A surf boat crew will stage a symbolic row down Auckland's North Shore tomorrow, as they prepare for a commemorative international race in Turkey next year.

A new book claims Nicolas Sarkozy unsuccessfully tried to seduce President Francois Hollande's ex-girlfriend, Valerie Trierweiler.

Ever dreamed of seeing France on two wheels? Lynette Eyb provides an overview to help you start planning your cycling adventure.

The Marquis de Sade's novel The 120 Days of Sodom, the depravity of which earned it the name "the Gospel of Evil", has returned to France after a 30-year legal battle.

A Kiwi wingsuit pilot has died after crashing into a field following a jump from a helicopter over Switzerland's Luetschental Valley.

It has been used to sell cars, Coke, whiskey and gambling - now the haka is being used to encourage French people with osteoarthritis to exercise.

The far-right National Front (FN) has sent shockwaves through France's political establishment.

Paris drastically reduced its smog problem by banning half of all private cars and motor-bikes and almost all trucks on Monday.

Two children have died after a giant boulder crushed into the Alpine ski chalet they were sleeping in, it has been reported.

Who's taking the brunt of the Hollande affair? In a very French twist, it looks like it's the jilted first lady - who's been hospitalised since she found out.

Campaigning for the French presidency less than two years ago, Francois Hollande pledged that in office he would be 'normal'.

Julie Gayet, the actress thought to be having an affair with French President Francois Hollande, is reported to be pregnant.

The French first lady Valerie Trierweiler was in hospital suffering from "depression" three days after a magazine reported that President Francois Hollande was having an affair.

The French president's woes have continued, as it emerged his girlfriend was rushed to hospital following claims he was having an affair with an actress.

In less than 24 hours, a Government banned a comedian and its President threatened legal action against a magazine that reported him having an affair with an actor.

Michael Schumacher remained in a "critical but stable" condition in a French hospital, his spokeswoman said, denying claims made by a friend that he was out of danger.

A Paris-bound flight was rescheduled after Venezuela grounded an Air France plane that French authorities said terrorists might have been planning to blow up.

More than 500 people have been killed over the past week in sectarian fighting in Central African Republic, aid officials said, as France reported that gunmen killed two of its soldiers.

Lyon's famous food has to be tasted to be believed, writes Deborah Telford.

France's government is pushing one of Europe's toughest laws against prostitution and sex trafficking, and other countries are watching closely.

French spies plotted to pose as neo-Nazis to assassinate Abu Hamza, the extremist cleric, in London because they were so frustrated with Britain's failure to deal with him.

Could it be au revior to the Magic Kingdom in France? Disneyland Paris is still reeling from a worker's attempted suicide, a strike and a continuing financial losses.

The suspect in a shooting at a French newspaper office and three other attacks had written a "confused" letter criticising media manipulation and capitalism and including a vague reference to Syria, authorities said.

The suspect in a Paris newspaper office shooting that left a photographer gravely wounded and other attacks that triggered a two-day nationwide manhunt has been arrested, French authorities said.

He's been turned down by planes, trains and even a cruise ship in his quest to return home - and his family says it's because of he has been deemed too fat to travel. Now Frenchman Kevin Chenais' long and fitful journey is coming to an end.

Sex, politics and morality: Put the three together, and you are sure to end up with a steaming tub of trouble.

If your mind's slowly turning to the Christmas holidays and you're after something different, consider these top ski resorts.

Be it in the corporate, political or sporting worlds, rarely has there been a comfortable alliance between the top two in the hierarchy.

An actual party animal has become a worldwide sensation after his night out with a bunch of French revellers went viral.