Accessibility links
France France
Stories About

France

Saturday

Dans Le Train, French Spend Their Commute Learning English

David Potier, head of commercial relations with France's state rail company, promotes the English classes and Canadian Afton Piercy is one of the teachers. Eleanor Beardsley/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Eleanor Beardsley/NPR

Parallels

Dans Le Train, French Spend Their Commute Learning English

A recent study ranked France at the bottom in Europe when it came to English proficiency. But some French are trying, like those who take lessons on high-speed commuter trains.

Dans Le Train, French Spend Their Commute Learning English

Listen · 3:50
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/290896637/299352265" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Paris Ends 'Odd Or Even' Limit On Cars After One Day

Police were checking cars throughout Paris on Monday, including near the Arc de Triomphe, as the city tried to cut air pollution by instituting odd-even driving restrictions. Philippe Wojazer/Reuters /Landov hide caption

toggle caption
Philippe Wojazer/Reuters /Landov

The Two-Way

Paris Ends 'Odd Or Even' Limit On Cars After One Day

'Impair Ou Pair?' To combat smog, officials restricted car use Monday. For the most part, only cars with odd-numbered license plates could be on the streets. The rule will end after today.

Tuesday

Virus Locked In Siberian Ice For 30,000 Years Is Revived In Lab

This electron microscope image provided by researchers shows a section of a Pithovirus particle, dark outline, inside an infected Acanthamoeba castellanii cell. Julia Bartoli, Chantal Abergel/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Julia Bartoli, Chantal Abergel/AP

The Two-Way

Virus Locked In Siberian Ice For 30,000 Years Is Revived In Lab

A team of scientists says it has reawakened an ancient pathogen. It's not dangerous to humans, but they warn that climate change could free potentially deadly organisms locked in permafrost.

Tuesday

Saturday

Tuesday

France's President Wonders: What Happened To My Privacy?

Francois Hollande on a scooter in Paris in 2011, before he was elected president. A French magazine reported last week he was traveling incognito on a motorcycle to visit a girlfriend. He has not denied the report, but expressed "total indignation" that it was published. Bertrand Langlois/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Bertrand Langlois/AFP/Getty Images

Parallels

France's President Wonders: What Happened To My Privacy?

Once upon a time, a French president having an affair was no big deal. The media, if it knew, could be counted on to ignore it. And public didn't seem to care. As President Francois Hollande has discovered, the rules have changed.

Sunday

Sunday

Wednesday

Tuesday

Monday

Friday

Thursday

With Echoes Of France, Debate On Religion Divides Quebec

Quebec Premier Pauline Marois stands to support a motion regarding the controversial values charter at the Parti Quebecois Convention in Montreal on Sunday. Christinne Muschi/Reuters/Landov hide caption

toggle caption
Christinne Muschi/Reuters/Landov

Parallels

With Echoes Of France, Debate On Religion Divides Quebec

The Canadian province has proposed a "secularism charter" that would ban government workers from wearing religious symbols. Supporters say it would preserve gender equality and the separation of church and state. Critics say the measure curbs religious freedom. The issue has echoes of a debate that's played out in France twice in the past decade.

Monday

Will The French Really Pay More for 'Made in France'?

French Minister for Industrial Renewal Arnaud Montebourg attends the Made in France fair in Paris on Saturday. According to a poll, more than 70 percent of the French say they would pay more for goods made at home. Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images

Parallels

Will The French Really Pay More for 'Made in France'?

Like much of Europe, the French economy is still struggling. But a recent poll showed that more than 70 percent of the French were willing to pay more for goods made at home, and the numbers were supported by a strong turnout at a Made in France fair in Paris.

Will The French Really Pay More for 'Made in France'?

Listen · 3:16
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/244570980/244580708" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday