France's news in English

Change editions:
Austria ·
Denmark ·
Germany ·
Italy ·
Norway ·
Spain ·
Sweden ·
Switzerland

Photo: FDComite/Flickr

Maybe France isn't quite doomed after all

While many who saw images of an HR director fleeing staff were left thinking "same old France, nothing changes", the message from business leaders this week is actually one of hope. "The times are changing" they say.

A landfill at Vico, in Corsica. Photo: Pascal Pochard Casabianca/AFP

Corsica: From 'Isle of Beauty' to 'Isle of Trash'

Corsica, France's lush and feisty Mediterranean "isle of beauty", as it's known, has another nickname, the "scented isle" for its dense fragrant shrubs.

Refugees pose for a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower. Photo: Florian David/AFP.

After escaping war, refugees enjoy Paris

Taking selfies and bursting into song, 200 Syrian, Iraqi and Kurdish refugees on Saturday visited some of Paris's most popular sights thanks to a non-profit organisation named Secours Populaire.

A woman holds a placard reading "Attacks at the peace meeting in Ankara, #WearewithAnkara" as members of the Kurdish community in the French city of Bordeaux. Photo: Mehdi Fedouach/AFP

Thousands in Europe protest Ankara attacks

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Europe on Saturday to denounce the suspected double suicide attacks that killed at least 95 people during a peace rally in Ankara.

One of the accused hiding his face is rushed out by a marshall in Antananarivo, during the trial of 37 people accused of murder of two Europeans. Photo: Rijaso/AFP

Killers of French and Italian men sentenced

A Madagascar court handed four men the maximum sentence on Friday of hard labour for life over the mob lynching in 2013 of two Europeans and a local man, who were beaten and then burned on a beach.

Air France strike

Air France's human resources director, Xavier Broseta, shirtless, trying to escape Air France employees angry at proposed job cuts. Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP

Most French 'understand' actions of strikers

A majority of French people "understand" the behaviour of striking Air France workers who attacked two of the airline's managers this week, ripping their clothes, a poll to be published Sunday showed.

FIFA scandal

UEFA's president, Michel Platini, right, talking to Sepp Blatter, FIFA president. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

UEFA chief Platini to appeal FIFA ban

UEFA chief Michel Platini has appealed against a 90-day suspension imposed on him by world governing body FIFA as part of an ongoing corruption investigation, a close associate said on Saturday.

A picture taken on October 9, 2015 shows the facade of the headquarters of the airline company Air France KLM in Paris. Photo: AFP

Air France and pilots back on speaking terms

Air France resumed negotiations with pilots' unions on Friday for the first time since one of its executives had his shirt torn off by an angry mob after the airline unveiled plans for job cuts.

The Chateau d'Aiguines in southern France. Photo: Sam2907/Flickr

France in the autumn: Ten stunning images

Some would argue that France is never prettier than in the autumn... and after seeing this set of pictures you might be inclined to agree.

The rise of Airbnb has angered the French hotel industry who say the game is no longer fair. Photo: AFP

French hotel industry to 'go hard' after Airbnb

The head of France's hoteliers union (UMIH) has fired a warning to Airbnb telling The Local that the suffering hotel industry will "go hard" after the room sharing website in a bid to level out "unfair competition".

Features

JobTalk France - Graduate job hunting

Paris is home to plenty of job fairs, all worth checking out if you're a graduate. Photo: AFP

Start with start-ups: Find a graduate job in France

Paris-based graduate and job hunter Ellie O'Driscoll offers some sound advice on how to land employment in France after finishing university. You can start with start-ups, she says.

Keep an eye out for zombies in Paris this month. Photo: AFP

What's on in France: Ten things to do in October

As the last dregs of Summer give way to chilly mornings and the sudden urge for a soothing chocolat chaud, October is the month where we head indoors to bask in France’s abundant art and cultural offerings, with a few outdoor events thrown in for good measure.

World Vegetarian Day

Is France ready to accept vegetarianism? Photo: AFP

Is France finally set to embrace vegetarianism?

Life has always been hard for vegetarians in the land of steak tartare, foie gras and boeuf bourguignon but the times they are a changing. The vegetable enlightenment has finally reached France, but how far will it go?

Life in France

While there are plenty of excuses to leave France, there are also many more reasons to stay. Photo: PK Paris/Flickr

Twelve reasons not to say au revoir to France

While we often hear about people's motives for leaving France, there are many more reasons why people should think twice about departing, even if it's just the food. Those who have left tell us what they miss the most.

Opinion

In France, jobseekers can receive up to 75 percent of their previous salaries. Photo: AFP

Jobless benefits: No need to ridicule France

While many France-based expats like to ridicule the country's extremely generous and indebted system of unemployment benefits, The Local's Ben McPartland argues that people should count their blessings for as long as it lasts.

More news

Education in France

Students in Lyon. Photo: AFP

The troubles with French universities laid bare

Classrooms overflowing, a serious lack of funding, and a flailing reputation abroad... what exactly is wrong with France's university system? The Local's Oliver Gee takes a closer look.

Muslim men were much less likely to get called in compared to Catholic men. Photo: Nguyen Vu Hung/Flickr

France's Muslim men suffer CV discrimination

A practising Muslim man is four times less likely to get a job interview in France than a Catholic counterpart, according to a study published on Thursday.

A file image of Rafale jets. Photo: AFP

France hits Isis targets in Syria a second time

French warplanes carried out a second wave of strikes overnight on Islamic State targets in Syria, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Friday.

Photo: Raul Lieberwirth/Flickr

France pays ex-convict over smoking cell mates

An ex-prisoner in France has successfully sued the state for placing him in a cell with smokers, a court in the northwestern town of Caen said on Thursday.

Around 500 French nationals are thought to be in Syria or Iraq. Photo: AFP

France adopts bill to keep minors from jihad

French lawmakers adopted a draft law Thursday that will require minors to have permission from their parents or legal guardians before leaving the country in a bid to curb departures for jihad in Iraq or Syria.

Read older articles »

From our other editions

The Local List

Hallstatt. Breathe... and relax. Photo: Peperoni/Flickr

How living in Austria will change your lifestyle

Whether for better or worse, many foreigners find that their habits alter after living in Austria for some time. Here, a few veteran expats share their experiences of how Austrian culture has changed their lifestyles.

Former residence for border guards up for sale in L'Auberson. Photo: RTS/Screenshot

Bern sells off border homes at bargain prices

In Switzerland this looks like a steal of a deal: a three-level house divided into three spacious apartments close to cross-country skiing and hiking trails for just 450,000 francs ($464,000).

Oliver Massuci in costume as Hitler stretches a fist out over Berlin. Photo: Constantin Film Verleih GmbH/DPA

Hitler actor warns of threat to democracy

Oliver Masucci, the actor who plays Hitler in satirical film Er Ist Wieder Da (Look Who's Back), told ARD news on Monday that Germany must be careful to safeguard its democracy after a barrage of far-right comments from ordinary people.

April's citizenship celebration at Christiansborg. Photo: Linda Kastrup/Scanpix

Denmark approves tougher citizenship rules

UPDATED: Integration Minister Inger Støjberg has secured the necessary support for her plan to make it more difficult to become a Dane, she said on Monday.

The Local list