Stories Western Europe

Breaking News: Bush Ducks Shoes

  December 15, 2008

It was an incident that lasted a mere 12 seconds. But as soon as bloggers the world over watched Muntadar Al Zeidi throw not one, but both his shoes, at US President George W Bush in a Press conference held in Iraq today, reactions - several in 140 characters or less in the Twittersphere - spread faster than you could say ‘footwear’ … twice.

Obama's Senate Seat for Sale!

  December 10, 2008

President-elect Barack Obama's Illinois senate seat is vacant - and up for sale for the highest bidder. Bloggers from around the world chime in to catch up on the action after Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested and charged by the FBI of corruption in the selection of Obama's successor for the empty Senate seat.

An Open Letter to Obama on Racism in Denmark

  December 4, 2008

Two popular Danish writers and provocateurs, Jakob Holdt and Rune Engelbreth Larsen, have created a video letter to president-elect Barack Obama asking him to do something about the growing amount of racism against Muslims in Danish politics and media.

France: From “Yes we Can!” to “Yes you Must!”

  December 3, 2008

Amazed Parisians are still reeling after discovering billboards featuring President Sarkozy, pictured as U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, after Shepard Fairey's famous poster, with the wonders working comment Yes We Can! Suzanne Lehn gives us a chronological break down of what happened and how the Yes We Can slogan became Yes We Must!

Malian Artists, American Politics & Guns N’ Roses

  December 2, 2008

Inauguration day on January 20, 2009, shapes up to be an event to remember for many historical reasons. One of the more mundane reasons will be the invitation extended by president elect Barack Obama to the Malian duo Amadou et Mariam. Lova Rakotomalala connects the dots between music, art and American politics in this post.

Global: On Obama's Cabinet Choices

  November 21, 2008

Two weeks since Barack Obama was elected president and a little less than eight weeks away from his inauguration, and world bloggers have commented on every move the he’s been making and every post he’s assigned.

Sarkozy to Putin: “Do you want to end up like Bush?”

  November 15, 2008

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and former Russian president Vladimir Putin are known for having a colorful and unpredictable relationship. Has Sarkozy's warning to Putin not to behave like the American president George W Bush been a factor in not escalating the crisis in Georgia? Bloggers from around Europe weigh in.

Global: Palin for 2012?

  November 13, 2008

With less than two weeks away from the closing of the 2008 election, talk about Sarah Palin running in 2012 is already hitting the blogosphere. In the Netherlands, Michael van der Galien writes it is obvious the Republican Party has already set plans for the next presidential election. “But the...

France: “Diversity” Boosted by the Obama Effect?

  November 12, 2008

“The Obama effect,” the new set phrase for change French-style, from economics to sports to nearly every area of life, is shaking up the literary as well as the political communities. Whatever the agenda displayed by those concerned, diversity – meant as the contrary of discrimination in jobs, society, politics,...

Social Media and The Making of the President

  November 9, 2008

How influential was the web in this year's presidential election? Many onlookers and supporters of Barack Obama claim the President-Elect's mastery of video, audio and blogs helped him win the vote. A few international bloggers debate the role social media played in Obama's victory.