216 October 2020 (Digital version)

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216 October 2020 (Digital version)
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Brexit: Britons in France face banking uncertainty

Several British banks are preparing to close accounts held by Britons in France post-Brexit, with Barclaycard announcing it is cancelling cards for clients living in the EU by November 16, 2020. The move was prompted by the lack of a finance agreement between the UK and EU in the continuing talks and will come as a blow to British residents who have retained a UK account and, in many cases, rely on it to receive UK-sourced income including pensions.

Learn more with our Brexit news coverage on the front page and continued on page 7. On page 6, find a checklist of actions that you need to take for Brexit depending on your situation. Updated information will be available online in our Brexit section as it is released.

Coronavirus in France: Latest updates including information on the new alert system

A second national lockdown can no longer be ruled out after new coronavirus cases hit a record high on September 28. Defending stronger measures being imposed, Prime Minister Jean Castex said: “If we do not act, we could find ourselves in a situation like that of spring. That could mean reconfinement, and we must avoid it.” We also look at what the levels mean in the new five-level system of alerts for monitoring the spread of the virus by department.

Read our coverage of recent coronavirus news on page 3.

Will France finally get better broadband coverage?

France is on track to improve its broadband availability and connect all homes to speeds of over 30Mbs by 2022, according to the professor leading an official evaluation into progress. Currently, 61% of French homes have access to this kind of speed, which is significantly below the European average of 80%.

See the full picture on page 8, along with an update on the roll-out of 5G telecoms technology in France.

US Ambassador: ‘France is the foreign country Trump has visited the most – that says a lot’

The Connexion talks to Jamie McCourt, former CEO, co-owner of the baseball team the L.A Dodgers and US Ambassador to France about her love for the country and hopes for the upcoming American elections back home.

Read the full interview on page 9.

Property: How to receive money for environmentally friendly home improvements

Grants and tax credits are available for people insulating their homes or taking other environmental measures but property owners should note that any eligible work on your house has to be done by artisans with an RGE certificate.

We clarify the process in our property section on pages 37-39.

Comment: Our columnists weigh in on current topics

‘Hate sells well in our modern world – and we are poorer for it,’ writes Nabila Ramdani in her October column. Plus, Damien Carême, Europe Exologie les Verts MEP puts the case forward for councils taking more responsibility for protecting the environment.

Get a different perspective on current affairs with our comment section on pages 14 and 15.

Reader questions answered

You asked, we answered. Find the advice you are looking for, including:

Visiting France in a British car: Am I required to carry a French accident form in my car?
Healthcare: Will I be reimbursed if I have an operation in a private clinic?
Inheritance and wills: If I have an English will must I register it in France as a French resident?

Find out the answer and more advice for readers on page 18.

Culture: What makes the French French?

For nearly 20 years, guidebook writer Nick Inman has tried to answer the question but has never found a satisfactory answer. Still, he has made a few interesting observations along the way.

Read the story in our culture section on page 12.

Plus:

Practical: Airline passengers still waiting for refunds for cancelled flights
Money: Homeowners’ taxe foncière is due barring a few exceptions
Property: Discover Hunspach, France’s favourite village
Cooking: Gastronomy for gatherings - French recipes for big groups
Gardens: Visiting a ‘punk’ garden in Yonne, Burgundy
Events: Back to nature and subversive fashion with our pick of things to do in autumn
Rencontre: Why I decided to leave PR to own last pipe shop in Paris

And: Bilingual crosswords + quiz + books + films + lots more…