French version of the OJ trial. In spite of witnesses, expert testimony, the refusal of the accuser to even appear in court, and two documentary films from two different countries, the guy loses because he "insulted France." Under it all: French hatred of Jews.

More Airbus: talk is now widespread that in order to avoid a catastrophe, Airbus plants will have to be closed. Unions won't budge so there is a real problem brewing. French make headlines by selling outmoded airplanes (A319) to India and calling them new.

Productivity problems in semi-socialist France; and they lost the opportunity to create 700,000 new jobs because of their non-compeitiveness.

A sharp drop in French industrial productivity gains over the past five years has cost the economy the opportunity to create more than 700,000 jobs and risks exposing the country to a flood of low-cost imports, a report from McKinsey, the management consultants, warned. The findings surprised economists and will add to political concern over the country's efforts to fight unemployment.

And riots erupt again as French police are attacked one more time. It really does seem like the wheels are coming off all over the world.