France

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France Agrees to a 'State of Caledonia'

All-nighter in Paris ends in agreement Macron calls historic

(Newser) - France announced a sweeping, hard-fought agreement Saturday aimed at granting more autonomy to the restive South Pacific territory of New Caledonia, but the plan stops short of the independence sought by many Indigenous Kanaks. The agreement—hailed by President Emmanuel Macron as "historic''—would need final approval...

It's a Big Move for the Iconic, Fragile Bayeux Tapestry

It will return to Britain on loan after 9 centuries away

(Newser) - "One of the most iconic pieces of art ever produced in the UK," in the words of Britain's culture secretary, will return to the country after nearly a millennium spent abroad. The legendary Bayeux Tapestry—a nearly 230-foot-long embroidered artwork depicting the Norman Conquest of England...

Bee Attack in French Town Injures 24

3 wounded critically; mayor thinks Asian hornets were threatening beehives

(Newser) - An unusual attack by bees in the French town of Aurillac has left 24 people injured, including three in critical condition, according to local authorities. The Prefecture of Cantal, in south-central France, said passersby were stung over a period of about 30 minutes on Sunday morning, reports the AP . Firefighters...

Cannes Makes 'Drastic' Move on Visiting Cruise Ships

Resort town to ban vessels with more than 1K people starting Jan. 1, in effort to fight overtourism

(Newser) - The French Riviera resort of Cannes is imposing what its city council calls "drastic regulation" on cruise ships, banning any vessels carrying more than 1,000 people from its harbor starting next year. The home of the world's premier film festival is joining a growing global backlash against...

Florida Retirees Face Trial Over Gold From 1746 Shipwreck

Couple in their 80s accused of illegally selling gold from shipwreck off the coast of France

(Newser) - A Florida couple in their 80s are now facing trial in France over gold bars looted from the wreck of an 18th-century French ship. The strange saga of Eleonor "Gay" Courter and her husband, Philip , 82, has captured attention on both sides of the Atlantic. And this week,...

New Rule in France to Curb Public Smoking Takes Effect

It's now banned at beaches and parks, though it's fine at outdoor cafes

(Newser) - A new rule that significantly reduces places where smokers can light up in France took effect on Sunday, reports the Guardian . The measure makes it illegal to smoke at beaches or public parks—or pretty much anywhere where children might be present. However, one French tradition is safe: It's...

Her Attempt at a Running Milestone Is Off by Seconds

Kenya's Faith Kipyegon misses 4-minute mile by 6 seconds

(Newser) - She missed it by six seconds. Kenyan runner Faith Kipyegon's attempt to become the first woman to run a mile in less than 4 minutes fell a bit short in Paris on Thursday, reports the Guardian . The three-time Olympic champ finished in 4:06.42, the fastest time ever...

Disneyland Paris Stops Mock Wedding With 9-Year-Old

Sex offender who allegedly used false identity and hired actors for ceremony is arrested

(Newser) - A British sex offender has been arrested in France after allegedly organizing a mock wedding ceremony with a 9-year-old girl at Disneyland Paris. Authorities say the 39-year-old, identified in media reports as Jacky Jhaj, used a stolen Latvian identity and forged documents to book a private event before the...

Needle Attacks Taint France's Huge Music Festival

Police arrest 12

(Newser) - As France's famed street music festival drew record crowds on Saturday night, more than 140 revelers reported being pricked with syringes. French authorities have arrested 12 suspects following the alleged behavior at France's annual Fete de la Musique, per CBS News . The nationwide street music festival drew...

Masked Men Kill Bride as She Exits Wedding

Groom and teen seriously hurt in shooting in French village of Goult

(Newser) - A wedding in a quiet French village ended in heartbreak and devastation early Sunday when masked gunmen opened fire, killing the bride, officials say. Shots rang out as more than two dozen guests watched the newlyweds leave their celebration in the village of Goult around 4:30am, according to...

Israel Outraged by Paris Air Show Move

Walls were erected to block Israeli weapons industry displays

(Newser) - In a move that Israel's defense ministry called "outrageous," black partition walls were erected Monday around Israeli weapons industry booths at the Paris Air Show—the world's largest aviation trade fair. French authorities said exhibitors including Elbit System, Rafael, IAI, and Univision had refused to remove...

'Exasperated' Louvre Staff Spontaneously Go on Strike

'It's the Mona Lisa moan out here,' visitor stuck in line at world's most-visited museum says

(Newser) - The Louvre, the world's most-visited museum and a global symbol of art, beauty, and endurance, has withstood war, terror, and pandemic—but on Monday, it was brought to a halt by its own striking staff, who say the institution is crumbling under the weight of mass tourism. Thousands of...

Pornhub Exits Its Second-Biggest Market

Move follows new French rules on user age checks

(Newser) - French visitors to Pornhub and other major porn sites are being greeted with the famous painting "Liberty Leading the People" instead of adult content. The site's parent company Aylo has stopped operating in France—Pornhub's second-largest market, after the US—to protest a new French law...

Europeans Are Buying More EVs, but They're Not Teslas

Sales have dropped sharply in France, Germany, and UK, but Norway is an outlier

(Newser) - Tesla's slipping sales in Europe continued in May, with data showing a sharp decline in Germany—Europe's largest car market—for the fifth straight month. Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority reported that registrations of new Tesla vehicles were down more than a third compared to May...

Greenpeace Activists Steal Museum's Wax Macron
Greenpeace Steals
Emmanuel Macron
Jun 2, 2025 5:00 PM CDT

Greenpeace Steals Emmanuel Macron

Group says wax figure was 'borrowed without permission' for protest at Russian embassy

(Newser) - Greenpeace activists stole—or, as they put it, "borrowed without permission"—a waxwork figure of French President Emmanuel Macron from a Paris museum on Monday. The activists placed the figure, valued at around $45,000, outside the Russian embassy as part of a protest against French imports of...

Holocaust Memorial, Synagogues in Paris Defaced Overnight

Interior minister calls for increased surveillance leading up to holiday

(Newser) - Authorities in Paris have launched an investigation after several Jewish sites, including a Holocaust memorial, across the capital were defaced with green paint. The vandalism, discovered early Saturday morning, targeted the Shoah Memorial, two synagogues, and a Jewish restaurant in the city's historic Marais district, as well as a...

Sleuths Figure Out Where Latest Banksy Piece Is

Mural of lighthouse is thought to be along the Rue Felix Fregier in the French city of Marseille

(Newser) - "He's back!" one enthusiast cheered on Thursday after Banksy posted what appeared to be his latest artwork—a wall mural depicting a lighthouse on a nondescript beige wall, along with the words, "I want to be what you saw in me" (check it out here )....

Abusive Surgeon's Lawyer Is Blunt: 'He Is Utterly Guilty'

Joel Le Scouarnec, 74, is sentenced to 20 years

(Newser) - Joel Le Scouarnec didn't ask the court for leniency in his final statement, nor did he get it: The former French surgeon was sentenced on Wednesday to 20 years in prison for raping and sexually assaulting 299 patients, mostly children, over a 25-year period. Most were sedated or...

Wife's Shove Causes a Kerfuffle in France
Wife's Shove
Causes
a Kerfuffle
in France
VIDEO
May 26, 2025 9:10 AM CDT

Wife's Shove Causes a Kerfuffle in France

French first lady appears to push husband with both hands in the face, but he calls it horseplay

(Newser) - French first lady Brigitte Macron appeared to push her husband away with both hands on his face just before they disembarked from their plane to start a tour of Southeast Asia this weekend. President Emmanuel Macron dismissed the gesture—caught on camera —as just horseplay, but it caused a...

On Last Day of Cannes, All Goes Dark
On Last Day of Cannes,
All Goes Dark
May 24, 2025 10:30 AM CDT

On Last Day of Cannes, All Goes Dark

Power outage shuts everything down for hours at film fest in southeastern France

(Newser) - A major power outage struck southeastern France on Saturday morning, disrupting traffic and briefly halting events at the Cannes Film Festival as the prestigious event prepared to hand out its top prize. Power was restored around 3pm local time, amid cheers from bystanders and music blasting again from beachfront speakers....

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