In the wake of a deadly terrorist attack on a Coptic church in Alexandria, Egypt on New Year’s Day, many Coptic Christians are worried about celebrating Christmas (observed on January 6) as openly as they would like. Here is how a gorgeous Coptic church in Marseille is handling the situation.

Twenty-one thousand letters to Santa Claus were sent this year in Marseille. As if he didn't have enough on his plate, Saint Nick will send a handwritten response to each one, as long as their senders are on his "nice" list (and indicated their return address)!

In part one of "My Father Opposes My Passion," we learn the source of the conflict between a teenage girl, Clara, and her father. She dreams of becoming of dancer, but he is totally opposed to her plans. A chance encounter with a homeless man is about to change her life.

Clara takes her father's refusal to allow her to become a dancer very badly. After he tears up her dance course enrollment form, she storms off and swears never to come back. Desperate, she thinks she has found a way to put an end to her woes.

Clara is desperate and considering the unthinkable. She is about to throw herself into the canal, but someone intervenes. It's the homeless man she met earlier, who cares enough to listen to her and bring a smile back to her face.

Clara is a step closer to her dream of becoming a dancer. Roger, the homeless man she met earlier, knows a dance teacher who is willing to give her free lessons. But first she will need to bring a signed parental authorization...

Clara's father finally catches up with her after she disappears for the afternoon. He sees her talking to the homeless man he saw earlier and is concerned for her safety. She goes home with her father and things quiet down a little, for now....

Clara has been taking dance classes for three months now. She's become friends with the other students, who help her prepare for her baccalaureate exam. Roger, her homeless friend, has also been a great help, and he's more educated than she realized!

Clara and Roger's persistence paid off. She passed her entrance examination to the sports-studies program. But first, she had to confront her father with the truth.

Workers for the power company in the city of Lille aren’t happy and want management to know it. So they sabotaged the grid, cutting off power to thousands of businesses and residences. Despite the inconvenience, the mayor, and even many residents, support the workers.

Though we reported that some of the residents of Lille support the power workers and their blackout strikes, it turns out that not all of them do. Office workers shout from balconies to give the strikers a piece of their minds, and the workers respond in kind.

Cannabis use amongst French youth has more than doubled in the past ten years, and some parents are blaming it for their children’s erratic behavior. Specialists say that even moderate daily use can have detrimental effects on schoolwork.

As a gift to journalists looking for a tongue-in-cheek story, French schools have banned kissing. Students ask, “Where’s the harm?”

Newcomers Kader Belarbi and Loumia Hiridjee are bringing fresh blood and talent to the French cultural and commercial landscape.

Public transport has not always been easy for those who use wheelchairs, but the SNCF (French National Railway Company) has been making changes that make for a much more pleasant trip.