This French Life

Stay safe if driving in France in winter

THE log fire is roaring away, there is a chill in the air and the village Christmas decorations are going up - the tell-tale signs of winter are here.

Winter fares from LD Lines for UK to France crossings

DETAILS of the winter fares from LD Lines have been released for ferry services between the UK and France.

LD Lines’ two ferry services to Normandy operate from Portsmouth to Le Havre and Newhaven to Dieppe.

Portsmouth to Le Havre winter break fares start from £46 each way for a car and two passengers and Newhaven to Dieppe fares start from £39 each way for a car and two passengers.

Rising severity of Euro area sovereign crisis threatens EU sovereign ratings

The continued rapid escalation of the euro area sovereign and banking credit crisis is threatening the credit standing of all European sovereigns, cautions Moody's Investors Service in a new Special Comment.

via www.moodys.com

Sarkozy Worried About The Internet 'Stealing Audience Share' From 'Regulated' TV Services

Earlier this week Techdirt reported on the surprisingly forthright statements of Neelie Kroes concerning the failure of the copyright system in the digital world. She made her remarks at the Forum d'Avignon in France, which was about "strengthening the links between culture and the economy".

Of course, Kroes was not the only speaker there. Another participant was the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, who used the occasion to present his by-now familiar tirade against the "lawless" Internet and its dire effects on creativity. His speech was a classic compilation of his greatest hits in this respect, as captured in the impressive live-blogging of the English translation by David Weinberger.

via www.techdirt.com

Keeping the tails wagging at SPA Carcassonne

WITH the festive period just around the corner, you may be thinking of giving a little back and volunteering for a charitable group.

Be it helping raise funds for the homeless, supporting a children's home or organising a musical evening for an animal charity, there is usually something you can do.

Will the rush to divorce be brought to a halt?

WITH an amendment to the French Finance Act 2011, the French Parliament voted for an increase of the duties paid on partition of assets, droits de partage, from 1.1% to 2.5% to be effective from 1 January 2012, writes Guillaume Barlet.

But this measure may now be overturned and the rush to process divorce procedures before that date may be brought to a halt.

Partition is an operation by which owners holding assets in undivided ownership, which can be likened to a joint ownership, terminate such a situation and divide, or partition, the assets between them.

Musée d'Orsay launches first-ever American friends association

Paris' Musée d’Orsay launched its first-ever 'American friends Association' on Saturday, a move the renowned French art museum hopes will bolster its international outreach.

Members of the American Friends of Musée d’Orsay (AFMO) pledged to help raise the museum's profile among English speakers both in France and abroad in an event held at the museum’s recently refurbished premises.  

via www.france24.com

France sees warmest start to November on record

THE first two weeks of November 2011 has been the warmest on record for the period, reports Météo France.

South west France has seen temperatures 4.4°C higher than average, with towns and cities along the western side of France registering their most mild November.

November 2011 has seen the average temperature across France stand at 3.7°C above normal, beating all past recordings for the start of a November.

No movement on SeaFrance route between Dover and Calais

THERE is still no news on the SeaFrance website about the possible resumption of services between Dover and Calais.

Passengers are being advised to telephone +44 (0)845 458 0666 to speak to a member of staff, while P&O Ferries has added a sixth ship to its Dover to Calais service.

News round up: Shock after school girl murder

A LOOK back over some of the headlines from France.

Young offenders in the spotlight - The Connexion
politicians of all political hues have reacted after it emerged that a schoolboy who has admitted raping and murdering a schoolmate had already spent time in prison in connection with a rape.