France

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French Resort Town: Topless Men Will Be Fined $175

Les Sables d'Olonne is cracking down on people wearing beachwear away from the beach

(Newser) - A resort town on France's Atlantic coast is fed up with people strolling around in their beachwear. In a post on Facebook , Yannick Moreau, mayor of Les Sables d'Olonne, slammed the "indecent behavior" of some visitors, especially topless men, CNN reports. "It's a question of...

Macron Announces France Will Recognize Palestinian State

Netanyahu denounces the move, which would be the first recognition by a Group of 7 nation

(Newser) - France will officially recognize Palestine as a state in September, President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday, reflecting his nation's commitment "to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East." The formal announcement that France will establish formal diplomatic relations with Palestine will be made during a session...

Glass Bottles May Hold More Microplastics Than Plastic Ones

Study finds paint on metal caps sheds plastic particles into drinks

(Newser) - A new study reveals that the simple act of opening a metal bottle cap could be adding unexpected microplastics to your favorite drink—potentially making glass bottles the most contaminated of all. Researchers at France's food safety agency looked at beer, water, wine, and soft drinks packaged in...

French Statue of Liberty Mural Not-So-Subtly Mocks Trump

Vis-a-vis Lady Liberty covering her eyes

(Newser) - As statements go, it's a big one. A towering mural in France of the Statue of Liberty covering her eyes is racking up millions of views online with its swipe at President Trump's immigration and deportation policies. Amsterdam-based street artist Judith de Leeuw described her giant work in...

French PM Wants to Ax 2 Holidays, Public Isn't Having It

Proposal sparks backlash as Bayrou warns of urgent budget shortfall

(Newser) - France's prime minister has sparked fierce debate by proposing the abolition of two national holidays, aiming to tackle soaring debt with a plan that could topple his own government, the BBC reports. François Bayrou's controversial plan to tackle the country's ballooning debt hinges on scrapping...

Vive la Revolution! France Is Throwing a Party

It's Bastille Day

(Newser) - Swooping warplanes, axe-carrying warriors, a drone light show over the Eiffel Tower and fireworks in nearly every French town—it's Bastille Day. France celebrated its biggest holiday Monday with 7,000 people marching, on horseback, or riding armored vehicles along the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees, the most iconic avenue...

French Prisoner Escapes in Another Inmate's Bag

Authorities say he smuggled himself into the luggage of a person being released

(Newser) - A 20-year-old prison inmate in France is on the run after a strange escape: He smuggled himself into a bag of another inmate being released, reports the BBC . The unidentified escapee "took advantage of the liberation of his fellow inmate to hide himself in his luggage and get out,...

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...

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