Le Monde (January 8)
“The aim of the assassinations on Wednesday 7 January at the offices of Charlie Hebdo was to kill journalists and cartoonists for their opinions. They have plunged everyone who defends freedom of expression into mourning, and horrified the whole of France.” We will defend this freedom and ensure the “free, caring, joyful society that the journalists and cartoonists of Charlie Hebdo were fighting for.”
Tags: Assassinations, Cartoonists, Charlie Hebdo, France, Freedom of expression, Journalists, Opinions
Financial Times (December 30)
During 2014, populists “enjoyed one of their most encouraging years since the second world war. Insurgent anti-establishment movements recorded electoral triumphs and opinion poll gains everywhere from France and Greece to Spain, Sweden and the UK.” Despite this resurgence, the populist movements are often at cross-purposes, differing widely in what they support.
Financial Times (December 13)
“France is in a similar situation to Italy. Both are attempting structural reform while fighting the threat of recession and asking the EU—which is to say Berlin—for more leeway on fiscal policy.” The reforms will help to remove “the bureaucratic sclerosis that chokes off innovation and growth.”
Tags: Berlin, Bureaucracy, EU, Fiscal policy, France, Growth, Innovation, Italy, Recession, Structural reform, Threat
Wall Street Journal (October 12)
Japan’s dilemma over whether to proceed with the sales tax increase to 10% “mirrors the dynamics in Europe, where France and Italy recently delayed deficit-reduction plans, fearing that spending cuts could tip their fragile economies back into recession.” With much of the developed world facing aging demographics and similar quandaries, all eyes are on Japan. “In a world haunted by stubbornly slow growth and low inflation, Japan’s clinical trial—whether it ends up cure or toxin—will inform other countries when they reach Japan’s state.”
Tags: Deficit reduction, Demographics, Dilemma, Economies, Europe, France, Growth, Inflation, Italy, Japan, Recession, Sales tax, Spending cuts
The Economist (August 30)
“If Germany, France and Italy cannot find a way to refloat Europe’s economy, the euro may yet be doomed.” With inflation “perilously low” at just 0.4%, “the euro zone stands (or wobbles) in stark contrast with America and Britain, whose economies are enjoying sustained growth.”
Wall Street Journal (May 26)
Populist, anti-EU candidates did well in the recent election for European Parliament. Nowhere more so than France where Marine Le Pen’s National Front party swept by both the Socialists and the Gaullists. Compared with “the milder populist advances elsewhere in the European vote, France produced a spectacle of nihilism that damages the West and delights Vladimir Putin.”
Tags: Anti-EU, Candidates, Damage, Election, European Parliament, France, Gaullists, Marine Le Pen, National Front, Nihilism, Populist, Socialists, Vladimir Putin, West
New York Times (May 6)
“French officials should not seek to block G.E. simply because it’s based in Connecticut.” The protectionist arguments being used to thwart the sale of Alstom’s energy business “can only discourage non-European businesses from investing in France, further damaging a sluggish economy that already suffers from a 10.4 percent unemployment rate.”
Tags: Alstom, Economy, Energy business, France, G.E., Investing, Officials, Protectionist, Unemployment
Forbes (February 10, 2014)
“Beijing is becoming more dependent on the U.S. and the rest of the world for its strength and prosperity.” Though it may be the largest holder of U.S. Treasuries, this is not a sign of strength. “The idea that a government gains strength by piling up dollars or other foreign currencies is a mercantilist holdover from the 16th to 18th centuries, when France, Spain and others thought amassing gold and silver was how a country became wealthy. Trade, not hoarding, makes for a powerful economy.”
Tags: Beijing, China, Currencies, Dependent, Dollars, Economy, France, Gold, Government, Hoarding, Mercantilist, Prosperity, Silver, Spain, Strength, Trade, U.S. Treasuries, Wealth
Washington Post (January 24, 2014)
“France’s counterterrorism operations in Africa deserve U.S. support.” Though the U.S. is now largely disengaged from the area, West Africa continues to be a hot bed of al-Quaeda activity. Fortunately, France has moved to fill the vacuum and will likely have 3,000 troops stationed in the region by year end. “For the government of François Hollande, this is a costly and risky initiative, and it deserves strong support from the United States.”
Tags: Africa, Al-Quaeda, Costly, Counterterrorism, Disengagement, France, Initiative, Risky, Support, Troops François Hollande, U.S., Vacuum, West Africa
Bloomberg (December 27, 2013)
Medical implants have cleared another hurdle with a successful surgery to implant “an artificial heart that is expected to last five years.” The new heart was developed by the French startup Carmat. “Europe often leads the U.S. in bringing replacement body parts to the market — not because its researchers have much of an edge but because its health-care regulations are less cumbersome.”
Tags: Artificial heart, Carmat, Europe, France, Health care, Implant, Market, Regulations, Replacement body parts, Researchers, Surgery, U.S.
