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 Property tax bills will start to arrive this week, but certain homeowners in France, because of age or income, may be exempt from paying the annual property tax in 2026, or entitled to a reduction. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260206/could-you-be-exempt-from-paying-frances-taxe-fonciere-in-2026 Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:51:36 +0100 could-you-be-exempt-from-paying-frances-taxe-fonciere-in-2026 'Au fur et à mesure' is the perfect example of why you can't translate French phrases usefully. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260821/french-expression-of-the-day-au-fur-et-mesure Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:01:16 +0200 french-expression-of-the-day-au-fur-et-mesure France is facing an unprecedented wave of cyber-thefts, with hackers targeting major government databases such as the tax office - so is France really more vulnerable than other countries or is it a target for hackers? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260519/why-france-has-become-a-target-for-cybercriminals Tue, 19 May 2026 12:36:13 +0200 why-france-has-become-a-target-for-cybercriminals If you work in France under the 'micro-entrepreneur' (formerly auto entrepreneur) status, here's what you need to know about the new rules on electronic billing that come into effect from September 1st. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260820/explained-electronic-billing-for-micro-entrepreneurs-in-france Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:10:58 +0200 explained-electronic-billing-for-micro-entrepreneurs-in-france From the straws in the wind for the French presidential race and why France makes a tempting target for hackers, via language nitpicking and the wonderful world of Astérix and Obélix, here's what we have been talking about in France this week. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260822/inside-france-the-first-ninepin-has-toppled-in-the-2027-french-election-game Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:12:08 +0200 inside-france-the-first-ninepin-has-toppled-in-the-2027-french-election-game Hackers have stolen the details of at least 1 million people in a massive cyberattack on the French tax office and land registry - here's how to check whether you are affected and what to do about it. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260817/explained-are-you-affected-by-the-cyberattack-on-french-tax-office Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:13:09 +0200 explained-are-you-affected-by-the-cyberattack-on-french-tax-office If you are a freelancer, sole trader, contractor or small business owner in France you will know about ‘facturation électronique’ rules that come into effect from September 1st - here's what you need to do to prepare for it. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260820/electronic-billing-what-businesses-and-freelancers-in-france-need-to-do-by-september Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:59:11 +0200 electronic-billing-what-businesses-and-freelancers-in-france-need-to-do-by-september Looking out from my garden in the Norman hills, I can see a corner of a Europe-wide catastrophe unfold - writes John Lichfield. My village resembles the Oklahoma dust bowl circa 1936. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260819/opinion-drought-will-plunge-france-into-a-food-prices-crisis Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:10:06 +0200 opinion-drought-will-plunge-france-into-a-food-prices-crisis If you've spent any time around young French speakers, you've probably heard someone shout this French expression. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260821/french-expression-of-the-day-en-despi Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:53:58 +0200 french-expression-of-the-day-en-despi From holiday homework to unsolicited grammar corrections - this week's La Belle Vie explores how even growing up French shows there is always room for improvement. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260821/la-belle-vie-the-french-tradition-i-never-escaped-during-the-summer Fri, 21 Aug 2026 08:23:17 +0200 la-belle-vie-the-french-tradition-i-never-escaped-during-the-summer If you thought you'd heard enough about eclipses for a while, here's a French expression that gives the word another meaning beyond astronomy. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260820/french-expression-of-the-day-seclipser Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:03:17 +0200 french-expression-of-the-day-seclipser This French expression shows that being in a bad mood may have something to do with the moon. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260819/french-expression-of-the-day-etre-mal-lune Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:45:06 +0200 french-expression-of-the-day-etre-mal-lune France's pension system has been the subject of fierce controversy in recent years - but from September a new regime applies. Here's what changes. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260818/french-pensions-what-is-changing-in-september-2026 Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:57:10 +0200 french-pensions-what-is-changing-in-september-2026 September in France marks 'la rentrée' and as people return to work, many also start a new hobby, class or activity, with events across the country dedicated to helping people find groups and associations for their interests. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250826/how-to-start-a-new-hobby-in-france-this-autumn Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:45:13 +0200 how-to-start-a-new-hobby-in-france-this-autumn As France prepares to go back to work, September brings with it new rules on sick leave and retirement, as well as changes affecting taxes, gas prices, medication and tobacco. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260818/everything-thats-changing-in-france-in-september-2026 Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:45:00 +0200 everything-thats-changing-in-france-in-september-2026 This French expression doesn't have anything to do with the size of your mouth. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260818/french-expression-of-the-day-faire-la-fine-bouche Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:21:00 +0200 french-expression-of-the-day-faire-la-fine-bouche Between August 2024 and August 2026, mainland France has lost much of its green colour when seen from space. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250805/map-where-are-water-restrictions-in-place-in-france Tue, 05 Aug 2025 10:19:27 +0200 map-where-are-water-restrictions-in-place-in-france This very informal French word can be used as an insult or as a joke between friends. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260817/french-word-of-the-day-pochtron Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:49:22 +0200 french-word-of-the-day-pochtron This French expression can be used both at the table and in plenty of other scenarios. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260814/french-expression-of-the-day-avoir-du-pain-sur-la-planche-2 Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:02:00 +0200 french-expression-of-the-day-avoir-du-pain-sur-la-planche-2 You may have received a flurry of emails recently from French companies or service providers talking about a mysterious “pixel de suivi”. This is what’s going on. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260812/why-your-inbox-is-full-of-french-emails-about-pixels Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:18:03 +0200 why-your-inbox-is-full-of-french-emails-about-pixels