The Rich Get Poorer

Here's another great reason not to live in France.

French President Jacques Chirac has said his government will take steps to introduce a tax on air tickets next year to fund additional aid for Africa.

In a speech to ambassadors on Monday, Mr Chirac also said France and other countries would propose a worldwide tax at a UN summit in September.

Correspondents say the French president has been urging other world leaders to impose a levy for some time.

In May, the EU agreed in principle to a voluntary tax on air travel.

However, only France, Belgium and Germany have said they will introduce a compulsory tax, while Malta, Cyprus and Ireland will give passengers a choice as to whether or not they pay it.

Jan Egeland, the head of United Nations humanitarian operations, who suggested that Western nations tax their citizens so that they could give more tsunami relief to terrorist enablers like Indonesia, probably reached spontaneous orgasm when he heard this news.