cafebabel.com

'Free', 'partly free', 'not free': press freedom in Europe

('Andrew Burgess',) — Wed, 12 May 2010 10:30:00 -0000

American NGO Freedom House uses three categories to rank the degree of press freedom in countries across the world. On 3 May 2010, world press freedom day, each region of Europe learnt its category: the press in western Europe is 'free', central Europe is 'partly free' and in eastern Europe the press is 'not free'. But there are signs that the trend could change

In the red

Wed, 05 May 2010 13:22:00 -0000

In the economic crisis, why do Italians say they are 'in the green' when Brits are 'in the red?' Tour of European expressions for all those broke joes out there

Overworked, underpaid in a French call centre

('Martyn Hawkins',) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Too many young Europeans are forced to work in bad conditions to finance their studies in France. Why a young Italian quit

Videogames: banning 'Manhunt 2'

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The Lisbon treaty continues its parliamentary pilgrimage across EU member states, organ donations, protecting minors from video games and food aid – it’s the latest news from Brussels

Cinema: Persepolis hits the UK

('Jens Wiesner',) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Released on 25 April in an English-dubbed version, a review of Franco-Iranian artist Marjane Satrapi's Oscar-nominated animation of a girl displaced in Vienna

Roger Woolger: 'it's not psychosis'

('Elisa Marengo',) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The British psychotherapist from Sussex, 63, brings together Jung theory and eastern philosophy in his 'deep memory process'. His theory on reincarnation: our past lives help us resolve our present neuroses

Map: be German to be rich, says Forbes

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

How do you become a billionaire exactly? Flee Europe: out of the 1125 billionaires registered by Forbes, barely 20% are of European origin. The others come mainly from the United States (42%), China, India and Russia

Liechtenstein: a paradise’s light is dimming

('Erin Woycik',) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Liechtenstein, the geographical heart of the EU, has 35,000 inhabitants, 70,000 foundations and 110,000 million euros deposited in bank accounts whose owners are anonymous. All this leaves a bad taste in the European mouth

NATO summit in Bucharest: Albania and Croatia to join

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

On 2 April NATO invited the two candidates to join the defence alliance, but leave Macedonia waiting

Thierry Uhrman versus the chic Lyon suburb

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:17:00 -0000

Controversy erupts as an artist turns his residence into an ‘Abode of Chaos’, with heaps of scrap metal and works of art

Babelblogs: Macedonia, cloning and praying in Berlin

('Susannah Readett-Bayley',) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Europe is often seen as boring and bureaucratic - not the case with cafebabel.com’s community blogs. European debate is in full swing, bloggers are up in arms and words are flying

Estelle Swaray: 'the singlest woman alive'

('Titus Aguigah',) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Why the British rapper, hip hop singer and producer, 28, swapped London, its boys and the UK music industry for Brooklyn's cabbies, leading to ‘an unexpected duet’ with American rapper Kanye West

Prices are rising: blame the euro?

('Susannah Readett-Bayley',) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Deep at the heart of the political debate the euro is often held responsible. Life is more expensive, but whose fault is it?

Zhenya Strigalev: 'London's jazz scene is more open than Moscow's'

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

At 28, the prodigious composer and late-night jam-session organiser is the only Russian alto-sax player active on the London scene. We catch him at the launch of his new fusion set ‘Findamorale’ at the London jazz festival

Euthanasia: Noel Martin wants to die

('Andrew Burgess',) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:38:00 -0000

The British citizen of Jamaican origin, has been a paraplegic ever since he was attacked by a band of neo-Nazis. In 2007, he made headline news in Germany and is still fighting to be able to decide the date of his death

St. Patrick's Day: drowning the shamrock in Dublin

('Angela Steen',) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Alcohol, religion and fireworks - we swoop over Dublin on 17 March, feast (and party) day of the patron saint of Ireland

UK, Russia: a new Iron curtain?

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Two out of three British Council offices were deemed 'illegal' and closed down in Russia in January. A reflection on ties between the Kremlin and London

No Lisbon treaty referendum for the Brits

('Adriano Farano',) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

A Europhile goes against the British PM's masquerade, as the bill has its first reading in the House of Lords on 12 March

Eco-housing renaissance: put less carbon in the air!

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The ‘built’ environment in the UK, Germany and Sweden are good examples of how our lifestyles have to adapt in a changing world

Turin, world design capital 2008: the keyword is sustainability

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

This year, the northern Italian city becomes a laboratory of large-scale projects such as industrial conversion, development and eco-compatibility

Turkish love story on Danish shores

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

With 3.8 million Turkish immigrants in the EU, we head to Denmark with the seventh largest Turkish population in Europe. Aydin Ozturk, 50, settled in Odense with a Danish partner and found his place in society

Strasbourg is bikes

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

With the inauguration of the TGV to Strasbourg, the city is staking its claim for modernity and the environment. The bicycle rules in this city that wants to overtake Fribourg as model of sustainable growth

European School in Strasbourg

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The first European school in the Alsatian capital opens in September 2008. Concerns arise that it will undermine the international sections of existing schools and how it will relate to the EU

The language of the republic is French

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Alsace and Moselle’s bilingualism has just weathered a political storm. From now on, electoral documents will have to be written only in French. Yet, the German language has opened a window of opportunity in Europe. Debate

A European senate in Strasbourg?

('Sarah Gray',) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Controversy surrounding the European parliament’s use of two seats (Brussels and Strasbourg) has given new life to the debate on federalism. There are good reasons for the parliament to remain permanently in Brussels, and plenty of other options for the capital of Alsace

Remember, the Council of Europe is not part of the EU

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0000

The Strasbourg-based organisation defends human rights in Europe and needs to combat its dwindling visibility

Zuppa inglese: trifling English

('Kate Martin',) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

‘It’s our History’ exhibition in Brussels

('Martyn Hawkins',) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The story of the EU through the real life stories of its inhabitants; an event organised to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome on 25 March 2007

Energy in Europe: France and Germany protest

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Producing and transporting energy; the commission has adopted a ‘package’ of measures to control the EU market’s share of gas and electricity. But eight member states, including France and Germany, are opposed

Yannick Haenel: 'Berlin symbolically incarnates all the horror of the preceding century'

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:10:00 -0000

In his award-winning novel 'Circle', the professor from Rennes and 'Ulysses of the 21st century', 40, takes the reader on a European road-trip from Paris to Berlin

Société Générale: a great French bank

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Liberalism drenched in Nicolas Sarkozy’s nationalism disconcerts his EU partners, whilst an increase in capital for the French bank is bound to fend off potential European public price offerings

Football: fans take over in UK, France and Germany

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Faced with Russian oligarchs or American magnates buying out their clubs, some supporters are trying the same tactic out of sheer desperation

Photos: living on the street in Paris

('Natalia Sosin',) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The homeless and immigrants - those select few that Parisians would perhaps rather not see, at least at Christmas time. Neither indifference nor presidential words will make this 'problem' disappear

No more smoking in Paris' bistros

('Kate Martin',) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

On 1 January 2008, France followed Italy, Ireland, Great Britain and Spain by passing a law against smoking in public places. We went to see how things are coming along on the other side of the Alps. A report from the City of Lights

Paris: city of (hetero) love

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

After European capitals London, Berlin and Amsterdam, Paris has the fourth biggest gay community. 700, 000 people participated in its 2007 gay parade. But life for gays and lesbians in the French capital is not exactly as rosy as the colour pink

Daniel Cohn-Bendit: 'Stop the comparisons with 1968'

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The German-French Green Party politician, 62, leader of the 1968 student protestors, publicist and current member of the European parliament, on 1968 and the here and now in Europe

Try and sing the Spanish national anthem

('Erin Woycik',) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Talks of a European anthem were recently dropped, but to some Spaniards, it seems a shame to splice lyrics and lose what makes their country’s anthem unique

Rennes: 'Helloo, immigrants'

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The scene is set: Place de l’Europe, shops, blocks of flats on the horizon and 'Le bar de l'Europe'. At the heart of this little tarmacked tower of babel, Europe is not the stuff of dreams

Video cringe: Chavez, Brown, Rath

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Be it a Czech clip around the ear, a King telling a naughty Venezuelan socialist to zip it or a British prime minister playing it cool - we track Europe's chiefs losing it

German Russians: home in Berlin

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The story of a community's unconventional journey: 'German Russians' return to Berlin and struggle to live in harmony in their adopted country

Why Germans wear white waistcoasts

('Anna Patton',) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:31:00 -0000

New Year reads

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Jacek Dukaj, Toni Maguire, Nathalie Rouyer and Christian Semmelroth on our carousel of featured writers

Eighties generation: we're not childless losers

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0000

Despite their reputation, twentysomethings often have more to offer than first meets the eye

Luciana Littizzetto: Spanish men are sexiest

('Sarah Gray',) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 04:42:00 -0000

Writer, actress and ‘TV jester’ – Luciana Littizzetto has made a career from her own irreverent brand of self-parody – with great success

Gonzalo Conradi: 'Squatting is a very healthy activity'

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0000

We tag along with the Spanish artist, 31. A product of the Erasmus experience, he prepares his pictures for an exhibition gracing the Andalucian Centre of Flamenco in Jerez, Cadiz

Born in the eighties

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Twenty-something baby losers. Often disparaged, yet the 'eighties generation' harbour multiple talents. First part of a series of portraits exchanging Paris and Berlin

Time of the month

('Erin Woycik',) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0000

December: pure culture seeker

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Berlin sparks and pixels, free Splash electro in Paris, European student cinema festival in Manchester and eat yourself to death in Lodz

Tecktonik - arm-splaying, mullet hair dance craze

('Annika Thornton',) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0000

TCK. Three letters that stand for a phenomenon: tecktonik. Similar in style to electro, it has been a sensation amongst teenagers in France, Belgium and Holland over the last six months - and is also a registered trademark

Suck up

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0000