The Local France

Do the French do Christmas better than Anglo countries?

Fri, 15 Dec 2017 17:40:42 +0100

With the festive season upon us, The Local has compared holiday traditions in France to those in English-speaking countries. Where do you think does it best?

IN PICTURES: 12,000-year-old giant woolly mammoth skeleton to go on sale in France

Fri, 17 Nov 2017 17:44:22 +0100

The 12,000 year-old perfectly preserved skeleton of a giant woolly mammoth is to go on auction in the French city of Lyon in December.

France seizes 2,000 'dead and dehydrated' seahorses

Fri, 19 Aug 2016 14:11:14 +0200

French customs officials said Friday they had intercepted some 2,000 dead seahorses, prized in Asia for use in traditional medicine and as aphrodisiacs.

British comic rips apart the French greeting kiss

Tue, 05 Jan 2016 11:47:32 +0100

A British comedian's take on the French greeting kiss has proved a hit on YouTube, racking up hundreds of thousands of clicks in just days. Warning: Video contains strong language and may offend fans of 'la bise'.

France to return 150 tortoises to Madagascar

Tue, 18 Aug 2015 17:51:57 +0200

Some 150 endangered baby tortoises will return to Madagascar eight months after they were found wrapped in sticky tape and hidden in a crate at a Paris airport, the centre that cared for them said on Tuesday.

French cops find 21kg of coke in 'tourist' suitcase

Fri, 03 Apr 2015 17:05:39 +0200

A tourist at Nice airport got quite a fright this week when police found 21 kilos of cocaine stowed away in a suitcase labelled with his name.

Rare baby tortoises found at Paris airport

Mon, 29 Dec 2014 15:53:00 +0100

Scores of endangered baby tortoises were found wrapped in tape by French customs officers at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris on Monday. The species is prized by collectors for their unique shells.

What the French find weird about Anglos

Thu, 02 Oct 2014 14:50:00 +0200

What passes for normal behaviour and customs among Anglos can look pretty alien to the French at times. Here’s our list of the things the French find weird about us. What else would you add?

Ten French customs that confuse Anglos

Mon, 22 Sep 2014 12:12:00 +0200

What may seem like normal behaviour in your home country doesn't always apply to French culture. Whether you’re at the supermarket checkout or the raising your glass at a dinner party, here are ten common customs to watch out for in France.

'Dangerous' (blow-up) crocs seized in France

Thu, 14 Aug 2014 16:22:00 +0200

French customs officials on Thursday announced the seizure of 14,000 “dangerous” crocodiles at the Charles de Gaulle international airport in Paris. The bright-green inflatable beach toys had to be put down.

Ten tell-tale signs you've gone native in France

Wed, 06 Nov 2013 16:49:00 +0100

Just how French are you? Some may be proud of it, some not so much, but any seasoned expat is likely to have picked up a truly Gallic trait or two. With some help from our readers, we've compiled a list of 10 tell-tale signs you’ve gone native.

Top ten tips: How to pass for a Parisian

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:44:00 +0200

Paris is changing, albeit slowly, but the new generation of Parisians still have their own customs, cultures and way of life that are slightly different to anywhere else. Here are The Local's top tips for how we foreigners can blend in.

Ten tips on French business etiquette

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:46:00 +0100

Have you ever faced an awkward moment while working in France? As part of The Local's JobTalk series professional etiquette expert Kara Ronin gives us ten points of business protocol to help you avoid giving the wrong impression.

Gran finds 25 kilos of cocaine in suitcase

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:24:00 +0200

A grandma discovered a surprising souvenir in her luggage after returning from a holiday in the Dominican Republic – 25 kilos of cocaine.

Bent French customs officers 'caught with drug money'

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:07:05 +0200

Seven customs officers have been arrested for allegedly taking money from drug traffickers at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. They have been indicted for theft, handling stolen goods and corruption.

Police make huge khat haul in Paris

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:06:11 +0200

French police have seized 140 kilograms of khat in Paris, foiling an attempt to smuggle the drug between Holland and the United States.