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Articles by Katy Wright
Prescriptions, vocab and HRT: Navigating the menopause in France
Depending on where you come from originally, your experience of women’s healthcare in France might fall short of or exceed your expectations. But one thing’s for sure - it’ll be different. From who can treat you and what treatment is available, to general attitudes towards menopause and the years leading up to it, France has its own rules and customs - and knowing what they are is essential for getting the best support possible.
German customers to pay €5 fees on small non-EU packages
A new 'handling fee' of €2 will apply to items valued at less than €150 and ordered online from non-EU sites, starting on November 1st, 2026, as part of a new EU rule. The fee - which is in addition to an existing €3 EU tax on small packages - is meant to cover the increasing customs costs associated with the sheer volume of individual small packages coming into the bloc. It means that the total fees on packages from outside the EU will be €5 - although gifts are exempt.
French customers to pay €5 fees on small non-EU packages
A new 'handling fee' of €2 will apply to items valued at less than €150 and ordered online from non-EU sites, starting on November 1st, 2026, as part of a new EU rule. The fee - which is in addition to an existing €3 EU tax on small packages - is meant to cover the increasing customs costs associated with the sheer volume of individual small packages coming into the bloc. It means that the total fees on packages from outside the EU will be €5 - although gifts are exempt.
If I gift my French house to my kids will I avoid paying for care?
As the possibility of needing care comes into view, it's natural to start thinking about how the cost will be covered - and whether 'gifting' your property to your children could stop if from being part of the equation. It is possible to do this, but there are a few important things to be aware of first. The first thing to understand is how the French care system works, and what costs you might be liable for if you do end up needing care. This article is intended for people living in France.
EXPLAINED: What to do if your French home is cracking because of drought
More than 12 million houses in France sit on clay soil that shrinks in droughts and swells when the rain returns, and after one of the driest summers on record many owners are finding new cracks in their walls. Here's what to do - and when. Is it drought damage? If there are cracks in your interior or exterior walls, or your doors and windows don't close as easily as they used to, it could be due to retrait-gonflement des argiles (RGA).
12 million French homes at risk of cracks after record-breaking 2026 drought
More than 12 million houses in France - around a third of the total - are now built on clay soils with a medium or high risk of shrinking and swelling, which can cause serious structural damage. The phenomenon, known in French as retrait-gonflement des argiles (RGA), happens when clay soil under a house's foundations dries out and shrinks during droughts, then swells again when the rain returns.
Americans in Spain: Deadlines for voting in the US midterms
Americans go to the polls on Tuesday, November 3rd, in elections that fall halfway through Donald Trump's second term as president. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election, along with around a third of the Senate. The result will decide whether Trump's Republicans or the opposition Democrats control Congress - which will, in turn, determine how easily the president can carry out his plans for the rest of his term.
Americans in Germany: Deadlines for voting in the US midterms
Americans go to the polls on Tuesday, November 3rd, in elections that fall halfway through Donald Trump's second term as president. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election, along with around a third of the Senate. The result will decide whether Trump's Republicans or the opposition Democrats control Congress - which will, in turn, determine how easily the president can carry out his plans for the rest of his term.
Americans in France: Deadlines for voting in the US midterms
Americans go to the polls on Tuesday, November 3rd, in elections that fall halfway through Donald Trump's second term as president. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election, along with around a third of the Senate. The result will decide whether Trump's Republicans or the opposition Democrats control Congress - which will, in turn, determine how easily the president can carry out his plans for the rest of his term.
Opposition grows as France plans wave of giant data centres Original
The ‘Campus IA’ project at Fouju in the greater Paris region - billed as the largest data centre project currently underway in Europe - has become a battleground for the issue of data centre construction. The €50 billion project, backed by MGX (an Emirati investment fund), Bpifrance (France's public investment bank), Mistral AI and Nvidia, is planned for the small village of Fouju - population 600 - located in the middle of an agricultural area in the Seine-et-Marne département.
Could Saint Malo in 'rainy Brittany' really run out of water?
Like much of France, the Ille-et-Vilaine département, which includes Saint-Malo, is on "crise" drought alert - the highest level of restriction. Non-essential water use is banned for households, including filling private swimming pools and washing cars, boats, house fronts and terraces. But in Saint-Malo and the surrounding communes - an area known as the Pays de Saint-Malo - residents have been asked to go further and limit their consumption to 40 litres per person per day.
Hundreds of post offices across France could close under new proposals
Investigative news site Mediapart revealed a list of over 400 post offices around the country that could be set to close next year. The total could rise to as high as 471, according to unions. Which areas could be most impacted most? A map released by the SudPTT union showed that a large proportion of the proposed closures affect towns with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.
Should elderly drivers in France get an 'S' sticker for their car?
Every now and then, rumours start circulating in France, online and on social media, claiming that the government is about to make an "S" sticker (for ‘senior’) mandatory for drivers over 70 - and in recent weeks, that rumour has resurfaced. So is it true? In short, no.
EXPLAINED: The help you can get in France if you're struggling to pay your tax bills
France's tax system can cause some unpleasant surprises for many, especially those who are self-employed and whose income tends to fluctuate. Because tax is deducted or paid at a rate based on your last tax return, it’s not uncommon to find there’s a ‘balance’ to be paid after submitting your actual income for the year.
EXPLAINER: How to check for fuel shortages where you are in France
Out of almost 10,000 petrol stations across France, 16 percent were running short of at least one type of fuel, according to official figures published on Monday September 21st. But a closer look at the data revealed some big differences across the country. In some regions, such as Pays de la Loire, the problem was much worse; there, one in five petrol stations were impacted, and in the Indre-et-Loire département in particular, it was over one in four.
How bad are the fuel shortages across France this week?
New statistics from the French government on Monday revealed that around 16 percent of France’s petrol stations were experiencing fuel shortages. That reflected a jump of 3 percent on Sunday's figure. In some departments, more than a quarter were impacted, the new figures showed. Out of almost 10,000 petrol stations across France, 16 percent were running short of at least one type of fuel, according to official figures published on Monday 21st September.
11 places to visit on France's 2026 heritage days
Every year, thousands of museums, monuments, churches, theatres, gardens and other culturally significant sites open their doors to the public across Europe - this year the heritage days are on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September. According to official statistics, in France alone, over 18,500 sites were involved in the event in 2025 - and close to 7.4 million visits were recorded.
When, where and how to get the flu vaccine in France in 2026
The vaccination vouchers are sent to those deemed as most vulnerable to contracting la grippe (flu) as France gears up for its annual flu season, which, according to l'Assurance Maladie, usually occurs between October and March. But if you don't get one, you can still get vaccinated. Who can get a flu vaccine? Anyone who wants a flu vaccine can get one starting from October, when a wider public information campaign is usually launched.
Analysis: Why do French schools do so badly in international rankings?
French schools have posted their worst-ever results in the latest round of international education rankings, according to figures released by the OECD on Tuesday. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) - the world's biggest cross-country study of school performance - tests 15-year-olds, not through a curriculum exam, but through real-world reasoning and problem-solving tasks.
Self-employed in France? Here's where to get help
Whether you're freelancing or operating as a sole trader, or building something bigger as a small company, working for yourself in France comes with a lot of admin to navigate. There's your business registration, tax requirements, dealing with URSSAF and making sure you stay on top of the latest rules and regulations - including the new electronic billing requirements.
Electronic billing: Free services for freelancers and small businesses
Since September 1st 2026 all VAT-registered businesses – including micro-entrepreneurs under the VAT exemption threshold – must be able to receive invoices via the 'electronic billing' platforms. This applies even if you only ever send invoices, something which is common for a lot of freelancers and contractors.
GDC 2024: Xbox Releases Gaming for Everyone Product Inclusion Framework for Game Developers
Using the Gaming for Everyone Product Inclusion Framework By sharing the Xbox Gaming for Everyone Product Inclusion Framework publicly, we hope this enables more game developers to bring intentionality and inclusion to their products, worldwide.
Xbox und Women in Games International gehen Partnerschaft ein, um Frauen in der Gaming-Branche zu fördern
Entdecke Spiele mit starken Freuen im Xbox Game Pass Katy Jo Wright, Xbox Senior Director, spricht über die vielen Möglichkeiten, wie Frauen in der Videospielbranche auftreten Künstlerin Amika Cooper würdigt Frauen als Hauptcharaktere mit einem neu gestalteten Xbox-Logo „Main Character Energy“: Das ist etwas, das Frauen jeden Tag in die Spieleindustrie einbringen.
Look after the little things as they lead to the big things
Account management is sometimes dismissed as a “Jack of all trades” role, but I would argue that instead of being “master of none” it is the “master of many.” The best account managers can spin all the plates – they need to be a coach, a therapist, a negotiator and a communicator who can also listen, they have to have integrity, to be charismatic, fun and honest – a set of skills that make it a great foundation for agency leadership.
how to keep your house safe this summer
When the sun is out, it’s easy to forget about home security, even though crime typically spikes in the summer. To help you keep your home safe during the summer period, here are three security tips to keep in mind. While the warm weather means we typically spend more time outdoor activity, we often forget to lock the doors when we leave the house.
Thessaloniki, 5 Unique Cafes in Athens’ Rival Sister
If you are a foodie, which you’d better be, Dr. Foodle has gathered a few of the most interesting and beautiful cafés and bistros in Thessaloniki, Greece. If it’s not among your next destinations, you may well change your mind after reading this! A lovely, warm, and cozy retro-style café that makes you feel you‘re on the set of Amelie, with the scent of chocolate all over. “One Sweet Day” is a top destination for chocolate lovers in the city, offering dozens of great quality chocolate desserts.
In times of emergency, Britain needs more than community spirit
First there were the terrorist attacks at the Manchester Arena and at London Bridge, in which 30 people were killed and hundreds injured. Then, scores died in the Grenfell Tower disaster after a blaze ripped through the building they called home. The UK seems to have been hit with a series of horrific events in recent months. And yet despite the palpable sense of shock at these tragedies, the country has stood together with the victims and the families involved.
How Can We Rouse the Public Against an Abstract Noun?
The final problem I want to talk about in relation to campaigning on inequality is the lack of a clear alternative vision. We’re against inequality. But what are we for? What is the vision we want, and what narratives can we use to inspire people it is possible? Oxfam’s analysis is that both the primacy of economics in policymaking and the inadequacy of that orthodox neoliberal economics are major problems. Just as history belongs to the victors, so economics tends to belong to the winners.
There needs to be more than just community spirit in times of crisis
First there were the terrorist attacks at the Manchester Arena and at London Bridge, in which 30 people were killed and hundreds injured. And then, most recently, scores died in the Grenfell Tower disaster after a blaze ripped through the building they called home. The UK seems to have been hit with a series of horrific events in recent months. And yet despite the palpable sense of shock at these tragedies, the country has stood together with the victims and the families involved.
Inequalities: changing the terms of the debate
Recorded on 14 June 2017 at Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building Inequalities is a common, if often unstated, theme in the news. How the causes and consequences of inequalities are presented matters, so how do we change the current narratives? Jee Kim is leading the Narratives Initiative as part of the global Atlantic Fellows programme. Amartya Sen is Thomas W Lamont University Professor and Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University.
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