Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.France has vanished. Disappeared. Disparu.
According to a map published by the Los Angeles Times, the Atlantic Ocean extends to the beaches of Switzerland. Spain and Portugal share an island off the coast of North Africa. France does not exist (apart from Corsica), seemingly having disappeared into the water.
The map, which details the locations of a number of recent passenger plane crashes, was republished by Le Monde and numerous other French news organisations.
It has generated an avalanche of angry, wry or self-deprecating comments on French social media.
On Saturday, the Franceless map of the world was the most visited single item on the Le Monde website (more hits than the Gaza conflict or the Tour de France) and was also one of the most viewed items on a number of other websites.
“The LA Times is truly visionary,” observed lebeau gossedu28. “Considering the terrible situation our country is in, [this map] shows the future of France.”
Other commentators vented their spleen on the United States. “One wonders if these American journalists do it deliberately,” said patgeorge. “I would be quite happy to rub the United States off the map.”
A tweet from the LA Times graphics account apologised for the mistake, posting a picture of the fixed map and stating “Yes, we found France!” The tweet said a production error was the reason for the Franceless map and thanked everyone who had alerted them to the mistake.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments