigning to be France's first woman president, has graced the front of every major newsweekly -- and two celebrity magazines -- since declaring her possible candidacy last year. One cover this summer had her in a turquoise bikini.

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Chirac's New TV Network Aims to Project French Language, Clout

Dec. 6 (Bloomberg) -- In 2002, as the U.S. drowned out French objections to the invasion of Iraq, President Jacques Chirac had an idea: create a global television channel to promote the Gallic point of view.

Four years later, Chirac, 74, is set to open a new front in his effort to stem his nation's declining influence in world affairs when France 24, an around-the-clock television network in French and English, goes on the air tomorrow.

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French Lawmakers Scrap Disputed Youth-Labor Contract

April 12 (Bloomberg) -- French lawmakers approved a compromise youth-labor law after they voted to officially bury a disputed version President Jacques Chirac scrapped two days ago.

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Veolia's Proglio Denies Chirac Vetoed Suez Ambitions

March 5 (Bloomberg) -- Veolia Environnement SA Chief Executive Officer Henri Proglio said he didn't cave in to political pressure from French President Jacques Chirac to abandon talks on a joint bid for Suez SA with Italy's Enel SpA.

``I wasn't forbidden to do anything,'' he said in an interview in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he is accompanying Chirac on a trip designed to improve trade ties with the world's biggest oil producer. ``I represent a private company. I don't need approval.''

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Chirac Says France Wants to End Ban on Nuclear Exports to India

Feb. 17 (Bloomberg) -- France supports ending the international ban on nuclear-technology exports to India, allowing companies such as Areva SA to supply plants to meet India's growing energy needs, President Jacques Chirac said.
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Chirac's Trip to India May Be Overshadowed by Mittal

Feb. 16 (Bloomberg) -- French President Jacques Chirac, visiting New Delhi next week, may find his call for increased trade overshadowed by the uproar over Indian businessman Lakshmi Mittal's attempt to take over a European steelmaker.
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Chirac Balks at EU Farm Cuts, Threatens World Trade Talks

Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) -- French President Jacques Chirac threatened to derail international trade talks by ruling out further cuts in European Union farm subsidies and tariffs.

With the EU under pressure from the U.S., India and Brazil to reduce 40 billion euros ($49 billion) in annual agriculture aid as part of a global free-trade deal, Chirac said France will stop EU trade chief Peter Mandelson from making new concessions.

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France's Villepin Fails to Win Converts as Jobs Plan Criticized

June 9 (Bloomberg) -- French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's 4.5 billion euro ($5.6 billion) plan to boost hiring and economic growth failed to win converts among political opponents, who stepped up attacks on his new government.
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France Vetoes Treaty in Blow to Chirac, Integration

May 29 (Bloomberg) -- France rejected the European Union's constitution in a national referendum, dealing a blow to President Jacques Chirac and European integration.

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EU Names Juncker to Chair Euro Panel for Two Years

Sept. 10 (Bloomberg) -- European finance ministers named Luxembourg Prime and Finance Minister Jean-Claude Juncker to a two-year term as spokesman for the euro currency, seeking to bring more coherence to economic policymaking.
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