BUSINESS

On August 27 and 28, 2026, I had the honor of attending the Africa Business Investment Summit (ABIS) at MGM National Harbor in Maryland. It was a tremendous gathering that brought together African leaders, companies, investors and international decision-makers to discuss investment, economic development and business cooperation across the African continent. Convened by the Millennium Excellence Foundation under the patronage of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, Ki

America's greatest museums were not built overnight. Nor were they created solely through public commissions or royal patronage, as was often the case in Europe. Their foundations were laid by a remarkable generation of industrialists who looked across the Atlantic and saw more than beautiful paintings and magnificent furniture. They saw civilization itself. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as the United States emerged as the world's foremost industri

For most people, a brioche is simply a brioche. Golden, buttery, delicately sweet, it is one of the enduring symbols of French gastronomy, reflecting centuries of craftsmanship passed from one generation to the next. Behind its seemingly simple appearance lies a remarkable balance of fermentation, butter, flour, eggs, temperature, and time; a balance that generations of French bakers have spent their lives perfecting. Few would imagine that this beloved staple could become th

Some journeys are measured in miles. Others are measured in the people we meet, the perspectives we gain, and the quiet transformations that occur along the way. When I sat down with Aurélie Barrial, founder of Le Bottin Mondial, I expected to hear the story of a successful entrepreneur who had created an international directory for French professionals living abroad. Instead, I discovered something far richer. What unfolded was a conversation about identity, generosity, resi

Every Parisian has a BHV story. Mine begins long before online shopping, before smartphones, before fashion became measured in algorithms and overnight deliveries. It begins on the Rue de Rivoli, beneath the familiar façade facing the Hôtel de Ville, where wandering through BHV was never about buying one particular thing. It was about the pleasure of discovery. You might arrive looking for a set of crystal glasses and leave with a beautifully designed lamp, a linen tablecloth

One of the most compelling aspects of Washington, D.C.’s diplomatic scene is its ability to transport guests across continents in a single evening. Recently, FQM attended a cultural and business gathering at the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Washington, D.C., where diplomacy, entrepreneurship, gastronomy, and cultural heritage came together in a vibrant celebration of Kenya’s growing global presence. The evening attracted a strong and diverse turnout, bringing together

This Mother’s Day, conversations surrounding restaurants extend far beyond brunch reservations and floral centerpieces. Across the United States, women-owned restaurants are helping redefine neighborhood identity, culinary entrepreneurship, and modern hospitality culture—often while navigating dramatically different competitive realities depending on where they operate. A recent analysis conducted by OptiSigns using TripAdvisor listings and U.S. Census Bureau geographic data

We use the dollar every day—a global symbol of American economic power. Yet, its origin is neither in Washington nor in America , but much further away—in a forgotten European valley whose name traveled across centuries to become the name of the world’s most influential currency. A Bohemian Valley at the Origin of the Word The story begins in the 16th century , in a silver-rich region of northwestern Bohemia (today’s Czech Republic). In a small valley called Sankt‑Joac

United Airlines is once again expanding transatlantic connectivity in 2026 by resuming its direct seasonal service between Washington D.C. and Nice—a route that first took flight in 2025 to strong interest from American travellers keen to access the Côte d’Azur without layovers. From May 21 to September 22, 2026, the airline will operate four weekly nonstop flights between Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE), offering an approxima