Society
Ousted director Istvan Marta: 'my successor will create a demagogic theatre'
Istvan Marta managed the Budapest’s new theatre for thirteen years. On 1 February, he cleared his desk to make space for György Dörner, a supporter of the extreme-right wing Jobbik party. We talk to the outgoing director who fears that his theatre could become a stage for extremism
(Don’t) occupy Budapest: the right to protest in Hungarian streets
Something is rotten in the state of Hungary. The Hungarian government has reserved the entire city centre for celebrations on the upcoming national holiday, effectively blocking potential demonstrations. An overview of the opposition’s reaction
Europe-gate. Or how to name criminal investigations across Europe
Things are hotting up in Spain’s courts with the 'Gürtel' case. How does a Spanish juridical affair end up with a German name? European investigation titles go on trial
Italian spritz aperol: the future’s orange
The Italian-born spritz aperol has gained official international recognition, being classed as a ‘new drink’ by the international bartenders’ association. We took this as an excuse to try out the sparkling brew, which the Italians will tell us is anything but new
society, paris, wine, best of cafebabel.com, aperitif, united states, beverages
Euro 2012 Warsaw stadium: once a bazaar hosting pop star popes
With its roof looking like a waving Polish flag, the national stadium became the newest addition to the Polish capital's fantastic skyline on 29 January. It opened seven months later than planned on the historic banks of the Vistula river but still in time for the 2012 European football championships this summer
society, football, best of cafebabel.com, solidarnosc, poland, travel, city planning
Arab spring in Morocco: royalists recognise indigenous language
Large-scale protests, like those seen on 20 February 2011, continue to be a familiar sight in Morocco. We talk to young Moroccans whose demands follow in the footsteps of the Arab spring – democracy, freedom, social justice – albeit with a royalist twist
society, protest, morocco, germany, arab spring, maghreb, revolution
Political husbands' and wives' circus in Europe
On 24 January the wife of disgraced former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Anne Sinclair, made her debut as the editor of the first European version of the American news website Huffington Post. Our French, Spanish, Polish, German, Italian and British editors react on the choice
society, techno-media, opinion, arianna huffington, dominique strauss-kahn, citizen journalism
Chinese dream 2012: new year dragon symbolises 'change'
新年快乐! 23 January sees the Chinese people officially welcoming in the lunar new year. The dragon, the fifth out of the twelve zodiac signs, is the guiding patron according to the Chinese calendar. People born in the year of the dragon are characterised by their wit, brightness of mind and braveness - all of the above are exactly what crisis-stricken Europe would expect of its politicians! According to the Chinese calendar, luck will accompany the political moves of the Portugese prime minister Pedro Passos Coelho as well as his Czech counterpart Petr Nečas, both born in 1964. As the Europeans wait for what 2012 will bring, some will be able to come face to face with the Chinese culture in cities such as London or Paris, when the celebrations are moved to a Sunday, 29 January this year (Image: © Kristof)
German medical students head for Latvian university
Just under half of the 500 foreign medical students currently enrolled at Riga’s Stradina University come from Germany – but a medical education in a foreign country doesn’t come cheap
society, university, bologna process, germany, riga, latvia, students
Why would a Spanish 'European volunteer' go to Romania?
2011 was the year of the European volunteer, but it doesn't mean we can't still talk about the role. Has its visibility increased since the economic crisis, due to the lack of opportunities or out of pure altruism? One young Iberian speaks out
society, european voluntary service , volunteers, romania, economy, youth, spain
Vilnius, Вiльнюс or ווילנע: spotlight on Lithuanian capital’s tiny ethnic communities
Lithuania has enjoyed a rich multicultural heritage since being part of the Grand Duchy. Independence was restored for the third time in its history after the collapse of the soviet union in 1990. The motto of this second republic echoes the European union, which the northern country became a member state of in 2004 - ‘Tautos jega vienybeje!’, or ‘strength through unity’ (to the EU’s ‘united through diversity’). A Spanish-Italian-French-German-Russian-British team of journalists and photographers take the temperature of multiculturalism in ‘Vilna’ by focusing on the Jewish (0.3%), Belarusian (1.3%) and Baltic Roma (0.1%) populations. In the capital, Vilnius, dynamic 'foreigners' gradually make a name for themselves in institutions as varied as universities, NGOs, bookshops and nightclubs. In images, we draw multicultural parallels with the buildings which occupy just under a third of the city’s area (Image: (cc) Severin Sadjina/ flickr)
- Read the special edition Vilnius, Вiльнюс or ווילנע: spotlight on Lithuanian capital’s tiny ethnic communities
- Ladies what oppose Belarus in Vilnius
- From San Diego to Vilnius: all Jew you need for a library in Lithuania
- Kirtimai: Lithuania's Roma on education and 'missing England'
- Nightlife in Vilnius: ethnic minority benders
Finland's Sami minority: new cultural centre but no land rights
Finland's Sami people are slowly gaining legal recognition, with a new cultural centre in Inari being launched in 2012. However, the minority continues to suffer injustice with respect to land-law. Tanja Joona from the northern institute for environmental and minority law explains a problem which doesn't look set to disappear
society, helsinki, human rights, ethnic minorities, sami people, finland
Itanglish: new Italian dialect?
With their trendy gossip over social media, sometimes in a chat live online, Italians have integrated English words into their common vocabulary to a surprising extent. Does Italy still speak Italian? Or has the country switched to Itanglish, the new Anglo-Italian hybrid dialect?
society, italy, tower of babel, techno-media, language, multilingualism
Bye bye eat pray sado-love Europe 2011
Humiliation, pain and sadism were some of the key emotions felt over this past year. Unemployed, previously unheard European citizens helplessly clung onto the wheel of fortune 2011 as we watched key political figures fall and saw a strengthening of belief in ourselves as we tried to understand the change that was happening. It was a violent year but a certain peace navigated the courses of the waters and a long-lost love ranked high on the charts. All we aim to have left for 2012 is hope. Season's greetings and see you in the 'happy' new year! (Illustration: © Kristof)
Gallery
Hungary: propaganda videos to bring back young 'dissidents'
Goulash, cottage chocolate cheese, soulmates and coining a vintage term to woo back a generation of expats. Hungary's propaganda machine, run by its conservative ruling party fidesz and various youth affiliates, is not letting up with its laws and lists, writes Béla Soltész
Multiculturalism in Italy: a Roman cocktail
Is Italy racist? This is the question posed by European media, some of which don’t hesitate to point to a lethal dose of racism particularly following the murder of two Senegalese in Florence. However, four journalists and a photographer sent to Rome by cafebabel.com chose instead to talk about the multicultural imprint of a nation which counts 5.4 million immigrants from non-EU countries. Of course, it’s not all sweetness. The Roma continue to battle for a decent future, while young Italians are fleeing a country which is losing its identity. However, second generation immigrants are aware of the civic role which they can play, while the piazza Vittoria in central Rome is a multicultural epicentre, a mixed drink shaken up in the most open of kitchens. In the view of these diverse facts, cafebabel.com is serving up a Roman cocktail which will warm you to embrace the ‘other’, turning away from the bar-side brawls stirred up by press-gang headlines. (Image: © Ehsan Maleki)
by
by
by
