"Les Bienveillantes - Books" - The New York Times

"France Battles a Problem That Grows and Grows: Fat" - New York Times

"Diverse Marseille Spared in French Riots"

"Diverse Marseille Spared in French Riots"

SUV Buyers Defy High Price of Gas in France

SUV Buyers Defy High Price of Gas in France

On world stage, France's role is audience favorite

On world stage, France's role is audience favorite

French forces storm seized ship

French forces storm seized ship

Bush Sells Louisiana Back to the French

Bush Sells Louisiana Back to the French

Hermes president apologizes on-air to Oprah

Hermes president apologizes on-air to Oprah

"154 Patients Died, Many in Intense Heat, as Rescues Lagged"

"154 Patients Died, Many in Intense Heat, as Rescues Lagged"

Many elderly people died in Paris during the 2003 heat wave. There may very well be some things for the US to learn from how France has responded to that tragedy. Perhaps it can leave to more elderly lives saved in future emergencies.

Wine-Drinkers Down by a Million in France

Wine-Drinkers Down by a Million in France

"Politicus: A lethal ridiculousness in the European Union"

"Politicus: A lethal ridiculousness in the European Union"

Europe has big problems that need to be addressed says John VINOCUR, and yet there are only signs of hard work to ignore those problems or to hide them behind mundane business.

J'ai honte de mon pays

J'ai honte de mon pays

These were the words said to me three times yesterday by people trying to help me after being robbed at the Nice Airport. The woman who did the paperwork for my rental car (from a French/German company, Sixt) and two police officers were extraordinary in their efforts to respond.

The woman literally ran off in pursuit of one of the men in the two person team that robbed me. She was unsuccessful but amazing all the same.

The two policemen could not have been nicer, and wrote up a report that I think would have been the envy of many starving writers in France. An excellent description of what happened.

And, then, a Frenchman called today to say that his colleague had found the plastic (zip-lock) bag that was stolen, with some of the items still in the bag.

The cover of Liberation sums up the views of millions of French people - the empire grows worse - with the re-election of BUSH.

Reaction to US presidential election

In France, the reaction to the US election is just developing, but what may be most difficult is simply to accept the apparent fact that Americans have re-elected BUSH. There was a general view not only critical of BUSH, but mildly confident that he would be defeated. Coping with the likely reality of "four more years" will be very difficult in all corners of France and among French people of all kinds.

Le Monde reporting the US election

Le Monde went to press this morning with a big questionmark.

France's president flips channels to follow U.S. vote

A great story on how President CHIRAC is preparing for this evening for him, tomorrow morning!

The World Election

Liberation sums up its view of the US election. (If the link does not take you to the front page of Liberation, then what you are missing is a banner headline, "The World Election", taking up almost the entire cover of the newspaper.)

Villefranche sur Mer

One of my favorite places in France, next to where we live, is Villefranche sur Mer. Villefranche has its share of challenges, about the same number as does the town in North Carolina (Chapel Hill) which is my other home. There is something about the way British writers tend to look down on anyone who does not speak English and anyone who is not English which reminds me, to a lesser extent, of the occasional criticism of French people. The linked story is a good example.

US presidential election in the French regional press

Some number of French newspapers have created dedicated pages devoted to the US presidential campaign. This one is from Ouest-France, the largest circulaiton newspaper in France.

Covering the US election

Newspapers in France have a real challenge in covering the results of the US election on 2 November. Except for Le Monde, they all go to press just before the polls are to close in the US. There will be much guessing, and maybe even some risk-taking in French newsrooms on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.