The former president Nicolas Sarkozy says that France is plunging into a deep financial and social crisis which will eventually demand a national saviour – himself.

The private equity firms Apollo Global Management and C Dean Metropoulos are believed to be near a deal to buy snack cake brands including Twinkies and Donettes from the bankrupt Hostess Brands. A deal, part of Hostess's bankruptcy reorganisation, is not yet final.

Outlook Remember when the Office for Budget Responsibility was set up? There was a big song and dance about how it would provide clean and independent fiscal forecasts that would help to prevent governments from fiddling the figures, an accusation repeatedly levelled at Gordon Brown's administration – and most of its predecessors at some point.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire Mayor of New York, is considering whether to make a bid for the Financial Times, amid renewed speculation that the paper's owner, Pearson, will be ready to sell soon.

China has denounced a report in The New York Times detailing the vast riches accumulated by Premier Wen Jiabao’s family, and today it blocked the newspaper’s English and Chinese language websites.

The problem with spreading privilege is that once spread, it ceases to be privilege

Other motorists can hurt me when I'm in a car. And when I'm on a bike, they can kill me

The four dance pieces shortlisted for The Place Prize 2011, the UK’s biggest award in choreography, will be performed every night from today until 16 April at the eponymous Euston-based dance theatre .

Reed pleads for cash help for those seeking work

Reed in Partnership says that almost all long-term Job Seeker's Allowance claimants are too poor to return to work without help.

Tesco joins international phone call market

Supermarket giant Tesco moved into the international calls market today with the launch of low-cost Tesco International Calling Cards.

More than 200 pilots working for Chinese airlines faked their CVs, with more than half of them working for the parent company of an airline involved in the country's worst crash in years, a report said yesterday.

Tips and tools that will keep you ahead of the game, in creating and running your business blog.

Much cynicism greeted the Wall Street Journal's decision last month to begin a sports section. But the cynics were wrong.