ban

Paris begins applying new vehicle ban scheme as pollution levels soar

France — Link

A new windscreen sticker scheme called Crit'Air which all vehicles must display and which grades them according to age and fuel type was introduced for the first time in a temporary ban of most-polluting categories from the French capital which is witnessing a particularly high level of pollution this week. 

French MPs vote to ban abortion websites that intimidate women

France — Link

French government seeks to criminalise sites that pose as neutral sources of information but in fact promote anti-abortion propaganda.

France first country to ban plastic plates, cups and cutlery

France — Link

The legislation, which will come into effect in 2020 and will see plastic replaced with biologically-sourced materials, has prompted threat of legal action by European packaging manufacturers.

Burkini bans split French government as court to rule on legality

France — Link

The burkini bans introduced by mayors in some French coastal towns has divided ministers, while the Council of State will rule Friday on a legal challenge to the prohibitons.

The hurt and anger caused by French mayors' burkini bans

France — Analysis

France’s Council of State will on Friday announce its judgment on whether the ban of the burkini, recently applied by a number of mayors of coastal towns in France, is legal. The bans, imposed mostly in south-east France and amid the backdrop of recent Islamist terrorist attacks, supposedly target the full-body swimwear worn by some Muslim women. But the prohibitions also exclude dress that might threaten “public order”, and there was uproar this week after several reported incidents of police patrols intercepting Muslim women wearing headscarves on the beach. Carine Fouteau analyses a controversy that not only encroaches basic human rights, but which also has played into the hands of the Islamic State group which was behind this summer's terrorist attacks in France.

Top Italian bishop slams France's 'politically-motivated' burkini bans

International — Link

Bishop Nunzio Galantino denounced the ban in several coastal towns as a 'war on symbols' and a 'vulgar ridiculing of the religious sensitivity of others'.

Corsican mayor bans burkinis after beach brawl

France — Link

The mayor of Sisco, close to Bastia, announced the measure amid what he called a 'powder-keg' situation between Muslims and non-Muslims on the island.

French mayor bans 'burkinis' from beaches over ‘security’ fears

France — Link

Mayor of popular resort of Cannes, David Lisnard, has issued order forbidding beachwear that doesn't respect 'good morals and secularism'.

France ends 30-year ban on gay male blood donors

France — Link

The lifting of the ban, which was ended for lesbians in 2002, is conditional to gay donors observing sexual inactivity over a period of one year.

France labour dispute: now ban on Paris protest is 'lifted'

France — Link

CGT union boss said authorities' U-turn on march was a 'victory for democracy' and urged workers to turn out in 'massive' numbers on Thursday.

French authorities ban labour protest march in Paris

France — Link

Move by Paris police to ban Thursday's march could increases tension between socialist government and unions opposed to labour reforms.

French unions to defy government ban on labour protest march

France — Link

Authorities had asked unions to scrap plans for Paris march in favour of a static rally to avoid violence which marred previous protests.

Paris to restrict city access to pre-1997 cars from July 1st

France — Link

The anti-pollution move concerns Monday to Friday daytime access and will become an outright ban in 2020, when access for pre-2011 cars will be restricted.

UEFA bans French fan's cockerel from Euro-16 matches

International — Link

Clément Tomaszewski's cockerel Balthazar, which has been with him to numerous matches, has been given a banning order for security reasons.

France's emergency laws used to ban activists from labour reform protests

France — Link

Unions have planned two days of protest and called strikes in the air transport, road freight, rail and oil sectors against the proposed reforms.