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 A French campaign group is suing companies selling nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, using what the activists alleged was “deceptive” marketing targeting young people, despite the health impacts. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260422/french-activists-sue-deceptive-laughing-gas-suppliers Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:18:47 +0200 french-activists-sue-deceptive-laughing-gas-suppliers France’s social security is to reimburse the cost of reusable menstrual cups and underwear for women under the age of 26 or battling poverty, the government said. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260417/france-makes-reusable-period-products-free-for-young-women Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:07:52 +0200 france-makes-reusable-period-products-free-for-young-women Allergy season is upon us in France - cue the endless sneezing coupled with red and itchy eyes. Here's what you can ask for at the pharmacy to help you fight off the pollen. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260312/allergy-season-what-to-ask-for-in-french-pharmacies Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:13:32 +0100 allergy-season-what-to-ask-for-in-french-pharmacies The French government is to launch a Spring Covid vaccination campaign to protect more vulnerable people. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260415/covid-19-spring-vaccination-renewal-for-high-risk-people-in-france Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:50:07 +0200 covid-19-spring-vaccination-renewal-for-high-risk-people-in-france The number of practising doctors in France is rising again after more than a decade of decline, but the rise in GP and specialist doctor numbers isn’t being felt equally across the country. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260401/map-more-doctors-in-france-but-massive-medical-deserts-remain Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:21:11 +0200 map-more-doctors-in-france-but-massive-medical-deserts-remain Operators of France's private ambulances - which are mostly used for patient transport and non-emergency trips - have announced strike action in April in a long-running dispute about fees. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260331/french-ambulance-strike-announced-for-april Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:08:48 +0200 french-ambulance-strike-announced-for-april The clocks went forward an hour in early March in most of USA and Canada — but Europeans think that’s a bit premature. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260325/when-do-the-clocks-change-in-france-this-year Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:32:15 +0100 when-do-the-clocks-change-in-france-this-year The French health authority has announced the relaxation of certain criteria around who can donate blood, but those who spent time in the UK during the BSE crisis are still banned. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260325/france-relaxes-criteria-for-blood-donors-but-brits-are-still-banned Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:58:37 +0100 france-relaxes-criteria-for-blood-donors-but-brits-are-still-banned How strictly does France enforce its vaccination requirements for children? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260320/reader-question-is-it-compulsory-to-vaccinate-children-in-france Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:59:23 +0100 reader-question-is-it-compulsory-to-vaccinate-children-in-france Most visitors to Paris like to see famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower - but there's a new travel trend among tourists, a trip to the pharmacy. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230816/french-pharmacies-become-new-must-see-travel-tip-for-american-tourists Wed, 16 Aug 2023 16:04:06 +0200 french-pharmacies-become-new-must-see-travel-tip-for-american-tourists Life expectancy data reveals that people are living longer in Europe on average, but major differences in gender and geography remain. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260315/where-in-europe-are-people-likely-to-live-longer Sun, 15 Mar 2026 15:20:07 +0100 where-in-europe-are-people-likely-to-live-longer Want to fully integrate and eat breakfast, lunch and dinner like a French person? The French government's health ministry will create for you a weekly menu of three-course meals - so we tried it out. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260310/french-menus-how-to-eat-as-the-french-government-advises Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:15:10 +0100 french-menus-how-to-eat-as-the-french-government-advises The death of a baby in France in January "does not appear to be linked" to the infant's consumption of contaminated formula, French prosecutors said Friday. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260307/babys-death-not-linked-to-contaminated-formula-french-prosecutors-say Sat, 07 Mar 2026 08:43:47 +0100 babys-death-not-linked-to-contaminated-formula-french-prosecutors-say Environmental pollution is linked to several mental health disorders in Europe, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has warned, arguing that enforcing legislation would result in Europeans being both less depressed and less anxious. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260305/pollution-exposure-in-europe-linked-to-mental-health-problems Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:10:55 +0100 pollution-exposure-in-europe-linked-to-mental-health-problems France's health ministry said Friday that administrative details and medical notes on more than 15 million people had been hacked. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260228/hackers-steal-medical-details-of-15-million-in-france Sat, 28 Feb 2026 08:15:26 +0100 hackers-steal-medical-details-of-15-million-in-france Nearly 6,000 deaths in France during the summer of 2025 were caused by high temperatures, official figures reveal. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260227/death-toll-from-last-summers-french-heatwaves-nearly-6000 Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:23:24 +0100 death-toll-from-last-summers-french-heatwaves-nearly-6000 What happens if you have an emotional support animal and you want to move to France with it, or you live here and want to get one? What are the laws surrounding these types of animals and their rights to access different public spaces and transport? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260225/are-emotional-support-animals-recognised-in-france Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:56:04 +0100 are-emotional-support-animals-recognised-in-france If you have an accident or fall ill in France and have to visit the hospital urgences, you may be presented with a bill - here's how much, who is charged and how to pay. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260224/what-you-pay-in-france-for-a-visit-to-a-hospital-emergency-department Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:50:24 +0100 what-you-pay-in-france-for-a-visit-to-a-hospital-emergency-department It's been tagged as a new healthcare charge 'for Americans in France', so what does the full text of the law say about who will be affected by the new charges? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260213/explained-is-frances-new-healthcare-fee-only-for-americans Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:33:27 +0100 explained-is-frances-new-healthcare-fee-only-for-americans A new law prohibits France's 'mutuelle' health insurance companies from raising their rates in 2026 - although many companies have hiked their fees anyway. Here's how to challenge a rise. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260213/how-to-challenge-increases-in-your-2026-french-health-insurance-costs Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:04:35 +0100 how-to-challenge-increases-in-your-2026-french-health-insurance-costs