In the past few weeks snap elections have been called in France and UK and today in conversation with Marie, who is Irish and Sue who is British, we explore what these elections mean for our respective democracies; we discuss Brexit, the gilets jaunes, the growing influence of social media and remember Churchill's famous quip about Democracy being worst possible system of government, except that is for all the others.

The cold war witnessed an ideological struggle for lunar supremacy but it only involved the United States and the then Soviet Union. Today, there are now new national players and big commercial businesses that are interested in the space race, sending satellites, probes and cosmic rovers out into the night sky. We asked our own local expert, Sue, to share her understanding of the current race for Space.

What's the podcast about? Well, frankly... we really didn't know ... until we decided to make the absence of ideas the subject for today's podcast : what we do when we run out ideas.

Colleagues Sue and Lawrence discuss different ways to get back on track. And as you'll hear, you, our listeners, have a role to play.

Groundhog Day? The Spring US Primary season will have disappointed US voters frustrated at the prospect of a sterile rematch of the 2020 Biden Trump face off. For many, it seems like 'back to the future'.
This week we ask Jonathan, our British colleague who has been living in the US for a number of years, to read the runes.  Where are we? How did we get here and what's likely to happen next?  

This week France became the first country in the world to enshrine the right to abortion in its constitution.  

Already legal in France since 1975, opinion polls show overwhelming public support in France to guarantee women’s  freedom to choose.

The result of the almost unanimous vote was announced in Versailles to a standing ovation and the Eiffel tower lit up with the words My body My Choice as the French President proudly described the vote a "universal message".

This week, France added the right to choose to its constitution.  

Abortion has been legal in France since 1975, but this change to the constitution guarantees women’s freedom to choose as a fundamental right.

The Eiffel tower lit up with the words "My body My Choice" and French President described the move as French “pride” in carrying a "universal message".

In this episode, we hear from our colleague Gillian, who tells us why she agrees with President Macron about uniforms, and why they are a good idea. 

In this episode of Fly on the Wall we hear from our British expat colleague Gillian, who tells us all the reasons why she's inclined to agree with President Macron about uniforms, which now appear to her with hindsight to be a ‘jolly’ good idea. 

Enough is enough. For farmers in France the social contract appears at a breaking point and they are asking the government to recognise that the constraints, taxes and rules imposed on them to meet climate commitments leave agricultural workers out in the cold. Two British colleagues, who live in France, discuss why this protest has the support of so many.

A scandal about influential powerful men with predatory tastes that reaches deep into the heart of the establishment and affairs of state. Sound familiar? Today our Canadian colleague and reporter Phoeby takes us on a journey that uncovers the extraordinary tale of Jeffrey Epstein, who we now know used his power and prominence to exploit young women, often under the age of consent, in exotic and luxurious locations.