French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire: "Europe Evaded Catastrophe By a Hair's Breadth"
#International #Europe #Coronavirus #France #GermanFrenchRelations #EmmanuelMacron #EuropeanUnion

French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, 51, believes that the European Union is now back on track after some dicey moments earlier in the corona crisis․ In an interview with DER SPIEGEL, though, he says that Europe isn't out of the woods yet․

Skiing in the Pandemic: Alpine Rivalries Flare amid Resort Closures
#International #Business #Coronavirus #Sports #Austria #Italy #France #Travel

While Austria and Switzerland want to keep their ski lifts in operation, Germany, France and Italy are worried about superspreader events in winter paradise․ Billions of euros are at stake․

Joe Biden Declares War on Tax Havens – in Europe, Too
#International #World #EuropeanUnion #UnitedStates #TaxEvaders #TheNetherlands #Ireland #Luxembourg #France

U․S․ President Joe Biden is calling for a minimum corporate tax rate of 21 percent for companies․ But countries like Ireland and Luxembourg have established a lucrative revenue stream through big breaks for multinationals․ A number of EU countries could soon feel the pinch․

Foreign Policy: The Global Challenges Germany's Next Chancellor Faces
#International #World #GermanElection2021 #GermanForeignPolicy #UnitedStates #JoeBiden #China #Russia #EuropeanUnion #France

During this month's election, the candidates didn't say much about geopolitics and Germany's role in the world․ That could come back to haunt Berlin in the coming months․ A preview of what to expect from Washington, Paris, Brussels, Moscow and Beijing in the months to come․

The Bataclan Trial: Salah Abdeslam and the Banality of Terror
#International #Europe #Terrorism #IslamicState #FrancoisHollande #France #IslamicExtremism

The only surviving attacker from the terror commando that descended on Paris on the night of Nov․ 13, 2015, is currently on trial․ The young man used to like going out, drinking alcohol and smoking joints․ What happened?

Her Last Battle: Marine Le Pen Still Wants To Be France’s Next President
#International #Europe #RightWingPopulism #MarineLePen #France #EmmanuelMacron

Marine Le Pen is running her third campaign to become French president․ She has polished her image and almost comes across as a moderate compared to her right-wing radical competitor Éric Zemmour․ But is that her greatest strength or her biggest weakness?

War in Ukraine: Emmanuel Macron Is the Last European Leader Putin Speaks With
#International #Europe #EmmanuelMacron #France #VladimirPutin #Russia #Ukraine #EuropeanUnion

Advisers to Emmanuel Macron say his conversation with Vladimir Putin on Monday was frank and tough․ The French president managed to get a few promises from the Russian leader, but Paris is doubtful they will hold․

Marine Le Pen and the French Vote: What Would Her Election Mean for France and Europe?
#International #Europe #MarineLePen #France #EmmanuelMacron #EuropeanUnion #RightWingPopulism

Right-wing populist candidate Marine Le Pen has a chance of winning the presidential election in France this Sunday․ If she prevails over Emmanuel Macron, France would become another country and Europe a different continent․

Back To Work: Can Macron Unite a Deeply Divided France?
#International #Europe #France #MarineLePen #EmmanuelMacron

Emmanuel Macron has won the second round of voting against radical right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen․ But a far more difficult task lies ahead: His second term․

Why Right-Wing Mayor Robert Ménard Is So Popular in France
#International #Europe #France #RightWingPopulism

Robert Ménard was once a leftist who helped found Reporters Without Borders․ Now, his politics have slid far to the right – and he has become immensely popular far outside of the city where he is mayor․ What does his success say about the rest of France?

Balling in the Banlieues: The Problematic Roots of France's Football Success
#International #Europe #FootballWorldCup #France #Football

Many of France's best football players come from problematic surroundings․ When they reach stardom, they are forced to walk a difficult line between fame and fortune – and the envy of their former friends․ Some fall off or become targets of extortion․

Friends and Strangers: The Franco-German Relationship Is Cooling at a Critical Time
#International #Europe #EuropeanUnion #France #GermanFrenchRelations #OlafScholz #EmmanuelMacron

With only days to go before the 60th anniversary of the treaty that reestablished Franco-German relations after two world wars, communication between Berlin and Paris is faltering․ The war in Ukraine has laid bare fundamental differences between the two partners․

The Beneficiary of Bedlam: Marine Le Pen Surges as Macron's Star Fades
#International #Europe #France #MarineLePen #RightWingPopulism

The intense protests against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform in France have put him on the defensive․ Right-wing populist Marine Le Pen is reaping the benefits․

The Camembert Crisis: Market Goes Soft for French Cheese
#International #France #Food

Cheeses like brie, Roquefort and Comté are an important part of French culture․ But now droughts, inflation and changing diets are putting a dent in sales․ Camembert is faring particularly badly․

Days of Fury in France: A Nation Takes Stock After Teen's Death
#International #France #Immigration

The police shooting of a teen in France has sent the biggest jolt through the country since the riots in the banlieues in 2005․ For many, the promise of liberté, egalité and fraternité still rings hollow today․