The story of Timothé Fournier, who allegedly died saving his pregnant wife during the Nice attack, was circulated worldwide but turned out to be false. The tale originated from a woman named Anaïs, who claimed to be Fournier's cousin and provided details to AFP. Doubts arose when journalists could not verify Fournier's existence, and his name was not on the list of the deceased. AFP later admitted to being deceived by a fabricated testimony, and the woman who provided the story has since become unresponsive and closed her Twitter account.

Two armed individuals took hostages in a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, Normandy, resulting in the death of priest Jacques Hamel and leaving another hostage in critical condition. French President François Hollande stated that the attackers claimed to be part of the Islamic State, which has declared war on France. Hollande has contacted Pope Francis to express condolences and promised to protect places of worship. The French government is determined to use all anti-terrorism measures with extreme firmness, while avoiding restrictions on freedoms that could undermine national cohesion. Political figures across the spectrum have expressed their horror and called for unity, while the Catholic Church in France has urged caution to avoid falling into a state of psychosis.

Local authorities in Nice have rejected a request from anti-terrorist police forces to destroy surveillance camera footage from the Promenade des Anglais during the attack that took place last week. Paris Prosecutor François Molins stated the request aimed to prevent the uncontrolled spread of the images. The dispute highlights tensions between local and national authorities regarding responsibility for security lapses during the attack. Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi criticized the government for lying about security measures in place on the night of July 14th. Meanwhile, the local authorities have legally requested the seizure of the footage to prevent its destruction.

Jean Dujardin, the French actor known for his Oscar-winning role in 'The Artist', discusses his latest film 'Un hombre de altura' and his views on the film industry, fame, and life. He emphasizes the importance of living a 'real life' outside of cinema and reflects on the superficiality of Hollywood. Dujardin also shares his thoughts on the Spanish cinema, philanthropy, and his future projects, including a film with Laurent Tirard. He maintains a down-to-earth perspective despite his success, valuing authenticity and personal freedom over the trappings of stardom.

The daughter of the late billionaire Robert de Balkany will auction art and furniture from her father's Paris residence through Sotheby's, a year after his death on September 19. The auction, which includes works by Tintoretto, Molinari, and Van Dyck, as well as valuable clocks and furniture, is expected to be significant, with Sotheby's partnering with Leclère for the event. The collection reflects Balkany's taste for luxury and precious materials, with up to 800 lots to be auctioned.

Miquel Barceló, a highly valued living Spanish artist, is the patron of the sixth Festival de Historia del Arte de Fontainebleau, which is dedicated to Spain and laughter. He jokes about being chosen for the latter. Barceló is currently exhibiting at the Museo Picasso and the Biblioteca Nacional de Francia in Paris, where he lives and feels appreciated. In the interview, he discusses his work, the influence of Picasso and Velázquez, his relationship with the Mediterranean, and his views on the internet and art. He emphasizes the importance of direct, personal experiences with art, contrasting it with the virtual interactions of the internet.

The Louvre Museum in Paris is bracing for potential flooding as the Seine River's water levels rise due to intense rainstorms, posing a real threat to the artworks housed within. Workers have been busy since Thursday afternoon moving pieces from the basement and lower floors to safer areas. The museum's president, Jean-Luc Martínez, along with Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay, has been overseeing the evacuation of thousands of artworks, prioritizing the most fragile items. The Louvre, which holds 548,000 works of art, has a history of evacuations due to various threats. The Museo de Orsay is also taking precautions, and other cultural institutions like the National Library and the Grand Palais have closed until at least Tuesday.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the planner of the November 13 Paris attacks, hid for four days in a makeshift shelter in Aubervilliers, less than five kilometers from the apartment that was later raided by police. The shelter was discovered with remnants of his presence, including food and potential bomb-making materials. After being spotted by police, Abaaoud, his cousin Hasna Aitboulahcen, and a third person took a taxi to Saint Denis, where they were later involved in a police raid that used 3,000 projectiles and resulted in the apartment exploding. French police suspect Charaffe el Mouadan may have helped coordinate the attacks, and connections are drawn between the attackers and previous convictions for terrorist-related activities. Paris has about 160 immigrant camps known as 'bidonvilles', with around 20,000 people living in poor conditions.