Cafe philosophique

John Lichfield the streets of paris

Tony Blair's desire to project the brash new Britain knows no bounds - as Jacques Chirac will discover on Friday. This week's Franco- British summit will not be held at fuddy-duddy old Downing Street, or that heritage theme-park of Chequers. No, it's the booming Docklands for the French president, the 38th floor of the 800-ft Canary Wharf tower, no less.

The French Catholic Church yesterday apologised, to God and to the Jewish people, for its failure to speak out against the persecution of Jews by the Vichy regime in 1940-44. But why so late and why now?

Lucien Bouchard, Quebec's Prime Minister, said yesterday that President Jacques Chirac would recognise the province's independence if it voted in a referendum to secede.

Pontypridd 29 Brive 29

Two British architects have created a softly diffused light box of a building in Paris, the Maison de la Culture du Japon - a perfect synthesis of architecture and site, says Nonie Niesewand

Things will never be the same again; for her family, for the people of this country, for the press. The profound outpouring of emotion over Diana's death will continue. Tears are being shed by those who have never cared much about the Royal Family, by those who would much prefer a Republic, by those who dismissed her as trivial, self-obsessed and generally silly when she was alive. The effect that this uneducated woman has had on our national psyche is only just beginning to be gauged.

Things will never be the same again. For her family, for the people of this country, for the press. The profound outpouring of emotion over Diana's death will continue. Tears are being shed by those who have never cared much about the Royal Family, by those who would much prefer a Republic, by those who dismissed her as trivial, self-obsessed and generally silly when she was alive. The effect that this uneducated woman has had on our national psyche is only just beginning to be gauged.

Former RPR minister wants 'understanding' with Le Pen. Joanna Lee reports

After 21 years of independence, the tiny Indian Ocean island of Anjouan, has had enough. It wants, once again, to be part of France and, especially, part of the French welfare system.

Jacques Chirac, interviewed yesterday for the the first time since his right-wing coalition's electoral defeat on 1 June, has failed to relieve the impression that he is now a lame-duck president.

Hans Tietmeyer is a "real pig". Edith Cresson is an "old bag". Goran Persson is a "wally". Suddenly the lid is taken off what one European leader says in private about some others. The response among Austrians to their foreign minister's unguarded outburst has been outrage, and opposition MPs have called for Wolfgang Schussel's resignation. Outside Austria, the response is more likely to be amusement. And amusement, rather than somewhat hypocritical outrage, is the best reaction.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau, everyone's favourite Frenchman, the man who brought the ocean depths into the world's living- rooms, died yesterday at the age of 87.