"The Talking France podcast is back for its first 2026 episode with a look at the latest strikes and demos in the country, a proposed social media ban for under 15s and George Clooney's newly acquired French citizenship. Host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France's Emma Pearson and John Lichfield, along with a new member of the team, Franco-American journalist Emma Albright."
"Starting the year with a wave of industrial action - doctors started a 10-day strike on Monday in protest at measures in the 2026 budget that change the way they work, while farmers and Louvre staff are restarting protests. A two-part bill aimed at banning social media for teens under the age of 15 as well as the use of cell phones in high schools, has been drafted by the government"
Strikes and demonstrations resumed in early 2026 across multiple sectors, including a 10-day doctors' strike protesting 2026 budget measures that change working arrangements. Farmers and Louvre staff restarted protests alongside medical staff. The government drafted a two-part bill to ban social media for teens under 15 and to prohibit cell phone use in high schools, scheduled for examination in early January. Reactions to the proposed measures vary across society. George Clooney, his wife Amal and their two children became French citizens over the Christmas holidays. A Franco-American journalist provided pronunciation corrections for strike-related French words and phrases. The production is available on major streaming platforms and relies on subscriber support.
Read at www.thelocal.fr
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