| Latest articles |
The Connexion publishes news from France and also important information
about life here and the issues that you may need help with. Examples of
these are shown below. We've included only the beginning of each article,
so to read it in full simply click on the 'Continue' link. On the right,
you'll find more articles from previous editions of the newspaper.
We publish articles of this nature in every edition of The Connexion which
can you can buy at news-stands throughout France or by subscription. Click
on the button above to subscribe
In addition we publish helpsheets on important topics such as healthcare,
taxes etc which you can order using the helpsheets button above. |
| NEWS |
| Nicolas Sarkozy on €21,000 a month |
| President takes a 14% pay cut this year and almost halves his spending on travel, new figures reveal |
NICOLAS Sarkozy's monthly salary has fallen by 14% this year, suggesting that even the head of state is not immune from the economic crisis.
Figures revealed in parliament yesterday show the French president earns €21,133 gross per month, before deduction of social charges.
This is down from a monthly pay packet of €24,572 during 2008.
The figures are included in a report by Socialist MP Jean Launay, presented to the National Assembly as part of its debate on the Elysée's 2010 budget.
|
|
|
|
|
| MONEY |
| What are the tax rules on gites? |
| The taxation of rental income from furnished lettings is the subject of some confusion |
Gite owners will need to keep a closer eye on their tax assessment in future, as the taxation of rental income from furnished lettings has been thrown into considerable disarray this year.
The confusion has arisen as a result of changes to the tax allowances for landlords of furnished accommodation.
As a small landlord in France, you can choose to be taxed on the basis of a notional profit, after deduction of a fixed standard allowance for costs, or on the basis of your actual profits, aft |
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
| PRACTICAL |
| Can I play UK lottery in France? |
| Are you allowed to buy a UK National Lottery ticket on their website while in France? |
ARE you allowed to buy a UK National Lottery ticket on their website while in France? G.B.
Camelot requires that only permanent UK residents use its site to buy tickets. They also advise against using their site abroad on visits as some countries only allow you to buy their own lotteries’ tickets.
However a spokeswoman for the Française des Jeux, which runs France’s lottery, said there was no law banning Britons from playing the UK’s National Lottery in France.
So while |
|
|
| PROPERTY |
| No legal case if sales info wrong |
| A man who found the 90m² house he was buying was actually only 62m² has lost a court case against the estate agent |
A MAN who found the 90m² house he was buying was actually only 62m² has lost a court case against the estate agent which showed him the property.
In a landmark ruling, France’s highest court, the cour de cassation, rejected a claim for a reduction in the sale price of the property.
The new owner argued that a seller had an obligation to act in good faith, and to deliver the property as described. They also argued that the estate agent owed a duty of care to verify the surface area of the p |
|
|
| POLITICS |
| Expat vote grows in importance |
| Connexion edition: December 2007 |
|
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 |
|
|
| LETTERS |
| Police car policy heavy-handed |
| Impounding foreign vehicles owned by Brits visiting UK is not something the police should be proud of |
|
PETER West’s letter [about UK police impounding foreign-registered cars] has serious implications for those who visit Britain several times a year for short stays.
Northamptonshire police are proud of Operation Andover which they say has caught criminals, but they do not mention those falsely accused.
Expats should also be aware of e-Borders which will require everyone entering or leaving the UK to provide a great deal of personal information.
RICHARD PALK
Auxerre, Bourgogne
|
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
| FEATURES & INTERVIEWS |
| Will Ryanair keep free flights goal? |
| Airline promised 50% tickets to be free by 2010. But what about all the charges? Their Europe spokesman explains |
LOW-COST airline Ryanair said in 2006 they hoped to make half of tickets free by the end of the decade.
We interview European Communications Manager Daniel de Carvalho about this target and other aspects of Ryanair’s activities in France.
How have things been going over the last year?
Due to higher price sensitivity passengers are increasingly switching from high fare and fuel surcharging airlines to Ryanair’s lowest fares and no fuel surcharge guarantee.
The crisis has been g |
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
| COMMUNITY |
| Monthly expat café meet in the Gard |
| Expats in the Gard are invited to a monthly gathering to meet new faces and get more practise speaking French |
|
EXPATS in the Gard are invited to a monthly gathering to meet new faces and get more practise speaking French.
The Café des Expat will next meet on Friday November 13 at 10.00 in Poulx, between Nîmes and Uzès.
For more information and to confirm your attendance, email contact@francehandco.fr or call 04 34 28 60 31. |
|
|
| |
What to know 
