WorldcrunchStay informed on France with Worldcrunch. In-depth coverage of French politics, economic trends, societal changes, and cultural events with expert translations. Highlights include Paris, Lyon, Marseille, French cinema, gastronomy, modern literature, and cultural events.
Even those on the French left who resist the country’s color-blindness were dismayed when an optional question on parental origin was added to the census. Although the issue may seem benign in countries where race is routinely asked about, in France the question acted as a lighting rod for debates over how to address discrimination considering the country’s dark past and the current rise of the far right.
ASML, the Dutch heavyweight in European technology, is investing 1.3 billion euros in French artificial intelligence start-up Mistral, making it the continent’s leading AI company and saving it from being taken over by an American investor.
A small but worrying development could be making artificial intelligence less reliable. It’s all down to an internal mechanism that could eventually make it less effective and less dependable.
Less than three weeks after Emmanuel Macron announced his intention to recognize Palestine, Israel and the United States are increasingly mounting obstacles to the French diplomatic initiative. Israel accuses the French president of seeking to “undermine stability” in the Middle East.
Programs focused on fatherhood have recently been developed in prisons. Their goal: to reduce the risk of recidivism. But not all inmates benefit equally from these sometimes highly prescriptive lessons.
With less social pressure, more financial autonomy for women and more opportunities to meet new people, there are many reasons for French couples in their 50s and 60s to separate — and to take pride in their decision.
On Thursday, Europeans activated a mechanism at the UN to reinstate economic sanctions against Iran if, within 30 days, Tehran fails to meet its obligations regarding the nuclear program. The tense international context does not favor an agreement, which signals a worsening of the crisis.
Particularly young sports fans are digitally oriented, and tend to be more “crypto-native”, which makes them a natural target for the industry.
Macron, Merz and Tusk are in Moldova on Wednesday to celebrate the anniversary of its independence and to lend political support to pro-European President Maia Sandu, one month before parliamentary elections marked by a pro-Russian offensive.
U.S. ambassador to France Charles Kushner’s inflammatory letter on antisemitism is part of a campaign against President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to recognize the State of Palestine. It is an unwelcome interference in France’s affairs and a warning ahead of its 2027 presidential election.
Ten days after the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, the hopes for peace negotiations that it had raised have faded: Russia has set conditions that are difficult to accept. There is no meeting between Zelensky and Putin planned, Russian Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed yesterday. What will Trump do?
François, 59, claims to have regained the shape he was in at the age of 25. Isabelle, 64, says a preventive check-up saved her life. Like them, more and more French people are turning to longevity medicine and adopting strict routines to age better.
As the UN vote to formally recognize the State of Palestine gets closer, pressure on Donald Trump is growing. He must decide, once and for all, whether to continue his unconditional support for Netanyahu or seek a viable way forward.
Washington is pushing for a security corridor protected by international and EU forces, with a certain degree of U.S. military, logistical and technological backing to deter Russia. It recalls the practical if imperfect decades-long status quo on the Korean Peninsula
Since the 1990s, bachelorette parties have become a bonafide tradition before getting married in France. But organizing this event can sometimes bring out irreconcilable differences even among best friends.
France, the UK and Canada are preparing to formally back Palestinian statehood at the UN this September. Behind the symbolic gesture lies a strategic power play aimed at Benjamin Netanyahu — and Donald Trump.
If you love soups in the winter, you can feel like you’re missing out in the summer. But don’t fear! Here’s a roundup of the best soups from around the world for warm weather.
A growing number of physicians are taking to TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and X, creating their own content to fight the flood of false health information online. But faced with the scale of the problem, they say they can’t do it alone.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s controversial trade deal may look like a surrender to U.S. President Donald Trump, but it could be a calculated play in a surreal game of bluff, designed to keep Europe afloat — and Trump distracted.
Environmentalists crusading against air conditioners are mistaken: excessive heat actually harms economic growth and, indirectly, the decarbonization of our society.
Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program have resumed. While Europe demands guarantees that Tehran will not build a nuclear bomb, Trump is also pushing for a deal. Is the regime willing to give ground, or is it bluffing?
Europe, Iran and global powers are meeting in Istanbul on Friday to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. The talks may determine whether dialogue or confrontation will shape their future relations. It’s also a reminder that diplomacy is a better way than war to settle disputes.
As surf tourism expands around the world, overcrowded spots and increasing pollution have created tensions between locals and tourists eager to catch waves.
In the 15th arrondissement of Paris, exiled opponents of Iran’s ruling regime are tightening their guard, fearing reprisals against loved ones still in Iran.
Remember those late-90s Furbies—cute, creepy, and eerily chatty? A programmer recently fused one with ChatGPT, unleashing a chilling plot: AI-powered Furbies bent on world domination. As retro toys return and emotional robots like Ropet emerge, we must ask: are we ready?
After ChatGPT, Grok and Gemini, philosopher Sami Biasoni has tested the conversational tool from French company Mistral AI, trying to understand its potential ideological biases.
In their quest to raise happy children, many parents have turned to “gentle parenting.” But this approach, filled with ready-made phrases and a fear of saying “no,” clearly has its limits.
With photographs from Nakuru, Pamplona and Paris — among other places.
VTubers generate YouTube content that now draws three times more views on YouTube as it did five years ago. The phenomenon, originating from Japan, is seen as a safeguard against cyberbullying – and is steadily gaining ground in France and beyond.
Literature is filled with characters suffering from mental health issues… and with authors who weren’t necessarily much better off. In a fascinating book, a psychiatrist and a journalist attempt to unravel the mysteries of these minds.
Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal was sentenced to five years in prison in Algiers — the day after French journalist Christophe Gleizes had received a seven-year jail sentence. Could a presidential pardon for Sansal ease tensions?
When French president Emmanuel Macron unveiled a dedicated passage for the Mona Lisa, the Louvre promised relief from crowds. Instead, it offered a stark preview of museums’ surrender to spectacle: galleries as curated stages where art is secondary to the social-media moment.
Nude modeling in Paris is a demanding, underpaid job clinging to relevance as figurative art fades. Despite its decline, many still see it as essential to preserving artistic tradition.
By declaring that Israel was “doing the dirty work for all of us,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz shocked many and cast an ambiguous shadow over Europe’s position in the conflict. At a moment when Europe should be upholding the rule of law, he appeared to align with Israel and the United States, who seem to rely solely on force.
In a world of stiff suits and scripted summits, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is standing out for her familiarity, warmth and an almost cinematic charm. But is it all just theater? Or is this her most authentic political power move yet?
As flagship products of the luxury industry, fragrances have reached stratospheric prices, supposedly justified by craftsmanship and rare ingredients — simultaneously fueling a boom in the dupe market.
The West once promised freedom, justice and reason. But after centuries of global dominance, war crimes and broken ideals, its future hangs in the balance. As nationalism rises and China stakes its claim, is the West entering its final act — or just another turning point?
With photographs from Gaza City, Madrid, Guwahati and Paris, among other places.
As digital facades and minimalist design dominate the urban landscape, architect Florent Auclair argues for the revival of ornamentation as a cultural language that connects buildings to their time, their place, and the people who live among them.
While French law theoretically allows employers to justify job cuts by the introduction of Artificial Intelligence, unions and labor law experts are warning that AI is becoming an alibi for unjustified cost-cutting.