France

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Mystery of Little Prince Author's Fate Solved

German vet tells archaeologist, 'I shot down Saint-Exupéry'

(Newser) - One of aviation’s great mysteries has been solved: What happened to Antoine de Saint- Exupéry, the French pilot and author of The Little Prince, who disappeared in 1944. A bracelet turned up in the Mediterranean a decade ago, then a sunken aircraft. An archeologist diver, not satisfied to...

Somali Pirates Free French Yacht Hostages

No word on whether ransom changed hands

(Newser) - Somali pirates have freed the crew members of the French yacht they commandeered last week, AFP reports. All 30 hostages, including 22 French nationals, were handed over “without incident” in a deal negotiated by the military, Nicolas Sarkozy said.

France Bails on Hostage Rescue Mission

Colombian rebels block medical help for Betancourt

(Newser) - A French humanitarian team is leaving Colombia after being frustrated in its mission to aid failing hostage Ingrid Betancourt, reports the BBC. The leadership of the FARC rebels, who have held the French-Colombian presidential candidate hostage for six years, refused to allow the team to provide Betancourt with emergency medical...

Beijing Blasts Torch Protests

Marches "tarnish the lofty Olympic spirit," China says

(Newser) - Today China denounced the protests that have disrupted Olympic torch relays in London and Paris over the past 2 days, Reuters reports. "The despicable activities tarnish the lofty Olympic spirit," a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said. She also denied media reports that "the Olympic torch was forced to...

Pirates Grab French Yacht Off Somalia

France joins regional force to save 30 crew members

(Newser) - Pirates overran a French yacht off the coast of Somalia today and took 30 crew members hostage, AFP reports. Vowing a quick end to the hijacking, France has joined a US-led regional force and may use its own "relatively major military resources within this zone," Prime Minister Francois...

Rogue Trader to Sue SocGen
 Rogue Trader to Sue SocGen 
Apr 3, 2008 8:49 AM CDT

Rogue Trader to Sue SocGen

Kerviel claims his accounts were in the black

(Newser) - The rogue trader whose $7.8 billion in transactions nearly sank Société Générale has filed papers in preparation for a wrongful dismissal lawsuit, the Times of London reports. Jérôme Kerviel will claim the French bank has failed to prove he did anything wrong. He was...

France Finally Wins Bread Battle

World Cup of Baking pits

(Newser) - It's been a dozen years since France won the Baking World Cup, but the baguette's homeland took home the gold today, reports the Wall Street Journal. The drought was odd, because, as America’s coach says, “It's a French competition. And it's bread.” America has won two of...

Sarko: Betancourt Near Death
 Sarko: Betancourt Near Death 
Apr 1, 2008 3:20 PM CDT

Sarko: Betancourt Near Death

French president renews call for FARC ro release hostage

(Newser) - Nicolas Sarkozy today reiterated his call for FARC to free hostage Ingrid Betancourt, saying the Colombian-French politician is "in danger of imminent death," Reuters reports. After 6 years in the rebel guerrillas' custody, Betancourt reportedly began a hunger strike Feb. 23. "Free Ingrid Betancourt and the weakest...

Chad Pardons, Frees French 'Orphan' Kidnappers

Chad's president pardons aid workers

(Newser) - The six men imprisoned for kidnapping 103 Chadian children have been pardoned and freed from a French prison, reports the BBC. Convicted in Chad and sentenced to hard labor, the members of charity group Zoe's Ark had been transferred to a facility in France, and received a pardon from Chadian...

Carla Outshines Sarko in UK
 Carla Outshines Sarko in UK
Mar 27, 2008 12:20 PM CDT

Carla Outshines Sarko in UK

Substance in French leader's talks with PM before Sarko blasts query about wife

(Newser) - Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy tackled Afghanistan, immigration, climate change, and global markets as the French president’s visit to Britain continued—but Carla Bruni still hogged the headlines. Sarkozy ripped a French reporter who suggested his wife had overshadowed his trip, the Times of London reports—saying, “this...

Trial Starts for French 'Virgin Killer'

Husband-wife hunting team accused of seven murders

(Newser) - A French carpenter dubbed the "Ogre of the Ardennes" is on trial in France, accused of tracking down, raping and murdering seven virgins with the help of his wife in one of the nation's worst murder sprees in decades. Prosecutors say Michel Fourniret hunted victims from 1987 until 2003,...

Sarkomania Hits Britain
 Sarkomania Hits Britain 
Mar 26, 2008 11:32 AM CDT

Sarkomania Hits Britain

Queen welcomes French president, ex-model wife for state visit

(Newser) - The British press is in the full throes of Sarkomania as the French prez and wife Carla Bruni arrived today. The Sarkozys were met by Prince Charles, who accompanied them to Windsor Palace—where Queen Elizabeth obliged with a full royal welcome, followed by a state banquet. Nicolas Sarkozy said...

Nude Photo of Sarkozy's Wife Up for Auction

Ex-supermodel's B&W image expected to fetch at least $3K

(Newser) - A black-and-white photograph of Carla Bruni will go up for sale at an auction next month, Reuters reports. Christie’s expects the portrait of Nicolas Sarkozy's bride to attract a final bid of $3,000 to $4,000, and the auction house's announcement of the sale on the...

Brits Ready the Red Carpet for Sarko Visit

Flashy French prez will meet queen, work on often-turbulent UK ties

(Newser) - Carla Bruni isn’t the only tempestuous romance in Nicolas Sarkozy's life—the “turbulent love affair” of Anglo-French relations comes to the fore Wednesday as the flamboyant French prez prepares to meet with Queen Elizabeth. But Sarkozy is a vocal fan of Britain’s hardy economy, and with increasing...

UK, France in Nuke Power Pact
 UK, France in Nuke Power Pact 
Mar 22, 2008 12:18 PM CDT

UK, France in Nuke Power Pact

Major deal also includes anti-illegal immigration measures

(Newser) - Britain and France are set to sign a deal this week to collaborate on a new generation of power plants, as well as a joint venture to export the technology around the world, the Guardian reports. The nuclear pact will part of a London summit next week between Nicolas Sarkozy...

Sarkozy: France Will Cut Nuclear Arsenal

Country will maintain 300 weapons, half its Cold War max

(Newser) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy said today the country will cut its nuclear weapons arsenal to 300, or “half the maximum number we had during the Cold War,” the BBC reports. The move is aimed at cutting costs and modernizing the arsenal; Sarkozy said he is committed to maintaining...

Sarkozy's Party Suffers Defeat at Local Polls

Voters steamed over economy, president's marital drama

(Newser) - French voters dealt Nicolas Sarkozy another blow today in the second round of local balloting. The maverick president's right-wing UMP party lost mayorships in Strasbourg and Reims to opposition socialists, who also gained Toulouse and held on to power bases in Paris and Lyon, the BBC reports. UMP retained control...

McCain Makes Surprise Visit to Baghdad

He begins Mideast tour to shore up foreign policy image

(Newser) - John McCain made a surprise visit to Baghdad this morning, where he will meet with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Gen. David Petraeus, and US troops. Details were sketchy for security reasons. McCain, who has linked his political hopes to success in Iraq, has begun a tour of the Mideast and...

Merkel Crushes Sarkozy's Plans for 'Club Med'

German opposition forces reversal on Mediterranean Union

(Newser) - Nicolas Sarkozy has been forced to abandon his proposal for what detractors have called a French-led Club Med—a Mediterranean Union of southern European, Middle Eastern, and North African states—under fierce opposition from Germany. Angela Merkel has been a consistent opponent of the scheme, and she threatened a boycott...

French Get Dirty to Pay the Rent
French Get Dirty to Pay the Rent 
Mar 13, 2008 1:41 PM CDT

French Get Dirty to Pay the Rent

Sex-for-accomodation on the rise in crashing housing market

(Newser) - France is in the throes of its worst housing crisis since World War II, which has led to some sordid dealings in some cities. With many young people unable to pay sky-high rents, landlords are offering apartments “for services”—usually sexual ones, the BBC reports. As homelessness and...

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