SPOTLIGHT ON FRANCE

Football gives way to sheep as France hosts the world sheep-shearing championships, a first in mainland Europe. Men and women share with us their passion for the sport. Also, French winegrowers become the latest victims of climate change, losing vineyards in last week's heatwave. And parliament bans spanking children, but without sanctions on parents how will it be enforced? Plus, the French obsession with orthography: do 2.4 million mistakes in online feedback to the Great Debate really matter? And the French origins of the bikini.     In this episode: - Camille Martinez (@Dr_Dico), linguist with Orthodidacte - Ambroise Tézenas (@ambroisetezenas), photographer in residence at Vichy portraits photography festival - Loic Leygonie, French champion sheep-shearer, and other competitors in the World Sheep Shearing championships being held in Le Dorat

French football fans are getting hooked on the women's game, as the World Cup draws in new audiences, but the gender pay gap is as wide as ever. Also, homeopathy is in the crosshairs, as a medical council questions its efficacy. We hear from a doctor about her holistic approach to treating her patients. And, a parliamentary report on radicalisation in the public sector reveals little cause for concern, but the right-wing press takes it as evidence of rising Islamism. Plus, France falls short of its goals to reduce emissions, according to its own climate council. And, Emmanuel Macron... in English!   In this episode: - Corinne Le Quéré, president, French high council on climate - Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron), president of France - Supporters of French Women's football team - Helene Renoux, homeopathic doctor, president European committee for homeopathy   Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (link here). For more stories about France and beyond, visit www.rfienglish.com

France is the world's most vaccine-sceptic nation. How did that happen? Also, a pilot of Macron's Universal National Service to replace the military service: enthusiastic teenagers join, but not everyone shares their excitement. Plus, France prepares to put a former president in the docks, for the first time. And the story of the last public execution in France, in 1939.   In this episode: - Volunteers with France's new Universal national service   Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (link here). For more stories about France and beyond, visit www.rfienglish.com

The origins of women's football in France and how the language is trying to keep up with game. Also, the first gay pride march in poorer working-class suburbs known as les banlieues aiming at fighting growing homophobia. Plus,  A&E hospital workers at breaking point opt to strike. And can the government avoid double-speak in its pledge to boost both the environment and the economy?  In this episode: Ghislaine Royer-Soeuf, former captain of Rheims women's football team Saint-Denis Ville au Coeur, organisers of the Gay Pride march in St Denis   Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (link here). For more stories about France and beyond, visit www.rfienglish.com

D-Day commemorations have understandably given pride of place to war veterans, but we hear from civilians in Normandy on the receiving end of the Allied bombing. Should nature run its course? France has upped quotas for culling wolves as their numbers increase but striking a balance between protecting farmers' livestock and an endangered species isn't easy. And France discovers the excitement of women's football as it hosts its first Women's World Cup. In this episode: Mélanie & Jean-Christophe Brunet, farmers in Aveyron, members of Cercle 12 Colette Marin-Catherine, Arlette Varin, civilian survivors of D-Day bombings   Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (link here). For more stories about France and beyond, visit www.rfienglish.com