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World’s longest treasure hunt ends as Golden Owl finally unearthed in France

After more than three decades of mystery and intrigue, the world’s longest-running treasure hunt has come to a thrilling conclusion with the discovery of the elusive Golden Owl. Valued at approximately $240,000, the treasure had captivated the imaginations of thousands since it was first buried in France in the early 1990s. The hunt began with the publication of the now-famous book, On the Trail of the Golden Owl, written by communications expert Régis Hauser under the pseudonym “Max Valentin” and illustrated by artist Michel Becker. The 1993 book challenged readers to solve a series of intricate riddles and clues, which, when deciphered, would reveal the owl’s secret location. Despite years of painstaking attempts to crack the mystery, the Golden Owl remained hidden for decades, surviving even its creator. Hauser passed away in 2009, leaving the prize still buried. Michel Becker, who took over the management of the hunt, delivered the long-awaited news on October 3 via an online announcement that sparked a frenzy among treasure hunters: “A potential winning solution is currently being verified.” Two hours later, he confirmed: “Don’t go digging! We confirm that the Golden Owl countermark was unearthed last night.” The treasure hunt’s <a href="https://goldenowlhunt.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">official website was also updated with the announcement</a>, bringing an end to a search that has been both thrilling and, for some, overwhelming. The obsession and madness behind the search For over 30 years, the Golden Owl hunt transcended being just a hobby for many treasure hunters and became an all-consuming obsession. While some enjoyed it as a leisurely pursuit, others were driven to extreme lengths – financially, emotionally and mentally. The search for the owl has been linked to personal crises, including financial ruin and broken marriages. At least one individual reportedly ended up in an asylum due to their fixation on solving the hunt’s riddles. The toll wasn’t limited to individuals. Searchers caused considerable disruption across France, digging unauthorised holes in public and private lands. In one eastern French village, the local mayor was forced to plead with hunters to stop digging around its chapel, while in other cases, searchers brought power tools to banks and even considered destroying structures in the hopes of unearthing the treasure. The Golden Owl’s elusive clues On the Trail of the Golden Owl contained a complex series of 11 riddles, each paired with a painting by Becker. The riddles, combined with maps, colours and hidden details, challenged readers to work out the owl’s hidden location. Before his death, Hauser revealed three crucial elements to solving the puzzle: The use of maps: Hunters needed to work with maps to narrow down the search area and use a specific map to pinpoint the final zone. A “mega trick”: This was the key to using the sequence of riddles to locate the final area where the owl was hidden. A final hidden riddle: Once in the final zone, hunters had to uncover one last riddle to lead them to the exact spot of the treasure. Joyous celebration among treasure hunters The treasure-hunting community was overjoyed when the news broke, with many expressing their disbelief and excitement. “Finally – liberated!” exclaimed one fan on the hunt’s Discord forum. Another added, “I didn’t think I’d live to see the day.” As of now, the exact location of the owl’s discovery and the identity of the finder remain undisclosed. However, Becker hinted at the complexity involved in concluding this monumental hunt. “Tons of emotions to manage for all those who are responsible for managing the end of this episode and complex logistics to put in place,” he said in a statement on October 6. For now, the Golden Owl, a treasure that has held a generation of sleuths in its grasp, has been unearthed. Yet, the fascination with its story will undoubtedly linger for years to come. Images/Illustrations: Michel Becker

International Travel

World's most expensive house up for sale

A French chateau, once owned by a member of the Rothschild family and, later on, the King of Morocco, has gone up for sale with a £363 million (AU$699) price tag. Chateau d’Armainvilliers located at Seine-et-Marne, 48km east of the Eiffel Tower, is the world's most expensive home. Built upon the foundations of a 12th century castle, the sprawling mansion boasts 1,000 hectares of land, 100 rooms across 2,500 square metres of living space, a private lake, and plenty of sequoia trees - the largest trees in the world. Ignace Meuwissen, a self-acclaimed "real estate advisor to the global elite" described the property as a display of "opulence and grandeur". "It is the most expensive castle in France and perhaps in the world. The price of €425million is justified by the property itself but also by the 1,000 hectare land which offers numerous possibilities," he told Paris Match magazine. "An investor could build thousands of apartments there if he wanted." The chateau was first bought by the Rothschild banking empird in the late 19th century, before King Hassan II of Morocco bought it in the 1980s. He then made the chateau more fit for a king, adding a hammam spa, a beauty and hairdressing salon, and a fully-equipped medical and dental facility. The Moroccan King also added a basement level, which has a network of tunnels, kitchens, cold rooms, storage spaces and staff quarters. The lucky owner will also find Moroccan mosaics and wall tiles decorating the home, and for any avid equestrians, the home also has a stable big enough for 50 horses. However, some luxury property agents have expressed their doubts on whether the property would sell with its nine-figure sum, with one saying it was an "unrealistic" price tag. "It doesn’t make sense, it’s absurd Properties of this type could sell for 20-25 million, or even 30 million if we really fall in love with them. I’m not even sure that Vaux-le-Vicomte (a Baroque French château), which has no marketing plans, would sell at this price," one agent told French real estate publication Le Figaro Immobilier. Others were unsure whether the changes made by the King in the 1980s would suit modern tastes. Images: Whisper Auctions

Real Estate

Airport renamed in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth

An airport has been given the seal of approval to be rebranded in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth. The airport in the seaside town of Le Touquet in France was given the go ahead for the renaming by King Charles on Monday, as the entire royal family shared a particular fondness for the town. The renaming of the airport is one of the first places to get approval following Queen Elizabeth II's death on September 8th last year. Although there is no official date announced for when the rebrand will take place, Touquet-Paris-Plage airport will become Elizabeth II Le Touquet-Paris-Plage International Airport. "The international airport of Le Touquet Paris-Plage is about to undergo a historic transformation by taking on the name 'Elizabeth II International Airport of Le Touquet Paris-Plage'," the town hall said in a statement. "This is a tribute to a great Queen and her uncle who had a fondness for France, as well as a recognition of the 'most British of French resorts'," it added. While honouring the late monarch in the name, the rebranding also acknowledges King Edward VIII, who held a love for the country before he abdicated the throne. Edward VIII, Queen Elizabeth's uncle, frequented the resort to enjoy horse riding and sand yachting, sometimes accompanied by his niece when she was not yet Queen. Image credits: Getty Images / Google Maps

International Travel

The world’s most popular tourist attractions

There are plenty of tourist hotspots all around the world, and if you’re planning a trip, nothing could be better than crossing some of these off your bucket list. According to Trip Advisor, Italy takes out the top spot as three of their attractions made the top 10. France comes in second place with popular tourist spots you might want to add to your itinerary. 1. The Colosseum, Rome, Italy The number one spot for most popular tourist attractions is The Colosseum. It is a significant landscape in Rome with a rich history behind it, so this is no surprise. 2. The Louvre, Paris, France Known as one of the most impressive museums in the world, the Louvre was originally built as a fortress before it was reconstructed to serve as a royal palace. 3. The Vatican Museums, Rome, Italy Here you can find some of the most incredible art in the world, it’s a must-see for those planning a trip to Rome. 4. The Statue of Liberty, New York, USA The State of Liberty is a famed landmark in the US and was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi. In case you didn’t know - it was gifted to the US from France! 5. The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France One of the most recognisable landmarks in the world, the Eiffel Tower is nothing short of spectacular and can be seen from several points in Paris. You can admire the structure from afar, take in the sites from one of three platforms on the tower itself for free, or be bold and climb the structure. 6. Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain This breathtaking cathedral was built by renowned architect Antoni Gaudi and it is a sight to behold both inside and out. 7. French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana An historic neighbourhood famous for its vibrant nightlife and colourful buildings, it’s no surprise French Quarter made the list. It’s the home for Mardi Gras, jazz clubs, Cajun eateries and bars serving potent cocktails. 8. Anne Frank House, Amsterdam, Netherlands Rich in history, Anne Frank House is an incredible tourist destination. You can visit the attic where Anne Frank lived along with the bookcase, family photos, and Anne’s original diary. 9. Skydeck, Willis Tower, Chicago The mighty high Skydeck sits on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower in Chicago and is a massive attraction for thrill-seeking tourists. Perhaps the most exciting part of the tower is The Ledge, a glass balcony that extends out of the building where you can soak up the sights from about 412 metres above sea level! 10. The Grand Canal, Venice, Italy The third Italian site to make the top 10 is one of the most romantic spots you could take a partner. Although completely underwater, it serves as the main street in Venice. You can take a gondola ride or admire the pretty city on a water bus. Image credit: Shutterstock

International Travel

Streets on fire after controversial raising of retirement age

French Emmanuel Macron has ignited a furious spark in the people of France with controversial new pension reforms - those that would see the country’s pension age raised from 62 to 64. The changes were reportedly pushed through their parliament without a proper voting process - it has been said that Macron employed “special constitutional powers” to see it through. Protesters flocked to the streets in response, with over 250 different protests organised nationwide, in a move that has been praised by union leaders. However, while hundreds of thousands of participants experienced peaceful marches through some of the country’s largest cities, tensions were high in Bordeaux, and the town hall felt the full brunt of it when it was set alight. While it is not known who was responsible for the fire, it was quickly extinguished. In Paris, where the majority took part in peaceful demonstrations, violence did rear its head, with a number of clashes between protestors and police officers breaking out - shop windows were broken, street furniture demolished, and fast food establishments attacked. It has also been reported that while police were the target of various projectiles, they made use of tear gas to push back those responsible for any rioting behaviour. And at Place de l’Opera, the location at which demonstrators concluded their march, the tear gas was back, covering a portion of the area in a haze of fumes. The official demonstration in Paris - which had drawn people from all over the French social spectrum - was not the only one to take a violent turn, with the cities of Nantes, Rennes, Lorient, and Lyon facing similar fates. The protests, coupled with strikes and industrial action across the country, disrupted transport and prompted the cancellation of flights, with airport authorities claiming roll-on effects from the chaos. Protestors also succeeded in blocking off Terminal 1 of France’s largest international airport, the Charles de Gaulle airport. As to why the French had taken this approach to fighting the reforms, one demonstrator in Nantes summed it up by declaring “the street has a legitimacy in France. “If Mr Macron can't remember this historic reality, I don't know what he is doing here.” And as another told Reuters, "I oppose this reform and I really oppose the fact that democracy no longer means anything. We're not being represented, and so we're fed up." "It is by protesting that we will be able to make ourselves heard because all the other ways ... have not allowed us to withdraw this reform," another explained to AFP. The women on the streets were furious, seeing Macron’s move as one that targeted them in particular, especially those that had been forced to step away from their careers to dedicate their time to raising their children. As one social worker told The Guardian, “everyone is angry. Everyone thinks this law is unfair, but it particularly penalises women who are expected to produce future generations of the nation, and then find they are punished for doing so.” “They want to raise it to 64 today. Will it be 66, 67, 68 tomorrow?” a teacher implored. “They tell us life expectancy is longer but are we to work until we collapse and are carted off to the crematorium?” Images: Getty

Retirement Life

Former princess of Qatar found dead

A former princess of Qatar who accused her ex-husband of sexually assaulting one of her cihldren has been found dead. Kasia Gallanio was involved in an ugly custody battle for her three kids with billionaire and former Qatari oil and finance minister Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al Thani, 73. The 45-year-old was found dead in her bed on Sunday from a suspected overdose after her youngest daughter, who lives in Paris, was unable to get ahold of her mother. There were no forms of physical violence. The couple have been in a bitter legal battle fighting for 15 years for custody over their three children - 17-year-old twins and another 15-year-old daughter. The twins initially lived with their father before moving to Marbella to be with their mother who claimed Al Thani actually “cut them off as punishment”. Their youngest daughter still lives with her father in an apartment in Paris after Al Thani was exiled from Qatar due to a coup led by his half-brother Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in 1995. It was reported that a Paris court had dismissed the Gallianio’s case on May 19 after she had spent multiple months in hospital due to nervous breakdowns. Gallianio was accused by Al Thani of being an alcoholic with mental health issues, while she accused him of abusing one of their daughters. The Paris Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation into the accusations of aggravated sexual assault which Al Thani vehemently denies. Images: Instagram

News

Woman steals artwork then WEARS it back to the museum

A 72-year-old French woman has been arrested after stealing an art installation from a museum. Catalan artist Oriol Vilanova exhibited a blue jacket filled with postcards visitors could remove and examine at the Musée Picasso in Paris. However, the elderly woman took the interactive exhibit one step further by taking the entire jacket and walking out with the garment. The woman returned to the museum a few days later wearing the jacket, which she had tailored to fit her properly. She was arrested by the police upon her return, who happened to be at the museum collecting evidence at the time. While in custody, the retiree – who was reportedly “passionate” about art – confessed immediately to taking the jacket, according to local news outlet Le Parisien, but claimed she did not know it was an artwork. After hours of interrogation, the public prosecutor’s office let the woman off with a warning and dropped the case. According to Le Parisien, the woman had been placed under guardianship. The artwork, titled Old Masters, involved filling the pockets of a blue jacket with postcards depicting artworks by major figures in art history. At the Musée Picasso, the jacket was filled with postcards purchased at flea markets and museum shops, all with images of Picasso’s work. “When the museum told me the work had been stolen, I was surprised, but it was impossible to envisage the story that followed,” Vilanova told Artnet News. Image credits: Le Parisien

Art

France’s pledge to Ukrainian artists

In order to help struggling artists in Ukraine who have been impacted by the Russian invasion, the French government has announced a $1.5 million relief fund to help workers in the arts. According to a statement from the French Ministry of Culture, the initiative will also be available to “dissident” Russian artists fleeing the nation’s crackdown on free speech. “The emergency reception program will finance Ukrainian artists and cultural professionals and their families for a period of three months, via the Pause program, [consisting of] residencies within the network of public establishments of the ministry and through the Cité internationale des arts [an artist-in-residence building in Paris],” the ministry’s statement said. Two thirds of the funds will be dedicated to an emergency telephone service offered in both Russian and Ukrainian that will offer support to imperilled artists through networking with regional professionals and studio space opportunities. The remainder of the funds will be directed to help Ukrainian students to enrol at colleges and cultural organisations in France. Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, the French minister of culture, said the ministry “wants Ukrainian artists to be supported so they can continue their creative work in France…This additional support will be in the form of research grants and funding for artistic projects, but also for organising exhibitions.” Russia’s unprompted attack on Ukraine began on February 24th, and has seen at least 2.6 million Ukrainians flee their war-torn home country. According to the French interior minister, Gèrald Darmanin, the French government has pledged to accept around 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. Image credits: Getty Images

Art

Tourist sentenced to eight years in prison over a drone flight

Image: News.com.au A French tourist has been sentenced to more than eight years in a notorious Iranian prison after he was arrested on spying charges, all because of a drone. Benjamin Briere, 36, was arrested in May 2020 after taking pictures in a national park near the Iran-Turkmenistan border with a recreational drone. This week, the French citizen was sentenced to eight years in prison and was handed an additional eight-month sentence for propaganda against Iran’s Islamic system, his Paris-based lawyer Philippe Valent said in a statement. Mr Briere’s family and his lawyer have accused Iran of holding him as a political “hostage”. “This verdict is the result of a purely political process and … devoid of any basis,” Mr Valent said. Calling the trial a “masquerade”, Mr Valent said that Mr Briere “did not have a fair trial in front of impartial judges” and noted he had not been allowed to access the full indictment against him. The French foreign ministry described the verdict as “unacceptable”, saying Mr Briere was a “tourist”. He is one of more than a dozen Western citizens held in Iran and described as hostages by activists who say they are innocent of any crime and detained at the behest of the powerful Revolutionary Guards to extract concessions from the West. Mr Briere is being held in Vakilabad Prison in the eastern city of Mashhad. A prison which has reportedly undertaken hundreds of secret executions within the facility. In September last year, an unidentified political prisoner in the same prison, described life in the facility, saying it is “overcrowded” and “full of bedbugs and lice” with poor hygiene and terrible food. The unnamed prisoner said: “If coronavirus does not kill me, the fights inside the prison will kill me.” The verdict against Mr Briere comes as Iran and world powers seek to reach agreement at talks in Vienna on reviving the 2015 deal over the Iranian nuclear program. Nationals of all three European powers involved in the talks on the Iranian nuclear program – Britain, France and Germany – are among the foreigners being held. “It is not tolerable that Benjamin Briere is being held a hostage to negotiations by a regime which keeps a French citizen arbitrarily detained merely to use him as currency in an exchange,” Mr Valent said. Mr Briere’s sister Blandine told AFP her brother is a “political hostage” subjected to a “parody of justice”. Iran insists all the foreigners held are tried in line with domestic law but has repeatedly expressed readiness to prisoner swaps.

Travel Trouble

French film star dead at just 37

Perhaps best known to English-speaking audiences for playing Hannibal Lecter in Hannibal Rising, Ulliel was set to star as Midnight Man in Marvel’s upcoming Moon Knight series alongside Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke. At home in France, he starred in numerous highly-acclaimed films, including Saint Laurent as Yves Saint Laurent, It’s Only The End of The World, for which he won a César for Best Actor, and A Very Long Engagement. French Prime Minister Jean Castex tweeted on Wednesday, "Gaspard Ulliel grew up with cinema and cinema grew up with him. They loved each other madly. It's with a heavy heart that we will rewatch his most beautiful performances and catch his unique gaze. We have lost a French actor." <div class="embed"><iframe class="embedly-embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2Fx7Krla_UxRg%3Ffeature%3Doembed&display_name=YouTube&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dx7Krla_UxRg&image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fx7Krla_UxRg%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="450" height="253" scrolling="no" title="YouTube embed" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div> Ulliel died on Wednesday in a hospital in Grenoble, a city in southeastern France, following a skiing accident on Tuesday. He was skiing in the Savoie region when he collided with another skier and suffered serious brain trauma. Local authorities have opened an investigation into the accident. Hannibal Rising director Peter Webber <a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/PeterWebber/status/1483836257637736452" target="_blank">tweeted</a> about Ulliel, writing, “Shocked and saddened to hear about the death of Gaspard Ulliel at such a young age in a skiing accident. I have such fond memories of working with him all those years ago on Hannibal Rising. Rest in peace, dear friend.” It’s Only The End of The World director Xavier Dolan also posted about the actor, writing on Instagram, “It’s unbelievable, absurd, and so painful to even think of writing these words. Your discreet laugher, your caring gaze. Your scar. Your talent. Your listening skill. Your whispers, your kindness. All these personality traits that emanated from a shining softness. Your whole being transformed my life, a being that loved deeply and that I will always love. I can’t say anything more. I feel drained, shaken by your (death).” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CY6xzYyrk45/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CY6xzYyrk45/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Xavier Dolan (@xavierdolan)</a> </div> </blockquote> French Culture Minister Rosalyne Bachelot described Ulliel as “an exceptional actor” in a tweet, adding, "Today the world of cinema lost a huge talent. send my condolences to his family and my loving thoughts to all those who grieve for him today." Thierry Fremaux, director of the Cannes Film Festival, said of Ulliel, "Gaspard belonged to this new generation of actors who were making tomorrow's French cinema. He knew how to select his roles and shaped his career which filled every promise. "Each appearance on the red carpet, from La Princesse de Montpensier to It's Only The End of the World illustrated his presence, both discreet and full of kindness. He was equally brilliant and talented. He gave a lot and we'll always remember him." Ulliel is survived by his 6-year-old son Orso and girlfriend Gaelle Petri. Image: Foc Kan/FilmMagic

Movies

Picasso’s daughter exchanges famous artworks for a tax bill settlement

The French Government has negotiated a unique deal with Pablo Picasso’s daughter, Maya Ruiz-Picasso, to settle an inheritance tax bill. France is set to receive six paintings, two sculptures and a sketchbook by the world-famous artist, as French finance minister Bruno Le Maire announced during a press conference at the PIcasso Museum. “It is an honour for our country to welcome these new artworks by Picasso. They will enrich and deepen our cultural heritage,” Le Maire wrote on Twitter. Le Maire presented one of the artworks at the press conference: the 1938 painting called Child with a Lollipop Sitting Under a Chair. According to Picasso’s grandson Olivier Widmaier-Picasso, the painting depicts his mother Maya as a child. French citizens have been permitted to settle debts similar to Maya’s with a payment of profitable art, books, and collectibles of national importance since 1968. The collective total of the nine objects given by Picasso's daughter was not publicly disclosed. According to France’s culture minister Roselyne Bachelot, the artworks will enter the national collections at Paris’s Musée Picasso in 2022, and will be exhibited as a whole to the public in the spring of 2022. “It is with deep emotion that I come to celebrate the entry into the national collections of the works,” said Bachelot, who called the donation an “exceptional event.” Image credit: French Ministry of Culture

Art

Angelina Jolie selling iconic French Chateau for $61 million

Angelina Jolie is selling her estate in Provence, France, after several legal issues. The actress filed for divorce from fellow actor Brad Pitt over five years ago, yet the couple remain linked due to the glorious French Chateau that was once a blessing, but now a plague for them. The pair purchased the estate back in 2008, for a reported €45 million (AUD $72 million). The incredible property includes several residential and non-residential structures, from a rundown, adorable chapel to a high-functioning farm. What gave the chateau a firm reputation, other than its high-profile owners, was its glorious pink wine which won them Wine Spectator’s award for best rosé in the world, back in 2013. Jolie claims since the couple split back in 2016, Pitt has prevented her from selling the estate. In June, the mother-of-four even went so far as to file a petition to ask the judge to lift the order that prevents a transfer of assets so she could finally be rid of the property. Considering the couple purchased the estate prior to their nuptials in 2014, Jolie’s lawyers say the glorious French chateau should solely be considered hers. “After all these years of trying to extricate herself from being business partners with her ex-husband on acceptable financial terms, Ms. Jolie is extremely desirous of closing the pending agreement for the sale of Nouvel, LLC, and requests that the Court issue an order lifting the ATROs and specifying that they shall not apply to Ms. Jolie’s sale of Nouvel, LLC,” the actress’ legal team stated in a document that was obtained by Us Weekly. The rumour mill has claimed the actress has plans to sell it to a willing buyer for an estimate of USD $61 million.

Real Estate

Farmer’s mistake alters the French border

Along the border between Belgium and France, the boundary between the two countries is usually marked by a series of stone markers. But, when local enthusiast David Lavaux was walking through the forest, he noticed one of the stone markers had moved 2.29m. The Belgian farmer behind it was apparently annoyed by the stone being in his tractor’s path and moved it to be inside French territory instead. The incident that could have caused international uproar has instead been met with smiles on both sides of the border. “He made Belgium bigger and France smaller, it’s not a good idea,” Mr Lavaux, who is also the mayor of the Belgian village of Erquelinnes, told French TV channel TF1. “I was happy, my town was bigger,” the Belgian mayor said with a laugh. “But the mayor of Bousignies-sur-Roc didn’t agree.” Aurélie Welonek, mayor of neighbouring Bousignies-sur-Roc, said with amusement to La Voix du Nord, “We should be able to avoid a new border war”. The farmer will be asked to return the stone to its original location by local Belgian authorities. But if he refuses to comply, the case could end up involving the Belgian foreign ministry, which would have to summon a Franco-Belgian border commission which has been dormant since 1930. Mr Lavaux also noted non-compliance could see the farmer facing criminal charges. “If he shows good will, he won’t have a problem, we will settle this issue amicably,” he told Belgian news website Sudinfo. Image Credit: David Lavaux

International Travel

Frances McDormand comes out on top

Frances McDormand is officially the greatest living actress as determined by Oscar wins, even beating Meryl Streep. With three Oscar wins at Best Actress, McDormand is ahead of the pack that includes Streep’s win for a supporting role. Two-time winners of the Best Actress award include Jane Fonda, Maggie Smith, Glenda Jackson, Jodie Foster, Sally Field, and Hilary Swank. The only one to beat McDormand was Katharine Hepburn, who claimed four prizes. McDormand won Best Actress in 1997 for Fargo and for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri in 2018. The 2021 Oscars saw McDormand win the award for her role in Nomadland. Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland also won Best Picture, and had been a strong contender for the award following wins at the Venice and Toronto film festivals more than six months ago. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKpOr2BnVT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKpOr2BnVT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Nomadland (@nomadlandfilm)</a> </div> </blockquote> Nomadland sees McDormand play a retired woman struggling to make ends meet following the 2008 crash, travelling through America’s west. Zhao, who is Chinese-American, also took home the award for Best Director, becoming the second woman and first woman of colour to win. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Frances McDormand won two Oscars tonight, one for Best Actress (her third win in the category) and one for Best Picture as a producer on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nomadland?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Nomadland</a>. More here: <a href="https://t.co/QGwDlmpx6l">https://t.co/QGwDlmpx6l</a> <a href="https://t.co/POcXXH3azT">pic.twitter.com/POcXXH3azT</a> — IndieWire (@IndieWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndieWire/status/1386556898464333827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2021</a></blockquote> McDormand’s competition included actresses Viola Davis for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Carey Mulligan for Promising Young Woman. Following on from her win, the actress will soon appear opposite Denzel Washington in a Macbeth film. Quoting the play in her acceptance speech, she said, “I have no words. My voice is in my sword.” “We know the sword is our work. And I like work. Thanks for knowing that, and thanks for this.”

Movies

France under siege after beheading in church

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> WARNING: GRAPHIC STORY CONTENT France was hit by two suspected terror attacks which have left three dead, including a woman who was beheaded by a knifeman allegedly shouting "Allahu Akbar". Two separate assailants are understood to have launched attacks in Nice and Avignon in the south of the country just hours apart. The woman, who was one of three killed, passed away shortly after 9 am local time. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/nice-suspected-mass-stabber-kept-shouting-allahu-akbar-after-arrested-in-france/news-story/3640cb6f1a6d98047190a8656061ca94" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink">Her last words</a>, according to a member of the French Senate, were: “Tell my children that I love them.” Police have identified the suspect in Nice as Brahim Aouissaoui, who is believed to have arrived in Europe only recently after being born in Tunisia. Almost at the same time, a security guard at the French Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia was stabbed and left with minor injuries. In Avignon, 250kms away from Nice, a man shouted "Allahu Akbar" while brandishing a knife, but was shot dead. No one else has been reported injured. It's currently unclear if the attacks are related, but local politicians are drawing links, with French Republican Eric Ciotti tweeting "Attack in Nice, attack in Avignon, attack on the French consulate in Saudi Arabia. It is not a coincidence, the Islamists want to annihilate us! We must destroy the Islamists!". French President Emmanuel Macron has visited the site of the attack as France raised its attack level to “urgent” and Prime Minister Jean Castex said the government’s response will be “relentless and immediate”. Nice mayor Christian Estrosi said: “The attacker kept shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ even after he had been shot and as he was given medical care. “Enough is enough. The suspected knife attacker was shot by police while being detained, he is on his way to hospital, he is alive. “I must say that Nice, like France, but perhaps more than other places in the country today, is paying too heavy a price by being once again the victim of islamofascism.” There have been heightened security fears in France over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed published by Charlie Hedbo, with a teacher in France being beheaded after he showed his pupils the cartoons as part of a class on free speech. In response to the beheading, French president Emmanuel Macron delivered a speech in defence of free speech and the offending cartoons were projected onto government buildings in France. </div> </div> </div>

News

Dramatic moment kids fall from building

The dramatic moment two young boys fall from a blazing apartment has been captured on video. The brothers, aged 3 and 10, fell close to 10 metres from the building located in the southeastern French city of Grenoble as dark black smoke escaped from the windows. The video shows the first boy dangling from his shirt out the window before being dropped to the safety of screaming onlookers below. The second boy then drops himself in the arms of the group. The boys and 17 other residents from the building were treated for smoke inhalation. The four rescuers who managed to catch the boys were also taken to hospital to check if any bones were fractured in the process. 25-year-old student, Athoumani Walid broke his wrist as he attempted to catch the children, and said he heard screaming and went out to investigate after seeing the fire from his apartment. “We didn’t know what to do,” he told The Associated Press. “We wanted to break the door but it wasn’t possible. “When they jumped, fear disappeared. What mattered was to catch.” The cause of the fire still remains unknown. Forty firefighters were involved in extinguishing the blaze.

News

How legendary mime Marcel Marceau saved Jewish children from the Nazis

Marcel Marceau is remembered as a legendary mime artist who delighted audiences for decades as the character Bip the Clown and inspired Michael Jackson’s moonwalk. But he is also a Holocaust survivor who risked his life to help hundreds of Jewish children and adults escape Nazi-occupied France. Marceau’s story is told in Resistance, a new film starring Jesse Eisenberg and directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz. In an interview with Mirror, Jakubowicz said he was not aware of Marceau’s feat until he began researching the mime’s life for the scriptwriting. “I had no idea that he was Jewish or that he saved children in the war, that he found his art through the very act of saving children,” Jakubowicz said. “I felt like if that is the story behind him it needed to be told.” Jakubowicz tracked down Marceau’s cousin Georges Loinger, who recruited the performer into the Jewish Boy Scouts of France and French Resistance to entertain and soothe the children orphaned from the 1938 riots. “The Jewish Boy Scouts … suddenly had to take care of 123 orphans. They’re crying, they’re desperate and they are traumatised,” Jakubowicz said. “They only had Yiddish as the common language because the kids were German and Austrian and these guys were French.” Marceau – who had been miming in theatres at the time – agreed to help the orphans, finding ways to make them laugh with routines such as walking against the wind and passing a hand over his face to switch from ‘happy’ to ‘sad’. Marceau led Jewish children across the Alps to the Swiss border on three trips to prevent them from being sent away to labour camps. He also helped them survive with his mime. “The kids had to appear like they were simply going on vacation to a home near the Swiss border, and Marcel really put them at ease,” Loinger told the Jewish Telegraph Agency in 2007. Marceau mimed to keep the children calm when their papers were checked by the Nazi soldiers and to encourage them to <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/world/how-mayonnaise-sandwiches-saved-kids-from-nazis-20091128-jxwq.html#ixzz3tWDGsdXc">stay quiet as they were escaping</a>. In <a href="https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?cc=mqr;c=mqr;c=mqrarchive;idno=act2080.0041.111;g=mqrg;rgn=main;view=text;xc=1">a 2001 lecture</a> Marceau spoke about his father, who died in Auschwitz. “If I cry for my father, I have to cry for the millions of people who died,” he said. “Destiny permitted me to live. This is why I have to bring hope to people who struggle in the world.” Marceau passed away aged 84 on September 22, 2007. Jakubowicz spoke of his film: “It is important for moviegoers to see how much worse the world was not so long ago but also how much better it can get.”

Caring

France told to sell Mona Lisa to cover coronavirus losses

France should offset its financial losses from the coronavirus pandemic by selling Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece Mona Lisa for at least €50 billion, a tech CEO has suggested. Stephane Distinguin, founder and CEO of tech company Fabernovel, told Usbek & Rica magazine that the country should “sell the family jewellery” to help deal with the “unfathomable” crisis. “Day after day, we list the billions engulfed in this slump like children counting the fall of a stone into a well to measure its depth,” Distinguin said. “We are still counting, and this crisis seems unfathomable. “As an entrepreneur and a taxpayer, I know that these billions are not invented and that they will necessarily cost us. An obvious reflex is to sell off a valuable asset at the highest price possible, but one that is the least critical as possible to our future.” Distinguin said France has “a lot of paintings”, which are “easy to move and therefore to hand over”. He said: “In 2020, we have to get the money where it is. So sell family jewellery … The price is the crux of the matter and the main subject of controversy. The price has to be insane for the operation to make sense.” The 46-year-old also suggested that the 16th century Italian Renaissance painting could be “tokenised” with a form of cryptocurrency, allowing it to be shared between countries around the world. “It would be like a big global subscription,” he said. “Legally and technically, this solution would have many advantages: it would allow France and the Louvre to keep control of the painting.” The <a href="https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2020/04/14/weo-april-2020">International Monetary Fund</a> expected France’s GDP to contract by 7.2 per cent in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Many French tourism operators also <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tamarathiessen/2020/05/02/forget-french-travel-this-year-tourism-operators-warn/#4719c0b554bd">fear the country will remain off-limits to international visitors this year</a>.

Art

Sir Mick Jagger holed up in 16th century French castle amid coronavirus pandemic

Sir Mick Jagger is spending quarantine happily holed up in his 16th century French castle, La Fourchette, which he purchased in 1982. The 76-year-old bought along with the gorgeous mansion, 20 hectares of land and has had a range of beloved stars visit the French palace including David Bowie, Tina Turner and Paul McCartney. The home is situated in the small village of Poce-sur-Cisse. One widely reported rumour claims the Rolling Stones last ever album was recorded at the property. The Star has even called the French chalice a “haven of peace in the valley of kings.” According to French news site, The Connexion, Mick can often be spotted fishing or in the mountains biking nearby. Scroll through the gallery to see the incredible French chateau.

Real Estate

What has happened to the $1.6 billion donated to restore Notre Dame

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> It seems like a whole world away, but long before COVID-19, the world was brought to a standstill by the fire that gutted Paris’ Notre Dame cathedral. The fire occurred on April 15th and was all that anyone could talk about as the 850-year-old landmark and priceless artefacts were destroyed by a blaze that ripped through the cathedral. It motivated some of the world’s richest people into action, and within days, 1.6 billion had been pledged by France’s wealthiest individuals and corporations to restore the Roman Catholic cathedral. However, many are curious as to whether or not they will pay up. Six months after the fire, only some of the money from wealthy donors materialised. Early work to repair the building replied on $59 billion in smaller donations from individuals and businesses. As the first anniversary of the fire approaches, where are the billions for the Notre Dame? <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B97A_xlhZ7w/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B97A_xlhZ7w/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris (@notredamedeparis)</a> on Mar 19, 2020 at 9:35am PDT </div> </blockquote> This week, the Foundation Notre Dame, which is the largest of the four official charities overseeing the repairs, said that all of the donor pledges have come through. "I can confirm that all the companies that committed to pay money for the restoration of the cathedral to the Notre Dame Foundation have either already paid it in full or have contracted to pay it as and when needs," the foundation's funding director Jean-Michel Mangeot said to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.sg/notre-dame-fire-one-year-reparations-billionaire-donations-progress-2020-3" target="_blank">Business Insider</a>. The other three charities raising money have not revealed the status of the pledges they have received. The future of the cathedral remains unclear due to the coronavirus pandemic delaying vital work, with 500 tonnes of melted metal lattice on the roof of the weakened building threatening to come down at any minute. It is not currently known when workers are able to start repairing the cathedral. </div> </div> </div>

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What has happened to the $1.6 billion donated to restore Notre Dame