Here’s the first part of this weekend’s articles about France and the French:

Streisand given French Legion of Honor medal (MSNBC)

Barbra Streisand performed her first-ever concert in France this week — and was rewarded with a medal of the Legion of Honor. French President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded the medal to Streisand in a ceremony Thursday. “You are the America that we love,” said Sarkozy, who is seen as more U.S.-friendly than his predecessor Chirac. “Women like you … do a lot to bring our two peoples together.” [...]Full story.

189 cycle racers and a French escort (Guardian)

When the Tour de France takes off next week in London, one element will remain irredeemably French. An elite team of French traffic police, the garde republicaine, will provide the motorcycle escort on the streets of London and Kent for the 189 riders taking part in the Tour. Their British counterparts will have the more mundane task of closing off roads and manning safety barricades. [...] Full story

Fixing French universities (Times)

One of the mistaken beliefs that foreigners hold about France is that its education is excellent. The legend does apply in certain areas such as the grandes écoles, the specialised colleges which train the elite five percent of higher education students. But France does a relatively mediocre job teaching its children and a poor one when they reach the higher level. President Sarkozy has just brokered a deal which appears to have cleared the way to reforming the mess of the French university system. [...] Full story

French anti-terror judge: Threat of terrorism remains ‘very high’ in Europe (IHT)

Al-Qaida’s apparent effort to get militants fighting in Iraq to return to Europe and plot attacks is among the leading threats to the continent, one of France’s leading anti-terror judges said Thursday. He specifically mentioned France as a target — mostly because of France’s historical connection with North Africa — followed by Spain and Italy. [...] Full story

French Soccer coach too old at 68 to work? (IHT)

In French soccer, few coaches can boast the resilience and longevity of Guy Roux. But Roux has a problem — his age. The 68-year-old Roux signed a two-year contract with Lens this month, but the French league voted 3-2 against approving it based on his age, violating French and European law by its own admission. French President Nicolas Sarkozy deplored the decision and said that it is the league’s rule “rather than Guy Roux that is old.” [...] Full story