Categories
Economy

Raising Prices By Cutting Diapers: Is Pampers Scamming Parents?

DIE WELT (Germany) Worldcrunch HAMBURG – Train them young! Die Welt reports that a German consumer protection group has charged Pampers with systematically deceiving consumers by reducing the number of diapers in a pack, without changing the way they are presented in the packaging. “It’s a way of raising prices on the sly,” says Armin […]

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Geopolitics

Nicolas Maduro, Now The Hard Part

In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez’s handpicked heir will find securing his narrow victory was nothing compared to actually serving as president of a country with deep structural ills.

Categories
Geopolitics

Boston Bombing: Tsarnaev Brothers Identify With Islam, Chechnya Independence

MOSCOW – As the U.S. woke up to discover that the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing had been identified and one had been killed, the news also came out that the two young men were Russian citizens, Chechen brothers who appear to have grown up in Dagestan. Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, was killed in a […]

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Geopolitics

Paraguay’s First Woman Presidential Candidate Tries To Crack Macho Culture

Lilian Soto is a longshot to win Sunday’s election, but she may have already changed the last South American country to have female voting rights.

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Eyes on the U.S.

A Strange And Resilient Nation Of Soft Targets – A European Take On Boston

New York 2001. Bali 2002. Djerba 2002. Istanbul 2003. Madrid 2004. London 2005. Mumbai 2006. Boston 2013. “Terror Is Back,” trumpeted newspaper headlines in the U.S. – as if it had ever left. Only minutes after the latest terror attack, German Wikipedia had updated its List of Bomb Attacks. The list begins on Dec. 13, […]

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Society

The 24-Hour Swedish Kindergartens That Cater To Parent (And Market) Demand

Imagine your child’s school is always open — and serves breakfast, and takeaway meals at pickup. It exists, affordably, in Sweden, where the private sector pushes education innovation.

Categories
Society

Embalming 101, With A Polish Master

WARSAW – Plasdopake is produced in Whitchurch, Hampshire, a small town 90 kilometers west of London. Plasdopake is a chemical solution that contains 18% formaldehyde. It is perfect for embalming the bodies of people who have died young – it gives them a fresh and natural look, making them look alive in their coffin. Obviously, […]

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Eyes on the U.S.

Chechens Suspected In Marathon Bombing: One Dead, Another At Large As Boston On Lockdown

AP, REUTERS, CNN, NEW YORK TIMES (U.S.), BBC (UK) Worldcrunch WATERTOWN — Two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing killed an MIT university police officer, injured a transit officer in a firefight and threw explosive devices at police during their getaway attempt in a long night of violence that left one of them dead and […]

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Geopolitics

French Family Held Hostage By Nigerian Islamist Group Freed After Two Months

LE PARISIEN, LES ECHOS (France), LE JOURNAL DU CAMEROUN (Cameroon) Worldcrunch YAOUNDE – Seven members of a French family kidnapped in February while holidaying in northern Cameroon were freed on Friday. The Cameroonian government and the French government both issued statements on Friday saying the father, mother, uncle and four children aged between five and […]

Categories
Ideas

Why Russia Is Tilting Toward Asia, Even If It Needs The West More Than Ever

There are signs of historical insecurity in Russia’s move away from Europe and the U.S. But at the end of the day, China looms as the real threat for Moscow’s future.

Categories
Society

Boys Don’t Cry – The Taboo Of Male Depression

GENEVA – Depression is usually associated, in our minds, with women. Yet of course men suffer from it too, and often it comes with an extra stigma even in our modern society. Genevan psychiatrist Theodore Hovaguimian talks about it in his new book, La Depression Masculine (Male Depression). This breakthrough book helps break a taboo […]

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In The News

China, Bulldozing Its Way Onto The World Heritage List

BEIJING – The city of Xi’an in central China is known for its army of Terracotta Warriors. Local authorities have decided to apply for UNESCO World Heritage status for a number of historical sites in Shaanxi Province along the Silk Road, the ancient trade route linking many points west to China. In their proposal to […]

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Geopolitics

Right-Wing Groups To Hold Summit In Munich On Hitler’s Birthday

SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG (Germany) Worldcrunch MUNICH – This Saturday, April 20, a group of right-wing fraternities in Germany will hold what they are calling a “regional conference” in Munich. The extreme right-wing Danubia fraternity has also been invited to attend. Such a summit might not be particularly noteworthy except that April 20 also happens to be […]

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Society

After The Exodus – Forgotten Greek Minority Reclaims Stake Of Turkish Island

By allowing a Greek elementary school to be opened the for first time in 49 years on Gökçeada — formerly Imbros — Turkey has raised hope among a nearly vanished Greek community.

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Geopolitics

Musharraf Rushes Out Of Court After His Arrest Ordered

AFP (France), BBC (UK), DAWN (Pakistan) Worldcrunch ISLAMABAD – A Pakistani court has ordered the arrest of ex-military leader Pervez Musharraf on Thursday, in connection with his March 2007 attempt to put judges under house arrest. After the Islamabad High Court rejected his bail application, Musharraf immediately left the premises, escorted by his bodyguards. It […]

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Eyes on the U.S.

Massive Blast At Fertilizer Plant In Texas, Fears Death Toll Could Rise

BBC, CNN, DALLAS MORNING NEWS, WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD, WASHINGTON POST (U.S.) Worldcrunch WEST – A massive explosion Wednesday night in this town near Waco, Texas has left more than 160 people wounded, as well as an unspecified death toll that could quickly mount as search and rescue efforts continue into Thursday morning. A fire began in […]

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Geopolitics

Boston Bombing: What We Know (And Don’t Know) About The Investigation

BOSTON GLOBE, BOSTON HERALD, CNN (USA), REUTERS Worldcrunch BOSTON – Amidst conflicting reports, the around-the-clock investigation continues three days after bombs killed three people and wounded more than 180 during the Boston Marathon. U.S. President Barack Obama is scheduled to fly to Boston on Thursday to lead an interfaith service for the victims of the […]

Categories
Society

A Media-Savvy, Modern Jesse James Is On The Run In France

Son of immigrants, Redoine Faïd, 40, dealt drugs on the outskirts of Paris before turning to armed robbery. After repenting on French TV, a daring prison break has added to his legend.

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Geopolitics

Meet Kolya Lukashenko, A Nine-Year-Old Dictator In Training

MINSK – At the age of nine he has already met a pope and a few presidents. He likes guns and carries around a gold-plated pistol he was given by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Wearing his mini-uniform, he attends military parades and takes part in high-level meetings. Meet Kolya, the youngest son of Belarusian […]

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Society

Argentine Icons: Pope Francis Gets Signed Lionel Messi Jersey

EFE, EL MUNDO DEPORTIVO (Spain); CLARIN (Argentina); CALCIO MERCATO (Italy) Worldcrunch VATICAN CITY – Argentina happens to be blessed right now with the world’s greatest active soccer player and the current Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church. On Wednesday, the two Argentine icons got a bit closer when Pope Francis was presented with the No. […]

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Society

Flood And Famine: Turning African Swamps Into Fertile Farmland

In Burundi, what was once marshland is now yielding crops each harvest season.

Categories
Future

Want To Avoid Dating Your Cousin? Iceland Has An App For That

NEWS OF ICELAND (Iceland) Worldcrunch REYKJAVIK – Iceland is an island in the far north of Europe, just south of the Arctic Circle, known for musical talents Bjork and Sigur Ros and popular crime writer Arnaldur Indridason. Not much else. Aside maybe for the fact that everyone in Iceland is related. Yes, everyone in Iceland […]

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Geopolitics

Does Boston Marathon Attack Trace A Straight Line Back To Oklahoma City?

After the most serious terror attack on US soil since 9/11, some believe the culprits will turn out looking more like Timothy McVeigh and Anders Breivik than Osama Bin Laden.

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Geopolitics

Fearless Putin, Algeria Votes, Fake World Cups

UKRAINE TALKS BEGIN AFTER DEADLY CLASHES The four-way talks between Ukraine, Russia, the U.S. and the EU began this morning in Geneva, after deadly clashes in the southeastern city of Mariupol as pro-Russian protesters tried to seize a military base. Three people were killed and another 13 injured, while 63 were detained, Russia’s Ria Novosti […]

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Geopolitics

Britain Bids Farewell To Margaret Thatcher Amidst High Security

BBC RADIO 4, THE INDEPENDENT (UK) REUTERS Worldcrunch LONDON – Former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was honored Wednesday at a solemn funeral at St. Paul’s Cathedral in central London. An estimated 2,300 people from 170 different countries attended the ceremony, which Reuters compared to Winston Churchill’s funeral in 1965. The scene inside St Paul’s […]

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Geopolitics

Deadly Post-Election Violence In Venezuela, As Maduro Blames CIA

CLARIN, LA CAPITAL (Argentina); 20 MINUTOS (Spain); TELESUR (Venezuela); REUTERS Worldcrunch CARACAS – Unrest after Sunday’s Venezuelan elections has left at least seven dead and more than 60 injured, with president-elect Nicolas Maduro and his opponent Henrique Capriles each blaming the other for provoking the escalating violence. Maduro, speaking early Wednesday, also blamed the CIA […]

Categories
Society

New Zealand First Asia-Pacific Country To Legalize Gay Marriage

TVNZ, NZ HERALD, FAIRFAX NZ NEWS, 3 NEWS (New Zealand) Worldcrunch WELLINGTON – New Zealand has become the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to legalize same-sex marriage. Parliament voted 77-44 late Wednesday to amend the 1955 Marriage Act to describe marriage as a union of two people regardless of their sex, sexuality or how […]

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Eyes on the U.S.

Why Obama Cannot Ignore The Hunger Strikers Of Guantanamo Bay

Margaret Thatcher’s legacy was forever tarnished by the ten IRA hunger strikers who died on her watch. Will Guantanamo’s protesters be Obama’s black mark?

Categories
Food / Travel

Can A Tech Wizard From Idaho Save Mozambique’s Garden Of Eden?

Gregory Carr has an American entrepreneur’s vision for saving African wildlife.

Categories
Global Gourmet

Macarons: How The Gems Of French Pastry Seduced The World

COLMAR – The world’s love affair with French macarons is here to stay. In order to meet global demands, the pastry chef who made macarons famous, Pierre Hermé, is about to step up production in the factory where most of his macarons are created – always by hand. “The goal is to triple production from […]

Categories
Food / Travel

Ancient Thermal Springs All The Rage In Budapest Party Scene

BUDAPEST – Over 70 million liters of mineral-rich healing waters bubble out of Budapest’s 118 thermal springs every day. That’s a claim no other big city on the planet can make. The baths are as old as the city itself. The Romans were well aware of the beneficial effects of the warm springs, and the […]

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Eyes on the U.S.

America, Hardened – Boston Attack Reveals A Nation Learning To Live With Risks

A French correspondent gauges reaction to the Boston Marathon attack, noting how much has changed since 9/11 in the way America faces its fears and vulnerabilities.

Categories
Geopolitics

South Korean Ferry Capsizes, Pro-Russians In Ukraine, Animal Sounds

UKRAINE STANDOFF CONTINUES At least five armored vehicles flying Russian banners were reported to have entered the town of Slaviansk, north of Donetsk, as the standoff between Kiev and pro-Russian protesters continues in the eastern part of Ukraine. Although most Western media organizations initially described the vehicles as Russian, Moscow media outlets and Der Spiegel […]

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In The News

Why Chinese Officials Are Prescribing Herbal Tea To Ward Off Deadly Bird Flu

This supposed “wonder drug” is rolled out anytime authorities fear a health crisis can spark a national panic. But are placebos a good approach to government policy?

Categories
Geopolitics

Protests Spread In Caracas Over Venezuelan Election Result

CLARIN (Argentina); EL NACIONAL (Venezuela); AP Worldcrunch CARACAS – Protests in the Venezuelan capital have turned violent in the wake of presidential electoral results, which gave Nicolas Maduro a slim majority but prompted opposition calls for a recount. After Sunday night’s official declaration of Maduro as winner with 50.7% of the vote, opposition candidate Henrique […]

Categories
Geopolitics

US Helicopter Crashes Near North Korea Border Amid Rising Tensions

BBC NEWS (UK), UNITED STATES FORCES KOREA, YONHAP (South Korea), REUTERS Worldcrunch SEOUL – As tensions mount on the Korean peninsula, a U.S. helicopter crashed Tuesday near South Korea’s border with the North while conducting routine flight operations. All 21 people aboard the helicopter survived. The exact cause of the crash is not yet known, […]

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Eyes on the U.S.

Boston Marathon Bombing: 50 Front Pages From The US And The World

Worldcrunch The world is in shock after Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings, which claimed the lives of three people, including an eight-year-old boy, and injured more than 140. Read the full coverage on the Boston Globe, including a moving editorial here. More front pages from the U.S. and the world: USA CANADA UK BELGIUM BRAZIL ARGENTINA […]

Categories
Economy

Power Stilts And Wine-Tasting Mysteries: Corporate Team-Building Comes To France

PARIS – This year’s results just came in and all your executives are gathered together in one of those soulless convention centers. Everyone is listening to the top honchos giving a speech about how next year will be full of opportunities – but only if each employee rolls up their sleeves. After two weeks of […]

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Geopolitics

Boston Marathon Explosions Kill At Least Two, Dozens Injured

BOSTON GLOBE, TWITTER, CNN, REUTERS Worldcrunch BOSTON – Two explosions near the finish line at the prestigious Boston Marathon on Monday have killed at least two people and left dozens injured. During a news conference late Monday afternoon, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said a third explosion was registered at the John F. Kennedy Presidential […]

Categories
In The News

The Brutal Tactics For Enforcing China’s One-Child Policy

Setting limits on having children has meant an army of Chinese civil servants systematically employing kidnapping, torture, forced sterilization and abortions. And for what?

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