The new darling of the marathon scene is an Indian man named Fauja Singh, who can run 42 km in eight and a half hours. With that time he finished 3,850th in the recent Toronto marathon, which would be rather unremarkable — if it weren’t for the
Category: Society
A conservationist souvenir that visitors to the tropical paradise can both leave in the Maldives, and take home with them: adopt-a-coral.
People laughed when Stefanie Fuchs opened her specialty butcher shop in Munich. But little by little, the canine nutritionist’s idea – top quality, custom-made dog food with no chemical additives – caught on. And there’s one special bonus at the
To coincide with the rise of Islamists in Tunisia and Libya, Hebdo Charlie, a popular satirical weekly that’s pushed the envelope in the past, has invited a guest editor-in-chief for a special edition: The Prophet. And yes, they say, he believes
After the third such case in recent years, where health officials cite “risks” of gays giving blood, Italian gay rights activists say it’s time to explicitly guarantee the right for people of all sexual orientations to donate bl
Often white and well-trained, South Africans are leaving their adoptive homes in the “developed world” to return to their native land where the cost of living is lower and jobs are more plentiful. Some whites, though, complain they are s
Weltbild, one of Germany’s largest publishing companies, happens to be owned and operated by the Catholic Church. But that has not stopped it from publishing books that many of the faithful find offensive.
For generations, two families in Mallorca have laid competing claims to the legacy of Frédéric Chopin. Starting in 1838, the Polish composer lived in a room on the island with his mistress, and composed some of his great works. But which room was it? And
New Chinese regulations limiting entertainment shows on regional television channels may be an attempt to halt the declining ratings of the CCTV state-controlled network. But with the growth of the Internet, and other new freedoms, it may not work this ti
Analysis: A year ago President Piñera enjoyed international ‘hero’ status thanks to Chile’s widely-covered mine rescue. Major student protests now have him on the rocks. By continuing to ignore their demands, Piñera may be digging himself a deeper hole st
Munich police have raided several “studios” where prostitutes are believed to have administered powerful painkillers before performing intense sadomasochistic services. The studio cost one client 70,000 euros a year, after he became more hooked on the dru
As industrial development booms along the northeast coast, stretches of waterways are being destroyed by massive pollution. Attempts to cover up the damage in Bohai Gulf failed, and both local fishermen and environmental activists are demanding better pro
So far this year, some 550 cars have been torched in Berlin. Police suspect left-wing political extremists for some of the attacks. But about 100 of the damaged cars may have been set off by a single down-and-out (and envious) man, who authorities call An
Authorities find a motherlode of coins and bills at the home of a Catholic priest who worried for decades about going broke in his old age. But his own private savings meant that he never had to touch the pilfered donations.
David Lynch has seared his vision across both popular and avant-garde culture. While many of his fans continue to wait for something new on big or small screen, the director stays busy in other media, including a “Works on Paper” book an
Categories
Suburban Sprawl Creeps Across France
France still has its attractive city centers and enchanting small towns. But popping up in between are sprawling suburbs that in some cases are even spawning ‘exurbs.’ Will the French countryside eventually be swallowed up by subdivisions?
Over the past two weeks, the Internet and mainstream media combined to make a mess of the truth on the news France was waiting for: the arrival of the baby of Carla Bruni and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. On Twitter, the ex-supermodel gave birth over
Concerned that skilled tradespeople don’t get the respect they deserve, some in Germany are promoting the idea of a “Professional Bachelor’s” degree. For now, universities and their government allies dismiss the idea as “confusing.”
Essay: Last week, in Guangdong Province, a two-year-old girl was hit by a van and a truck. As many as 18 passers-by walked or cycled away from the scene. China asks itself if the “national character” has been sapped of any sense of indiv
“I’ve never worked in my life, I won’t start now,” says Patrizia Reggiani, who has served half of a 26-year sentence for commissioning the murder of her ex-husband Maurizio Gucci. She is now eligible for parole, but would rather stay in jail than join a w
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust? Not always. Human remains can also be manufactured into diamonds, drugs and fertilizers. Or, in some very special cases, vinyl discs.
Essay: Why was Rome the only place where the global “Occupy” and “Indignados” protests turned violent? La Stampa editor Mario Calabresi sees Italy’s troubled historical relationship between social protest and v
Shock is spreading across Austria where allegations are emerging of systemic violence, sexual abuse and child prostitution dating from the 1970s in Schloss Wilhelminenberg, a Vienna foster home. Some Austrian leaders want to change the statute of limitati
Italian doctors complain that the prevalence of medical information on the Internet has led a large number of people to come down with imaginary illnesses, some of which they attempt to treat themselves prior to arriving at the doctor’s office. B
Essay: The OECD rated China at the bottom of its “How’s Life” survey. Though China is behind in living standards, the findings are questionable. Still, the survey itself is a reminder that Chinese are missing the real means of judging their lives: free el
In both Germany and Austria, real-life female farmers pose for a pin-up calendar that has become an annual affair for the local farmer’s association. It may not change the plight or perception of the agricultural lifestyle, as they aim to do, but
The effects of global warming are very real for this tropical haven, where ocean waters threaten a delicate ecosystem. A closer look two years after Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed pledged to reach carbon neutrality with solar and wind power.
Officials believe the drug, which is a mix that includes codeine and paint thinner, has arrived in Germany. Sold as a heroin substitute, “Krokodil” users only realize much later that they have consumed a substance that results in extreme
The rivalry between painters Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso is at the heart of an exhibition entitled “The Stein Family,” currently showing at the Grand Palais in Paris, through Jan. 16.
Borrowing from a long tradition of Russian protest music, well-known singer Andrei Makarevich has just released a satirical song on YouTube that pokes fun at the country’s powerful prime minister, Vladimir Putin.
Tucked in between Beijing and Tijanjin is a “village” with all the trappings of Rome, Florence and Milan combined. Welcome to Florentina Village, an Italian-themed outlet mall that’s already drawing upwards of 25,000 visitors per day.
Tourism operators are beginning to take note of an increasingly outspoken niche market: would-be travelers who think holidays and screaming kids don’t mix. In Germany, several hotels have taken the bold step of instituting “no children allowed” policies.
After a Russian soccer fan was killed following an argument with an Azerbaijani, ultra-nationalists held a rally near Red Square in Moscow that led to 100 arrests. Soccer stadiums are increasingly the bastion of xenophobic movements in Russia.
Sicilian tax collectors are cracking down on a large, underground industry: weddings. Because many weddings services on the Italian island are done off the books, newlyweds must name the suppliers of their dresses, cakes and photos — and whether they han
Op-Ed: Chinese want to know how to combat the abuse of power by top officials who force demolition of people’s homes to make way for new development projects. But rather than focusing on cracking down after the fact, citizens must simply demand a say in w
An Italian reporter pays a visit to one of Singapore’s many low-commission, high-confidentiality betting outlets. Investigators say bets were placed in these locations in a match-fixing scandal involving top players now undermining fan confidence
A number of wealthy and well-connected Swiss families are turning their homes into classical music venues. A throwback to the aristocratic salon-scene of yesteryear, Zurich’s private concerts can be elegant affairs, though the organizers insist they are n
He’s organized exhibitions from Johannesburg to New York. Now, Nigerian-American curator Okwui Enwezor, the new director of Munich’s historic Haus der Kunst, is taking Germany by storm.
Categories
How Birkenstocks Became Hip
They used to be the eco-shoe par excellence, footwear of choice for the ‘No Nukes’ crowd. But now that green has gone mainstream – so have Birkenstocks. The cork-rubber-and-leather German sandals known more for comfort than their good lo
Some European companies and government offices are sticking it to their tobacco-loving employees, forcing them to punch the clock any time they step out for a cigarette break. In France, Belgium and Italy, the policy has sparked controversy and left smoke