Latest France Headlines

All the headlines from our France Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Ratings Recap: Generali (France), Tokio Marine Pacific, swisspartners

Feb 25 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Generali Vie and Generali IARD. Best also affirmed the ICR of “a-”...

Cat 4 Tropical Cyclone Oli Strikes French Polynesia; RMS Analysis

Feb 4 2010 // At Noon local time the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), estimated that Tropical Storm Oli’s maximum sustained winds had reached approximately 130 mph (210 km/h), which would classify it as a category four...

Concorde Trial Starts in France 10 Years after Crash

Feb 2 2010 // Continental Airlines and five men went on trial on Tuesday for their alleged role in the crash of an Air France Concorde that killed 113 people in 2000 and brought an end to an era of luxury supersonic travel.The Concorde,...

U.S. Treasury Investigator Says French Regulator Was Open to AIG Talks

Jan 27 2010 // An overseer for the U.S. bailout program said Tuesday that France’s banking regulator was open to further negotiations over possible concessions on payments from bailed out insurer AIG, according to prepared...

‘Fog in Channel’ – The Disconnect between England and France

Dec 4 2009 // The rest of that phrase, from a long ago Times headline, reads “- Continent Cut Off.” It succinctly summarizes the past, present and probably future state of relations between two of Europe’s oldest...

France Tries to Calm Britain’s Angst over Regulation Threats

Dec 3 2009 // France tried to reassure Britain on Thursday that its push for tougher financial regulation in the European Union would not undermine the City of London, saying new rules would not hurt anyone system in particular.Tensions...

De La Rochefoucauld to Head Lloyd’s French Office

Nov 23 2009 // Lloyd’s announced the appointment of Guy-Antoine De La Rochefoucauld as the new Country Manager for its French office, effective the 7th of December.The bulletin noted that he “has over 25 years experience in...

Armistice Day Commemorations in Europe Promise ‘Never Again’

Nov 11 2009 // The ceremonies commemorating the end of the First World War, 91 years ago today, took on a special significance this time. They are remarkably uniform throughout Europe. Each of the nations involved in that murderous...

France’s AXA Eyes Asia Growth with Takeover Bid

Nov 9 2009 // AXA Asia Pacific rejected a $10.3 billion bid from parent AXA SA and Australian rival AMP Ltd on Monday, an initial hurdle for the French insurer’s bold ambitions to expand in Asia.AXA SA, Europe’s...

Best Affirms Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty ‘A+’ Ratings

Oct 27 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa” of Germany’s Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty AG (AGCS...

Ratings Recap: Singapore Re, AGF, Ansvar, White Mountains Re, Oriental, Jupiter

Oct 13 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a-” of Singapore Reinsurance Corporation Limited, both with stable outlooks. The ratings...

European Safety Agency Orders More Airbus Speed Sensor Checks

Sep 24 2009 // European safety officials have ordered checks on certain Airbus speed sensors supplied by U.S. manufacturer Goodrich, just weeks after clamping down on similar equipment from France’s Thales.Potentially faulty speed...

Pilots Report Problem with Air France Plane’s Speed Sensors

Jul 29 2009 // An Air France flight from Rome to Paris earlier this month briefly lost its speed readings due to faulty sensors, pilots said on Tuesday, in the latest safety scare involving speed sensors.Several problems with speed...

France Sees Global ‘Airline Blacklist’ Ready Soon

Jul 13 2009 // A global blacklist for unsafe airlines will be set up soon, France’s Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau said on Monday.On Thursday the head of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had rejected the...

Jackson’s Death and Event Cancellation; Max Cap Rejected; Still Searching Air France Crash Cause; Den Dekker is New FERM

Jul 6 2009 // Michael Jackson’s untimely death, barely two weeks before he was to begin a long awaited series of 50 concerts stretching over eight months, has been the world’s top story. It’s also a story in London,...

French Official Says No ‘Black Box’ Signals from Flight 447

Jun 24 2009 // A French official said sounds detected by search teams in the Atlantic depths are not those of Flight 447’s black boxes.The aide to France’s top transport official, Jean-Louis Borloo, said the “black...

Air France Preparing First Payment to Crash Victims’ Families

Jun 19 2009 // Air France will compensate the families of the victims of a June 1 crash in which 228 people died, the company’s chief executive said on Friday.Flight AF 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris crashed into the Atlantic...

No Conclusions Yet in Air France Flight 447 Crash Probe

Jun 18 2009 // French investigators said Wednesday more than 400 pieces of Flight 447 have been recovered in a painstaking search in the Atlantic but no conclusions have yet been reached in the probe.“If we had concluded or...

Mystery Surrounds Air France Crash

Jun 15 2009 // The tragic disappearance of Air France flight 447 over the Atlantic early on June 1 remains a mystery. The plane’s 216 passengers and 12 crew members perished as all contact was lost with the Airbus 330-200 in the...

Air France to Replace Speed Sensors; Searchers Find More Bodies, Debris

Jun 10 2009 // Air France has said all its flights using long-haul Airbus jets will be equipped immediately with new speed sensors after last week’s disaster over the Atlantic, a pilots’ union said Tuesday.The pitot tubes...