Notre-Dame is still standing thanks to a crucial decision to save the façade and bell towers above all else. Fire-prevention devices have been installed throughout the cathedral to avoid another disaster.

Does daylight savings really make sense? According to this report, it is becoming harder to justify its existence, prompting some countries to drop the idea altogether.

Find out how Pope Leo XIV was chosen after a complicated process. This video explains in great detail how the college of cardinals gather for a conclave in the Vatican to elect the pope.

Scientists and environmentalists concerned about the degradation of waterways in the Franche-Comté area discover an unexpected source of pollution: the production of Comté cheese.

In the second part of this video, we learn that there is hope the rivers won't be ruined if farmers are careful not to overproduce milk and avoid the overuse of chemicals and fertilizers.

Is the underhand serve a legitimate tactic in tennis? First introduced by Michael Chang in the 1989 French Open, this shot is still controversial today. Find out why in this video.

It's up to route designer Thierry Gouvenou to keep each of the twenty-four stages of the Tour de France exciting. He has a few tricks up his sleeve to force an early breakaway from the peloton to keep the audiences engaged.

Thierry Gouvenou explains in greater detail the challenges of a flat stage, as the outcome is often too predictable. It's up to him to design a course that will force riders out of their comfort zone. One solution? A mountain stage and rough terrain.

Morocco seeks to claim sovereignty over Western Sahara, a long-disputed territory on the northwest coast of Africa, which is sought out for its large phosphate deposits and abundant fisheries.

King Hassan II tries various methods to reclaim sovereignty over Western Saharan territories—first through legal means, then by force.

The king of Morocco's "fait accompli policy" appears to be working. He has managed to gain the support of the United States and European countries on the Western Sahara sovereignty issue. Still, the long-term consequences are unknown as the Sahrawi population was not given a say in the matter.

The 2026 municipal elections in France turned up some interesting results: three major victories for the left in France's largest cities of Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, and one major loss in Brest to the far-right.

Paris would be an entirely different city today if the architect Le Corbusier had carried out his ambitious project for the capital. But Minister of Culture André Malraux put a stop to this and set out to preserve the historic heritage of Paris by introducing a new law. Find out what Paris could have looked like in this video!

In the first episode of this documentary on Quebec, a young Frenchman shares his impressions on Canada. As the interviewees in the film demonstrate, the Quebecois have conflicting attitudes toward the French—some see them as "snobs," while others see them as just "polite."

In the second episode of Le Québec parle aux Français, we learn more about the complex relationship between the French and the Quebecois throughout history. We also learn about the evolution of the French language in Quebec—according to a former Prime Minister of Quebec, the province even "spoke French before France"!