If you've walked around any of France's cosmopolitan cities in recent years, you're sure to have come across some stunning murals. Painted onto the side of buildings, in hidden corners, and just about anywhere an artist can paint, street art is booming. We're not talking old-school graffiti here, hastily sprayed names on walls, and anti-social stuff like that. Today's street art is commissioned by city or town councils and created by prominent street artists from around the globe says Suzanne Pearson.
"The United Kingdom is Europe's most dangerous destination for tourists," the findings flatly stated. "Those renting a vacation home here should be aware that there are 254,000 burglaries recorded each year, meaning thieves break into residences every 2 minutes. Renting a car puts you at risk, too, with criminals stealing 364,000 vehicles annually across the country. Tourists here should also watch for pickpockets in crowded areas, as the UK sees around 121,000 such incidents."
The ranking, published on February 6, 2026, evaluated early problems reported in 2025 on vehicles registered in France since January 1, 2018, with fewer than 150,000 kilometers on the odometer, as noted by a Numerama report. This marked Tesla's first appearance in the magazine's reliability rankings, which was enabled by the company's growing vehicle population in the French market. According to the publication, Tesla vehicles showed no recurring major defects beyond isolated suspension arm issues,
President Emmanuel Macron Monday distanced France from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, saying it "mainly concerns" the United States after ex-minister Jack Lang resigned from a top cultural post over links to the late sex offender. His remarks came after Lang on Saturday offered to leave his post at the Arab World Institute following a decision by French prosecutors to open a preliminary tax fraud probe of him and his daughter Caroline after they were mentioned in files related to Epstein.
A secondary school student stabbed an art teacher in southern France on Tuesday, leaving the 60-year-old in critical condition, the local public prosecutor said. The pupil, in a class of early teenagers, stabbed the teacher at least three times. He was later arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, said Raphael Balland, the public prosecutor in the southern city of Toulon. France's education minister, Edouard Geffray, said that he was headed to La Guicharde secondary school, where the stabbing took place, in the town of Sanary-sur-Mer.
Oscar-nominee Helena Bonham Carter has joined Steve Coogan for the fourth season of HBO's comedy drama The White Lotus. Bonham Carter is one of three new cast members officially announced today alongside Chris Messina and Marissa Long. Messina is known for roles in Sharp Objects, The Mindy Project and Julie & Julia, while Long is a model with only a short film to her name as an actor.
Doctors who have done their medical studies in an EU or EEA country can have their professional qualifications recognised in France - but since Brexit that no longer includes the UK. British-trained doctors must now follow the lengthy, complicated and expensive process of all non-EU medics who wish to practise in France - the 'autorisation individuelle d'exercice', which involves up to two years of hospital training and retaking exams to prove their skills.
Ministers in Germany and France shot back at US President Donald Trump on for his comments claiming that the US had "never needed" its European NATO allies despite it being the only NATO member in history to invoke the mutual defense clause Article 5 and alleging that non-US troops in Afghanistan had "stayed a little back" from the frontlines. Germany's Defense MinsterBoris Pistorius said Trump should apologize, while also implying that he was not exactly holding his breath.
Equality Minister Aurore Berge, reacting to the results, told Le Parisien that "the SOS Racisme report shows there is still a long way to go" and reiterated that "discrimination is illegal". Berge announced the introduction of mandatory discrimination training for all real estate agents. Training is currently only compulsory for professional license holders - less than half of all agents. She said a decree could be expected "in the coming weeks".
"The survey "highlights a worrying persistence of discriminatory practices that are nevertheless prohibited under criminal law", SOS Racisme stated in a press release. Equality Minister Aurore Berge, reacting to the results, told Le Parisien that "the SOS Racisme report shows there is still a long way to go" and reiterated that "discrimination is illegal". Berge announced the introduction of mandatory discrimination training for all real estate agents. Training is currently only compulsory for professional license holders - less than half of all agents."
The French government is planning a law that would ban access to social media platforms for anyone under the age of 15, a move that places the country among a small but growing group of nations willing to directly challenge the power of Big Tech in the name of child protection. Announced at the very end of 2025 and set to begin committee debate on January 13, 2026,
Three organisers of a student welcome party at the University of Lille (located in the north of France) are on trial this week following the death of a student in 2021, who had allegedly been subjected to a hazing ritual. Medical student Simon Guermonprez attended his university's welcome event, during which he consumed excessive amounts of alcohol. Severely intoxicated, he was struck by a truck while returning home.
It was announced in 2025 but came into effect from the start of 2026 - French museums can now charge higher prices to visitors from non-EU countries. There are, however, exemptions for non-EU citizens who are resident in France, as well as concession prices plus a number of groups who qualify for free entry. Here's a breakdown of the new rules;
Paris prosecutors on Monday requested six-year prison sentences for two former narcotics squad police officers who replaced confiscated cocaine with sugar paste. The defendants, Thierry C, 60, and Christophe J, 50, were members of the French capital's nighttime anti-drugs taskforce but were expelled from the police following their arrests in December 2022. Along with prison sentences, the prosecutor requested the confiscation of €600,000 from the bank account of Thierry C. and a €200,000 fine against Christophe J.
French farmers have blocked roads around the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe with their tractors in protest at an imminent EU trade deal with South American countries that they say will create unfair competition. The farmers blockaded motorways outside Paris on Thursday and dozens of tractors overran police checkpoints to reach the city centre in a pre-dawn protest organised by the Coordination Rurale union against the planned trade accord.
At least 700 flights at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport were canceled on Wednesday because of the snow and wind, after days of travel disruptions due to the winter storm. Over 1,000 passengers were stranded at Schiphol overnight. Airport authorities said they had set up camp beds for travelers who were forced to sleep at the airport, which is one of the busiest in Europe.
