Air France KLM's new A380 jumbo jet is parked during its press preview on the day it was delivered, Oct. 30. (Mildrade Cherfils/GlobalPost)
A short hop on a big plane
GlobalPost hitches a ride on Air France KLM's first A380. Next stop? New York.
PARIS, France — Instead of smashing a champagne bottle over a new airplane’s nose, the tradition in aviation for christening an aircraft, or so the flight captain told passengers, is to give it a full hosing down at the end of its first outing.
And so it was with Air France's new A380, the first of the world’s largest passenger jets to join the AirFrance KLM fleet. On...
Recent on France:
When a Muslim soccer team won't play a gay one
Mildrade Cherfils - France - October 20, 2009 20:09 ET
The refusal by Creteil Bebel to play Paris Foot Gay leads to public outcry in France.
A Big Mona with fries?
Mort Rosenblum - France - October 16, 2009 09:13 ET
Escoffier, Brillat-Savarin and, yes, Julia Child would turn over in their graves at the state of French food.
Analysis: Bokova will need goodwill at Unesco
Mort Rosenblum - Diplomacy - October 15, 2009 10:27 ET
The new Unesco director general, a Bulgarian, takes over after a controversial selection process.
On Location: Paris — Kinder, gentler strike season
Ben Barnier - France - October 15, 2009 09:26 ET
The globalization of art
William Dowell - France - October 11, 2009 08:26 ET
At the Lyon Biennale, international artists make us feel uncomfortable.
In Lyon, the spectacle of everyday life
William Dowell - France - October 11, 2009 08:20 ET
Planet Health Care
Thomas Mucha - Commerce - October 10, 2009 11:19 ET
As debate rages in Washington, the answers are out there. You just need to know where to look.
Why France Telecom employees are killing themselves
Mildrade Cherfils - France - October 10, 2009 07:49 ET
In their suicide notes, some of the 24 victims since February 2008 blame the workplace climate.
Calais: No good options
Mildrade Cherfils - France - October 7, 2009 11:22 ET
The saga of migrants stuck in Calais continued in September with a raid on their camp.
Calais: A lace-making town frayed by immigration
Mildrade Cherfils - France - October 7, 2009 11:21 ET
For a long time immigrants, and smugglers, have made Calais their destination in continental Europe.
Calais: Evidence of a broken immigration system
Mildrade Cherfils - France - October 7, 2009 11:10 ET
It is why people travel from Africa, Asia and the Middle East all the way to the edge of France and then stop.
Calais: Two sides of the same street
Mildrade Cherfils - France - October 7, 2009 11:08 ET
One side's plight is the other side's cause in this small French city where migrants gather in hopes of reaching the United Kingdom.
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Analysis: Obama strikes a tough tone on Iran
C.M. Sennott - Worldview - September 30, 2009 18:50 ET
But the diplomacy needed to get Iran to halt its nuclear program will require more than tone.
If Jon Stewart were French, he'd be loving this
Mort Rosenblum - Worldview - September 29, 2009 13:28 ET
Trial of the century or not, France is enjoying the spectacle of the Clearstream affair.
G20 Pittsburgh: They meet again
Michael Goldfarb - Worldview - September 22, 2009 06:13 ET
Opinion: The world does not hold its breath.
Iftar dinner, with a side of politics
Mildrade Cherfils - France - September 19, 2009 13:51 ET
Ramadan in France brings together Muslim and non-Muslim political leaders.
Keeping wine out of the red
Cathy Huyghe - France - September 7, 2009 08:39 ET
In the face of the economic crisis, Alex Gambal is hitting the tarmac to sell his wine.
The Airbus v. Boeing slugfest
Thomas Mucha - Commerce - September 6, 2009 13:48 ET
It's about subsidies. But only on the surface.
Are culture and democracy inseparable?
Mildrade Cherfils - France - September 1, 2009 06:22 ET
The French support a myriad of summer festivals, from open-air cinema to pig squealing.
Global Blogs:
Elysée In the Rap Business
French Politics - France - November 7, 2009 15:23 ET
Did the Elysée intervene to get assistance to Pierre Sarkozy, Jean's brother, a rap producer? If so, you've got to give Sarko credit for a thick skin:“I’m not a Sarkozy guy, I don’t give a s***,” said Poison, whose name is pronounced the English way. “The guy [Pierre...
My American Market
Jennieen France - France - November 7, 2009 02:57 ET
Win a 40–euro gift basket of your favorite American treats! Are you struggling to satisfy your cravings because you are: - Embarrassed to ask your family and friends for one more favor? - Fed up with products that melted or broke during the transatlantic trip? - ...
Bienvenue en France, Franck (et la flu)!
Laura Bradbury, Author, "The Grape Journal" blog - France - November 5, 2009 23:01 ET
In about an hour Franck will be boarding an airplane like this to fly himself and potentially the flu virus to France. Although he still hasn't come down with any symptoms I cannot - from the sheer...
Mutual Admiration Society Film Festival?
Polly-vous Francais - France - November 4, 2009 08:48 ET
Let's face it, folks. We really do love each other, the U.S. and France. Or at least we are endlessly fascinated with each other. And there's no sign of this mutual admiration's waning. Au contraire.Here's a bit of culture news that caught my eye. ...
I like the prime minister of NZ
AKiwi inFrance - France - November 3, 2009 10:47 ET
he seems so down to earth...He gave a great speech at the 2009 World Class New Zealand Awards. Kea New Zealand is a network for New Zealanders living overseas (a Kea is also a native bird of NZ), which I regularly receive update emails about functions and news of NZers living...
The Other Woman's Name is Georgette.
FrenchKiss ProvenceStyle - France - November 2, 2009 07:42 ET
A has started his own Levain. Georgette is her name... I named her because she is taken care of often with regular care. Georgette gets hungry every couple of days, after a week of eating, she is 4 times her size, then she needs to be used. When A uses...
Nepotism...
Ask a Frenchman - France - November 1, 2009 14:38 ET
A special nepotistic post today (after all nepotism is back in fashion in France) to tell you about two blogs.First of all, let me introduce you the latest born of the growing list of the "Ask a [insert nationality here]" blogs . Today, please welcome about our "community": Ask...
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Reporter's Notebook
In tributes acknowledging his contribution to intellectual life in France and the world, Claude Levi-Strauss has been called a “giant,”...Read more >
A composed and bespectacled Jean Sarkozy announced during a television interview that he would no longer seek to head the agency that managed one of...Read more >
A 23-year-old second-year law school student is being considered for the job of leading an agency that manages an important financial district that...Read more >
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