When the world gets closer.

We help you see farther.

Sign up to our expressly international daily newsletter.

Already a subscriber? Log in .

You've reached your limit of one free article.

Get unlimited access to Worldcrunch

You can cancel anytime .

SUBSCRIBERS BENEFITS

Exclusive International news coverage

Ad-free experience NEW

Weekly digital Magazine NEW

9 daily & weekly Newsletters

Access to Worldcrunch archives

Free trial

30-days free access, then $2.90
per month.

Annual Access BEST VALUE

$19.90 per year, save $14.90 compared to monthly billing.save $14.90.

Subscribe to Worldcrunch
Sources

France’s World Cup Win, Elixir For A Nation Hit By Terrorism

The victory of Les Bleus is a real boost for a nation that has been the repeated target of Islamist terror. Still it is not a magic solution to its many divisions.

Crowd on the Champs-Elysées celebrating the new World Champions on July 16
Crowd on the Champs-Elysées celebrating the new World Champions on July 16
Le Monde editors

-Editorial-

PARIS — As soon as the referee blew the final whistle, a wave of jubilation spread across all of France: endless flocks of fans, fraternal and joyful, celebrated the victory of Les Bleus, winners of the World Cup for the second time in history, defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.

The celebration was all-encompassing, from north to south, from east to west. From Paris — with people gathering on the Champs-Elysées — to Marseille, from Lille, Nantes and Rennes to Strasbourg, Montpellier and all the way to the Reunion island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, an entire people simply set their quarrels and divisions aside. This moment is all the more precious as it brings together, in all its diversity, a country traumatized by the succession of terror attacks committed on its soil since it began in January 2015 with the deadly shootings at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

France thus expressed its pride and gratitude towards players who came from afar; who, in return, dedicated their victory to "la République." At the start of this World Cup in Russia, the team coached by Didier Deschamps, were hardly the tournament favorite, with a lineup of young (with an average squad age of 26) and relatively inexperienced players. It took plenty of sweat, tears and even suffering for these players — most of whom came from the poorer towns on the outskirts of the Paris region, to make their sense of team spirit and solidarity triumph.

World Cup Champion France, Frozen In Time — © Ulrik Pedersen / ZUMA / OneShot

This moment of collective happiness is a scathing refutation of the rancid theorists of nationalist obsessions based on family names or skin color. For these Bleus, with multiple backgrounds, who draped themselves in French flags, belonging to the national community goes without saying.

And yet, at the same time, the country is not going to be transfigured by this second World Cup title. History has shown the ephemerality of these moments of national unity. The euphoria set off by the 1998 victory didn't stop far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen from reaching the second round of the presidential election in 2002. In 2005, the explosion of rioting in the outskirts of Paris showed the persistence of urban and social divisions. And the spirit that emerged from the nationwide rallies after the Charlie Hebdo attack itself quickly faded as well.

History has shown the ephemerality of these moments.

France won't be transformed by magic. Social inequalities won't just vanish, neither will mass unemployment. The quarrels and polemics that make up our daily lot will soon reappear. Sporting glory is momentary, and cannot suffice to restore social cohesion on its own. But for all that, France would be wrong to deny itself this passing pleasure. In a context of continuing political and social gloom, the national team's victory is likely to boost French morale. It is a sign of confidence in its youth, and such a healthy breath of optimism comes right on time.

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

Future

Livestream Shopping Is Huge In China — Will It Fly Elsewhere?

Streaming video channels of people shopping has been booming in China, and is beginning to win over customers abroad as a cheap and cheerful way of selling products to millions of consumers glued to the screen.

A A female volunteer promotes spring tea products via on-line live streaming on a pretty mountain surrounded by tea plants.

In Beijing, selling spring tea products via on-line live streaming.

Xinhua / ZUMA
Gwendolyn Ledger

SANTIAGOTikTok, owned by Chinese tech firm ByteDance, has spent more than $500 million to break into online retailing. The app, best known for its short, comical videos, launched TikTok Shop in August, aiming to sell Chinese products in the U.S. and compete with other Chinese firms like Shein and Temu.

Tik Tok Shop will have three sections, including a live or livestream shopping channel, allowing users to buy while watching influencers promote a product.

This choice was strategic: in the past year, live shopping has become a significant trend in online retailing both in the U.S. and Latin America. While still an evolving technology, in principle, it promises good returns and lower costs.

Chilean Carlos O'Rian Herrera, co-founder of Fira Onlive, an online sales consultancy, told América Economía that live shopping has a much higher catchment rate than standard website retailing. If traditional e-commerce has a rate of one or two purchases per 100 visits to your site, live shopping can hike the ratio to 19%.

Live shopping has thrived in China and the recent purchases of shopping platforms in some Latin American countries suggests firms are taking an interest. In the United States, live shopping generated some $20 billion in sales revenues in 2022, according to consultants McKinsey. This constituted 2% of all online sales, but the firm believes the ratio may become 20% by 2026.

Keep reading...Show less

The latest