Conservatives defend bid by Sarkozy’s son for job overseeing France’s top business district

October 12th, 2009 Sarkozy's son, 23, ignites uproar over job bidPARIS — He's 23 and has no college degree, and he's angling for a plum job overseeing France's premier business district. Jean Sarkozy, whose papa is the nation's president, is likely to get what he wants.

October 4th, 2009 Initial results: Socialists winning Greek electionATHENS, Greece — Greece's opposition Socialists have claimed victory over the governing conservatives in Sunday's parliamentary elections. Senior party official and former minister Evangelos Venizelos says the Socialists have won a "historic" victory over the scandal-battered conservatives.

September 30th, 2009 The Sun newspaper backs Britain's ConservativesLONDON — The Sun newspaper has backed Britain's opposition Conservative Party for the first time since the ruling Labour Party took power more than a decade ago. The influential tabloid's political editor says it is now endorsing the Tories because Labour has "failed the country" and let his readers down.

September 30th, 2009 UK's Brown downplays Sun tabloid switch to ToriesLONDON — Prime Minister Gordon Brown is downplaying the decision of the Sun tabloid to switch its allegiance from the Labour Party to the opposition Conservatives. Brown told the BBC during an interview at this week's Labour Party conference that the British people will decide the election, not a newspaper.

September 21st, 2009 German conservatives push tax relief ahead of voteBERLIN — A conservative ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel called Monday for quick tax relief if Germany's election produces a new center-right government, while her main rivals said tax cuts would be irresponsible. Merkel hopes to break out of her "grand coalition" with the center-left Social Democrats in Sunday's vote and take her conservatives into a new government with the pro-business Free Democrats.

September 12th, 2009 Top French photographer Willy Ronis dead at 99PARIS — Willy Ronis, the last of the great French photographers best known for shots of the quirky corners of Paris, has died at age 99. The president of the Eyedea photo agency, Stephane Ledoux, says Ronis died early Saturday in a Paris hospital after being on dialysis for some time.

August 31st, 2009 Merkel confident for Germany's Sept 27. electionBERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday she is confident of forming a new center-right government after the nationwide election Sept.

August 17th, 2009 Obama disses marriage law as Justice defends itWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama insisted Monday he still wants to scrap what he calls a discriminatory federal marriage law, even as his administration angered gay rights activists by defending it in court. The president said his administration's stance in a California court case is not about defending traditional marriage, but is instead about defending traditional legal practice.

August 5th, 2009 Pair named to company overseeing Harvard endowmentCAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Two senior investment managers have been hired by the company overseeing Harvard University's endowment, which has absorbed a steep drop in value during the recession.

July 26th, 2009 France's Sarkozy has health scare while exercisingPARIS — French President Nicolas Sarkozy felt unwell while exercising Sunday and was undergoing medical tests, the Elysee Palace announced. Sarkozy "felt faint" Sunday while exercising and his personal doctor immediately took charge and ordered medical tests, the two-paragraph statement said.

July 20th, 2009 UK opposition vows financial system changesLONDON — Britain's main opposition party pledged a massive overhaul of financial regulation if it wins a general election next year, foreshadowing a U.S.-style strengthening of the central bank and a new consumer protection agency. The proposals put forward by the Conservative Party include scrapping the existing Financial Services Authority, which has been criticized for failing to detect the faults in the system that led to the current crisis.

June 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - External Affairs Minister S.M Krishna has termed the remark made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on the burqa (veil) worn by Muslim, as his personal opinion Talking to reporter here on Tuesday, Krishna said, "Well, we have also read that news item and I certainly would not add anything more. I think it is his opinion and then he is entitled to hold his own opinion.

June 7th, 2009 PARIS - US President Barack Obama has sought to clear the air about his wife Michelle and he declining a dinner invite from the French first couple, Nicholas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni. According to Fox News, the British press reported the supposed declined invite was payback to Sarkozy for failing to invite Queen Elizabeth to the D-Day ceremony and a sign of continuing tension between the United States and France.

May 20th, 2009 LONDON - French First Lady Carla Bruni left hubby Nicolas Sarkozy red faced when she groped his backside during a press conference. The former model and singer was being filmed in the Elysee Palace for a magazine when the President walked in, reports the Mirror.

May 4th, 2009 PARIS - Nearly two-thirds of French voters are disappointed by President Nicolas Sarkozy's performance since his election two years ago, according to a new poll. According to a Metro newspaper commissioned survey, 65 per cent of the respondents said they were disappointed with Sarkozy's performance, 24 per cent said they were satisfied and 11 per cent said they had no opinion.