Photo: Maxim Zmeyev/AFP

Ukraine talks 'constructive': France

Talks on the Ukraine conflict between the leaders of Russia, Germany and France were "constructive and substantial" and a plan is being drawn up to implement a previous peace accord, a French official said Friday. READ

The offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Photo: AFP

French anti-terrorist prosecutors probe Isis video

French anti-terrorist prosecutors on Friday launched an investigation into an Islamic State group video that called for fresh attacks against France, a judicial source said. READ

04/02 Isis urges fresh attacks on France »

The Metro in Paris. Photo: Evy Moon/Flickr

Ten ideas Paris should pinch from the world

As the Paris Town Hall mulls the introduction of outdoor urinals for women, we wonder how else the French capital could learn from the world's innovations. Here are the top ten ways Paris could improve. READ

Ukraine crisis

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Ukraine. Photo: AFP

Hollande and Merkel seek deal in Moscow

UPDATED: French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Moscow on Friday in an attempt to "seek a deal" to end the Ukraine crisis. READ 4 comments

A scene from the Bourne Identity where police chase Matt Damon or a stunt driver through Paris. Photo: Screengrab YouTube/Harshit Goyal

Action films banned in Paris after terror attacks

High speed car chases, shoot-outs and other stunt scenes from action movies have been barred from being filmed in Paris over fears actors could be targeted by terrorists. READ

January saw hundreds of calls to the anti-jihadist hotline. Photo: Shutterstock

Calls to France's anti-jihadist hotline double

An emergency hotline in France for reporting suspected jihadists has seen calls to the number double in January as concerned parents call for advice fearing their children may have been radicalized. READ

Strauss-Kahn trial

DSK is rushed away from the court in Lille after his appearance at the start of his trial. Photo: AFP

DSK 'unaware' sex orgies involved prostitutes

It could be the testimony that absolves Dominique Strauss-Kahn. A local businessman told the court in Lille on Friday the former IMF chief was unaware their orgies involved prostitutes. READ

This is what a frog might look like trying to pronounce the French word for frog. Photo: Yamanaka Tamaki/Flickr

Ten French words you'll never pronounce right

French may be beautiful sounding language - but some of those Gallic words can be a real ordeal for us foreigners to pronounce. Our readers have picked out their most unpronounceable French words. How many can you (confidently) say? READ 7 comments

THe famous HQ of the Police judiciare at 36 Quai des Orfèvres Photo: Thomas Samson/AFP

Cocaine, rape and leaks: Scandal hits 'French FBI'

Paris’s powerful criminal investigation force, France’s answer to the FBI, is once again embroiled in scandal. After the missing cocaine and the alleged rape of a tourist, the force's chief has been deposed after being charged with leaking secret info. READ

Photo: Maria Elena/Flickr

France secretly fights jihadism on Facebook

For the past year the French army has been secretly fighting jihadism online through the infiltration of social networks, French media has revealed. READ

Features

Is the weak euro drawing people to France? Photo: Mario's Planet/Flickr

Weak euro is a 'damn good thing' for expats

While a weak euro might not suit everyone, not least those moving home with savings, it's certainly been a boost to many retired expats in France as well as those who have always dreamed of moving here. READ

A view of the streets of Paris from the Arc de Triomphe. Photo: Chris Chabot/Flickr

Ten facts you definitely didn't know about Paris

You might think you know the City of Light, but think again. Here are ten zany facts about Paris that we'd wager even the locals don't know. From terraces to condom machines - our friends behind the Smarter Paris app have found some wacky stats. READ 4 comments

French Face of the Week

Simone Veil has been voted as France's most admired woman. Photo: AFP

Who exactly is France's most admired woman?

Simone Veil has been ranked as the most admired woman in all of France. But who is she? We take a closer look at the extraordinary life of the Holocaust survivor and women's rights champion who topped the poll ahead of the likes of Aung San Suu Kyi, Malala and Marine Le Pen. READ 2 comments

France is home to 300,000 foreign students. Photo: Simone Ramella/Flickr

Studying in France: what you need to know

France is one of the most popular study destinations in the world, with nearly 300,000 foreign students. Relatively low tuition fees and the chance to live in France are certainly appealing, but France’s confusing higher education system can be frustrating to navigate. READ

Tightrope walkers at the Nice Carnival in 2014. Photo: Nicolas Grevet/Flickr

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

Despite the cold, there's simply too much going on in France to stay locked up inside. Here are ten events worth checking out - from France's biggest carnival to a major film festival and Chinese New Year celebrations. READ

More News

Nicolas Sarkozy reportedly left his party in chaos and headed to Abu Dhabi for a paid conference. Photo: AFP

Sarkozy under fire for Middle East conference

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has come in for criticism for his decision to attend a paid conference in the Middle East while his party is in turmoil over whether it should unite against the National Front in a by-election on Sunday. READ

Protesters outisde the Oxford Union debating society on Thursday where Marine Le Pen was the invited speaker. Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP

Le Pen's Oxford Union talk draws angry protest

Protesters turned out in force on Thursday to picket an appearance by French far-right leader Marine Le Pen at Britain's prestigious Oxford Union. She told the audience that "our freedoms are under threat". READ 2 comments

Dodo La Saumure/ Dodo the Mackerel/Dodo the Pimp/Dominique Alderweireld speaks to reporters outside the court house in Lille this week. Photo: Philippe Huguen/AFP

DSK trial: 'Dodo the Pimp' denies he's a pimp

The man nicknamed 'Dodo the Pimp', who is at the centre of the DSK pimping trial in Lille, insisted he's not a pimp when he gave evidence before the court this week. READ

French street artist Combo was physically assaulted over his latest art work. Photo: Combo Culture Kidnapper/Facebook

French artist's call for peace ends in beating

A French street artist was severely beaten up in Paris after refusing to remove a work of art calling for coexistence between Islam, Judaism and Christianity. READ

Photo: The Generator Paris

Mega hostel opens its doors in Paris

A youth hostel with room for over 900 guests has opened in central Paris. The Local pays a visit to find out how it differs from other hostels in the French capital and whether you'd actually want to spend a night with 900 people. READ

Visitors to the Louvre saved a few euros on Thursday thanks to protesting archaeologists. Photo: AFP

Free entry at Louvre due to angry archaeologists

Bemused art lovers and tourists visited the world's most popular art gallery for free on Thursday afternoon thanks to around 100 protesting archaeologists who blocked the ticket desks. READ

Hollande hopes 150,000 young French people will sign up to the civic service. Photo: Francis Moris/AFP

Hollande boosts civic service to heal division

In a bid to heal France's fractured society and instill the values of the French Republic in young people, President François Hollande announced on Thursday plans to boost France's civic service, but stopped short of making it obligatory. READ

A hand-coloured etching, published in 1803, shows Napoleon "Little Boney" in the hand of King George II. Photo: AFP

Napoleon skewered in new British exhibition

A colourful new exhibition about French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is opening in London on Thursday, showing how artists and cartoonists shaped the way the British perceived "The Little Corporal". READ

Presidential press conference

Hollande and Merkel will head to Kiew and Moscow with a new peace initiative. Photo: AFP

Hollande and Merkel to visit Kiev and Moscow

French President François Hollande will visit Kiev on Thursday along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to present a new initiative to end the Ukraine crisis. The leaders will then head to Moscow on Friday to meet Vladimir Putin. READ 2 comments

US investors are still main ob creators in France. Photo: Anatoliv93/Flickr

US tops table of foreign job creators in France

While Chinese investment in France is growing and the influx of Qatari money continues to turn heads it’s the Americans who remain top of foreign investors rankings in France and who create the most jobs. READ

Read older articles »

From our other editions:

The Local List

Photo: Shutterstock

Nine things to know before dating an Austrian

A recent article on The Local noted the fact that almost one third of Austrians are single, and seemed to hit a nerve amongst our expat readers, with many writing in to tell us about their experience of relationships with Austrian men and woman - both good and bad. Here's a list of nine things to know before dating an Austrian. READ

Helicopters responding to avalanche scene at Piz Vilán. Photo: Graubünden cantonal police

Avalanche death toll in Swiss Alps rises to 11

Another person has died after being overcome by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps while skiing off-piste, police said on Sunday, bringing the death toll in such accidents to 11 in the past four days. READ

Sheikh Abdel Moez al-Eila preaching at Berlin's al-Nur mosque. Photo: Memri TV/YouTube

'Wives can't refuse sex', imam tells Berlin mosque

A preacher at a mosque in Berlin's southern Neukölln district has told worshippers that women should be confined to their homes and submit whenever their husbands demand sex. READ

Photo: Colourbox

Half of Danes want to limit Muslims in Denmark

Depending on who you ask, the fact that 50 percent of Danes want to limit the number of Muslims in the country is either "common sense" or a sign of waning tolerance. READ

The big freeze

A stranded car on a road near Burgos. Photo: Cesar Manso/AFP

Hundreds stranded as snow cripples Spain

Various rescue operations have taken place in northern Spain to free people trapped in their vehicles in the snowy weather while 28 provinces remain on alert for freezing temperatures. READ

The Local List

What does an Italian mean when they say "into the wolf's mouth"? Photos: Shutterstock

Ten delightfully irrational Italian superstitions

Italy is home to many weird and wonderful superstitions, with many still practised by Italians today. Here we explain ten of the most common. READ

Hussein Abbas on the front line in Iraq. Photo: Screen grab from TV2 report

14-year-old Norwegian found fighting in Iraq

A 14-year-old boy from Norway has been discovered fighting in Iraq against the militant Islamic group Isis, Norway’s TV2 reported on Monday. READ

Video

Photo: The Local

Is this the toughest gym class in the world?

The Local watched in awe as pupils at a school in Stockholm plunged into the icy waters of a local lake as part of their gym class. Does this make them the toughest kids in the world? READ