French cuisine
If you’ve ever wondered why spicy foreign cuisines seem dumbed-down and bland in restaurants in France, have a look at this piece (The Local) on the French aversion to spices.
Covid vaccinations in France
France has a vaccination plan of sorts (France 24), but the country is full of anti-vaxxers, and around half of the population says they won’t get the shot(s) (France 24).
Giscard succumbs to Covid
Former French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing passed away last week at the age of 94 (Guardian).
Living in France
For those who want to live the dream of living in France, this article (The Local) scouts out the cheapest areas.
Heartwarming (and free) way to practice French
Here’s a great idea: put lonely older French people in touch with French learners anywhere in the world through Skype. (The Local).
Police powers, censorship and facial recognition
Although France has dropped a controversial clause in its proposed Global Security Bill, violent demonstrations against it took place again last weekend. Now an artwork that was banned in France because it showed the faces of police officers is being exhibited in Berlin (The Art Newspaper).
Are the French better bakers?
The Great British Bake Off is hugely popular in the UK, but The Local claims the French version, Le Meilleur Pâtissier, is better than the British original.
The DSK story
Just as director Jalil Lespert’s four-part series Room 2806, a documentary on the sexual assault allegations against French politician and former International Monetary Fund Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn starts on Netflix, the man himself announces that he is planning his own documentary for 2021 (France 24).