France

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French Built Fake Paris to Fool German Bombers

Replica city wasn't finished by end of WWI

(Newser) - A sham Paris was built near the end of World War I in an attempt to fool German bombers, according to recently unearthed archives. The fake city—built on a bend of the Seine similar to the one in Paris—boasted fake railways, fake factories, and even a fake Champs-Elysé...

France, Germany Discussing Pared Down Euro Zone

Controversial plan means some countries would be out

(Newser) - German and French officials have had “intense consultation” at “all levels” in recent months about the possibility of slimming down the euro zone to its strongest members, and then more closely integrating the fiscal policies of those countries, sources tell Reuters . “You’ll still call it the...

Firebombed Paper's Cover Now Boasts a Kissing Muslim

'Love is stronger than hate,' says 'Charlie Hebdo'

(Newser) - Remember the boundary-busting French satirical newspaper that was firebombed for making the Prophet Mohammed a "guest editor"? Journalists toned down the controversy this time around—not. In fact, right on the cover, a Muslim is planting a big, slobbery kiss on a figure representing the publication, Charlie Hebdo....

Scientology Files Fraud Appeal in France

Church and leaders were convicted in 2009

(Newser) - The Church of Scientology opened an appeal today of a 2009 fraud conviction in France , reports the AP . The original case convicted Scientology's French branch, bookstore, and six leaders of fraud related to pressuring members into paying for expensive but questionable treatments, as well as harassing recruits. The church...

Greece Leader Faces Revolt on Bailout Mess

George Papandreou struggling to hold his own party together

(Newser) - After Greece’s prime minister shocked the world —and his own finance minister—by announcing a public referendum on the EU bailout, the government has entered crisis mode. As leaders hold emergency talks, six members of George Papandreou’s party have called for his resignation, and one has quit,...

Palestine Named Member of UN Cultural Body

Controversial move prompts cheers at UNESCO

(Newser) - Palestine became a full member of UNESCO today, in a highly divisive move that the United States and other opponents say could harm renewed Mideast peace efforts. US lawmakers had threatened to withhold roughly $80 million in annual funding to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization if it...

Carlos the Jackal Goes on Hunger Strike

Protests treatment in notorious maximum security prison

(Newser) - Carlos the Jackal has been on a hunger strike for a week to protest his treatment inside a French prison, and his health is worsening, reports the Daily Mail . A lawyer for the 62-year-old Venezuelan terrorist wrote in a letter that Carlos refuses to eat due to "the deliberate...

Japan Eclipses France as Culinary King
 Japan Eclipses France 
 as Culinary King 
michelin guide
Oct 21, 2011 4:14 PM CDT

Japan Eclipses France as Culinary King

But skeptics take issue with Michelin Guide assessment

(Newser) - Japan has overtaken France as the fine dining capital of the world—at least according to the latest Michelin Guide, reports ABC News . The newly released 2012 edition of the influential guide has bestowed 29 Japanese eateries with a 3-star rating—the highest possible grade—compared with 25 in France....

Basque Group ETA Calls Cease-Fire After 43 Years

Move could end last armed militancy in Europe

(Newser) - The Basque militant group ETA called an end to a 43-year violent campaign for independence today and said it now wants talks with Spain and France—a groundbreaking move that could pave the way for ending Europe's last armed militancy. ETA had already declared a cease-fire last year, but...

It&#39;s a Girl for Carla Bruni
 It's a Girl for Carla Bruni 
Oct 20, 2011 5:49 AM CDT

It's a Girl for Carla Bruni

Sarkozy's newborn is first French presidential baby

(Newser) - A child has been born to a serving president for the first time in modern French history. Carla Bruni gave birth to a baby girl at a clinic in Paris last night, the BBC reports. The 43-year-old mom—who told interviewers recently that she was bored with being pregnant and...

Moody's Downgrades Spain, Warns France

Sarkozy vows to take bold action at debt summit

(Newser) - Credit ratings in Europe are continuing to slide downward: Moody's has followed Standard & Poor’s lead and cut Spain's rating by two notches, warning that France could be next, reports the Washington Post . "Spain continues to be vulnerable to market stress and event risk," said...

Cop Accused of Organizing Orgies for DSK

Officer allegedly brought hookers to Paris, NYC for Strauss-Kahn

(Newser) - Dominique Strauss-Kahn's name has appeared in another sex scandal, reports the Daily Mail . This time, a French investigation into a prostitution racket has turned up a high-ranking police officer who had hoped to lead Strauss-Kahn's protection unit, had DSK been elected French president. That police official allegedly organized...

François Hollande to Run Against Sarkozy

Longtime party official says he can restore 'French dream'

(Newser) - The French Socialists have a candidate for next year's presidential elections (and, surprise, it's not DSK), so now preparations can really begin for the Nicolas Sarkozy showdown, reports the BBC . The Socialists yesterday chose François Hollande—a longtime party official who has never held a ministerial-level office—...

Oysters From French Region of Brittany 'More Precious Than Pearls'

 French Oysters: 
 'More Precious 
 Than Pearls' 
mollusk review
Oct 16, 2011 5:56 PM CDT

French Oysters: 'More Precious Than Pearls'

Bivalve connoisseur describes 3-day journey

(Newser) - The world's most delicious oysters can be found in the French region of Brittany, where "they are generally smaller than other varieties but intensely flavored," writes Susan Spano in the Los Angeles Times . She recounts her 3-day oyster tour of France's Atlantic coast, where she devoured...

French Teacher Sets Herself on Fire at School

'God told me to do this,' student heard her yell

(Newser) - A high school math teacher set herself on fire in the middle of the schoolyard this morning in southern France, in what appears to be a flamboyant suicide attempt. She taught her morning class as usual, but then at the morning break walked into the center of the schoolyard, doused...

DSK Admits Sex Aggression, France Drops Case

It's apparently too late to prosecute Tristane Banon's claim

(Newser) - The Paris prosecutor's office has dropped an investigation into a French writer's claim that Dominique Strauss-Kahn tried to rape her for lack of sufficient proof. The prosecutor's office said today that Strauss-Kahn admitted to sexual aggression against writer Tristane Banon but that it is too late to...

Meteorite Hits Paris Home
 Meteorite Hits Paris Home 
Oct 11, 2011 12:59 AM CDT

Meteorite Hits Paris Home

Space rock found in the Comette family's roof

(Newser) - The Comettes were on vacation when their home was hit by a meteorite. The egg-sized space rock stayed buried in the insulation of the French family's home in suburban Paris until they called somebody in to fix their leaking roof, the Telegraph reports. "We got the roof tiler...

Belgium Bails Out Failing Dexia
 Belgium Bails Out Failing Dexia 
Oct 10, 2011 9:01 AM CDT

Belgium Bails Out Failing Dexia

Belgian division to be nationalized; Belgium, France offer guarantees

(Newser) - Leading Franco-Belgian bank Dexia has agreed to a government rescue plan—making it "the biggest euro zone bank failure in quite some time," one analyst tells the New York Times . The plan will nationalize Dexia's Belgian banking division in a $5.4 billion government buyout; meanwhile, Belgium,...

Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy Hammer Out Deal to Recapitalize Banks
 Merkel, Sarko Reach Bank Deal 
Oct 9, 2011 11:50 AM CDT

Merkel, Sarko Reach Bank Deal

Mum on details, will pitch to EU leaders this month

(Newser) - The leaders of Germany and France, the eurozone's two biggest economies, say they have reached agreement on strengthening Europe's shaky banking sector. German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she and French President Nicolas Sarkozy "are determined to do the necessary to ensure the recapitalization of Europe's banks....

To Protect Itself, France Bans ... Ketchup in Schools

American condiment can only be served with French fries

(Newser) - France is famous for defending its language and culture from foreign invaders, and now the French have a new enemy in their sights: ketchup. The French government is banning ketchup from school and university cafeterias—with a single exception. The American condiment can be served with French fries, the LA ...

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