At the Paris Salon du Livre this year, in response to the visit of the Israeli president, six Arab nations decided to exclude themselves from the event. Some attendees were puzzled by the boycott, especially considering that many Israeli writers are known to advocate the creation of a Palestinian state. With all that pressure, no wonder the roof collapsed!

Buddhist monks and other Tibetans protest against Chinese rule while their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, continues his exile in India. The topic of Tibet was a sore point for China as it prepared to host the Summer Olympics.

Chantal Sébire, whose face was disfigured by a large and incurable tumor that caused her excruciating pain and made her blind, had one request: to end her own life. But the French government refused to allow her to obtain a prescription from her doctor for a lethal amount of drugs. One week after this report, Ms. Sébire was found dead in her home.

Choosing a name for a new baby is just one of the tricky tasks parents face. Should you go with a classic, like Jeanne; a trendy name, like Mathéo; or an old-school throwback, like Alphonse? It can be tough to decide, but if all else fails, just use your alphabet blocks!

Did you know that birch sap is a great, natural energy booster? The friendly forester in this video shows us how to tap into this delicious and healthy natural resource.

A group has designed a new tool to bring sex education into the digital age. It’s “Neutros”: an informative and fun online video game designed to teach young people about sexuality, contraception, and other adolescent issues.

A few car companies have been working on the next big thing—to roll out in 2010’s twenty-four hour race in Le Mans. Who would you put your money on?

If you happen to be a Capricorn, you should hear what astrologist François Lambert says the stars have in store for you in 2011. Otherwise, no matter what your sign, we foresee a mastery of the French language in your future!

Attention all Scorpios: according to François Lambert, the year 2011 will present many challenges to your love life. But don’t worry––learning French will just keep getting easier and easier!

The young singer-songwriter Benjamin Perrot has some loud neighbors, and his walls made of cardboard aren't exactly soundproof. You'll see in the video why he wonders if his neighbors are actually "rabbits"....

Overwhelmed by the amount of text messages and other technological annoyances in his life, singer-songwriter Benjamin Perrot uses this acoustic session on Le Mans TV as an opportunity to "disconnect." Don't let your phone distract you while watching this video!

In the first episode of "Mon Village" (My Village), Olivier takes us to Malicorne, a small town of two thousand inhabitants where exciting and innovative events happen all the time. You'll meet the enthusiastic mayor extraordinaire of Malicorne who can tread on water! Be sure to catch the very last caption to find out how it's done.

Olivier takes us inside Malicorne's "Espace Faïence" (Earthenware Space), where permanent exhibits can be found as well as temporary ones like the current animal display. Set up like a treasure hunt, this exhibit is very popular with children.

The little town of Malicorne has so much to offer for all ages and all preferences. You can take a dip in the pool, visit the Earthenware Space for a little shopping, take a boat ride on the Sarthe river, or go to the night market. After all this, you may want to chill at the local open-air café for a while...

We continue our visit to Malicorne with Olivier, who speaks with Dominique Bourneuf, the owner of the Petite Auberge (Little Inn) restaurant and president of the artistic trades association. Besides the many art and crafts events organized in Malicorne, there's also a world record event planned for April.