French President François Hollande responds to a financial scandal by obliging Cabinet members to publish details of their personal holdings — an unprecedented requirement
corruption
Swiss Account of Ex-Minister Further Darkens Hollande’s Political Fortunes
Former French Minister responsible for hunting tax dodgers and enforcing austerity acknowledges claims he has a secret Swiss bank account, dealing another blow to President François Hollande’s slumping fortunes as appeal of extreme-right rises.
Nicolas Sarkozy’s Battle With France’s Judiciary Leads to Death Threats
Former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s implication in a long-running financial scandal prod his backers into attacking France’s powerful investigating magistrates and may have inspired a death threat against a leading judge
Whoa, Nelly! European Leaders Scramble to (Sur)Mount Horsemeat Scandal
National governments and European Union officials continued scrambling to uncover any further cases of horsemeat in beef-based food products, while disgusted diners contemplate the safety of their food system
France Celebrates Return of Convicted Kidnapper From Mexican Prison
Mexico’s Supreme Court frees Florence Cassez after seven years in prison for a 2007 kidnapping conviction that justices ruled was flawed by rights violations. Could that be the start of deep judicial reform in Mexico?
Amid the Depardieu Tax Debacle, France’s Budget Minister Accused of Dodging Taxes
France’s controversy-weary President François Hollande sees a Cabinet member accused of tax fraud after the government’s proposed 75% tax on wealthy incomes is struck down
In India, a Rape Sparks Violent Protests and Demands for Justice
An alleged gang rape in New Delhi has prompted calls for change by women’s-rights groups and violent clashes between police and anti-rape protests in the nation’s capital.
Carry On Regardless in South Africa, as ANC Re-elects Zuma
In a normal democracy, a crushing victory at the polls by the incumbent generally means an overwhelming popular desire for more of the same. Tuesday’s triumph by South African President Jacob Zuma in a contest to lead the African …
Send in Sarkozy: Will Former French President Rescue His Imploding Party?
After a week of an increasingly bitter leadership fight, France’s main conservative party appeals to former President Nicolas Sarkozy to negotiate peace–or fill the void his departure from politics created in the first place.
Congo’s Crisis: Rebels Launch Offensive in Country’s East
In the war-torn, mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo, rebels belonging to an armed group known as the M23 have launched a devastating offensive against the government of President Joseph Kabila, capturing the main …
Congo’s Eastern Rebels Seize Goma: Will Rwanda Then Take Over?
When I spent a few days with the M23 rebels of eastern Congo in August, they were clear that their April mutiny against the Congolese army and seizure of territory along the Rwandan and Ugandan borders was essentially a form of …
Why a Cop Is France’s Favorite Politician
French Interior Minister Manual Valls law-and-order drive has made him the darling of opinion polls, while approval ratings of President François Hollande and other leaders plummet amid the hardening economic crisis.
Must-Reads from Around the World
Today’s picks: the en masse arrival of Pakistan’s Hindus into neigboring India to escape religious persecution, lingering questions over Turkey’s human rights record, as it attempts to reposition itself as the Middle East’s …
