Focus on France
A daily report on France: breaking news, top stories, analysis, trends and more
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France Closing Doors to Asylum Seekers
Saturday June 20 marks World Refugee Day, which recognizes the nearly 60 million worldwide who have been displaced by conflict and persecution. Whilst the vast majority of those displaced remain in their own country or poor bordering countries, 1 out of ten go to rich countries. Some countries are more welcoming than others. France is not one of them.20/06/2015 -
Demand outpaces supply in Paris housing market
Housing remains an ongoing issue in France. The French government recently announced plans to double the amount of student housing in the next few years, to reach 700,000 housing units. In the Paris area, advocates and even the Mayor say there are not enough apartments for everyone, not just students, and they want the government to pitch in. Real estate agents have their eye on the Grand Paris urban renewal project.08/04/201103:51 -
Artists, curators protest at culture cuts
The exhibition Manet, the Man Who Invented Modern Art at Paris's Musée d'Orsay is expected to pack in the crowds. But French curators and artists complain that lavish art shows in the capital hide cutbacks in culture budgets across France.07/04/201103:38 -
French state resists Muslims' calls to police halal fraud
As France's ruling party debates secularism, Muslim groups are calling on the state to introduce rules to stamp out fraud involving sloppy halal practices. But inspectors say regulating halal practicises would be contrary to France's secular principles.06/04/201103:40 -
Muslims study French secularism
A France's ruling UMP debates secularism, a group of French Muslims study the French tradition of separating religion and the state.05/04/201105:54 -
French anti-racist watchdog swallowed by Rights Defender
The fight against racial discrimination in France is far from won, many campaigners say, but the country's official watchdog is being wound up and its duties taken over by a much broader mediation outfit. By the end of April, the Halde, the high authority against discrimination, which since 2004 has helped victims of discrimination, will be replaced by a Rights Defender body, which will have a broader mission.04/04/201103:48 -
Debate on Islam divides Sarkozy's party
After polling badly in last weekend's local elections, Nicholas Sarkozy's ruling UMP party is divided over a proposed debate on secularism - or laicité. It is set to start next week and to concentrate on "the role of Islam in France", prompting outrage among French Muslims and rights campaigners. UMP MP Jacques Myard comments.30/03/201102:55 -
Is the extreme right on the rise in France?
After they polled at 15 per cent in the first round of last weekend's cantonal elections, all eyes were on how the far-right National Front party would do in the second round on Sunday. In total, close to 400 National Front candidates made it through to the second round run off. One of those candidates was Pierre Antoine-Lebault, who stood for election in Sevran, a town in the northeastern suburbs of Paris.RFI got the opinions of voters in the area...27/03/201104:14 -
Front National puts Sarkozy's party in a bind in local polls
French President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP is set to see votes drain to the far-right Front National in Sunday's second round of local elections. The threat has caused discord in his party and a toughening of his stance on law and order and immigration.25/03/201104:15 -
Radiation fears grip French Toyota factory
Japanese auto parts are raising concerns of radiation contamination in a northern French town. Trade unions representing workers at a Toyota factory in Onnaing threatened to call 3,200 employees to strike if the management did not meet their demands for participating in safety tests, following a shipment of auto parts that arrived from Japan on Monday.24/03/201104:09 -
Should France be worried about nuclear cloud?
As the radioactive cloud from the Japanese nuclear disaster hits Europe, RFI examines just how much of a threat it poses to France and whether the population needs to be worried.23/03/201104:21 -
Could Sarkozy gain popularity points with Libya crisis?
France was the first country to recognise the Libyan rebels' National Transitional Council as the country's legitimate government and French planes were the first to launch airstrikes on Libya last weekend. So with French President Nicolas Sarkozy struggling domestically, could a successful intervention in Libya give his popularity rating a much-needed boost ahead of next year's election?22/03/201104:26 -
Far right profits from Sarkozy's popularity slump
France voted Sunday in local elections seen as the last concrete political test ahead of next year's presidential ballot, as President Nicolas Sarkozy's popularity plunges and that of the far right Front National rises.21/03/201103:41 -
Hidden artists come out of the woodwork
France is the proverbial cradle of artists, but some artists are more visible than others. The Paris-based European Chamber of International Business is creating a network of hidden artists who are better known to the outside world as economic and financial movers and shakers.20/03/201103:54 -
Live from the Libya crisis meeting in Paris
European and Arab League leaders, along with the US, met in Paris Saturday for a crisis summit on Libya. Leaders were expected to finalise details of air strikes against Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's forces. RFI reports from the French Presidential palace.19/03/201103:24
Focus on France
A daily report on France: breaking news, top stories, analysis, trends and more