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The new Eurostar trains: work in progress ? Eurostar train

Economy/Politics

The new Eurostar trains: work in progress ?

Do you often travel between London and Paris via Eurostar? Then you must know that 2.15 hours can be very long, or not, depending on what you do. In the past few weeks, new trains have been connecting the two sides of the Channel with innovative services to help pass the time. However, we asked people what they thought of their journey, and the answers were mixed...

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Burkini : when France is threatened by swimwear Burkini : when France is threatened by swimwear France has recently made the headlines. Sadly, it was not for the right reasons. Over the last month, more than 30 French towns have banned the burkini on their beaches. Many people were shocked by t (...) more
A return to stability? A return to stability? For almost a month, there has been massive uncertainty in the economy and politics of the UK. A vote to Leave the European Union has jeopardised the unity of the Kingdom, unseated a Prime Minister and (...) more
 
Les Républicains: don’t forget the French in London! Les Républicains: don’t forget the French in London! One after another, the candidates seeking selection in the centre-right’s primary elections are launching their campaigns. Politicians are travelling throughout France to meet their party’s member (...) more
The unravelling of ever closer Union? The unravelling of ever closer Union? A year ago, the EU was on a rocky path: in the midst of the Greek crisis, where it was accused of enforcing aggressive austerity measures, the cracks were starting to appear as euroscepticism became e (...) more
 
The EU’s Brexit dilemma The EU’s Brexit dilemma Over the course of the next two years, diplomats and leaders from the UK and the European Union will negotiate the terms of Brexit. On one side of the table, whoever will be representing the UK, will (...) more
How Brexit may affect the French living in the UK? How Brexit may affect the French living in the UK? Two weeks after the vote to leave the European Union, it is clear that Brexit is going to impact everyone in the UK. The country’s political parties are in mayhem, the currency has plummeted and the (...) more
 
4 questions to Frédéric Lefebvre: “Stop bugging the French !” 4 questions to Frédéric Lefebvre: “Stop bugging the French !” Frédéric Lefebvre is a representative of the French living in Northern America. He is a member of Les Républicains' party and is running campaign for the centre-right’s primary election in N (...) more
Nicolas Sarkozy's 5 ideas for a new EU Nicolas Sarkozy's 5 ideas for a new EU Nicolas Sarkozy was in London on 29 June for an exceptional meeting about the European Union. He met the French community a few days after the EU referendum. The leader of the French party Les Républ (...) more
 
Sarkozy's New Europe Sarkozy's New Europe French Londoners gathered en masse at Last week's Les Republicains conference. Still awaiting the conference’s featured speaker, hundreds - if not a thousand or so - of people chattered away in (...) more
Brexit, a European earthquake Brexit, a European earthquake This is it. The United Kingdom is leaving the European Union. A decision taken on 23 June, with 51.9% of votes for the “Leave” camp and 48.1% to remain in the EU. A result that will have a signifi (...) more
 
“Plan école” and UK Referendum: the French in London share their fears “Plan école” and UK Referendum: the French in London share their fears On Saturday 18 June, the French living in London gathered at the Ecole Internationale Franco-Anglaise to discuss the “plan école” and their concerns about a possible Brexit. The senators represen (...) more
London commemorated Charles de Gaulle’s 18 June 1940 speech London commemorated Charles de Gaulle’s 18 June 1940 speech Seventy-six years ago, a French General called Charles de Gaulle gave a historical speech on BBC radio from London, where he had regrouped with a small number of like minded individuals who wanted to (...) more
 
Jean-Claude Gaudin, Marseilles Mayor, comes to London to find investors Jean-Claude Gaudin, Marseilles Mayor, comes to London to find investors Jean-Claude Gaudin (Mayor of Marseilles, President of the Urban Community of Aix-Marseilles Provence and Vice-President of the French Senate) was in London on 19 May to raise the profile of his city a (...) more
French and British governments  join  together to help start-ups think global French and British governments join together to help start-ups think global French Minister of Economy and Industry and the Digital Sector, Emmanuel Macron, and French Minister of State for the Digital Sector, Axelle Lemaire, came to London on 14 April on the occasion of the (...) more
 
Less than a month  to go until the  London mayoral election Less than a month to go until the London mayoral election On 5 May 2016, Londoners will be voting to elect their new Mayor. He or she will be filling Boris Johnson’s shoes and what shoes! You may not be aware but if you are not British and are however a Lo (...) more
La Pâtisserie des Rêves when the dream turns into a nightmare La Pâtisserie des Rêves when the dream turns into a nightmare The two London shops of La Pâtisserie des Rêves shut down on 23 March. The 22 staff members were laid off within a few days and did not receive their March salaries. How did La Pâtisserie des Rêve (...) more
 
Unity is key to win referendum Unity is key to win referendum The question is simple, but the answer is the most contested issue in domestic politics today. June’s referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union carries with it momentous significanc (...) more
What do you think about Brexit? What do you think about Brexit? What if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union? This debate has been raging for years between the political parties and even had an impact on the 2015 general elections. On 23rd June, British an (...) more
 
Which? Magazine finds CurrencyFair to be the cheapest way to send £10,000 to Europe. Which? Magazine finds CurrencyFair to be the cheapest way to send £10,000 to Europe. Which? Money research published today (21 Jan 2016) features a table ranking 16 providers in order of competitiveness and places CurrencyFair at the top. more
 ID card's validity has been extended from 10 to 15 years ID card's validity has been extended from 10 to 15 years Since 1st January 2014, the validity of the secure French national ID card (laminated) issued to adults between 1st January 2004 and 31st December 2013, has been increased from 10 to 15 years. Find ou (...) more
 
French Regional Elections 2015: The Results French Regional Elections 2015: The Results The second round of the regional elections took place in France on Sunday 13 December, exactly one month after the terrorist attacks committed in Paris. These elections were the first ones to take pla (...) more
Here is your chance to win flights with CurrencyFair! Here is your chance to win flights with CurrencyFair! December is the perfect month for sharing - a moment, an emotion, or simply a gift. This is why CurrencyFair is giving you a chance to enter their competition to win flights, so you can get even more (...) more
 
The "Franco-British Business Awards 2015" distinguished La Belle Assiette, Décathlon and Société Générale The "Franco-British Business Awards 2015" distinguished La Belle Assiette, Décathlon and Société Générale This year's Franco-British Business Awards, organised by the French Chamber of Great Britain under the high patronage of HE Sylvie Bermann (French Ambassador to the UK) and HE Sir Peter Ricketts (...) more
COP21: a "green seminar" held at the French Residence on 27 November COP21: a "green seminar" held at the French Residence on 27 November Right before the opening of the COP21 in Paris a green inter-embassy seminar was held at the French Ambassador's Residence in London on Friday 27 November. The meeting gathered representatives fr (...) more
 
16 British and Australian veterans of WWII received France’s highest honour 16 British and Australian veterans of WWII received France’s highest honour On Thursday 11 November, 16 World War II veterans were awarded the Légion d’Honneur, France’s highest award, for the role they played in liberating France over 70 years ago. more
Terrorist attacks in Paris: our sorrowful thoughts from London Terrorist attacks in Paris: our sorrowful thoughts from London What an overwhelming week-end! The numbers are simply unbearable: 6 almost simultaneous attacks around Paris, more than 120 dead, hundreds of people injured, and countless shocked minds. The whole Fra (...) more
 
Promising start-ups meet French Minister Axelle Lemaire in London Promising start-ups meet French Minister Axelle Lemaire in London The first international stage of the « French Tech Digital Thursdays » took place on 29 October at the French Residence, with the presence of French Minister of State for Digital Affairs Axelle Lema (...) more
French President François Hollande officially opens the Lycée International Winston Churchill in Wembley French President François Hollande officially opens the Lycée International Winston Churchill in Wembley French President, François Hollande arrived in London yesterday to formally open the Lycée International Winston Churchill in Wembley. After the opening, Monsieur Hollande then went on to meet the (...) more
 
Terrorist attacks: what next? Terrorist attacks: what next? The three terrorist attacks which took place in France, Kuwait and Tunisia on Friday 26th June, killing over 60 people on three continents, are raising some highly important questions. What should Wes (...) more
Grexit could be more dangerous for EU than for Greece  Grexit could be more dangerous for EU than for Greece The term Grexit was recently created to describe Greece’s potential exit from the European Union due to its catastrophic economic state. And you could be hearing a lot of it in the coming months. I (...) more
 
Why the 2017 French Presidential Election will be Won in the First Round Why the 2017 French Presidential Election will be Won in the First Round Predicting the outcome of 2017’s French election will be like playing Russian roulette: you ignore the outcome and it could get messy. It will potentially be one of the closest elections ever seen (...) more
French commemorate historic “Appel du 18 Juin” French commemorate historic “Appel du 18 Juin” In what was a joyful ceremony before the Charles de Gaulle statue in Westminster, French representatives and military personnel gathered to commemorate de Gaulle’s historic 18 June announcement to t (...) more
 
Sarkozy's "droit du sol" U-turn emulates Conservative 2015 strategy Sarkozy's "droit du sol" U-turn emulates Conservative 2015 strategy In what seems to be a U-turn on his previous stance, “Les Républicains” leader Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that he is prepared to reconsider the legitimacy of the principle of the “droit du s (...) more
800th anniversary of Magna Carta: “Magna Carta and the Déclaration des Droits de l’Homme et du Citoyen: Past, Present and Future” 800th anniversary of Magna Carta: “Magna Carta and the Déclaration des Droits de l’Homme et du Citoyen: Past, Present and Future” Magna Carta is 800 years old! On this occasion, the Franco-British Council organised, on Thursday 11 June, a conference entitled: “Magna Carta and the Déclaration des Droits de l’Homme et du Cito (...) more
 
Altrad crowned “World Entrepreneur of the Year” in Monaco Altrad crowned “World Entrepreneur of the Year” in Monaco Mohed Altrad has won the 2015 “EY World Entrepreneur of the Year” award in Monaco following his exceptional leadership of engineering company Altrad. The businessman, who created Altrad in 1985, b (...) more
Return of military service in France? Return of military service in France? According to an Ifop poll, that is what 80% of French people would want. “Suspended” in 1996 by Jacques Chirac, national service is now back on the agenda, against the background of the recent Pa (...) more
 
Paris sues Fox News over its delirium about the “no go zones” in Europe Paris sues Fox News over its delirium about the “no go zones” in Europe Fox News, the largest news channel in the US and part of the News Corporation Group, asked their “experts” on France and the UK for help, to talk about the terrorist attacks in France, The result (...) more
France is no longer the 5th world economy France is no longer the 5th world economy What a blow for France at the beginning of 2015: the country has lost to the UK its rank as the fifth largest economy in the world. The figures released by the European Commission show a difference of (...) more
 
"I am Charlie." And now what? "I am Charlie." And now what? The 11th January will find its place in the history books. Millions of people demonstrated peacefully and often in silence everywhere in France and in other cities around the world - Not since the Lib (...) more
Gathering in London for Charlie Hebdo Gathering in London for Charlie Hebdo A few hours after the terrorist attack against Charlie Hebdo in Paris, hundreds of people gathered spontaneously together in Trafalgar Square. With their pens pointing to the sky, the crowd paid tribu (...) more
 
12 killed and 4 badly injured at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo’s offices in Paris 12 killed and 4 badly injured at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo’s offices in Paris Late this morning, two men armed with automatic weapons have attacked the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Twelve people have been killed and 4 are in a critical state. The two terrorists w (...) more
Franco-British Business Awards: and the winners are... Franco-British Business Awards: and the winners are... On 27th November, the French Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain organised the 15th Franco-British Business Awards. Find out more about the event and the five companies that received awards during th (...) more
 
From the Earth to Tchouri From the Earth to Tchouri History in the making: on 12 November, the European robot Philae landed on the Tchouri comet, more than 500 million kilometres away from Earth. more
Drones spotted over French nuclear plants: could be the next James Bond Drones spotted over French nuclear plants: could be the next James Bond In less than a month, eight of the nineteen French nuclear power plants have been flown over by mysterious drones. According to Bruno Comby, an engineer from the world renowned Ecole Polytechnique, th (...) more
 
Should we say “Madame LE président” or “Madame LA présidente”? French Academy vs. National Assembly Should we say “Madame LE président” or “Madame LA présidente”? French Academy vs. National Assembly On 6 October, at the French Assembly: Julien Aubert MP (UMP) persisted in calling the session chairwoman Sandrine Mazetier (PS) “Madame LE président”. The French MP was fined 1378 euros. The batt (...) more
London flirts in Paris with French entrepreneurs and investors London flirts in Paris with French entrepreneurs and investors On 15th October, more than a hundred and eighty people attended the second annual edition of Red Carpet Day in Paris, a seminar organised by the UFE GB (l’Union des Français de l’Etranger) to hel (...) more
 
Interview with Anne-France Kennedy, head of the New Sparks UK Interview with Anne-France Kennedy, head of the New Sparks UK IInterview with Anne-France Kennedy, founder of The New Sparks competition. Each year, this contest is organised in London and French and British entrepreneurs are invited to take part. All selected p (...) more
Thank you Andy Street for rallying the French Thank you Andy Street for rallying the French Andy Street apologised! John Lewis boss backtracked in a statement, saying he had gone too far with his critical remarks about France he described as “sclerotic, hopeless and downbeat”. His provoc (...) more
 
No Mr Street, France is not finished! No Mr Street, France is not finished! After a visit to Paris this week, Andy Street, the head of John Lewis Plc, gave a pitiless diagnosis of a “sclerotic, hopeless and downbeat” country. Bad timing for this astonishing attack on Fran (...) more
Senate elections: French right gets majority back Senate elections: French right gets majority back French president Francois Hollande suffered another blow in the senate elections this time: the right regained the majority, and the National Front enters the Senate for the first time ever. more
 
French nationals living abroad: be on your guard French nationals living abroad: be on your guard After Hervé Gourdel’s killing by an Algerian militant group, Paris called on French nationals living abroad to be “very vigilant”. After the shock comes the worry: the French have become one of (...) more
SNCF: Sans Nous les Cafés Ferment SNCF: Sans Nous les Cafés Ferment In France, on 24th September, the commuter network was seriously disrupted: unions launched a 24-hour strike to denounce the sanctions levied against some of their members who had been filmed drinking (...) more
 
No, Scotland will not be independent. No, but... No, Scotland will not be independent. No, but... On 18 September, the Scots voted against independence for their country by 55% to 45%, beating all the records in terms of voter (85%). The three major British parties promised however to extend Scotl (...) more
Migrants in Calais: the political deadlock Migrants in Calais: the political deadlock Migrants are dreaming of the English Eldorado and as a result, they flock to Calais in order to attempt to cross the Channel in whatever way possible and the city can no longer cope with this influx. (...) more
 
Sarkozy, the comeback Sarkozy, the comeback Nicolas Sarkozy has decided: he will return to politics, and he will be running for presidency of the UMP (his old political party), next November. He should announce it between 18 and 30 September. more
Scotland independence: Yes vote is gaining ground Scotland independence: Yes vote is gaining ground Should Scotland be independent? Here is the question that the Scots will have to answer, on 18 September, a referendum with colossal repercussions. And for the very first time, the pro-independence mo (...) more
 
Warning! A Rottweiler can bite Warning! A Rottweiler can bite Merci pour ce moment [Thank you for that moment]: an explosive book published by Valérie Trierweiler. Three hundred and twenty pages secretly written in which the former first lady tells everything, (...) more
Nicolas Sarkozy charged with corruption Nicolas Sarkozy charged with corruption Former President Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with “influence peddling“, “active corruption“ and “concealment of a violation of professional confidentiality“. more
 
Mayor of Nice prohibits foreign flags in his town Mayor of Nice prohibits foreign flags in his town Mayor Christian Estrosi forbids "the conspicuous use of foreign flags" in Nice during the duration of the World Cup. more
Results of the French Elections in the UK  Results of the French Elections in the UK Over the last few weeks, six lists of candidates have been contesting the the "Elections Consulaires". The turn-out was unfortunately very low, both in terms of online votes, due to the ma (...) more
 
Find out why the French living abroad cannot ignore the "Elections Consulaires" Find out why the French living abroad cannot ignore the "Elections Consulaires" The French will start voting today for their representatives. It is a crucial election and yet often ignored because the French electorate does not really understand why these elections are so importa (...) more
Is “French Bashing” legitimate? Is “French Bashing” legitimate? French Bashing exasperates the French. Nothing annoys them more than an English or American article gloating upon the reasons for the supposed decline of their beautiful country. But we have to ask ou (...) more
 
When the city of light becomes the city of smog When the city of light becomes the city of smog The Parisian sky is finally clearing, after two weeks of severe pollution. Paris imposed drastic measures to combat the toxic smog that had rolled over the city for several days: free public transport (...) more
How come the French don’t care about their President's messy love life? How come the French don’t care about their President's messy love life? Why the French pretend they don’t care about their President's love life and beat about the bush to get the answers the Brits have been craving to hear? more
 
Red Carpet Day - French Entrepreneurs in the UK speak to French Entrepreneurs in France Red Carpet Day - French Entrepreneurs in the UK speak to French Entrepreneurs in France On Thursday 10 October, the Red Carpet Day was being held by the UFE Corporate UK at Le Tapis Rouge in Paris. The event was designed to help French entrepreneurs export to the UK. Criticised by many (...) more
Jean-François Copé: France's place in Europe Jean-François Copé: France's place in Europe When Jean-François Copé declared that David Cameron gave “one of the best analyses of the European situation”, one might think that the French right-wing opposition leader is betting on the wron (...) more
 
Are the French viscerally anti-libéral? Are the French viscerally anti-libéral? French people have a tendency to be especially critical of liberalism as a major cause of the economic crisis. Bank excesses, uncontrolled capitalism, dangerous deregulations, soaring unemployment, mo (...) more
A Frenchman sworn in at  Holyrood A Frenchman sworn in at Holyrood Twenty years ago, Christian Allard came to Aberdeen without speaking a word of English, now, with two children and three grand children, all of them Scottish, he has become the first Frenchman to be e (...) more
 
France's influence in Europe: Can we still believe in it? France's influence in Europe: Can we still believe in it? The visit of the UK Prime Minister and his family to the German chancellor in her country residence outside Berlin has been interpreted as a snub to the French President. The possibility of a growing (...) more
Scandal at the Heart of French Government Scandal at the Heart of French Government The first scandal hits present French Government and forces Jerome Cahuzac, the Budget Minister, to resign in order to avoid embarrassment for François Hollande. more
 
The end of excess of power in France The end of excess of power in France “ Forbidding the dual mandate, we will do it”. The French President confirmed on Wed. 16 Jan. he wants to put an end to an on-going issue in French politics: the dual mandate. Despite the numerous (...) more
Could this be the end of France's incredibly high unemployment benefit scheme? Could this be the end of France's incredibly high unemployment benefit scheme? The French have finally admitted that the financing of their unemployment benefit system has become unsustainable. “Better late than never” the Brits would say. They have been mocking high French (...) more
 
Obélix goes fishing for sturgeons in Russia = Sudden rise in caviar prices Obélix goes fishing for sturgeons in Russia = Sudden rise in caviar prices "Depardieu 1948-2013" - Buried alive by The Inrockuptibles’ front page this week, the newly Russian actor has not finished hitting the headlines. According to the music and culture magazin (...) more
Gay Marriage: Paris and London debating simultaneously Gay Marriage: Paris and London debating simultaneously On Sunday 13, two days before the French Parliament started to examine the draft bill permitting gay marriage and adoption, between 340 000 and 800 000 demonstrators marched in Paris against the proje (...) more
 
Income from abroad - Do you have to declare it in the UK? Income from abroad - Do you have to declare it in the UK? When you come from abroad i.e. France, Belgium or from any other country to live in the UK, you become a UK resident, eventually a UK ordinarily resident but you usually remain a non-domiciled person. (...) more
Hollande meets the French in London Hollande meets the French in London Only two months after his election, François Hollande visited London and started his day with a ‘meet and greet’ session for the French community in the UK and Ireland at the French Ambassador’ (...) more
 
Results for the Second Round of the French Parliamentary Elections Results for the Second Round of the French Parliamentary Elections François Hollande received a clear majority and is now free to move forward and form his government before getting on with his programme of reforms. For the first time during the 5th Republic, the (...) more
Results First Round French Parliamentary Elections -  Northern Europe Results First Round French Parliamentary Elections - Northern Europe Two women will be facing each other in the second round of the French Parliamentary elections. Axelle Lemaire comes first in an election in which only 20.8% of the voters took part. London was partic (...) more
 
Results of the French Presidential Elections 2012 - How the French in London voted Results of the French Presidential Elections 2012 - How the French in London voted Find out how French Londoners casted their vote during the second round of the French Presidential Elections. more
Debate Sarkozy v Hollande - No knock-out blows ( but lots of punches below the belt ) Debate Sarkozy v Hollande - No knock-out blows ( but lots of punches below the belt ) Those who hoped that last night’s presidential debate would raise the level of political debate, be scattered with the "bons mots" and intellectual sparring in the best Voltairean traditio (...) more
 
Do the French care more about politics than the Brits? Do the French care more about politics than the Brits? Although slightly below the 83.8% recorded in the first round of the French presidential elections in 2007, more than 80 % of the French electorate again turned out to vote in the first round of the (...) more
Is France a better place to retire than England? Is France a better place to retire than England? The Economist’s 2012 edition of its ‘Pocket World in Figures’ helps resolve lots of long-standing arguments and gives plenty of food for thought for French expatriates in London and the Brits wh (...) more
 
Results of 1st Round of Presidential Elections 2012 Results of 1st Round of Presidential Elections 2012 Contrary to what had been predicted by the opinion polls, the results for the first round of the French Presidential Elections, have been much closer than anticipated. François Hollande (Socialist Pa (...) more
Sterling at its highest in 14 months Sterling at its highest in 14 months Sterling rose to its highest in 14 months against a trade-weighted basket of currencies on Wednesday, bolstered by improving UK data, while the pound held near a three-month high against the euro. Wor (...) more
 
Nicolas Sarkozy wants to clamp down on tax exiles and make them pay Nicolas Sarkozy wants to clamp down on tax exiles and make them pay Nicolas Sarkozy has announced on Monday evening on French TV that tax exiles will be made to pay tax they avoid by living abroad. He added however that he is not targetting expats who have left Franc (...) more
French Presidential elections of 2012: Who will be in the running? French Presidential elections of 2012: Who will be in the running? Less than 100 days before the first round of the French presidential elections, there are more than 40 candidates currently in the running. But who are they? Who are the favourites, who will fall at t (...) more
 
Former French president, Jacques Chirac, condemned by Paris court. Former French president, Jacques Chirac, condemned by Paris court. On 15th December , Jacques Chirac and eight former colleagues from his time as mayor of Paris were found guilty by a Paris court. Their crime ? - generating funds for their political activities by a (...) more
Labour and Socialist Party hand-in-hand Labour and Socialist Party hand-in-hand Monday 14 November, House of Parliament, the « Labour Friends of France » was launched by the MP Fabian Hamilton joined by delegates of the French socialist party. more
 
Charlie Hebdo went up in smoke! Charlie Hebdo went up in smoke! On the night of 1-2 November, the Parisian headquarter of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo was burned down and reduced to ashes. Was it deserved? Was Charlie Hebdo provocating muslims. more
First baby at the Elysée Palace First baby at the Elysée Palace Around 7:30 pm on 19th October, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, France’s First Lady, gave birth to a baby girl. She had been hospitalized earlier that day in one of the most exclusive Parisian private hospital (...) more
 
Hollande wins Primary elections. Can he be on his way to becoming the next French President?  Hollande wins Primary elections. Can he be on his way to becoming the next French President? Sunday 16th October, more than 3 million left-wing voters turned up to vote for the second round of the socialist primary elections. Half a million more than for the first round. Hollande becomes the (...) more
DSK-Banon:  cleared of all charges DSK-Banon: cleared of all charges Dominique Strauss-Kahn (DSK) is now cleared of all charges from Tristane Banon’s accusation. more
 
Jean-François Copé, ready for a political fight in 2012 Jean-François Copé, ready for a political fight in 2012 Friday the 30th of September, at the London Gloucester Millennium Hotel, the head of the UMP (party of the president Sarkozy), Jean-François Copé has met the French population living in the UK. His (...) more
DSK : It was worse than a weakness, it was a moral fault DSK : It was worse than a weakness, it was a moral fault After four months of silence, DSK (Dominique Strauss-Khan), the ex-president of the IFM, finally explained himself about his “sexual encounter”. Both serious and serene, DSK apologized to French p (...) more
 
French, you can vote in 2012! French, you can vote in 2012! 2012 is going to be a political year for the French. Two elections: presidential and legislative. The particular of the next election is, for the first time, French people living in a foreign country (...) more
Sarkozy-Cameron: working hand in hand for the Libyan transition Sarkozy-Cameron: working hand in hand for the Libyan transition Initiated by the Sarkozy-Cameron duo, the Paris summit on 1st September was successful. This “friends of Libya” meeting joined more than 60 countries. Even if at the beginning some countries such (...) more
 
DSK : Welcome to France! DSK : Welcome to France! According to French paper, Le Figaro, Dominique Strauss Khan (DSK) will be returning to France this Sunday at the airport Roissy-Charles De Gaulle. He will, of course, be accompanied by his ever-faith (...) more
DSK the come-back king: will people really forget so easily? DSK the come-back king: will people really forget so easily? After the revelation that the alleged victim lied on some of her assertions in the DSK case, Dominique Strauss-Khan now appears to be in the clear. more
 
Can we laugh at the DSK's case ? Can we laugh at the DSK's case ? The debate on the case continues, no verdict has yet been fully reached, and amidst all this, our inboxes are filled daily with the latest DSK joke. But is it too soon to laugh, and should we? more
Strauss-Kahn : released on bail, but formally indicted Strauss-Kahn : released on bail, but formally indicted DAILY UPDATE - Do not expect this article to answer the much anticipated question : 'is it true ?' 'did he actually do that ?'. However, you may just find below all you need to un (...) more
 
'Passport, please': Border control to be reinstated in Europe? 'Passport, please': Border control to be reinstated in Europe? With the situation in North Africa reaching fever-pitch, and the flow of immigrants increasing daily- EU governments are planning to reimpose border controls in an attempt to halt the flow. more
Top 5 Questions of the 2012 Presidential Election Top 5 Questions of the 2012 Presidential Election It is now official : the 2012 Presidential election will be held on 22nd April and 6th May, 2012. As there are only 11 months left before going to the polls, Franceinlondon has decided to highlight wh (...) more
 
France : liberty, equality, secularism? France : liberty, equality, secularism? On 11th April, France's law banning the burqa came into force. Will it have finally put an end to the incessant debate about Islam ? Franceinlondon.com thinks it is only the beginning. more
Ivory Coast : Laurent Gbagbo's downfall Ivory Coast : Laurent Gbagbo's downfall Ivory Coast's illegal president Laurent Gbagbo's ousting is imminent, as he is now holed up in an Abidjan bunker below the presidential palace, which is being taken by Alassane Ouattara' (...) more
 
France and England to intervene jointly in Libya? France and England to intervene jointly in Libya? The United Nations Security Council voted yesterday in favour of Resolution 1973, authorising military actions to protect Libyan civilians from Muammar Gaddafi's forces. more
Can the Far-right's Marine Le Pen win the 2012 Presidential Election ? Can the Far-right's Marine Le Pen win the 2012 Presidential Election ? This weekend, a French opinion poll led by Harris Interactive/Le Parisien has attracted a greater than usual amount of international attention. It suggests that far-right leader Marine Le Pen could wi (...) more
 
France : Cabinet reshuffle under pressure France : Cabinet reshuffle under pressure Only three months and a half after the previous massive reshuffle, this new cabinet shake-up is an admission of failure for President Sarkozy. more
Jean-François Copé : Generation France in London Jean-François Copé : Generation France in London On January 19th, a Franco-London crowd attended Jean François Copé's meeting in London about 'Unemployment', hosted by his think tank Génération France. more
 
François Fillon meets the French community at the Residence de France in London (a pre-election pep talk ?) François Fillon meets the French community at the Residence de France in London (a pre-election pep talk ?) French PM François Fillon met the French Community last night after addressing the City of London and meeting with British PM David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to ask for closer coop (...) more
Two French hostages killed in Niger Two French hostages killed in Niger Less than 24 hours after being kidnapped in Niger, an aid worker and his childhood friend have been found dead on Saturday 9 January 2011 near the desert border with Mali after two unsuccessful rescue (...) more
 
France tops the poll as the world's most pessimistic nation. How true is this? France tops the poll as the world's most pessimistic nation. How true is this? It seems to be more a confirmation rather than a ground-breaking discovery : the French are the most pessimistic population in the world, a poll revealed, but how much truth is there in this? more
'Indignez-vous !' : The essay that's shaking France up 'Indignez-vous !' : The essay that's shaking France up A political essay written by a 93-year-old former resistance hero Stéphane Hessel is smashing all publishing records in France. This 30-page best-seller, entitled 'Indignez-vous' ('Cry (...) more
 
French nursery hostage drama ends safely French nursery hostage drama ends safely The hostage-taking drama in Besançon ended without bloodshed after the kidnapper released all the children and their teacher. more
See you tomorrow, paedophile friends... See you tomorrow, paedophile friends... Did the French President really just call a journalist 'paedophile' ? more
 
New French Government Unveiled New French Government Unveiled The members of France's new government under Prime Minister Francois Fillon were unveiled on Sunday in a statement issued by President Nicolas Sarkozy's office. more
Entente Cordiale : Take 2 Entente Cordiale : Take 2 Two defence treaties are to be signed by Mr Cameron and Mr Sarkozy : one on greater general military co-operation and the other on nuclear weapons. more
 
Retirement Reform : French Add Fuel to the Flames Retirement Reform : French Add Fuel to the Flames French protests against retirement reform could make petrol pumps run dry by Wednesday and the French economy paralysed. more
Terrorism : Should we be Scared ? Terrorism : Should we be Scared ? Last Tuesday, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned travellers to Britain "to be extremely vigilant on public transport and at popular tourist sites in Britain". Should we be scared (...) more
 
France faces sanctions over its Gipsy policy France faces sanctions over its Gipsy policy On Wednesday, the European Commission slapped France with a stern legal warning over its "shameful" campaign against Roma gypsies. more
France imposes a ban on burqa France imposes a ban on burqa On Tuesday 14th September 2010, The French Assembly finally voted in favour of banning burqas and other full-body robes worn by women in all public places. more
 
Controversial Bastille Day Celebration at the French Ambassador's Residence Controversial Bastille Day Celebration at the French Ambassador's Residence The strict diet the French Government is being forced to go on has not yet reached London. The Garden Party organised at the French Ambassador’s Residence for Bastille Day took place as planned. more
Burqa Ban Goes through Parliament in France Burqa Ban Goes through Parliament in France After months of deliberation, consultation and speculation the French Assembly has finally voted yesterday to ban the burka in France. more
 
Cameron joins Sarkozy to commemorate the 18th June 1940 Cameron joins Sarkozy to commemorate the 18th June 1940 On Friday 18th June, Sarkozy and Cameron stood together to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the BBC broadcasting of Charles de Gaulle's famous call to arms. more
French-Algerian Accused of Polygamy French-Algerian Accused of Polygamy French men are notorious for their philandering ways, but a french muslim recently took patriotism to a new level when he justified his four wives by arguing that it was "the norm" in France (...) more
 
70 years ago - General De Gaulle's Appeal of 18th June 1940 70 years ago - General De Gaulle's Appeal of 18th June 1940 On 18th June 1940, 70 years ago,via the BBC airwaves, General de Gaulle delivered his memorable Appeal to French soldiers and engineers to join him in London where he had recently arrived and with hi (...) more
What's under the Burka? What's under the Burka? During his speech last year in Versailles, President Nicolas Sarkozy had said that the Islamic burka was 'not welcome' in France. Polemic. more
 
Tony Blair: A man to look up to? Tony Blair: A man to look up to? I know that writing about Tony Blair in the UK is never a good idea. And, with such a title, it is clearly suicidal. Worshipped or hated, the former PM unchains extreme reactions. Last week, I attende (...) more
Should a gentleman's house truly become his castle? Should a gentleman's house truly become his castle? Nobody can ignore that we are going through a really rough patch, some people go further and forecast civil unrest, geopolitical explosions, nuclear war, famine and even Armageddon. From the most seri (...) more
 
When Nicolas met Carla When Nicolas met Carla This could have been called "When Nicolas met Carla". It could have been a romantic comedy starring Meg Ryan and Billy Cristal but it's not. It's called "Autobiographie non au (...) more
The Rise and Fall of Rachida Dati The Rise and Fall of Rachida Dati A few weeks ago we asked you if you agreed with Rachida Dati's decision to get back to work after just 5 days of maternity leave. The results of the vote showed that 56 per cent of you called her (...) more
 
In Calais, Besson wants to make the border watertight to illegal immigrants In Calais, Besson wants to make the border watertight to illegal immigrants “We are going to make the zone around Calais watertight to illegal immigration”, declared the new French immigration minister, Eric Besson, on 27th January. This declaration didn't pass unnot (...) more
France: A nation of strikers? France: A nation of strikers? On 29th January, France and especially Paris were in a mess that only French people know how to make: Between 1 and 2.5 million people were protesting against the recent reforms. An, unfortunately, no (...) more
 
Rachida Dati: Wonder woman or traitor woman? Rachida Dati: Wonder woman or traitor woman? Once again Rachida Dati is at the centre of heated debate. After a controversial pregnancy, the French Justice Minister finally decided to return to work only five days after giving birth to a little (...) more
EU:  Eurosceptic about to take control EU: Eurosceptic about to take control On 1st January, the Czech Republic took over the European Union presidency. But there have been speculations; especially in France, about whether this small country is actually capable of leading the (...) more
 
Increasing tension between EU and China Increasing tension between EU and China On 6th December, President Nicolas Sarkozy met the Dalai Lama in Poland while he was running the presidency of the EU and attracted the wrath of Beijing. The tension raised so high that China boycotte (...) more
Parisian-style hire bicycles about to conquer London Parisian-style hire bicycles about to conquer London On 18th November, London Mayor Boris Johnson announced the introduction of an easy-access cycle hire scheme in the city in 2010. This project is largely inspired by the Parisian Vélib'. But will (...) more
 
French Socialists in Fratricidal war French Socialists in Fratricidal war Civil war is looming between some of the key players of the French socialist party. Since the party leadership ballot came to a close in a virtual dead heat between the two contenders, Martine Aubry (...) more
"Voyage under the skirts of the Republic": France and espionage "Voyage under the skirts of the Republic": France and espionage Notebooks of former spy chief Yves Bertrand reveal dirty secrets and gossip about French leaders raises a question: Is there a "little Stasi à la française" as said MP Arnaud Montebourg? more
 
Is the French audiovisual sector following the lead of the BBC? Is the French audiovisual sector following the lead of the BBC? The French Council of Ministers passed the draft law on the reform of the audiovisual sector on 22nd October. This controversial law was inspired by the BBC’s model. Logical, since the “Beeb” is (...) more
Strauss Kahn's case : media, personal life and politics Strauss Kahn's case : media, personal life and politics Last week, Dominique Strauss Kahn (DSK) seemed to be on top of the world: he was high in the French polls and got the IMF's approval to reform the international economical control system. However (...) more
 
Unemployment in the UK: The end of an El Dorado? Unemployment in the UK: The end of an El Dorado? Today unemployment in the UK is rising at the fastest rate in 17 years jumping to 1.79 million.Yet the UK used to be the country to look up to: with only 5 per cent of unemployed, it was the "El (...) more
Medicine and literature: two Nobel prizes for France Medicine and literature: two Nobel prizes for France Cocorico!!!! France won two Nobel prizes this year, for literature with Le Clézio and for medicine with the discovers of HIV. Such a success had not happened since 1952. more
 
Could Strauss-Khan be the next socialist candidate for the 2012 presidential election? Could Strauss-Khan be the next socialist candidate for the 2012 presidential election? Dominique Strauss-Kahn, former Finance and Economy Minister, is now faraway from France, at the head of the IMF. But the French want him back. According to a poll published in "Le Journal du Dima (...) more
Is France going to lead the energetic field of the UK? Is France going to lead the energetic field of the UK? The Brits are worried that EDF is taking over the running of British Power. However, what does it really mean for the future? Is there any reason to worry about it? more
 
Sarkozy's EU: between success and dampened ambitions Sarkozy's EU: between success and dampened ambitions It's already been three months since France took over the European Union's rotating presidency. If it's too soon to make a definitive evaluation of Sarkozy's work at the head of th (...) more
Rachida Dati: the mother of all interrogations Rachida Dati: the mother of all interrogations An article to take stock about Rachida Dati's unexpected pregnancy and its mysterious father, the debate on single motherhood and the French people's reaction. more
 
French Presidential Visit in the UK French Presidential Visit in the UK Carla Sarkozy (rather than Mrs Nicolas Sarkozy as her husband pointed out during their stay in London) made the front page of all the UK national newspapers. She charmed them all and we all know how t (...) more
Honeymoon for French President, Nicolas Sarkozy Honeymoon for French President, Nicolas Sarkozy Finally, after weeks of waiting, rumors and speculation, French President Nicolas Sarkozy officially got married to his new romance, singer and ex-model Carla Bruni. more