President Francois Hollande has set out a €2bn (£1.5bn) job creation plan in a bid to lift France out of what he called a state of economic emergency. Under a two-year scheme, firms with fewer than 250 staff will get subsidies if they take on a young or unemployed person for six months or more. And about 500,000 vocational training schemes will be created. France's unemployment rate is 10.6%, against a European Union average of 9.8% and 4.2% in Germany. Mr Hollande said money for the plan would come from savings in other areas of public spending. "These €2bn will be financed without any new taxes of any ... (full story)