Benjamin Schmuck
Comic timing
France has an august tradition of homegrown comic-book heroes but its rising stars now are Japanese.
Testing times
What happens if all commutes are free? Or you make young people do national service? Or even pay people for doing nothing at all? We find out.
French touch
From poodles on album covers to Hermès neckerchiefs, Corine embodies a new wave of French electro-pop artists reclaiming the '70s with organic live sound, personal lyrics and unapologetic glamour.
Express yourself
Learning a language can be arduous but a dramatic approach is finding a captive audience in Paris.
Born to boogie
Tel Aviv loves to dance all day and night in bars, clubs and cafés – and on the streets. The best news? Everyone is welcome to the party.
Shifting sands
Sleepy Mediterranean towns become high-fashion havens each summer. But with the Russians gone, can you still make big money from small bikinis?
