Year-end totals are in for the number of 2011 visitors for the Egyptian capital and its top seaside resort Sharm el-Sheikh. Not surprisingly, hotels were largely empty as protests in the streets surged.
Month: January 2012
Once a must-stop for the European jet set, Rome’s Café de Paris on the via Veneto fell under the grip of the powerful Calabrian mob. But after a criminal investigation three years ago put the locale under state control, managers are now serving &
A fight among inmates armed with makeshift knives, clubs and stones has left 31 people dead and 13 injured in a prison in a drug-plagued state in northern Mexico.
A series of bombings in Baghdad leaves 27 people dead and dozens wounded, intensifying fears of increased violence following the recent U.S. troop withdrawal.
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Euro drops after French bond auction
The euro has dropped to its lowest rate against the dollar in 16 months after France sold 8bn euros ($10.3bn, £6.6bn) of bonds at an auction.
La Stampa’s election correspondent catches up with the Italian-American senator from Pennsylvania, the breakthrough Republican candidate, whose standard stump speech includes an immigrant’s tale of the American dream.
“Warm, sexy and always a little different,” is how perfumer Alberto Morillas describes oud, a pricey oil made from agar wood and its resin. Used for centuries in Arab countries, the perfume ingredient is now also a hit in Europe. If you
The Irish-German actor is now on everyone’s A-list, with a healthy dose of charisma and limitless range, from brainy films to major blockbusters. But it may be the current film “Shame” that consecrates him at the first top of hi
Physically allergic to the electro-magnetic waves of wi-fi coming from mobile phones and high-tension wires, two “electro-hypersensitive” women find refuge deep inside a cave tucked in southeastern France. A dark tale of a very modern ai
In the southern town of Oria, a shiny new “mini” soccer field and gym facilities have been built over the precious remains of 15 Messapian tombs dating from the Third Century B.C. The mayor defends the choice of youth activity over ancie
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Mass Grave Found in Afghan Army Compound
Grave containing at least 10 human skulls is discovered in northern Afghanistan by construction workers digging the earth to build a car park in an army compound.
The French and Swiss firms have a longstanding presence in China, but are still outstripped by local competitors. Add to that rising land and labor costs, and foreign food giants must recalibrate their strategies in the world’s No. 2 economy.
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is handing over power to Vice President Amado Boudou until January 24, as she undergoes thyroid cancer surgery.
Mitt Romney wins Tuesday night’s Iowa caucuses, beating rival Rick Santorum by just 8 votes in the closest presidential GOP contest in U.S. history.
Fukushima raised serious questions about nuclear safety and prompted a global building freeze on new atomic power plants. But as 2012 begins, it is becoming clear that the freeze is beginning to thaw. And the BRICS nations will lead the way.
Splitsville for Sarkozy and Bruni, Germany buys its way to a soccer championship, Greece can’t kick the habit, China stimulates itself to new heights. Meanwhile, Paul Krugman can’t be satisfied, even as Sarko finds a new bride. These and
Behind the rigidity of its political system, the North Korean capital offers evidence of a slow evolution, from construction projects to an emerging underground economy. Will Kim Jong-un accelerate the evolution or nip it in the bud? A close-up look.
Television presenters have mostly gone headscarf-free on Egypt’s state-run Channel 5. The fall of the Hosni Mubarak regime – and a weekend court ruling – may soon change that.
Analysis: The Egyptian army is trying to reassert its control as leftist protesters have returned to the streets. The Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, assured by its electoral success, needs to ally with the protesters to show it isn’t only after pow
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Opposition Protests Constitution in Hungary
Tens of thousands of people have been protesting in Budapest over Hungary’s controversial new constitution, a day after it came into force.
German unemployment has fallen to its lowest rate in December since 1991; by contrast, Spain said on Tuesday the number of people claiming unemployment benefits stood at a 15-year high at the end of 2011.
Los Angeles police book a 24-year-old man on suspicion of arson after an L.A. County sheriff’s deputy detained him in connection with a string of more than 50 deliberately set fires.
Just a few years ago, booming manufacturing industry in the Pearl Delta Region was an unprecedented opportunity for well-paid jobs for millions of young Chinese domestic migrants. Now, shuttered factories and dashed hopes are creating social unrest.
Essay: After Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, Hugo Chávez, who also suffers from cancer, aired the possibility of a covert U.S. conspiracy. There may be other slightly less sinister explanations.
Analysis: Looking ahead to the next 12 months, European business leaders are hoping the current economic slowdown will be more manageable than the crisis four years ago. Fear of a worst-case scenario, however, is part of everyone’s calculation.
Famous for its chocolate production, Switzerland relies on Ghana for half its supply of cocoa beans, even as the West African nation now focuses on other export products. A new public-private Swiss partnership aims to inject new life into cocoa bean farmi
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Iran Tests Naval Cruise Missile
Iran says it has successfully test-fired two long-range missiles during a naval exercise in the Gulf, flexing its military muscle to show it could hit Israel and U.S. bases in the region if attacked.
A massive manhunt is under way for a man wanted for questioning in the shooting death of a park ranger and a shooting that left four injured in Washington state.
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World stock markets quietly usher in 2012
European stock markets head higher in early trading Monday, while South Korea’s benchmark Kospi closes flat following the New Year’s holiday weekend.
The human brain is an incredible machine, but it may have reached the limit of its abilities. Evolution could cause our brains to grow a bit more, though bigger may not necessarily be better.
Getting your own fresh eggs for your morning Parisian omelette doesn’t necessarily require a trip to the local market. More and more French urbanites are finding space for a hen or two in their own homes.