Paris approves French version of CNN

The French government has hammered out plans to set up a global TV news channel to rival CNN and the BBC and spread France's vision of the world.

Under a plan approved on Wednesday (30 November), the 24-hour news channel, the French International News Network (CFII) - dubbed CNN à la française - is to start operating by the end of 2006.

The idea was introduced and promoted by the French president Jacques Chirac, and it was highlighted in the run up to war in Iraq, due to Pa...