Concerns over the fate of Syrian children. Social networks playing a pivotal role in the US presidential campaign. And an interactive map collating information on the world’s biodiversity.
Maurice Sendak (pictured left), the author and illustrator of beloved children’s books such as “Where the Wild Things Are” and “In the Night Kitchen”, died early on Tuesday at a hospital in the US state of Connecticut at the age of 83.
Over a period of decades, as many as 150,000 newborn babies in Spain were stolen from their mothers. The latter were told that their children had died during birth, although they were never shown the bodies. The stolen infants were put up for adoption by families deemed suitable by General Franco's regime. This complex web of deception involving doctors, nurses and nuns continued long after 1975, when Franco died. Our correspondents report from Spain.
The Republican presidential race continues to be a hard-fought battle. We look at the social issues which have risen to the fore, as the hopefuls try to woo the right wing. Next, our reporters take us down the "narco tunnels" criss-crossing the ground under the US-Mexico border. Finally, an American author has taken the child-rearing tips she learned in France across the Atlantic, trying to sell the Gallic approach to her fellow Americans.
German weekly Der Spiegel is reporting that some conservative European leaders have made a pact not to meet up with François Hollande before the elections. Meanwhile, Ikea France has been accused of spying on its staff and on disgruntled customers. Finally, girls in France are being damaged by the over-sexualisation of society. This is according to a report by a French senator from the ruling conservative party.
A report commissioned by the French government has called for a ban on "Mini-Miss" beauty pageants and children’s lingerie in the wake of a worldwide controversy over a Vogue magazine cover featuring a provocative image of a 10-year-old girl.
They have been abused, exploited or abandoned: in Burundi, children are paying the price for the violence perpetrated by adults. In the town of Ruyigi, one woman is fighting to give them the chance of a better future. Marguerite Barankitse has been taking in orphans, treating the sick and educating the young for the past 20 years.
Our guest on today's show is American mom-in-Paris Pamela Druckerman. She explains what she’s learned from bringing up bébé in France, and as her book title says, "Why French Children Don’t Throw Food". Also on the programe: priceless Mayan masks from Mexico go on show in Paris despite an international diplomatic spat, French designer Joseph Altuzarra wows New York fashion week, and OK Go are back with another crazy music video.
Syria is still the focus of today's international papers - but we also look at Rick Santorum's surprise win in the Republican primaries, the role of the untouchables in Indian politics, and how rich Chinese couples get around the one-child rule.
December sees two beloved children's books become blockbusters. We're sharing our thoughts on the originals, "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer and "The invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick. We're not convinced by the latest in the 'Twilight' saga and its teenage vampire angst. However, Selznick's brilliant and stunning graphic novel would make the perfect Christmas gift.
