Francois Hollande

Two women are shown hugging each other with the entrance and red-lettered sign of the Bataclan concert hall in the background.

Emotions raw before Paris trial for ISIS carnage

The survivors of the ISIS attack on Paris the night of Nov. 13, 2015, and those who mourn the 130 dead, are bracing for the long-awaited trial set to begin Wednesday.

Emotions raw before Paris trial for ISIS carnage
A member of a tank crew from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic Army sits on top of a tank at a checkpoint on the road from the town of Vuhlehirsk to Debaltseve on February 18, 2015.

How judo master Putin has outmaneuvered the West over Ukraine's ceasefire

How judo master Putin has outmaneuvered the West over Ukraine's ceasefire
French police officers pay respects at a national tribute in Paris to the three officers who fell during last week's attacks by Islamic militants.

France is ‘at war’ with Islamists, says prime minister

France is ‘at war’ with Islamists, says prime minister
The leaders of Israel, Mali, France and Germany at the peace rally in Paris

Why Obama wasn't in Paris

Why Obama wasn't in Paris
Police and rescue crews respond to the scene near where a man drove a van into a crowd, injuring 10 people, some seriously wounded, in Nantes, December 22, 2014.

France endures deadly attacks, but can't decide if they're terrorism

France endures deadly attacks, but can't decide if they're terrorism

The French president separates his D-Day allies when it comes to dinner

French President Francois Hollande won't go hungry Thursday night. He will host two separate state dinners — one for President Obama and another for Russian President Vladimir Putin. A White House chef explains the dance between food, politics and diplomacy.

The French president separates his D-Day allies when it comes to dinner
France's far-right National Front political party leader Marine Le Pen, center, prepares to cast her ballot at a polling station during the first round of the French mayoral elections in Henin Beaumont, Northern France, March 23, 2014.

French voters toss out the status quo in local elections

French elections this past weekend have shaken up the political system. A prime minister resigned, a woman-immigrant was elected mayor of Paris for the first time, and a far-right fringe party may be gaining some serious traction among voters.

French voters toss out the status quo in local elections

The French president turns to a rap expert to give his speeches more punch

Francois Hollande can't catch a break. He's not only unpopular, but people say he's boring. The answer? A new speechwriter, who is also a rapper. And Pakistanis are buzzing about a new $600 designer shoe that looks a lot like a popular $6 Pakistani sandal. Also, is an Indian guru dead or just in a deep meditation? All that, in today's Global Scan.

The French president turns to a rap expert to give his speeches more punch
French President François Hollande

A friend of François Hollande says he wanted a 'Chinese Wall' between his public and private life

Hours before French President François Hollande announced his separation from First Lady, he sat down for an interview with Time Magazine's Vivienne Walt.

A friend of François Hollande says he wanted a 'Chinese Wall' between his public and private life
Julie Gayet at Deauville

What the French president's affair and separation say about love, politics and French culture

This weekend, French President François Hollande confirmed that he is separating from his partner Valérie Trierweiler. The French seemed to shrug at the news of Hollande's affair with actress Julie Gayet, seeing love and politics as separate. But France's neighbors and its former colonies don't necessarily agree.

What the French president's affair and separation say about love, politics and French culture

At least President Hollande's scandal is entirely domestic

French President François Hollande is having a hard time getting any traction with his political agenda. Meanwhile, US officials are having a tough time moving past the diplomatic row with India over a diplomat accused of mistreating her housekeeper. And in Italy, a politician is finally saying enough is enough — with the racism she faces.

At least President Hollande's scandal is entirely domestic
French President François Hollande

My affair? Next question...

François Hollande has long been under pressure for his policies. Now, he's under pressure around the details of an affair. Perhaps he needs a lesson from Abdul Saboor, praised as "Afghanistan's most honest man" in a country known for corruption. And is a woman on a swing a bit enticing? Some in Saudi Arabia say yes and want to stop it. All that and more, in today's Global Scan.

My affair? Next question...

Why all the fuss about French President François Hollande's alleged affair?

French tabloid "Closer" exposed an alleged affair between French President François Hollande and a French actress. Hollande isn't the first French president to stray, though he isn't married, so why is this alleged affair causing such a stir?

Why all the fuss about French President François Hollande's alleged affair?
New citizens are naturalized during a ceremony in Oakland, California, on August 13, 2013.

Could you pass the test? International citizenship tests are often more interested in cultural quirks than national knowledge

At some level, all countries push new citizens to integrate and that's where civics and language citizenship tests come in. But when you take a longer look at how citizenship exams are developed worldwide, you realize they can have less to do with methodology than promoting a strict cultural identity.

Could you pass the test? International citizenship tests are often more interested in cultural quirks than national knowledge
Russian President Vladimir Putin sings "Blueberry Hill" at a fundraiser, 2010

Know your foreign accents? Try picking these global leaders just from the sound of their English

Try to identify five world leaders just from an audio clip of each speaking in English

Know your foreign accents? Try picking these global leaders just from the sound of their English