https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The Irish shipping company Hibernia Line has announced that it will soon launch its first ferry service between Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France and Cork in south-western Ireland. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260511/new-ferry-company-to-launch-service-between-france-and-ireland Mon, 11 May 2026 18:35:45 +0200 new-ferry-company-to-launch-service-between-france-and-ireland The Cannes Film Festival has signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with social network giant and major AI investor Meta, the company announced Monday, despite fears about the impact of its new video tools on the cinema industry. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260511/cannes-festival-signs-up-meta-as-sponsor-amid-ai-fears Mon, 11 May 2026 17:51:54 +0200 cannes-festival-signs-up-meta-as-sponsor-amid-ai-fears After a very popular launch in 2025, swimming in the River Seine in Paris will return this summer - here's what you need to know about the practicalities. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260511/everything-you-need-to-know-about-swimming-in-the-seine-in-summer-2026 Mon, 11 May 2026 11:25:40 +0200 everything-you-need-to-know-about-swimming-in-the-seine-in-summer-2026 This French word actually has Italian origins... https://www.thelocal.fr/20260511/french-word-of-the-day-picoler-2 Mon, 11 May 2026 11:24:00 +0200 french-word-of-the-day-picoler-2 A French woman repatriated from a cruise ship struck by hantavirus has tested positive with the rare disease, France's health minister said on Monday, in the country's first case since the outbreak. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260511/french-passenger-from-hantavirus-ship-tests-positive-health-minister-confirms Mon, 11 May 2026 10:02:19 +0200 french-passenger-from-hantavirus-ship-tests-positive-health-minister-confirms After the success of the swimming spots in the River Seine last year, Paris authorities have confirmed that the open-water swimming areas will return in the summer of 2026. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260511/seine-swimming-to-return-to-paris-this-summer Mon, 11 May 2026 09:46:37 +0200 seine-swimming-to-return-to-paris-this-summer France will ban the sale of cannabidiol (CBD) edibles from May 15th, while still allowing it to be sold to be smoked, AFP learnt from several sources on Thursday. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260508/france-to-ban-cbd-edibles Fri, 08 May 2026 09:59:42 +0200 france-to-ban-cbd-edibles US-based tech boss Elon Musk is the subject of a formal complaint for homophobic abuse, after his online tirade against the French prosecutors investigating possible abuses on his X social network. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260509/musk-rants-at-french-prosecutors-probing-his-x-platform Sat, 09 May 2026 16:40:04 +0200 musk-rants-at-french-prosecutors-probing-his-x-platform Around 45,000 Brits in France will have to renew their post-Brexit carte de séjour this year - but what should you do if you run into problems at the préfecture? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260506/brits-in-france-how-to-deal-with-problems-renewing-the-brexit-carte-de-sejour Wed, 06 May 2026 14:01:08 +0200 brits-in-france-how-to-deal-with-problems-renewing-the-brexit-carte-de-sejour Summer in France brings with it flies, bugs and - increasingly - mosquitoes. But one thing you'll notice, especially if you're American, is the absence of window screens in French homes. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260506/explained-why-dont-french-homes-have-insect-screens Wed, 06 May 2026 13:53:21 +0200 explained-why-dont-french-homes-have-insect-screens This French expression has nothing to do with having a sore throat and a sinus infection. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260506/french-expression-of-the-day-avoir-la-flemme Wed, 06 May 2026 11:10:48 +0200 french-expression-of-the-day-avoir-la-flemme Important impending tax deadlines, the wildfire rules for homeowners in France, unmissable rail trips, what to do if you find a bee, wasp, or hornet nest on your property — and perfect drinks for summer. Here are the latest must-reads for life in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260510/tax-deadlines-rail-trips-and-summer-drinks-6-essential-articles-for-life-in-france Sun, 10 May 2026 10:07:23 +0200 tax-deadlines-rail-trips-and-summer-drinks-6-essential-articles-for-life-in-france May’s third public holiday takes place this week - which means travel trouble - Cannes kicks off in a flurry of glitz, we’ll learn the make-up of the France squad for next month’s Fifa World Cup, and it’s the final weekend of the Women’s Six Nations. And Eurovision. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260510/on-the-agenda-whats-happening-in-france-this-week-209 Sun, 10 May 2026 10:04:25 +0200 on-the-agenda-whats-happening-in-france-this-week-209 France and Algeria set aside a two-year diplomatic falling-out to agree to intensified cooperation on domestic security and defence in a meeting on Saturday between Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune and French armed forces minister Alice Rufo. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260510/france-and-algeria-agree-to-boost-cooperation-after-diplomatic-spat Sun, 10 May 2026 09:28:50 +0200 france-and-algeria-agree-to-boost-cooperation-after-diplomatic-spat Human rights groups on Saturday hailed the arrest of a Ukrainian pro-Russian separatist in France on suspicion of crimes against humanity, war crimes and complicity in acts of torture. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260510/pro-russian-separatist-held-in-france-over-ukraine-torture-claims Sun, 10 May 2026 09:21:36 +0200 pro-russian-separatist-held-in-france-over-ukraine-torture-claims Forty-six people were taken into custody in Paris on Saturday in connection with banned protests by far-right and anti-fascist groups, police told AFP. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260510/46-in-custody-in-paris-over-banned-far-right-and-anti-fascist-marches Sun, 10 May 2026 09:12:46 +0200 46-in-custody-in-paris-over-banned-far-right-and-anti-fascist-marches From political drinks parties to ferocious mountain dogs, via the latest from the presidential election campaign and some musing on the 'poor Europeans', here's a look at what we have been talking about in France this week. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260509/inside-france-apero-chat-dangerous-dogs-and-how-poor-are-the-europeans Sat, 09 May 2026 10:14:04 +0200 inside-france-apero-chat-dangerous-dogs-and-how-poor-are-the-europeans Essential in your French vocabulary, this word will make you want to stretch your legs and rediscover your surroundings. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260506/french-word-of-the-day-flner Wed, 06 May 2026 11:07:05 +0200 french-word-of-the-day-flner The European Commission on Friday clarified rules on air passenger rights given possible fuel shortages and travel disruption amid conflict in the Middle East. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260509/eu-commission-clarifies-flight-compensation-rights-amid-travel-disruption Sat, 09 May 2026 09:32:59 +0200 eu-commission-clarifies-flight-compensation-rights-amid-travel-disruption Julia and Roland Seitre, a French couple aboard the cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, said passengers remained calm, called their journey an "unlikely adventure", and urged against unnecessary drama. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260509/french-couple-from-virus-hit-ship-describe-voyage-as-unlikely-adventure Sat, 09 May 2026 08:39:45 +0200 french-couple-from-virus-hit-ship-describe-voyage-as-unlikely-adventure