Incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist challenger François Hollande powered through a last day of media appearances and stump speeches Friday ahead of the close of French presidential campaigning at midnight. The rivals largely …
E.U.
Must-Reads from Around the World, May 4, 2012
Mid-Term Blues – The U.K.’s two ruling coalition parties, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, both suffered setbacks in local elections Thursday. The Guardian is live-blogging the results — including for the London …
Must-Reads from Around the World, May 3, 2012
Dependent Dissident – As Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng undergoes medical procedures at a Beijing hospital after leaving his refuge at the U.S. Embassy in China, the Washington Post poses questions about the deal brokered …
French Presidential Election: Marine Le Pen Haunts the Sarkozy-Hollande Debate
With just four days to go before the run-off in France’s presidential election, incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist front-runner François Hollande squared off in a raw-nerved television debate followed by millions of …
U.K.’s Spy in Bag Case: Coroner’s Verdict on Gareth Williams Raises More Questions than Answers
Gareth Williams—the MI-6 spy whose body was found naked and decomposing inside a padlocked bag in his bathtub—was probably “unlawfully killed,” but it is “unlikely” authorities will ever unwind the exact circumstances of his …
Must-Reads from Around the World: May 2, 2012
On the Defensive – China’s semi-official Global Times breaks the state silence over blind activist Chen Guangcheng’s escape from house arrest with its op-ed “US embassy in a quandary over Chen.” The most apt take: “The US embassy …
“For if austerity is allowed to run its course, and Berlin and Brussels continue to starve the beast, Europe could quickly become a hotbed of widespread social unrest.”
Ballot Box Watch: Your Guide to May Elections
Global Spin previews the pick of this month’s exercises in democracy
Britain’s Phone-Hacking Scandal and the Rise of Louise Mensch
The Conservative politician Louise Mensch attained a high public profile as a member of the parliamentary committee investigating phone hacking in Britain. An outspoken critic of the media, she nonetheless voted against the …
Must-Reads from Around the World, May 1, 2012
Conduct Report – British MPs tasked with investigating allegations of phone hacking at Rupert Murdoch’s now-defunct tabloid, News of the World, have released a long-awaited final report on the matter. The Daily Telegraph is …
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Fact-Checking: Sarkozy’s Campaign for the French Anti-Muslim Vote
Facing an uphill battle against Socialist challenger Francois Hollande, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has sought to pander to the country’s far-right electorate. TIME scrutinizes some of Sarkozy’s more outrageous statements.
‘Made’ in China: The Millennials Look East for Jobs
Lauren McPhate first arrived in Asia in 2009 after losing her job as a risk analyst at an energy company. She daydreamed about moving to tropical Thailand to start over. The 27-year-old instead landed in Seoul, where an …