EU BLAME GAME

The Times (UK)

J’accuse: Peter Mandelson rounds on Nicolas Sarkozy

There’s been finger-pointing in Brussels over the future of the EU, following Ireland’s “no” vote on the EU reform treaty. In one tiff, French President Nicolas Sarkozy partly blames British Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelsohn and his liberal trade policies, linking them to a worsening of world hunger. Mandelsohn has hit back, calling Sarkozy insincere, accusing him of propping up French farming interests, and saying Sarkozy's comments were unbecoming of someone set to take over the EU’s rotating presidency in just 10 days.

RISING OIL PRICES

Libération (France)
Faced with expensive oil, aviation pushing for green fuels

Rising oil prices have been making the headlines for months, and there’s of course talk of possible fuel alternatives… including using seaweed to fuel airplanes. It’s one idea at the inaugural Green Aviation Fair in Paris. While biofuels offer the most promising alternative so far, they’ve been accused of redirecting food into fuel. The kind of seaweed in question meanwhile is not a food source, and cultivating it would not generate more of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. One expert in the article says even an area the size of Belgium could provide enough seaweed to power the world’s fleet of planes, but it seems the technology would not be up and running before 2015.

10-YEAR-OLD GETS A DIVORCE

Le Figaro (France)
Nojoud, age 10, divorced in Yemen

This is portrait of a 10-year-old girl in Yemen, who had been forced into marrying a man three times her age, and been sexually and physically abused by him. Seeking a way out, with the support of human rights activists and local newspapers, she filed for divorce – and won. It’s a first in Yemen, where many young girls are still forced into early marriage, despite a law requiring girls to be 15 years old before they are wed. Nojoud’s success has turned her into a role model for other underage girls in Yemen forced into marriage and seeking recourse.

FETE DE LA MUSIQUE

Brisbane Times (Australia)
What’s on – June 21

June 21st is summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. Meanwhile it’s winter Down Under, on the other side of the world – but that hasn’t stopped Brisbane, one of Australia’s capital cities, joining the Fete de la Musique party.

Fete de la Musique officially started here in France 26 years ago; now more than 100 countries in Europe and round the world hold the event. Happening in Brisbane for the first time, the inaugural event is host to 300 music acts, all sorts of music styles, including a headline group of French musicians from New Caledonia.