France

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** FILE ** German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy say goodbye after their meeting in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

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Chestnuts were once a staple of life in hard times in parts of France. Today, they are a treat, and a favorite for the end-of-year holidays. (Associated Press)

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In this Oct. 13, 2011 photo, chestnut trees are seen alongside the road to Collobrieres, France. (Associated Press)

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Sweet marronge chestnuts are a way of life in Collobrieres, France, where Germaine Rubi (right), Jacqueline Rinaldi (center) and Jean-Michel Rinaldi make growing and sorting a family affair. (Associated Press)

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Alyce Dixon, who served at a military post office in France during World War II, speaks with Kwame R. Brown (left), chairman of the D.C. Council, and Eleanor Holmes Norton (right), the city's delegate to Congress, during a rededication ceremony Thursday at the District of Columbia War Memorial. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/The Washington Times)

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Alyce Dixon, center, a 104-year-old District resident who served in a military post office in France during WWII, speaks to the press with Kwame Brown, left, chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia, and Eleanor Holmes Norton, right, the District's delegate to Congress, during a rededication ceremony following renovations of the District of Columbia WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 10, 2011. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/ The Washington Times)

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Alyce Dixon, left, a 104-year-old District resident who served in a military post office in France during WWII, attends a rededication ceremony following renovations of the District of Columbia WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 10, 2011. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/ The Washington Times)

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An inadvertent "open mic" night caught French President Nicolas Sarkozy and President Obama disparaging their Israeli counterpart. (Associated Press)

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An international crew of researchers - from left, Alexey Sitev of Russia, Romain Charles of France, Suhrob Kamolov of Russia, Alexander Smoleevskiy of Russia, Diego Urbina of Italy/Colombia and Wang Yue of China - gives a thumbs-up after a 520-day simulation of a flight to Mars, in Moscow on Tuesday. (Associated Press)

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President Obama speaks during a news conference at the G-20 Summit in Cannes, France, on Nov. 4, 2011. (Associated Press)

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South Korean President Lee Myung-bak (left) speaks with Chinese President Hu Jintao during a roundtable meeting at a G-20 summit in Cannes, France on Nov. 4, 2011. (Associated Press)

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Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou speaks with the media as he leaves a G-20 summit in Cannes, France, on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

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President Obama (left) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy make statements to reporters at the G-20 summit in Cannes, France, on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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French President Nicolas Sarkozy (center) speaks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during arrivals for the G-20 economic summit in Cannes, France, on Wednesday. (Associated Press)

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French President Nicolas Sarkozy speaks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during arrivals for the G-20 economic summit in Cannes, France, on Wednesday. (Associated Press)

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy give a joint media conference at the European Union summit in Brussels on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

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French President Nicolas Sarkozy talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Thursday after a meeting on the financial crisis. Europe's efforts to solve its debt crisis plunged into disarray after Germany and France could not bridge their differences in time for a summit Sunday. (Associated Press)