France

Corsica

France: Paris Rental Bicycles Ease Commute, Touring

Date: July 19th, 2007 |

Bicycles are now available for easy and inexpensive rental at 750 stations throughout Paris. Mayor Bertrand Delanoe launched the service as a way to cut pollution and traffic. The service, called Velib, is offered in eight languages and accepts major credit cards to make it easy for all to use. The cost for a one-day [read more]

France: Free Bicycles in Paris

Date: February 7th, 2007 |

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Some 14,000 free bicycles will be available to locals and tourists this summer as Paris follows the example of Amsterdam and other European cities to make it easier for people to get around. Officials hope it will also help cut down on pollution by getting people out of their cars. Paris authorities chose the company [read more]

France: Further Unrest in Paris Suburbs Feared

Date: October 24th, 2006 |

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A year has passed since riots by disenfranchised Muslim youths occurred in the Paris suburbs, and authorities worry that such protests could erupt again. They acknowledge that the conditions that spurred last year’s protests still exist, and in recent weeks gang members have shown that they are capable of attacking police, not spontaneously, but with [read more]

France: Transit Strikes in Paris

Date: June 2nd, 2006 |

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Four unions have called for a 24-hour public transit strike in Paris beginning at 4 a.m. June 5. The strike could affect the RER and Metro. Transit officials plan to operate a reduced holiday [read more]

France: Massive Protests Against New Labor Law

Date: March 28th, 2006 |

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Two weeks of demonstrations culminated in massive protests around the country March 28, with some 2.7 million gathering to oppose a proposed labor law. Violence erupted in the heart of Paris at the main demonstration in Place de la Republique. The Eiffel Tower was closed and transportation services were disrupted. Over the last two weeks, [read more]

Spain, France: Possible al-Qaeda Threat

Date: April 25th, 2007 |

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Following the April 11 suicide bombings in Algeria, Spain’s intelligence service reported that al-Qaeda terrorists could attack targets in Spain or France in the coming weeks. Officials are concerned that the group might attack in France before the May 6 presidential runoff, or in Spain during local elections May 27 or before the end of [read more]

France and England: Terrorist Threat to the Channel Tunnel

Date: December 26th, 2006 |

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The British newspaper The Observer reported Dec. 24 that the Channel Tunnel faces a terrorist threat throughout the holiday season. The paper cites a secret Dec. 19 report to the French government by the French security service with information from the CIA that the plot was planned in Pakistan to be carried out by [read more]

Belgium and France: Airline Security Measures Relaxed

Date: September 12th, 2006 |

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Temporary security measures imposed Aug. 10 on flights to the U.S. were relaxed Sept. 4. Passengers may now carry on a standard piece of hand luggage and electronic devices, but still may not carry liquids, creams or gels. The same is true for passengers transferring in Brussels to flights to the U.S. No special restrictions [read more]

France: Unrest in Paris Suburbs

Date: May 30th, 2006 |

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In a scene reminiscent of last fall’s three weeks of rioting by disgruntled immigrants, some one hundred youths fought with police May 29 in the Paris suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis. The youths burned cars and trash bins to protest a police operation that resulted in the arrest of a local man. Seven police were injured and [read more]

France: Ongoing Protests, Strike Planned

Date: March 21st, 2006 |

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Unions and student groups called for a national strike March 28 over a new jobs bill that provoked large protests across the country March 18. The bill, already passed by parliament, is an effort to create jobs by easing regulations on firing employees during a two-year trial period. Opponents fear the law will reduce job [read more]