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Al-Ahram Weekly
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Maghreb books in Paris - Culture - Al-Ahram Weekly
This year's Maghreb des Livres Book Fair, the 31st, organised by the French association Coup de soleil, saw people from across the French capital and further afield make a bee line for the Paris City Hall for the two days of the event on 28 and 29 June. This was despite the high temperatures that reigned across France like much of the rest of Europe during the last week of June and the first week of July, causing visitors to the Fair to resort to impromptu cooling methods that included fanning themselves with newspapers or magazines or, for those who had come better prepared, using the handheld electric fans that have spread like a rash across the French capital, almost displacing other devices like otherwise ubiquitous mobile phones. Some of the speakers on the panels attended by the Weekly seemed to be visibly wilting in the heat, though they valiantly roused themselves when it was their turn to speak. Elsewhere at the Fair and in addition to the panels there was the usual mix of author talks and interviews, book signings, and discussions, many of them related to Algeria, the guest of honour at this year's event. Perhaps attendance was slightly down on what it had been in previous years but given the high temperatures and the lack of ventilation in the Paris City Hall, a creaking 19th-century building that seemed to be suffering in the heat, Coup de soleil is to be congratulated on another memorable edition of this event, now running since 1994. One of main aims of the Maghreb des Livres is to give visitors the opportunity to purchase books on the Arab Maghreb countries of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia that they might not otherwise have come across. Unlike some larger book fairs aimed predominantly at a professional audience, the Maghreb des Livres is aimed at the general public, and all the books on show are for sale. Another main aim of the Fair and one of its main selling points is that in addition to books authors are also very much in evidence, with this year's sample including some 125 authors of books on or from the Maghreb countries signing copies of their works and in some cases also giving interviews about them. Judging by the visitor profile on the day the Weekly visited, there was a wide range of different age groups. The Paris bookstore Tiers-mythe had brought together a large selection of books in French on the Maghreb, either by French authors or by francophone Maghreb ones, for the pop-up bookstore occupying the main hall of the Paris City Hall. Trade seemed to be brisk, no doubt helped by the end of the need to handle cash – almost everyone in France now seems to pay by mobile phone – and there was a mix of older and newer titles. Among the older titles on display were works by the first generation of Algerian writers, discounting the earlier French writers who also lived in and wrote about Algeria, which included the now canonical figures of Mohamed Dib, Mouloud Feraoun, Kateb Yacine, Assia Djebar, and many others who typically wrote about their country during the years leading up to and during the Algerian War of Independence in the 1950s. All of these writers wrote in French, still a major literary language in Algeria today but one now sharing the limelight with Arabic, and, to an increasing extent, also Algerian Berber. Today, their classic works are available in inexpensive paperback editions such as those offered to readers at the Maghreb des Livres Fair. The works of members of this foundational generation or generations, often thematising aspects of Algerian history and identity as these struck writers who were themselves making important contributions to the independence struggle against France, have come in for renewed scrutiny by subsequent generations of readers in recent years. They are eager to know more about how things felt at the time these works were written and to compare their perceptions, and predictions, to later developments. The works of the Franco-Algerian novelist Albert Camus, a member of the European community in Algeria before the country's independence, have been re-examined both in France and in Algeria, for example, not so much for what they have to say about Camus's much-vaunted philosophical views, explained in essays such as Le Mythe de Sisyphe and in some of his novels, but about his Algerian background. Camus played a significant role in the early years of the Algerian Independence War, later falling silent as opinions polarised and his favoured solution of peaceful co-existence between Algeria's then Arab and Berber and European communities seemed less and less likely to be achieved. He wrote a great deal about Algeria, some of it collected in readily available essay collections, as well as Le Premier Homme, a semi-autobiographical novel about childhood in Algiers, for some readers perhaps his best. Much the same thing could be said of the Martinican psychiatrist Frantz Fanon, whose works on Algeria and the Algerian independence struggle, written while, but mostly after, his appointment at the Blida Psychiatric Hospital in what was at the time French Algeria, have found a new lease of life in universities across the United States, where they have been incorporated into the academic discipline of Post-Colonial Studies. As anyone who has read Fanon's Algerian books will know, they consist of essays on various themes including the Algerian national struggle, colonial rule and psychiatric disorders, the formation of Algerian national identity in the post-independence period, and Algerian women and the Islamic headscarf or veil. In the last years of his life, Fanon became a kind of staff-writer on El Moudjahid, the French-language newspaper produced in Tunis by the Front de Libération nationale (FLN), the Algerian independence movement, where his role was to explain the actions of the FLN to an international audience. His books, put together in a hurry by his editors, or consisting of material for which he may not have always wished to be remembered, have at last been receiving proper editorial attention in recent years, though there is still a long way to go. A major new set of previously unpublished materials by Fanon was published in France in 2018 under the title of Ecrits sur l'aliénation et la liberté. This was used by his US biographer Adam Shatz in his well-received 2024 biography of Fanon, adding additional perspectives to the standard work by David Macey. The French translation of Shatz's book was on display at this year's Maghreb des Livres, along with a selection of other recent books in French on Fanon bearing witness to the growing interest in this important Martinican and by adoption Algerian author. Books on display: Browsing through the books on display at this year's Fair, there were several intriguing new or new-ish publications on Fanon and other members of the foundational generations that caught the eye, Shatz's new biography, for example, widely reviewed in English and now also in French translation, along with Alice Cherki's Frantz Fanon, Portrait, now available in an inexpensive paperback edition. Cherki, an Algerian psychoanalyst still practicing in Paris, worked with Fanon during his time at the Blida Psychiatric Hospital and has since published various memoirs. The respected review Algérie Littérature Action (Marsa Editions), renamed A Littérature Action since its relocation to Paris from Algiers, was presenting its latest number focused on re-readings of the work of Camus, while another review, Awal, a journal of Berber studies founded by the Algerian Berber writer Mouloud Mammeri, was presenting its latest number dedicated to Mouloud Feraoun. One of the most important of the Algerian Berber writers of the older generation, and perhaps best known for Le Fils du pauvre, a memoir of childhood in the Kabyle region of Algeria, and his journal for the years 1955 to 1962, Feraoun was assassinated by French paramilitaries in Algeria in 1962. Other books that caught the Weekly's eye included new books in French on Palestine and the war on Gaza by well-known French writers on the Middle East. Jean-Pierre Filiu, a professor at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po), was represented by Un Historien à Gaza, a first-hand account of life in Gaza under Israeli bombardment, while journalists Alain Gresh and Edwy Plenel, appearing later in the day on a panel on developments in the Middle East, had contributed books entitled Palestine, un people qui ne veut pas mourir and Palestine, notre blessure, respectively. More focused on France and French relations with the Maghreb were recent works by historian Benjamin Stora, born in Algeria but coming to France as a child, on Algerian history (L'Algérie en guerre, 1954-1962), francophone Algerian writer Kamel Daoud's latest novel Houris, which refers to events in Algeria in the civil-war decade of the 1990s (the so-called 'Black Decade') and won the prestigious Prix Goncourt in 2024, and, by a writer originally from neighbouring Tunisia, professor of literature and journalist Abdelwahab Meddeb's posthumously published Vers l'Orient, travel notes on destinations as different as Tangiers, Cairo, and Kyoto. Meddeb came to international attention for his book La Maladie de l'Islam, translated into English as Islam and its Discontents in 2004, but he was probably best known to French audiences for his weekly programme Cultures d'Islam on the radio station France Culture that attracted a large audience. Other books that the Weekly made a mental note of included French anthropologist Fabien Truong's Grands ensemble: Violence, solidarité et ressentiment dans les quartiers populaires, an investigation of one of the suburbs surrounding French cities that are home to many people of North African or African heritage and can be seen as suffering from more than their fair share of social problems, Franco-Tunisian researcher Hajer Ben Boubaker's prize-winning Barbès Blues: Une histoire populaire de l'immigration maghrébine, a look at North African communities in the Barbes area of Paris, and Elias Sanbar's essay-length La dernière guerre? Palestine, 7 octobre 2023-2 avril 2024. Sanbar co-founded the Revue d'études palestiniennes (Journal of Palestine Studies) in 1981 and was the journal's editor-in-chief for 25 years. He is the former Palestinian ambassador to the UN cultural agency UNESCO. As is often the case at Paris events of this kind, while this year's Maghreb des Livres will have given visitors a valuable overview of books appearing in French on the Maghreb countries and to a lesser extent on aspects of the wider Middle East, there was little from the region. While some provision had been made for various titles to be brought in from Algiers, with the Algiers publishers Casbah Editions and Samar Editions contributing books, as well as El Amir Editions (based in the French port city of Marseilles), it was hard to feel that what was available represented more than a small fraction of production. There was little or nothing in Arabic. Before leaving this year's Maghreb Book Fair, the Weekly attended a panel discussion featuring Alain Gresh and Edwy Plenel, as well as French academic Agnes Levallois and journalist Beatrice Ores, on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. A second discussion on L'Algérie en resistance, d'Abdel-Kader à Fanon featuring a range of speakers including Alice Cherki had to be abandoned after a power cut caused by the heat led to the clearing of the building. Maghreb des Livres, 28-29 June, Paris. * A version of this article appears in print in the 24 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
News18
6 days ago
- Business
- News18
Number of employed people in India rose to 64.33 cr in FY24 from 47.5 cr in FY18
New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) The number of employed people in the country rose to 64.33 crore in 2023-24 from 47.5 crore in 2017-18, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje informed Lok Sabha on Thursday citing RBI data. According to a written reply by the Minister of State for Labour & Employment, 'The KLEMS (K: Capital, L: Labour, E: Energy, M: Materials and S: Services)' database published by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) provides employment estimates, including manufacturing sector, at all-India level. Further, she told the House that as per the latest annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) reports, the estimated female Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for persons of age 15 years and above, during 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 was 28.7 per cent, 31.4 per cent, 31.7 per cent, 35.9 per cent and 40.3 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the labour ministry had dismissed a media report which raised doubt on accuracy of official jobless data. The ministry said that PLFS is globally recognized as an empirical and statistically robust source of employment and unemployment data in India. It is based on a large-scale, stratified, multi-stage random sampling framework that covers both rural and urban regions across the country, it said. Since January 2025, PLFS has transitioned to generating monthly estimates in addition to its existing annual and quarterly outputs, enabling timely and granular tracking of labour market trends, it stated. The PLFS methodology is aligned with international standards, particularly the definitions and classifications prescribed by the International Labour Organization (ILO), such as Usual Principal Status (UPS) and Current Weekly Status (CWS). Its data collection and reporting protocols are consistent with global practices used by institutions like the World Bank, UNDP, and ILOstat, enhancing its comparability with international datasets, it has stated. As per PLFS data, the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for individuals aged 15 years and above increased from 49.8 per cent in 2017–18 to 60.1 per cent in 2023–24. During the same period, the Worker Population Ratio rose from 46.8 per cent to 58.2 per cent, while the Unemployment Rate (UR) declined sharply from 6 per cent to 3.2 per cent. These indicators suggest greater absorption of the workforce into productive employment, the ministry has said. Notably, it stated that the youth unemployment rate fell from 17.8 per cent to 10.2 per cent, which is lower than the global youth unemployment rate of 13.3 per cent as per ILO's World Employment and Social Outlook 2024. These statistics refute the false narrative regarding widespread youth disengagement, and substantiate stronger labour market participation, the ministry had said. PTI KKS ANU view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 17:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
YouTube To Retire Trending Page Section A Decade After Its Debut, Will Remain Available Until THIS Date
YouTube Trending Page Retirement: YouTube has announced that it will discontinue its long-standing Trending Page nearly 10 years after its initial launch in 2015 to highlight viral hits, breaking news and top music releases. The Google-owned platform announced the decision in a blog post, citing diminished user interest in the feature. The "Trending Now" section and the Trending Page will both be available until July 21 before being permanently deleted. YouTube Trending Page Feature The feature, which was first created to show off worldwide viral content in real-time, has seen a decline in usage in recent years. 'YouTube has evolved significantly over the past 10 years, and so has the way users discover and consume content,' the company stated in its announcement. YouTube is moving its emphasis to category-specific charts under the YouTube Charts section, replacing the general Trending section. With more categories anticipated to be added soon, users can now peruse carefully curated lists like Trending Music Videos, Weekly Top Podcasts, and Trending Movie Trailers. For more individualised discovery, the company also encouraged users to peruse content through the channels of individual creators, the subscriptions feed, and the Explore Page. The Google-owned video sharing platform highlighted the increasing significance of its algorithmic suggestions, which present well-liked videos based on each user's viewing preferences and past viewing activity. YouTube Studio's Inspiration Tab For Creators It recommends using YouTube Studio's Inspiration tab for creators who want to keep up with the latest trends. This tab provides insights and content recommendations based on audience preferences and performance data. In line with broader shifts in user behaviour and the platform's developing recommendation systems, the removal signifies a strategic shift by YouTube to concentrate on more individualised and category-based content discovery. The original purpose of YouTube Trends was to showcase videos that quickly attracted viewers' attention. The trending tab showcased the most popular music releases, viral sensations, and news highlights. (With IANS Inputs)
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Foreign interference': France launches criminal investigation into X; to look into algorithmic manipulation and unlawful data gathering
Elon Musk (AP) The Paris Prosecutor said on Friday that it has launched a criminal investigation into X, the Elon Musk-owned social networking site, over allegations that it manipulated its content to enable 'foreign interference. ' Magistrate Laure Beccuau said on Friday that prosecutors launched an investigation and were looking to determine whether the social media giant violated French law by manipulating its algorithms and unlawfully gathering user data. The company will be under investigation along with its senior officials following two complaints launched in January. The alleged crimes are not yet categorised as perpetrated by 'foreign interference' under a 2024 law, but that could change for the investigation. The complaints made in January noted "supposed use of the X algorithm for purposes of foreign interference," as per her office, reported AP. The first complaint was filed by Eric Bothorel, a centrist member of the parliament, who warned of "recent changes to the X algorithm, as well as apparent interference in its management since Elon Musk acquired". Bothorel is a member of France's president, Emmanuel Macron's, party. He noted a lack of clarity in the criteria that led to algorithm changes and moderation decisions, and personal interventions from Elon Musk in the management of his platform. "All of this highlighted a real danger and a threat for our democracies,' he said. A cybersecurity director working in the public administration lodged the second complaint as per French Investigative Weekly Le Canard Enchaine. A "major modification in the algorithm used by the X platform, which today offers a huge amount of political content that is hateful, racist, anti-LGBTQ (or) homophobic, and aims to skew democratic debate in France,' the complaint read. Following antisemitic and racist responses from Grok, the AI chatbot that responds to X users, two French parliamentarians referred the platform to France's digital regulator, Arcom, on Thursday, as reported by Politico. In a separate investigation, the European Commission has been looking into X for over two years, on the speculation that it has been breaching its landmark platforms regulation, the Digital Services Act. While misinformation was already under scrutiny, the Commission broadened the investigation in January to examine X's algorithms after Musk live-streamed an interview with far-right German party leader Alice Weidel, as reported by Politico. The director of X in France, Laurent Buanec, said on January 22 that the algorithm was "built in a way to avoid offering you hateful content". He said X has "strict, clear and public rules to protect the platform from hateful discourse."
Korea Herald
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Stray Kids clinch triple platinum with 3rd EP in Japan
Stray Kids certified for triple platinum status by the Recording Industry Association of Japan with its third EP in Japan, according to the organization Thursday. 'Hollow' surpassed 750,000 shipments last month, barely two weeks the mini album was released. The EP consists of five tracks including the title track and, for the first time for the band, all songs were newly created for the record, instead of adding Japanese-language lyrics to songs already released in Korean. The eight-member act unveiled the main track in advance in May during its concert in Shizuoka. The album sold over 600,000 copies on the day of release and topped the iTunes Top Albums Chart in 21 regions. It also debuted atop Oricon's Weekly and Weekly Combined Album Rankings. Separately, the band is set to go live in Amsterdam on Friday for its ongoing tour 'Dominate.'
