Opinion - World news, culture and opinion

War in Ukraine: A hopeless negotiation

Vladimir Putin has backed himself into a corner: Any territorial concession would represent a defeat for Russia and be a grievous personal embarrassment for the autocrat, notes Alain Frachon in his column.

Published on December 2, 2022 at 15h46, updated at 15h47 on December 2, 2022 Alain Frachon

Editorial

110 km/h highway speed control is the minimum France can do for the climate

Rejected by the French government in 2020, when it was among the proposals of the citizens' climate convention, this measure is even more necessary two years later.

Published on December 2, 2022 at 14h38, updated at 18h25 on December 2, 2022 Le Monde

Editorial

European sovereignty put to the test in Washington

In the United States, Emmanuel Macron criticized American economic patriotism, which undermines an already weakened European industrial sector. But this statement reveals the lack of consensus among the 27 European member-states to define a common response.

Published on December 1, 2022 at 14h55, updated at 14h55 on December 1, 2022 Le Monde

Op-Ed

'Mr. President, your silence is deafening': A letter from 10,000 healthcare workers on France's pediatric crisis

With hospitals in crisis in the face of an epidemic of bronchiolitis, health professionals call on the French president to intervene in an open letter published by 'Le Monde'.

Published on December 1, 2022 at 05h30, updated at 05h30 on December 1, 2022 Group letter

Op-Ed

'The fight against HIV and AIDS should help us defeat other viruses such as Covid'

'The fight against HIV and AIDS has always been bigger than just an effort to defeat a particular virus,' say Peter Sands, executive director of The Global fund, and Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS.

Published on December 1, 2022 at 01h33, updated at 12h01 on December 1, 2022 Peter Sands Winnie Byanyima

Op-Ed

'The EU should abandon the idea of energy price caps and tackle the issue of equal competition'

Economists Simone Tagliapietra, Georg Zachmann and Jeromin Zettelmeyer call for a quick deal on energy prices in Europe and the creation of a European crisis fund linked to the war in Ukraine.

Published on November 30, 2022 at 08h00, updated at 18h45 on November 30, 2022 Simone Tagliapietra Georg Zachmann Jeromin Zettelmeyer

Column

The Korean case teaches us a lot about what 'Homo numericus' might look like

A Korean study compares the academic performance of the digital generation with smartphone usage patterns, reports Sébastien Lechevalier in his column.

Published on November 30, 2022 at 05h14, updated at 08h46 on November 30, 2022 Sébastien Lechevalier

News analysis

Climate anxiety leads to new radicalism among activists

Climate activists have recently increased their actions to draw attention to the urgency of the situation, believing they're acting out of self-defense.

Published on November 30, 2022 at 05h00, updated at 10h43 on November 30, 2022 Rémi Barroux

Column

US Supreme Court to rule on adoption case troubling Native American legal experts

Corine Lesnes, 'Le Monde' correspondent in San Francisco, writes that an upcoming decision by the court could call into question hard-won rights of American Indian tribes.

Published on November 29, 2022 at 17h49, updated at 18h22 on November 29, 2022 Corine Lesnes

Column

'Artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift run the risk of becoming inaccessible'

After Covid-related cancellations, the return of cultural events such as major concerts is welcome, but the explosion in prices is making them increasingly inaccessible.

Published on November 29, 2022 at 15h45 Guillaume Fraissard

Editorial

Xi Jinping is boxing himself in with his zero-Covid strategy

Far from proving that President Xi has control over the country, the way the zero-Covid strategy has been enforced actually weakens his grip.

Published on November 29, 2022 at 12h52, updated at 18h42 on November 29, 2022 Le Monde

Op-Ed

'Violations of EU sanctions must be prosecuted by the European Public Prosecutor's Office'

French and German Ministers of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti and Marco Buschmann, call on Europe to ensure that the sanctions it issues are enforced.

Published on November 29, 2022 at 11h39, updated at 18h40 on November 29, 2022 Eric Dupond-Moretti Marco Buschmann

Column

'America First' is the default US strategy, rather than a mere Trump-era slogan

Joe Biden's plan to attract the investments needed for decarbonization poses a threat to European industry, in a world where geopolitics is taking precedence over regulated trade.

Published on November 29, 2022 at 10h39, updated at 10h39 on November 29, 2022 Stéphane Lauer

Op-Ed

'All immigrants are entrepreneurs'

Philippe Mustar, a professor at Mines Paris-PSL, underlines the huge role immigrants have played in entrepreneurship in the United States.

Published on November 29, 2022 at 09h54, updated at 18h41 on November 29, 2022 Philippe Mustar

In Depth

Strategic ambiguity finds renewed significance in 21st-century nuclear deterrence

Theorized by Sun Tzu as early as the sixth century BC, vagueness about the nature of a response to a military attack remains a basic rule in the deterrence playbook.

Published on November 28, 2022 at 17h26, updated at 17h26 on November 28, 2022 Marc Semo

Editorial

France should not stop at making abortion a constitutional right

The adoption of this bill with a very large majority in the Assemblée Nationale does not mask the obstacles that still make access to abortion difficult in many parts of France.

Published on November 28, 2022 at 11h28, updated at 19h06 on November 28, 2022 Le Monde

Op-Ed

Media outlets call to end Julian Assange prosecution for disclosing secrets

Five international publications, including 'Le Monde', are publishing an open letter stating that the US Government must stop prosecuting Wikileaks' publisher for 'Cablegate'.

Published on November 28, 2022 at 05h15, updated at 17h08 on November 29, 2022 Group letter

Op-Ed

Death of migrants in the Channel: 'European countries are using the law to justify their irresponsibility'

Professors Shoshana Fine and Thomas Lindemann are alarmed by European countries using the law as a justification for their failure to help migrants in distress.

Published on November 28, 2022 at 00h03, updated at 07h31 on November 28, 2022 Shoshana Fine

Investigation

Should nature have the same rights as humans? A legal revolution that could change our view of the world

The practice of granting legal personhood to rivers, lakes and other natural sources was until now limited to certain areas of countries with Indigenous populations.

Published on November 27, 2022 at 20h00, updated at 19h02 on November 28, 2022 Claire Legros

Column

'In the United States, trust in the Supreme Court has collapsed to an all-time low'

The institution controlled by a comfortable conservative majority came out on the losing end of midterm elections, explains Gilles Paris in his column for 'Le Monde'.

Published on November 27, 2022 at 14h36 Gilles Paris

News analysis

Despite handshakes, the rivalry between China and the West continues

Pictures from the recent bilateral meeting between the Chinese and American presidents in Indonesia are misleading – the conciliation is merely temporary.

Published on November 27, 2022 at 12h00, updated at 19h06 on November 28, 2022 Frédéric Lemaître

Column

'Do we have to lose European citizenship to understand the price? Ask Britons who regret Brexit'

Many Brits have experienced Brexit as something akin to an amputation, and those who can have been applying for other European passports.

Published on November 26, 2022 at 17h30, updated at 19h08 on November 28, 2022 Philippe Bernard

Editorial

FIFA is turning a blind eye to Qatar controversies

One might have expected the Italian-Swiss Gianni Infantino, head of the football association since 2016, to invite Qatar to commit to initiatives to be more progressive. Instead, the opposite has happened.

Published on November 26, 2022 at 11h38, updated at 11h39 on November 26, 2022 Le Monde

Column

'The war in Ukraine is a steamroller that crushes other crisis situations like those in Ethiopia or Haiti'

The Ethiopian conflict and the Haitian crisis are invisible in light of the attention placed on the Ukraine war, according to Jean-Philippe Rémy, head of the 'Le Monde' international section.

Published on November 26, 2022 at 05h24, updated at 11h03 on November 26, 2022 Jean-Philippe Rémy

Interview

'Faced with pollution from textile industry, we must buy as little clothing as possible'

French entrepreneur Julia Faure, co-founder of clothing brand Loom, condemns the environmental impact of the fashion industry.

Published on November 25, 2022 at 05h00, updated at 07h18 on November 25, 2022 Nabil Wakim

Editorial

The undermining of Europe's financial transparency

The European Court of Justice's decision on Tuesday to overturn a provision of the anti-money laundering directive risks plunging Europe back into financial opacity.

Published on November 24, 2022 at 12h18, updated at 12h18 on November 24, 2022 Le Monde

News analysis

Bolsonaro may have lost Brazil's presidential election, but he won the societal battle

Although Jair Bolsonaro has been discreet since his electoral defeat by Lula, the far-right movement he represents is still strongly present in Brazilian society and will weigh heavily in the country's future political life.

Published on November 24, 2022 at 10h56, updated at 10h56 on November 24, 2022 Bruno Meyerfeld

Op-Ed

Oleksandr Tkachenko: 'The civilized world must take active measures to prevent the Russian propaganda machine from winning'

Russian propaganda and 'fake news' are gaining ground, says the Ukrainian Minister of Culture. He asks Ukraine's allies to set up a network capable of responding to it.

Published on November 24, 2022 at 09h00, updated at 10h34 on November 24, 2022 Oleksandr Tkachenko

Op-Ed

Deaths in the Channel: 'Increasing the number of obstacles for border crossing only increases risks taken by refugees'

One year after the shipwreck that led to the drowning of at least 27 people, as a new Franco-British agreement is signed, a group of 65 French, British and Belgian humanitarian associations raise unacceptable failures by French and British rescue services.

Published on November 24, 2022 at 08h31, updated at 10h49 on November 24, 2022 Le Monde

Op-Ed

'Animal rights today demonstrates a growing democratic deficit'

In France, elected officials often position themselves against overwhelming public opinion on the issue of animal rights – researcher Romain Espinosa analyzes this conundrum.

Published on November 24, 2022 at 04h56, updated at 09h25 on November 24, 2022 Romain Espinosa

Op-Ed

'A company's environmental commitment is an increasingly important factor for employees'

Employees' demands seem to be divided between strengthening the gains of the 20th century and new demands in line with contemporary issues, the famous battle between the end of the month and the end of the world.

Published on November 23, 2022 at 16h20 Anthony Hussenot

Editorial

France's questionable reform on unemployment benefits

After cutting the length of unemployment benefits by 25%, the French government's reasoning behind the decision, to curb unemployment, may theoretically make sense. But the measure is not based on any serious or detailed study.

Published on November 23, 2022 at 12h51, updated at 13h02 on November 23, 2022 Le Monde

Interview

'Remote workers with children rarely leave Paris to settle in small villages'

WFH, escaping to the beach, moving to the countryside, and 'Airbnbisation': The results of a multidisciplinary study on the movements of the French population since the pandemic show nuanced trends, explains geographer Hélène Milet.

Published on November 23, 2022 at 04h08, updated at 08h47 on November 23, 2022 Jean-Laurent Cassely

Op-Ed

'Forgive us for inconveniencing you by not letting them drown'

Humanitarian leaders Isabelle Defourny and Michaël Neuman denounce France's purely security-oriented approach to controlling migration flows while brutalizing Libyan migrants, and criminalizing NGOs and volunteers.

Published on November 23, 2022 at 01h28, updated at 07h48 on November 23, 2022 Isabelle Defourny Michaël Neuman

Op-Ed

'Not letting people die at sea is a prerequisite for any migration policy reform'

The government described the rescue of the 234 passengers onboard the Ocean Viking as an 'exception.' The president of the NGO France Terre d'Asile Najat Vallaud-Belkacem writes that a migration policy cannot be 'arbitrary, peremptory and random.'

Published on November 22, 2022 at 11h56, updated at 11h56 on November 22, 2022 Najat Vallaud-Belkacem

Editorial

Cross-Channel migration: An impossible status quo

The tragedy of November 24, 2021, in which 27 migrants drowned in the English Channel, demonstrates the need for the UK to play its part in the rescue and reception of asylum seekers.

Published on November 22, 2022 at 11h12 Le Monde

News analysis

With the World Cup in Qatar, football is undergoing a new endurance test

Football has already had to overcome hardships during its history and it has also had to manage the economic transformation of its model. The World Cup in Qatar represents another challenge, as controversies around the event have multiplied.

Published on November 22, 2022 at 10h53, updated at 14h52 on November 22, 2022 Gabriel Richalot

Op-Ed

'France's failure to innovate has significantly contributed to its loss of competitiveness'

In an op-ed, economists Philippe Aghion and Céline Antonin advocate a strong increase in funding and compensation for French research.

Published on November 22, 2022 at 07h00, updated at 07h00 on November 22, 2022 Philippe Aghion Céline Antonin

Op-Ed

European Space Program: 'The universal presence of space in our daily lives makes it a tool of sovereignty and a powerful lever for growth'

Philippe Baptiste, President and CEO of the French National Center for Space Studies, discusses the economic, scientific, military and environmental considerations for the European Space Agency (ESA), whose budget will be discussed on November 22 and 23.

Published on November 22, 2022 at 05h05, updated at 09h08 on November 22, 2022 Philippe Baptiste

Op-Ed

'I must boycott this World Cup, it represents the proven manifestation of Qatar's soft power'

Passionate about football, the sports historian explains why he feels required to boycott an event tainted by the mourning of thousands of workers and a source of 'ecological waste' in a country that discriminates against women and minorities.

Published on November 21, 2022 at 17h28, updated at 17h29 on November 21, 2022 Laurent Grün

Op-Ed

Protecting children's rights in a digital world: 'We need to teach them how to identify online risks'

'All children deserve the chance to thrive in a digital environment,' argue Dubravka Šuica, Vice President of the European Commission for Democracy and Demography, Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market, and Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF.

Published on November 21, 2022 at 12h49, updated at 12h49 on November 21, 2022 Dubravka Šuica Thierry Breton Catherine Russell

Editorial

COP27, between hope and despair

Western countries recognized in Sharm El-Sheikh on Saturday their need to financially support those most vulnerable to climate change. But the huge promise must not be used as an excuse to procrastinate in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Published on November 21, 2022 at 11h56 Le Monde

Op-Ed

'Qatar's PSG takeover has not strengthened French football'

Ten years after Qatar bought the Paris club, other French teams are yet to benefit from any trickle-down effect, say economist Jean-Pascal Gayant and sports journalist Stéphane Guy.

Published on November 20, 2022 at 18h15 Stéphane Guy Jean-Pascal Gayant

Editorial

The Iranian regime is racing toward the abyss

The protests that have shaken Iran for the past two months represent a multitude of resentments, but the government is concerned only with maintaining its own position.

Published on November 19, 2022 at 13h12, updated at 13h12 on November 19, 2022 Le Monde

News analysis

The apocalyptic world depicted by Eastern European film directors

Among Eastern European filmmakers the crimes of the past – which are most often anti-Semitic – are resurfacing in an explosion of hatred of the other.

Published on November 19, 2022 at 04h30, updated at 04h30 on November 19, 2022 Jacques Mandelbaum

Op-Ed

'Nuclear power is one of the most expensive energies, and it makes France dependent on Russia'

Cost, environment, nuclear risk: Corinne Lepage, France's former environment minister, says there are several 'false truths' about nuclear power in France that should be cleared up.

Published on November 18, 2022 at 20h25 Corinne Lepage

News analysis

Xi-Trudeau spat: A further deterioration in Canada-China relations

A verbal spat between Xi Jinping and Justin Trudeau has exposed the tensions between the two countries. The Canadian prime minister is pushing for democracies to break free from economic dependence on China.

Published on November 18, 2022 at 14h49, updated at 15h13 on November 18, 2022 Hélène Jouan

Editorial

World Cup 2022: A mirror on the world's woes

The belated outrage over the location of the competition shows how Western countries bought into the Qatari mirage.

Published on November 18, 2022 at 12h55, updated at 12h55 on November 18, 2022 Le Monde

Op-Ed

'FIFA can no longer capitalize on the universality of football to avoid a profound introspection'

Unless they want to appear to be out of touch, at the end of such a much-criticized World Cup, the leaders of the International Football Federation will no longer be able to ignore environmental, societal and governance imperatives.

Published on November 18, 2022 at 03h57, updated at 08h08 on November 18, 2022 Cédric Landu

News analysis

The war in Ukraine, a major 'third nuclear age' crisis

On November 9, President Macron clarified his assessment of the French deterrence policy, in view of the war in Ukraine.

Published on November 18, 2022 at 02h15, updated at 09h01 on November 18, 2022 Elise Vincent

Editorial

Artemis 1 and the dream of a human presence on the moon

Wednesday's launch of the $93 billion Artemis exploration program marks the beginning of America's attempt to return to the Moon, a prelude to their mission to go to Mars.

Published on November 17, 2022 at 14h51 Le Monde

Op-Ed

'Musk's Twitter takeover is part of an intense struggle over the limits of the US Constitution'

The American billionaire's decision to guarantee a rigorous vision of freedom of expression on the social network clashes with some expectations. But it is also part of a legal and ideological battle that the conservatives could win.

Published on November 17, 2022 at 11h34, updated at 11h56 on November 17, 2022 Kamel El Hilali

Column

'Like rape and the destruction of power plants, culture is another weapon of war for Russia'

The looting of museums by the Russian occupation forces is a new example of the ultimate objective pursued by Vladimir Putin: To erase the Ukrainian identity, says journalist Sylvie Kauffmann in her column.

Published on November 17, 2022 at 10h51, updated at 11h12 on November 17, 2022 Sylvie Kauffmann

News analysis

French government trapped by its own rhetoric on immigration

In France, the near-systematic issuing of deportation orders means that the enforcement rate is low. But the government insists its method is efficient.

Published on November 17, 2022 at 04h46, updated at 04h47 on November 17, 2022 Julia Pascual

Editorial

Time to regulate cryptocurrencies

The collapse of FTX, one of the world's leading cryptocurrency trading platforms, is the result of a cocktail of blind spots, negligence and a toxic context.

Published on November 16, 2022 at 20h30, updated at 21h23 on November 16, 2022 Le Monde

Op-Ed

'Space can help us meet the challenges of climate change'

Director of the European Space Agency Josef Aschbacher and astronaut Thomas Pesquet explain how satellites can help with the management of water, energy and agriculture.

Published on November 16, 2022 at 18h03, updated at 18h03 on November 16, 2022 Josef Aschbacher Thomas Pesquet

Op-Ed

'Israeli populism is completely in line with European populism or Trumpism in the United States'

The sociological and ideological fractures of Israeli society mark the return of Netanyahu and the right to power, according to political scientist Ilan Greilsammer.

Published on November 16, 2022 at 16h59, updated at 18h30 on November 16, 2022 Ilan Greilsammer

Op-Ed

'It is now more urgent than ever to reach an agreement to create a tax on financial transactions'

Experts from around the world argue that a tax on financial transactions would be a decisive global step in the fight against climate change.

Published on November 16, 2022 at 09h52, updated at 18h31 on November 16, 2022 Group letter

Op-Ed

'China is not an inconsequential industrial partner'

Looking at the example of German car manufacturers, researchers François Chimits and Gregor Sebastian warn European manufacturers not to be overly dependent on China.

Published on November 16, 2022 at 07h00 Gregor Sebastian François Chimits

Op-Ed

'The third political force in Israel represents what we must reluctantly call 'Jewish fascism''

While Benyamin Netanyahu is a 'conventional' right-wing populist, his new partner in the coalition, Itamar Ben-Gvir, is 'beyond populism,' claiming violence as a legitimate recourse to defend 'the land, the nation and God,' explains Franco-Israeli sociologist Eva Illouz in an op-ed in 'Le Monde.'

Published on November 16, 2022 at 04h56, updated at 04h56 on November 16, 2022 Eva Illouz

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