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
Tag: france
Linguists from the University of Lyon in France looked at seven widely spoken languages to see how they rank in terms of efficiency. Which mother tongue works best at imparting information? A clue: it’s not French.
Russia has explicitly stated it wants to begin exploration for minerals and hydrocarbons in and around the White Continent. But others, from China to Australia, have already given (and planted) signs that show they will not sit idly by.
The continent’s leaders managed to save both the monetary and political union. For now. But the lack of a long-range vision for the future leaves the European Union vulnerable to slow erosion.
This coming winter may become a test for Europe’s energy supply. For European countries that have counted on importing energy from German nuclear reactors, which are now slated for closure following the Fukushima disaster, Russian gas imports gro
Categories
Welcome To Anthropocene, Earth’s New Era
Goodbye Holocene, hello Anthropocene! The new word, used to reflect the modern age, is becoming more and more popular among the scientific community and may eventually become part of official nomenclature.
Categories
Europe Has One Last Chance
Analysis: The whole world is watching. As European leaders gather to search for a way out of the single currency zone’s debt crisis, the Old Continent risks pulling the world into recession, as a relatively strong Germany must find common ground
Analysis: Bad news is that the euro zone’s crisis and Greek (and other) debts are even deeper than previously estimated. Good news is that France’s Sarkozy and Germany’s Merkel have begun to face the crisis with the honesty and
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
Months of protest against President Ali Abdullah Saleh have sparked a heated information war in Yemen. State media blames terrorist forces for driving the country toward chaos. But the opposition has a voice too: a television station called Suhail that&am
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
The winner of the Socialist party primary Sunday will face Nicolas Sarkozy for the French presidency in the 2012 election. Hollande is not only a DSK rival, but also the former companion of Ségolène Royal, who lost to Sarkozy in 2007.
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.
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.
The head of the French Immigration service recently concluded a visit to Bucharest, where he made a first-hand inspection of Ferentari, the city’s principal Roma neighborhood. France’s goal this year is to send up to 30,000 Roma back to their countries of
France is also seeing its baby-boomer generation reach retirement age. And many new French retirees, with the time and money to spare, are opting to take the RV route. Still, they could still have trouble down the road finding places to park.
Analysis: the first-ever open Socialist party primary has injected new life into France’s center-left opposition. But of the two candidates who survived for next Sunday’s runoff, François Hollande and Martine Aubry, whoever emerges faces
With time running out, France’s Sarkozy and Germany’s Merkel have moved closer to a framework that would allow for a debt cut for Greece, and protect those French banks that might not withstand the partial Greek default. The health of th
From Heineken and Krups to Pierre Hardy and Peugeot, more and more companies are joining forces – and labels – in an effort to give their respective brands an added buzz.
France’s universities have made major headway in attracting foreign students in recent years. But more needs to be done if the country’s top schools hope to score better on international rankings and draw more of the world’s best and brightest.
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
Alongside the changes emerging from the Arab spring, the fashion world in France’s southeast corner is shifting its focus away from Asia to its Mediterranean neighbors in North Africa, and establishing a textile industry network that is close at hand.
Categories
The Roman Polanski Interview
In his first interview since being jailed in Switzerland in 2009, Oscar-winning director Polanski talks about the 1977 case of unlawful sex with a minor that led him to flee the U.S, and prompted his arrest two years ago. In the Swiss TV interview, the me
In France, a growing number of corporate coaches are taking unconventional approaches to introduce basic management skills. Some teach executives to work with horses. Others in the largely unregulated industry organize their trainings around cooking, musi
A shocking suicide in central France has prompted authorities to look at why, how and when a growing number of young children decide to take their own lives. Rates are highest in South Korea, lowest in Finland.
American authorities are about to get their hands on Vladislav Anatolievich Horohorin, an accused cybercriminal who is suspected of executing numerous security breaches in banks and large businesses. He has arrested 13 months ago in Nice, France.
With tainted fruits and vegetables sending scares across the globe, worried food authorities can welcome the inauguration of the world’s largest private laboratory performing safety analysis on food. But don’t expect them to announce the
Essay: Two feminist associations want to end the differentiation between “Mademoiselle” (Ms.) and “Madame” (Mrs.) imposed on women filling out official documents. One French (female) commentator takes issue with this la
Catholic leaders in France slam public school textbook that delves into “gender theory.” With help from allies of Nicolas Sarkozy, the Church is demanding changes to the curriculum, which explores how society and culture can affect an individual’s sexual
A Muslim woman has declared her candidacy for the French presidency in protest against a ban on Islamic veils.
Overall birth rates have risen in the developing world, a sign that working women are better able to balance work and family. Indeed, the countries with the most working women have higher fertility rates.
Researchers from the French National Center of Scientific Research have found out that fundamental particles known as neutrinos can travel faster than light.
While red and white continue to be the most common colors for wine, pink is starting to gain ground. In France, the world’s leading producer of rosé wine, sales are up thanks to increases in both consumption and price.
On the Left Bank, the Shakespeare and Company bookshop is a place where the physical book – and all the humanity that goes into it – is fighting to survive. Aspiring young writers are still offered bed and board: the only condition is that they read a boo
Rape charges dropped, Dominique Strauss-Kahn is back in France. But the legacy of his May 14 arrest in NYC is expected to last, especially in the way French men and women interact in the working world.
Essay: The most recent trend in cooking shows combines two well-tested television formulas: reality TV and sports. But a French philosopher argues that by emphasizing competition shows like “Hell’s Kitchen,” and “Master Chef,” a French equivalent, the bea
Political leaders and education researchers in the West are increasingly questioning how the lack of men teachers might affect the country’s school children. In France, where the rate of male teachers in primary schools went from 35% in 1954 to 18%, some
One person has been killed in an explosion at a French nuclear site. The incident reportedly took place at a waste treatment plant, when an oven exploded while melting down low-level radioactive metallic waste. It appears that there was no radioactive con
A growing number of people say they’ve found a cure for their alcoholism, Baclofen, a well-established but potent muscle relaxer. The only problem is it’s not legal – unless you suffer from Lou Gehrig’s disease, cerebral palsy or other illnesses involving