Future heatwaves, where water restrictions are in place, ways to say ‘thank you’, and what we know about France’s social media ban
Astonishingly, it’s nearly August. It’s the month the women’s Tour de France gets under way, property tax bills (or refunds) start arriving, your phone should ring a little less often… and two celestial events take place.
What changes in France in August 2026
Most of France has emerged from its third heatwave in just two months, with temperatures finally easing across most of the country – so what’s in store for the weeks ahead?
Will France see another heatwave in August?
France is facing an “exceptional and highly worrying” drought, with half the country facing the highest level of water restrictions – here are where drought measures are in place.
LATEST: Maps of all the water restrictions in place in France
Sometimes you will take a prescription to a French pharmacy only to be told that it is ‘not reimbursed’ – here’s a look at what this means, why it happens and what you can do about it.
Why some medication is not reimbursed in France and what you can do about it
The French parliament has passed legislation banning under 15s from using social media, with a projected start date in September – but how will it work in practice?
Explained: How will France’s social media ban for under-15s actually work?
If you’re learning French, one of the first words you’ll come across is merci, which simply means “thank you”.
While this word is appropriate in almost any situation, the French language offers many other ways to express gratitude depending on the setting, your relationship with the person, and how thankful you want to sound.
Beyond merci: All the ways to say ‘thank you’ in French