The number of unemployed in France has topped the 3 million for the first time since 1999, Labour Minister Michel Sapin has said. Official figures for August are not due out until later on Wednesday, but they are expected to confirm the 16th consecutive monthly rise. "It's bad. It's clearly bad," Mr Sapin told France 2 television. The news is also bad for President Francois Hollande, who came to power on a promise to revive the economy. However, Mr Sapin blamed the previous government of Nicolas Sarkozy for the increase. "This is the result of a policy. In reality, these 3 million unemployed were here when we arrived ... (full story)