France

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While France Suffered, Nazis Flocked to Brothels

(Newser) - As France starved under Germany’s thumb, Nazi officers showered the mademoiselles of Paris’ finest brothels with cash, chocolates, and looted art. Such “horizontal collaboration” defined the golden age of French prostitution as described in a new book, the Daily Mail reports. The author argues that, far from engaging...

France Steels for Raucous May Day

Rising tide of discontent has many French talking about a revolution

(Newser) - France's traditional May Day marches are expected to be bigger and angrier than ever today, the BBC reports. Unemployment nearing 10% has swelled the ranks of the discontented. More than 300 rallies are planned across the country to protest the government's handling of the financial crisis. Many accuse President Nicolas...

'Highly Intimate' Bruni Photos Stolen

Police fear thieves will post online, or sell, hundreds of pics

(Newser) - Hundreds of “highly intimate” pictures of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy with her ex-lover, the father of her child, were stolen Sunday, the Daily Mail reports. The photos were taken from the house of Raphael Enthoven’s brother, where the philosopher—who was married when he started seeing the French first lady,...

SocGen Chief Resigns Amid Growing Outcry

Executive pay scandal, $6.4B fraud fallout push Bouton to quit

(Newser) - The chairman of Société Générale announced his resignation today amid growing public criticism of his performance, Reuters reports. Daniel Bouton had been scolded by Nicolas Sarkozy for his handling of the rogue trading affair that cost the bank $6.4 billion; last month the president attacked the...

Borders Tighten as Swine Flu Deaths Hit 152

(Newser) - Countries are tightening borders and stepping up containment methods as the swine flu body count continues to rise, the New York Times reports. The disease is suspected in 152 deaths, all in Mexico; 50 US cases are now confirmed from California to New York City. Health officials in Japan and...

Prosecutors Detail 244-Stab Attack on French Students

'Unmitigated evil' ended grad students' lives in London, says prosecutor

(Newser) - Prosecutors yesterday detailed an "unimaginably" horrific attack on two French students in their London apartment by home invaders seeking the men's ATM pin numbers, reports the Times of London. The gifted biochemistry grad students, who had been in London just two months to attend school there, were bound in...

Immigrant Busted Clinging to 186 mph Eurostar

Cops aren't saying how he did it

(Newser) - An illegal immigrant was nabbed in England clinging to the outside of a Eurostar rail car, reports the Independent. The trains reach speeds of 186 mph. The train originated in Brussels and traveled through France. Police provided no details on how the man survived the risky journey. Immigrants sneaking into...

French Clear Armstrong in Doping Probe

(Newser) - The French anti-doping agency has cleared Lance Armstrong to compete in the Tour de France after resolving a controversy over blood and urine tests administered last month, CNN reports. The cyclist allegedly avoided an official by showering while the inspector's credentials were verified, which the agency has apparently found acceptable....

Skinny French Women Feel Fat: Study

Europeans weigh themselves on a sliding scale

(Newser) - Most French women feel fat, despite being among the thinnest women in Europe, a study finds. By contrast, much larger women in Britain, Spain, and Portugal consider themselves skinny, AFP reports. Researchers say women in France have a lower ideal weight compared to other European countries. In fact, more than...

Obama's Apologies Create a Sorry Situation: Rove

No reason for contrition in GOP pundit's mind

(Newser) - Barack Obama has finished his "international confession tour," and Karl Rove can’t figure out what it was supposed to accomplish. After his public apologies on two continents, "our adversaries rejoiced," Rove writes in the Wall Street Journal. David Axelrod swears this will yield “very,...

Economy Saps Sarkozy's Approval Ratings
Economy Saps Sarkozy's Approval Ratings
ANALYSIS

Economy Saps Sarkozy's Approval Ratings

'Action-man president' looks powerless on crisis

(Newser) - Nicolas Sarkozy should be well positioned to gain political capital from the global recession, having warned against capitalist excess years before the crisis quashed pro- deregulation argument. But the French president’s approval rating keeps dropping, the Economist reports. It fell another 2% in April, to 36%. As the crisis...

Mais Non! French Ditch the Champagne Cork

Don't fret: new metal cork will still create pop and fizz

(Newser) - Fed up with imperfect corks tainting its high-end Champagne, one French winemaker is tossing tradition aside in favor of a—gasp!—aluminum cork. BBC reports. Before you faint in horror, Duval-Leroy stresses that this is no screw-top cap: the new plug will make the same pop and spray a...

Sarko: Obama's Not So Hot
 Sarko: Obama's Not So Hot 

Sarko: Obama's Not So Hot

(Newser) - Someone sounds a little jealous the international media has found a new darling. Nicolas Sarkozy sniped today at President Obama for being inexperienced and indecisive, the Times of London reports. While praising Obama's "clever" mind, the French president complained to party members that "he was elected two months...

French Nab Pirate 'Mother Ship'
 French Nab Pirate 'Mother Ship' 

French Nab Pirate 'Mother Ship'

(Newser) - French forces launched an attack on a 30-foot-long pirate "mother ship" early today, detaining 11 pirates and thwarting a pirate attack on a Liberian-registered vessel, the AP reports. The pirates are being held aboard the Nivose, a French frigate taking part in a European mission to protect shipping in...

Pirate Hostage Dies as French Rescue 4

Operation successfully rescues four others

(Newser) - French forces rescued four hostages from a yacht held by pirates off the coast of Somalia, but one hostage was killed during today's operation, the BBC reports. Two couples and a child were on a yacht captured by pirates last week in the Gulf of Aden. The child was among...

Assembly Votes Surprise Non on French Web Piracy Law

(Newser) - The French legislature has put a stop—for now—to an anti-piracy law that would deny Internet access to repeat offenders, AFP reports. The law, a pet of President Nicolas Sarkozy, would deal the ultimate blow to illegal downloaders after three strikes, and replace the current regime of fines and...

France Plans to Monitor, Foil Illegal Downloaders

(Newser) - France is poised to enact a far-reaching crackdown on those who illegally download music and movies, the New York Times reports. A new law expected to be approved tomorrow allows the music and film industry to monitor the downloads of individual users and report any violations to a new copyright...

British Execs Released After Latest French 'Bossnapping'

(Newser) - In the latest demonstration of French employees refusing to take job losses sitting down, workers at a glue factory took 3 British execs and their French manager hostage last night, and released them today, the BBC reports. The “bossnappers” demanded a renegotiation of their severance package from Scapa, which...

Business Is Booming for French 'Protest Coach'

Parisian makes a living schooling dissenters in the art of civil disobedience

(Newser) - France's leading "protest consultant" has never been busier, he tells the Wall Street Journal. Xavier Renou provides—for a discretionary fee—tips and training courses for anticapitalist protesters on making sure their message is heard. Renou sticks to nonviolent means, but has plenty of practical advice on everything from...

Burn Victim Gets New Face, Hands

Landmark operation in clinic where docs performed world's first face transplant

(Newser) - A burn victim has received a new face and hands in a ground-breaking transplant surgery in France, reports the Times of London. A team of 40 doctors worked 30 hours in the same Paris hospital that performed the world's first face transplant in 2005 and first hand transplant in 1998....

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