Worldcrunch
Famous for its traffic and pollution, Mexico City is joining the green revolution, urging residents to swap their cars for bicycles and walking shoes. On Sundays, pedestrians have preference downtown. The city also boasts a European-style bike system call
Typically mild-mannered, Russian President Dimitri Medvedev let loose in a nationally televised speech against American and NATO plans for a missile defense system. His probable successor, Vladimir Putin, may even boycott the next NATO summit in Chicago n
Germany had been seen as a healthy heart in the troubled body of the euro zone. But when not enough buyers lined up for its 6 billion euro debt auction, it was seen as yet another sign that the single-currency union is facing a fight for its survival.
North Korea threatens to engulf the presidential office in Seoul in a “sea of fire.”
Sarkozy intends to pressure Merkel to allow the European Central Bank to rescue the euro zone.
Egyptian military leaders apologize for the violence that led to 38 deaths, including 33 in Cairo.
Today it sounds a bit stuck-up, cheeky maybe. But when it was created in 1971, L’Oréal’s “Because I’m Worth It” slogan was downright revolutionary. Invented by a young woman not unlike Mad Men’s Peggy Olson, the catch phrase is still a L’Oréal standard.
First brought to Sicily by Arab conquerors, rice farming was eliminated over the past century for Italian political reasons. Now a local “farmer-archeologist” has brought it back to satisfy local desires of Sicilian star chefs.
The Russian Space Agency’s most recent “sputnik” is looking grim. The unmanned spacecraft was supposed to reach Phobos, one of Mars’ moons. Though the probe’s signal was picked up Wednesday after vanishing for two weeks
Besim Kabashi, the Kosovo-born, Munich-based world heavyweight kickboxing champion, is alleged to have let loose a flurry of punches and kicks on a waiter who’d told him to leave a table under an Oktoberfest tent. Kabashi says he was too drunk to
Boom times in Brazil have pushed several of its cities up the annual AméricaEconomía urban competitiveness ranking. Other Brazilian towns made it on to the list for the first time. But it is another country that boasts Latin America’s most competitive cit
Op-Ed: Except for soccer and the Eurovision Song contest, there isn’t much common ground holding Europe’s diverse nations together. Then there are problems like trust, language and mobility – plenty of reasons, in other words, why the euro was a bad idea
Navi Pillay, UN human rights Chief, condemns Egyptian security forces’ use of excessive force.
The state Lutheran Church currently provides only short blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples, but the government wants to change that.
Yemini President is in Saudi Arabia to sign an agreement brokered by other Arab states that involves him stepping aside.
Essay: A Chinese commentator notes a disturbing uptick in U.S. drumbeating in the Pacific region. But China’s response, he warns, should be diplomatic pragmatism not more nationalistic posturing.
A R A B I C A ارابيكا By Kristen Gillespie TAHRIR – THE MARSHALWith an estimated 35 Egyptians dead from the crackdown during recent days of protesting, the leader of the country’s ruling military junta gave an address on state television, announcing that the ruling government cabinet’s resignation has been accepted and that presidential […]
Activists have called for a mass showing in Cairo’s central square on Tuesday to call for the ouster of Egypt’s military leadership. The Muslim Brotherhood, the country’s largest opposition group, has said it will not participat
Analysis: Both inside and outside the Middle East, a consensus appears to be forming that the Assad regime in Damascus must go. But if it does, be prepared for the reverberations to be felt from Tehran and Beirut to Ankara and Riyadh.
It’s been a year since Google Street View became available in Germany – and very little of the negative stir that greeted its initial arrival has survived. The service has come to be seen as a useful tool, and some former opponents even want their homes i
After working in the shadow of José María Aznar and losing twice to José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the unassuming former “registrador della propriedad” is now set to lead Spain in a moment of great challenge.
Chinese carmakers have made some inroads in the automotive industry, but don’t yet pose much of a threat to their major European, Japanese and American counterparts. That could change – and quickly.
At least 20 have been killed in recent protests in Cairo and elsewhere in Egypt, as the government responds with a major crackdown on demonstrators. A review of how Egypt’s recently liberalized press is covering the most severe unrest since Mubar
The so-called Super Committee was supposed to rescue the United States from sinking in a sea of debt. The Congressional group is now being written off as a flop – mainly because Republicans want to save the super-rich from having to pay more taxes.
Two Turkish citizens were wounded when gunmen opened fire on a convoy of Turkish buses carrying pilgrims in northern Syria.
Stock futures pointed to a sharply lower open for equities on Wall Street on Monday, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq 100 down 1.1 to 1.4 percent.
At least 20 people have died, and an estimated 1,700 people were wounded in confrontations between protesters and security forces in Cairo.
Chinese-American mother Amy Chua’s bestseller “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,” opened debate about severe parenting techniques. Now, a Chinese businessman has written about even harsher treatment of his kids — and of course,
A trio of German entrepreneurs is hoping to convert an old industrial building in Berlin into the world’s largest rooftop farm. Plans for the self-sustaining organic spread, which should be up and running by 2013, include a fertilizing fish farm
Just because something’s new doesn’t mean it’s better — or even different. According to the German Medical Association, most “new” drugs are little more than repackaged – and re-priced – versions of their predcessors.
Brazil’s richest 10% earn in one month what the poorest 10% make in more than three years. To find out how much the richest 1% earn, multiply that figure by three, according to the South American giant’s latest census numbers.
Nutella may be tasty, but the creamy chocolate spread is not nearly as healthy as its labels would suggest. A court in Frankfurt has ruled that Ferrero, Nutella’s parent company, needs to change its labels, which consumer groups call downright deceptive.
Around Germany’s Eichstätt region, unemployment hovers just above 1%, with industry booming despite the euro debt crisis. Across southern Germany, the overall economy has largely recovered, especially as the auto sector is rebounding. A good sign for the
For a while, tiny Algeria had a world-class soccer team. But years later, players are asking if performance-enhancing drugs administered by Soviet trainers played a role in the success. Why the suspicion? Seven of the players have since fathered handicapp
Eating in absolute darkness, or getting a massage without being seen, can change your perspective. From Paris to London and Barcelona — and coming to the U.S. and Russia — institutions run by the blind are also sharing their vision of life’s experiences
Outside creditors aren’t the only ones loathe to throw money Greece’s way. Would-be taxpayers have been unwilling to part with their cash, according to a new EU Commission report that found the Greek government may have to write off some 30 billion euros
Essay: Yet another avoidable tragedy has struck rural China, where a crammed school van crashed and killed 18 children. One Chinese writer’s j’accuse against public officials who are busy spending money on luxury cars instead of safe school transportation
Not for the first time, Russian scientists are taking their considerable knowledge and moving abroad. Some of the brainy emigrants cite funding problems and Russian red tape as reasons to move. For others, heading West is simply a lifestyle choice.
The prestigious Grand Palais museum in Paris is hosting an exhibition on the history of video games, marking an unofficial christening into the realm of high brow for a craft that has long been associated with mass (and mindless) entertainment.
Europe’s “systematic crisis,” as EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso recently described the situation, has banks across the region preparing for widespread layoffs. Just this week France’s BNP Paribas gave word it’ll be letting 1,400 employees go.