Month: May 2014
Categories
The Last Man At The Pump
MAISACH — “It’s high season, so it’s not really convenient,” says Uwe Möderl when we first talk on the phone. Then, moments later, he says, “How would tomorrow night be?” The 51-year-old Bavarian is apparently not a man who wants to be kept from his work. I had been looking for an experienced gas station […]
We may be witnessing the demise of the Western idea that climate determines how we think. Could it change the very way we look at the world, and ourselves?
The Supreme Court in Argentina is weighing the case brought by María Belén Rodríguez, whose name redirects to X-rated sites in the major search engines.
Categories
Living With War In Ukraine
DONETSK — When Ilya Pogorelov leaves his apartment, everything seems normal, at least in the neighborhood where he lives. The 21-year-old student lives with his parents in Kirowski, on the outskirts of Donetsk. “You don’t see any fighting here,” he says by phone. In this residential area, parents are out walking with their kids, and […]
Below are some of the songs currently topping charts around the world. Worldcrunch Pick A never-before-released Led Zeppelin instrumental has surfaced online this week. The track, simply called “La La,” was recorded in 1969 and starts with an interesting mix of gospel organ, savage drumming, acoustic guitar, followed by the classic Jones-Bonham groove and Page’s […]
By Julie Farrar LONDON — If nobody meddles with the natural course of human biology, there should be 100 girls born for every 105 boys. But, tragically, there are places in the world where people are still obsessed with only having sons, and ready to act on it. It is estimated that there are 200 […]
Categories
Stride Specialist
Visitors to Beijing should plan to see the changing of the guard in front of the Mao Mausoleum on Tiananmen Square. The marching is very distinct from Greek Evzones or Danish guards.
Tan Dinh is the oldest Vietnamese restaurant in the French capital, and may still be the best. Lately, the focus is on matching the perfect bottle of Burgundy with a spring roll or bowl of pho.
PARIS — Bad news for the tobacco industry and smokers in France. Health Minister Marisol Touraine will announce strict new tobacco control measure next month that are expected to ban any branding on cigarette packs. The French daily Le Figaro reports that the overall effect of the new measures will be as radical as the […]
DAMASCUS — Across the country, an increasing number of would-be soldiers are ducking Syria’s mandatory 18-month military service requirement. In most cases, the young men are either hiding out — or taking up arms for the opposition. Hossam, a 26-year-old from Hama, has been summoned by the Syrian army to fulfill the compulsory 18-month service required of all young men here. But three years into a conflict that has killed more than 62,800 fighters from all sides, he is refusing to comply. “The Syrian army is no longer the nation’s army, and nothing motivates me to join it,” he says. […]
It seemed like a good idea to a German restaurateur: attract more family clientele who wouldn’t disturb other patrons. But putting an idea into action can be a messy affair.
BRUSSELS — There is no shortage of good advice for Europe. The United States recommends becoming independent of Russian gas supplies — Vice President Joe Biden, on a recent visit to Romania, passed that tip on to Prime Minister Victor Ponta. “We have to make certain that Russia can no longer use its energy resources […]
Categories
Lion Dies In Argentine ‘Torture Zoo’
The death of an African lion in Mendoza Zoo in Argentina has revived allegations of the zoo keeping its animals in awful conditions, said Clarín earlier this week. The lion reportedly died two weeks ago, though the zoo apparently concealed this while they investigated the cause of death. Provincial environmental authorities recently declared it had […]
Categories
A New Chapter
There is a French saying that goes les voyages forment la jeunesse (“traveling is learning”). Well in that case, I am quite happy to keep learning, at age 84: A couple of weeks ago, I traveled back to Turkey with my family to visit one of my two granddaughters who now lives near Izmir. We […]
Zulkiflee Anwar Haque, better known as Zunar, is a cartoonist who has been drawing editorial and political cartoons for over 20 years. His cartoons cover a range of issues, but are known for being critical of the government. “Most of the mainstream media neglect or black out the important issues, just focusing on petty or sensational issues. They want to distract people’s minds from focusing on the fundamental issues. Through my cartoons I want to highlight the important issues in Malaysia, like corruption; there are so many cases of corruption that have been blacked out by mainstream media.” As rules […]
Italy is often a point of arrival in Europe for immigrants from troubled points east and south. But most will eventually wind up in northern destinations. What have they seen? What will they find?
Dogs are adorable. Granted. But sadly, as it turns out, some of them need a helping hand to attract new humans to them. A project by Hungarian artist Sarolta Bán aims to “help dogs with images,” by photoshopping different scenarios to really bring their personalities out and tell their stories. You can check out the […]
NEW YORK — The terrace offers one of New York City’s most exclusive views. Perched on the 57th floor of the new World Trade Center complex, it overlooks the Manhattan skyline to the north, and the Statue of Liberty and New York harbor to the south. Offices complete the rest of the panoramic view, their […]
Categories
Something Is Rotten In Europe
The European establishment has a decade-long listening problem, and it won’t be solved by shaming the anti-EU populist parties that scored big in this week’s election.
Some bits and bytes of news in numbers…
Categories
Eventful Past
Don’t be fooled by the apparent peacefulness of this Icelandic plain — lots of things happened there. Not only is this valley the birthplace of the oldest parliament in the world, the Althing, but it is also located right on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, meaning that major earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can basically happen anytime.
While billionaire incoming president Petro Poroshenko takes over in Kiev, the fate of the country may also be in the hands of another super-rich businessman from contested eastern Ukraine.
BEIJING — It is not exaggerating to describe China’s automobile market as rolling into its “Golden Age.” According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers’ latest data, from January to April this year the passenger car market grew by 10% to 6.48 million cars. In comparison, for the first quarter of this year, the U.S. […]
Maidan protesters remain in Independence Square, keeping guard despite the election of a new president. When will they leave? The vegetable gardens and henhouses suggest no time soon.
BERLIN — As the expression goes, “It ain’t over “til the fat lady sings.” But a recent slew of insults from British opera critics hurled at one full-figured young singer has added a new twist to the expression. Internationally known mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught was keen to sing at the Glyndebourne Festival, the UK’s most important […]
The Brazilian Congress has passed a new law that requires no fewer than 20 percent of its civil service employees in the public sector to be of African origin. Good motives, bad policy.
Categories
Rolex Religion
I like the symmetry in this photo, taken on the doorstep of a Hindu temple in Kathmandu. The subjects are so kindred — except for the fact that the statue isn’t wearing an expensive-looking watch.
“Science needs time. Bear with us, while we think,” declares a new movement of researchers pushing back against the demands to always make breakthroughs and publish findings.
TEL AVIV — “A few steps away from the all the urban fuss …” And so begins the seduction advertized on the website of a unique approach to the city shopping mall. It is indeed hard to imagine a public consumer space as beautiful as this one. Historical stone houses meticulously restored, neatly cut lawns, […]
-OpEd- PARIS — How often are war crimes being committed in Syria? Is it every time a helicopter from President Bashar al-Assad’s regime drops a barrel bomb on a school, a hospital, an apartment block? Every time a fighter-bomber launches a strike in the middle of a town? Or every time a group of Islamist […]
Some 15 million, mostly Spanish-speaking quiz junkies may right now have their heads deep into Preguntados. Its 28-year-old founder is building a mini tech empire in Buenos Aires.
BUENOS AIRES — Twelve Argentine policemen were being questioned for their suspected role in beating and “crucifying” a detainee, who was found strapped to a street pole in the district of San Francisco – Frontera, northwest of Buenos Aires. A witness called police early after spotting the victim on Saturday; his head and face were […]
PARIS — France, the sick man of Europe… Until now, we have been using this old phrase as a provocative way to characterize this country’s current economic situation. But after the results of Sunday’s European elections, this phrase now can be used to refer to something broken in French politics. With the victory of the […]
Categories
Bored At The Border
I remember the border between Mexico and Guatemala as being very, very quiet. This was a bit surprising considering how close it is to Tapachula, a bustling Mexican city where the state of Chiapas’ Ruta del Café (“Coffee Route”) begins.
MALANG — Mohammad Yazid, 58, is walking slowly toward a health clinic. His whole body is trembling and he says he has a severe headache. He hands over a bag full of plastic refuse along with his Garbage Clinical Insurance card to the clinic staff. “I bring one kilo of plastic and paper waste,” he explains. “I’m glad I can pay for my health care with this. I don’t have to pay anything.” Another patient, Siti Hasanah, says she suffers from a breathing problem. She too pays for her health care by bringing in waste. “I’m happy,” Hasanah says. “I […]
Empirical research suggests that economic sanctions are at best ineffective and at worst counterproductive. But Russia may yet pay a hefty price for its Ukraine aggression.
-OpEd- BERLIN — There’s a cold civil war in Turkey. An event like the mining catastrophe and its 301 victims could have united the deeply split country, emotionally. But not even the grief of so many Turks could bring supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan together. Turkey is split into at least […]
The ugly sandal beloved everywhere by hippies and the comfort footwear set is so hot this season that even Marc Jacobs wants in on the action. Paint those toes, baby.
Old regime elements and al-Qaeda are both interested in fostering violence and widening instability as the Middle Eastern nation tries to stay on path to democracy.