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| NEWS |
| No blame for AZF deadly explosion |
| Anger as court clears Toulouse factory bosses and Total over blast that killed 31 people and injured thousands |
THE VICTIMS of a massive factory explosion that killed 31 people and injured thousands have spoken of their anger after a court cleared oil giant Total and its management of any responsibility.
The explosion at the Total-owned AZF chemical fertiliser plant in Toulouse, France’s deadliest industrial accident since the Second World War, registered 3.4 on the Richter scale and left many people disabled and with hearing problems.
Prosecutors had been pushing for a three-year suspended prison s |
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| MONEY |
| Investigation into charity donations |
| Seventeen charities are under investigation by the Paris public prosecutor, suspected of misappropriating donations |
SEVENTEEN charities are under investigation by the Paris public prosecutor, suspected of fraud and misappropriating donations.
The charities that have been accused in France of misuse of donations are:
Association Mère Teresa pour les enfants (Amte)
Association pour la recherche sur le diabète (ARD)
Association pour la recherche sur la dégénérescence maculaire liée à l’âge (ARDMLA)
Association internationale pour la recherche sur la maladie d’Alzheimer (Airma)
Ligue européenne contre l |
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| HEALTHCARE |
| Seasonal flu – get your jabs |
| Common seasonal flu is still more deadly than swine flu – Grippe A in France – even if it doesn't make headlines |
COMMON seasonal flu is more deadly than swine flu – known here as Grippe A – despite the latter’s domination of headlines.
Between two and seven million people are affected by seasonal flu every autumn and winter in France and it kills on average 1 in 1,000 people.
It is also more dangerous for older people as they can be more at risk of complications with heart and lungs.
Doctors have noted that older people are statistically less likely to catch swine flu – perhaps because of built-i |
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| PRACTICAL |
| Financial help for studying in France |
| The cost of a degree in France is tiny when compared to the UK - but there is still a range of financial help |
STUDYING for a degree in France is inexpensive compared to the UK, however a range of grants and loans is nonetheless available to help with fees and living costs.
The cost of a French degree is €171 a year for a standard undergraduate course (or €114 for the reduced rate - taux réduit - for those doing more than one degree course at a time). Courses are typically for three years.
Certainly this is a cheaper bet for children of British expats than going back to the UK where tuition |
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| PROPERTY |
| 0% loan for septic tank renovation |
| An interest-free loan for renovating a septic tank is now available, joining other loans for green home improvements |
AN INTEREST-free loan for renovating a septic tank is now available, joining those which have been on offer since April 1 for green home improvements.
The septic tank loans have a limit of e10,000 and will help those carrying out renovations to meet new legal requirements by 2012.
The other interest free loans (éco-prêt à taux zéro) have a threshold of€30,000.
They are available from many high-street banks for a selection of environmental home improvements such as insulating or fittin |
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| POLITICS |
| Expat vote grows in importance |
| Connexion edition: December 2007 |
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THE British Electoral Commission is urging the 5.5 million expats who live abroad to vote in the next general election.
The commission, which was set up by Parliament but is independent of the government, says that, of the 200,000 Britons who live in France, only 20,000 are registered to vote. The commission has launched a publicity campaign to increase this number. It also has a website on the topic at www.aboutmyvote.org.uk.
Head of campaigns Nina Ziaullah said: “If a snap election is ca |
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| LETTERS |
| Expat jobseekers' prejudice claims |
| Alleged French prejudice towards foreign jobseekers leaves many well-qualified workers 'on the professional scrapheap' |
SOME months ago - well before the recession - I wrote a piece which appeared in The Connexion under the title "Tackling French Prejudice in the Employment Market". Having invited comments from other readers I can report that a raw nerve has been touched in many a village.
It would appear I am far from the only one with the feeling that my un/underemployed status is based at least in part on my foreignness - 21 of |
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| AMERICAN CONNEXION |
| US and France: What’s next? |
| How will a new US administration affect relations with France? A spokesman for the US Embassy in Paris explains. |
By Perry Leopard
Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States on January 20. As his new administration begins their work The Connexion spoke with consular officers at the American embassy about what the change might mean for French-American political and business relations.
“Whenever you have a new president, of whichever party, there are new opportunities to explore, new ways of working together,” said Daniel Harris, the minister counsellor for commer |
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| FEATURES & INTERVIEWS |
| One year in very southern France |
| Adventurer Laurence de la Ferrière has spent the past year working as the 'prefect of the Antarctic' |
RECORD-breaking French adventurer Laurence de la Ferrière has conquered some of the tallest and deadliest mountains in the world without oxygen, crossed Antarctica with just a 140kg food sleigh – and is now a civil servant.
But this is no nine-to-five desk job in Paris. Ferrière is the chef de district for the Terre Adélie, the French-owned slice of Antarctica, about twice the size of the UK. Population: 26 researchers and technicians, living in complete isolation for nine months of the year |
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| BUSINESS |
| What to know about bankruptcy |
| By the end of the year 70,000 businesses will have failed in France. There are several stages involved |
BY THE end of the year 70,000 businesses will have failed in France, according to a recent study by credit insurers Euler Hermes SFAC - a rate not seen since 1990 and 20% more than 2008.
In France bankruptcy procedures involve several stages aimed at trying to keep a business afloat.
Bankruptcy may be translated as faire faillite, though this is no longer used officially. In everyday language people also call it déposer son bilan. The modern procedure usually involves three |
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| COMMUNITY |
| English Christmas carol services |
| A full listing of the English-language festive services in churches across France over December |
LANGUEDOC ROUSSILLON
A magical start to the Christmas season in the Hérault is promised with the eighth annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at the Eglise Saint Hippolyte in Fontès in the Herault. The event, this year on December 13 at 15.00, continues to attract a growing number of people of all ages and nationalities. There will be home-made mince pies and wine at the end of the service.
The Anglican Diocese of St. Michael's in the Gard will be holding a carol service |
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What to know 
