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France burns... and the police seem to have some serious split with the govt on how to handle it. The supposed translated communique is very hard core. http://www.trtafrika.com/world/police-syndicate-deletes-tweet-praising-killing-of-teen-as-protests-persist-in-france-13825490 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/06/30/paris-shooting-violence-nanterre-olympic-pool-nahel-france/

The Espace has lost it way. Sorry but this is the ugliest Espace in its 30 year history... nothing but a bloated Kadjar / Koleos. Now entering its sixth generation, it's basically abandoning all minivan cues. Essentially, it's a long-wheelbase version of the Austral compact crossover with some minor changes to the design. While cars tend to grow in size and add weight, the new Espace bucks the trend since it's 140 mm shorter and 215 kg lighter than the minivan it replaces. It also rides 32 mm lower and has a more spacious third row, but you can have it with only five seats as well. This midsize SUV come with a turbocharged 1.3-liter gasoline engine as a full hybrid with a pair of electric motors. The three-cylinder unit is good for 131 hp and 205 Nm of torque while the main electric motor is rated at 68 hp and 205 Nm. The second e-motor works as the starter generator with 25 hp and 50 Nm. Combined, Renault says the driver has access to 199 hp.

RIP Mehran Karimi Nasseri. Mehran Karimi Nasseri, the man who had lived inside the Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport for years and inspired Steven Spielberg’s 2004 film “The Terminal”, died Saturday at the same airport. Nasseri was pronounced dead by the airport medical team at Terminal 2F and had died of natural causes, a spokesperson for the airport told CNN. Nasseri, an Iranian refugee, was en route to England via Belgium and France in 1988 when he lost his papers and could not board a flight nor leave the airport and was stuck in limbo until 2006. He had “returned to live as a homeless person in the public area of the airport since mid-September, after a stay in a nursing home,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that Nasseri was an “iconic character” at the airport and that the “whole airport community was attached to him, and our staff looked after him as much as possible during many years, even if we would have preferred him to find a real shelter.” While Nasseri’s story inside the airport was memorialized by Tom Hanks in the movie “The Terminal”, the spokesperson for the airport noted that: “The Spielberg film suggests that he was stuck in a transit zone at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. In reality, he spent several stays there, but always in the public area of the airport, he was always free to move around.”

Following on from its successful SUV offensive with the launch of C3 Aircross SUV and C5 Aircross SUV - 300,000 and 200,000 sales respectively - Citroën is ready for the next stage in the rollout of its product strategy, focusing firmly on the hatchback market. Compact hatchbacks remain an important part of the European car market, accounting for nearly 28% of C-segment sales in 2019. New ë-C4 and New C4 tick all the boxes in this competitive segment, while offering a modern and characterful new design concept as an integral part of the product offering. Citroën's new-generation compact hatchback is inspired by its customers and the way they experience their cars. The 100% electric New ë-C4 and New C4 have all the qualities needed to shake up a segment that is having to reinvent itself. For Citroën, that means offering an all-new silhouette with a choice of 100% electric, petrol or Diesel power. THREE DIFFERENT POWERTRAINS TO CHOOSE FROM: 100% ELECTRIC, PETROL OR DIESEL New ë-C4 - 100% ëlectric and New C4 are the same modern and technologically advanced car, but with an enhanced choice of powertrains: 100% electric, petrol or Diesel. Customers simply choose the high-performance and efficient option that best meets their needs. New ë-C4 is the fifth electrified model to be announced in 2020 as part of Citroën's electrification strategy - after C5 Aircross SUV Hybrid, Ami, ë-Dispatch and ë-SpaceTourer. INNOVATIVE POSTURE AND ASSERTIVE STYLE New Citroën ë-C4 and New Citroën C4 also represent a new design concept at the heart of the C-Hatch segment, with a unique and bold identity. The elevated and assertive stance means the body shape has all the elegance and dynamism of a hatchback, while subtly adopting certain SUV traits for added strength and character. Aerodynamic and flowing, the exterior design echoes Citroën's well-known aesthetics, while bringing a new expression of style to the range. Its warm and high-tech interior instantly expresses well-being, comfort and modernity. A NEW EXPRESSION OF THE CITROËN ADVANCED COMFORT® PROGRAMME The complete embodiment of the Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme, New ë-C4 and New C4 offer a new sense of modern, all-round comfort: Driving comfort is assured with Advanced Comfort seats and suspension featuring Progressive Hydraulic Cushions®. Comfort is amplified still further in New ë-C4 with the benefits of ë-Comfort: quiet operation, smoothness and fluid driving sensations. Travelling comfort is underpinned by the amount of interior space and the practical on-board features - including an innovation for the front passenger (to be disclosed on 30 June). Comfort in use is derived from the numerous on-board technologies and driver assistance systems. Comfort of the mind comes from the soothing and sophisticated interior designs. A LEGACY OF COMPACT CARS Citroën's compact cars have been a success story since the first C4 in 1928. A history that includes the GS - voted European Car of the Year in 1971 - which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. A series of cars acknowledged for their character, comfort and exemplary road manners over many decades: C4-1928, Ami 6/Ami 8, GS/GSA, BX, ZX, Xsara, C4-2004, C4-2010 and C4 Cactus.

Mont St Michel

https://www.thedrive.com/news/42877/french-police-getting-alpine-a110-patrol-cars-for-rapid-intervention-duty "French Police Getting Alpine A110 Patrol Cars for ‘Rapid Intervention’ Duty The mid-engined sports cars will be used primarily for rural patrols. Police vehicles are normally fairly regular cars. Typically, four-door sedans and SUVs get outfitted with all the law enforcement gear, with plenty of room in the back to stow people in handcuffs. Every now and then, however, a police force lays its hands on something a bit special. The National Gendarmerie in France have done just that, ordering a fleet of Alpine A110 sports cars, as reported by Motor1. The National Gendarmerie is one of France's two national police forces, and is charged with the policing of smaller towns, rural, and suburban areas. The force will order 26 examples of the Alpine A110 Pure, as per a French-language press release from the Ministry of Interior. The vehicles will be used to "carry out interventions on the motorway involving high-speed offenders, as a part of road safety or other police missions." The Alpine A110 is a fine choice for an interceptor vehicle, combining deft handling with quick acceleration. Sporting a turbocharged 1.8-liter engine good for 249 horsepower, the A110 can accelerate to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. It should prove more than capable of apprehending the average Peugeot hatchback that decides to make a dash for freedom. Unlike out-and-out supercars, the Alpine A110 is also relatively affordable, coming in at €58,400 Euros, or roughly $68,000 USD for a base model in France. Alpine's parent company Renault won the supply contract in an open tender, and the vehicles are to be customized by French vehicle conversion company Durisotti. Thus, police are probably paying a fair whack over the base retail price in order to get the cars fitted out as needed. The hot police car trope is a well-worn one at this point; some are merely for show, while others actually head out on patrol. Florida's Highway Patrol famously put a Mercury Marauder into service, while police in Japan have often found the Nissan GT-R to be a useful platform. More often than not, however, these vehicles primarily serve as a public relations tool rather than a day-to-day police vehicle. However, given that the National Gendarmerie have ordered 26 A110s, it seems more likely they'll be doing plenty of real work out and about in rural France. You'd want to be in something suitably quick if you're planning to drop a gear and disappear, but remember: you can't outrun a radio."

Finally a new flagship by Citroën worth looking forward to? The new shape somewhat reminds me of unconventional looking Renault Vel Satis... Approximately three years ago, Citroen said the successor of the C5 will have an unconventional shape and will basically “reinvent” the traditional sedan. At the time, the automaker didn’t share much but said the production model will draw inspiration from the fabulous Cxperience Concept. Today, finally, we can share the first spy photos of the next-generation C5, showing what Citroen had in mind. From the spyshots, Citroen is keeping its promise and the new C5 will have a very unique shape. It’s not exactly a station wagon, and it’s not exactly a hatchback. It’s definitely not a sedan, too. The mix between different body styles gives the new C5 a prominent profile and the first impressions are for a large and comfortable car. It’s worth noting that there seems to be a strong visual connection between the production model and the concept from 2016. This holds true especially at the back where the taillights appear to have a very similar shape. It’ll be very interesting to see whether that fat D-pillar has a large window like on the Cxperience Concept.

For those who are not familiar with DS, it is a stand alone brand under Citroen, and DS9 is technically the successor of Citroen C6. Calling @Toeknee_33 this one ok for you? It does look like a French Lexus ES to me, especially its rear. Following DS 7 CROSSBACK and DS 3 CROSSBACK, this is a large, stylish saloon to head up the new French premium brand's line up. With DS 9, DS Automobiles is emphasising its expertise, design, sophistication and technology with a global vision. With these exciting characteristics, DS 9 conveys a perfect blend of heritage, remarkable savoir-faire and cutting-edge technology. DS 9 is an invitation to rediscover French excellence in relation to the car. Elegance with a sleek silhouette With a length of 4.93 metres, width of 1.85 metres and large 690mm diameter wheels/tyres, DS 9 is more striking than other saloons in its class. It uses a new version of the EMP2 (Efficient Modular Platform 2) architecture with a longer wheelbase not used with a saloon car before, which greatly benefits the rear passenger space. Its design has a sleek silhouette with a steeply raked rear window, fastback style. A three-box saloon, DS 9 continues the DS Automobiles design language with an expressive front face featuring the DS WINGS and the parametric design of the grille with its three-dimensional diamond effect giving character. On the bonnet there's a 'Clous de Paris' sabre, the first time this DS interior signature has been used outside the cockpit. With a nod to the original 1955 DS, DS 9 also has cone shapes at the outside edges of the roof. Inspired by the legendary saloon, the cones have been reformed to house brand new tail lights, signalling DS 9's presence. The fluidity of an unbroken line is translated by a contour that flows from the grille over the bonnet, windscreen, roof and to the boot lid without being interrupted. The sides are smooth with a taut line that goes from the front headlights to the tail lights. This character is emphasised by the body-coloured flush fitting door handles and a two-tone black roof which emphasises the power of its elegance. At the rear, this desire to integrate every feature into a single expression is also evident. The rear wings, the badge and the boot lid are linked with the same fluidity. Embedded in this, the chiselled lights have the effect of scales, creating a contrast to give a dramatic three-dimensional effect. They are underlined by lateral sabres, paying tribute to the design elements of the great French coachbuilders of the 1930s. The elegantly thin third brake light helps make the rear appear wider and extends the visual effect of the rear window. E-TENSE: the power and comfort of hybrid up to 360 horsepower At first, DS 9 will be offered with a new E-TENSE plug-in hybrid powertrain comprising a PureTech turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor combined to deploy 225hp and capable of travelling between 25 and 31 miles (40 - 50 kilometres) in zero emissions (WLTP) mode courtesy of an 11.9kWh battery. The electric motor, through an eight-speed automatic gearbox, can deploy maximum power of 80kW (110hp) and 320Nm. It is used for driving off from a standstill, boosting acceleration at any speed and for driving in zero emissions mode up to 84mph (135kph). Electric mode is always automatically selected on start-up to maximise efficiency. It is complemented by a Hybrid mode, designed to automatically control the different types of energy by driving 100% electric, 100% petrol or combining the two if the situation requires it. The car's occupants will be mostly oblivious of this transition. An E-TENSE Sport mode gets the most out of the available power from the combined application of the combustion engine and electric motor by adjusting the mapping of the accelerator pedal, gearbox, steering and active suspension. It intensifies driver enjoyment and dynamics all with complete peace of mind. DS 9 utilises an energy recovery system that re-charges the battery in deceleration or brake phases, amplified with an enhanced Braking function selected by pulling back the gear selector and displayed as 'B'. In addition, an E-Save function guarantees there's always selected levels of battery-stored energy to do chosen parts of the journey in Zero Emissions mode (one of several levels available), for example when the driver knows they will be going into LEV areas or town centres. The 7.4kW on-board charger enables the battery to be charged in 1hr 30minutes from home or public charging points using the cable supplied as standard. A range comprising E-TENSE and petrol power The line-up will shortly afterwards be topped by two more E-TENSE power units - the first with 250hp, 2-wheel drive plus increased range capability, and the second - a 360hp with an intelligent 4-wheel drive transmission. In China the 250hp E-TENSE model will be offered from launch. A 225hp solely PureTech petrol engine model will also be available. All models are equipped with a smooth and fast-changing eight-speed automatic gearbox. DS LOUNGE: the savoir-faire of French luxury makes travel a delightful experience What if comfort in the back seats was the same as that in the front? With DS LOUNGE, DS Automobiles is offering first-rate expertise to DS 9 occupants. The sophistication of quality materials integrated on wide open surfaces, with a dashboard completely swathed in Nappa Leather and the watchstrap design of the seats supplements the care that's been taken over every detail. The crystal-shaped touch-sensitive buttons, the Alcantara® that covers the roof lining and the sun visors, and door handles that are wrapped by hand in leather invite you to touch and appreciate or feel them. With its long 2.90 metre wheelbase, DS 9 offers a huge amount of space in the back seats. Seats are heated, cooled and massaging, a first in the class. The central armrest plays a part in the overall comfort, boasting features from segments above such as leather upholstery, storage areas with built-in USB ports, controls for the massaging seats and multi-coloured welcome lighting. DS 9 gives new meaning to individual comfort where each setting can be adjusted for enhanced delight. This special feature enables every passenger to be in charge of their own on-board comfort. Personalise with 'DS Inspirations' This first-class comfort is also demonstrated through the personalisation of 'DS Inspirations'. Each interior theme, named after famous quarters in Paris, has its own character with seats in leather or Alcantara®. The attention paid to each detail gives a wealth of possibility with the grained leather seats of DS Inspiration BASTILLE or DS Inspiration RIVOLI, DS Inspiration PERFORMANCE Line's black Alcantara® and the Art Rubis Nappa leather of the DS Inspiration OPÉRA with its iconic watchstrap design. This range-topping signature is also offered with adjustable, multi-coloured ambient lighting with eight colour shades designed to give a cosy atmosphere and a steering wheel that's completely covered in Art Rubis leather. Attention to detail, produced by precise workmanship, is part of French savoir-faire. The crystal-shaped touch-sensitive controls, the 'Pearl Stitching' tastefully emphasises the seat upholstery's watchstrap design, the trim of the dashboard and door panels are further examples of this. The controls on the centre console are finished with 'Clous de Paris' guillochage, the iconic signature of fine French watchmaking, reiterated by the 180O rotating B.R.M timepiece on top of the dashboard. Comfort and enjoyment in sound Resulting from research undertaken since the Brand's launch, acoustic ambience is taken to a new level with a special treatment designed to suppress exterior noise. Laminated acoustic glass combines with a hard-bonded body to enhance strength, subdue noise and minimise vibrations. The environment is enhanced with a FOCAL Electra sound system, specially developed for DS 9 with the addition of new stainless-steel tweeter grilles among the fourteen speakers positioned around the cockpit. DS ACTIVE SCAN SUSPENSION With DS ACTIVE SCAN SUSPENSION, a camera scans the road, level sensors, accelerometers and drivetrain sensors record every movement and the system prepares the damping of each wheel for road imperfections in order to improve safety, serenity and provides ride comfort without equal. This 21st Century DS suspension combines the hushed comfort of a prestigious saloon with the dynamics of a Grand Touring coupé. Always with more technology Beyond DS LOUNGE, which is already a benchmark in its class, DS 9 benefits from the latest technology, a quality of other models in the DS range. DS DRIVE ASSIST With DS DRIVE ASSIST, DS 9 enables its driver to enjoy Level 2 semi-autonomous driving which lets them cover distances in the greatest comfort with improved levels of safety. Speed is controlled according to the surroundings of DS 9. The system uses multiple sensors to position DS 9 precisely in its lane depending on where the driver decides by it controlling the steering trajectory. Usable up to 111mph (180kph) depending on the country's laws, it controls speed and direction, under the driver's supervision, in order to guarantee safety and peace of mind. Controlling the speed is done by adaptive cruise control linked to a system that controls the power. Among other things it will control driving in traffic jams: the car will restart automatically if it's stopped for less than three seconds. If it's stopped for longer, simply pressing a button or the accelerator pedal will restart DS 9. The on-board DS DRIVE ASSIST camera recognises broken and continuous lines. While driving, it's constantly analysing the situation and interpreting best actions to apply. It enables the car to stay in its lane, even in the area of the lane that the driver wants. If the driver wishes to re-take control of the steering, taking a firm hold of the steering wheel will override the system. It is also interrupted if the indicators are used, e.g. for lane changes. The system can be activated from 16mph (30kph). It is then operational from 0 to 111mph (180kph). DS PARK PILOT For parking, DS PARK PILOT will detect a parking place by passing it at speeds up to 16mph (30kph). The driver then indicates on their touchscreen that they want to park, parallel or into a bay. And there's just one thing to do: keep the Park button pressed and wait for the technology to get to work. Acceleration, braking and steering are automatically controlled during either entry or exit of the parking place. Releasing the button halts the movement. DS SAFETY During long journeys, poor visibility or lack of attention are often synonymous with danger. To make driving safer DS SAFETY brings together six major functions: DS NIGHT VISION, DS DRIVER ATTENTION MONITORING, DS ACTIVE LED VISION, blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking and extended traffic sign recognition. DS NIGHT VISION DS NIGHT VISION is exceptional at reading the road at night. Its infrared camera in the front grille detects pedestrians, cyclists and animals on the carriageway up to 100 metres ahead. The driver gets a picture in infrared on their large digital instrument display and will see danger outlined in yellow, then in red. Alerted like this, they can then react. DS DRIVER ATTENTION MONITORING Through an infrared camera mounted above the steering wheel backed up by a camera at the top of the windscreen, DS DRIVER ATTENTION MONITORING continually watches the drivers eyes for signs of fatigue (blinking), their face (where they're looking) and head movements for distraction, the trajectory of the car over lines in the road, particularly wandering or steering movements by the driver. It can detect any loss of attentiveness by an abnormality in one factor - erratic movements that aren't in a straight line or blinking of the eyes - and will automatically sound an audible alert while a warning will appear on the central screen, day or night. DS ACTIVE LED VISION In addition to looking good, DS ACTIVE LED VISION adapts in width and range to driving conditions and the car's speed. Five lighting modes activate automatically. Parking, Town Beam (width of the beam increases after five seconds of driving), Country Beam (focused ahead from 31mph / 50kph), Motorway Beam (range increased from 68mph / 110kph), Adverse Weather (the power of the modules increases and intensity of the main projectors is reduced). The 'turning headlight' function and High Beam (automatic switching of road lights and sidelights) complete this feature. By lighting the road better and further ahead or with a wider light beam, the driver - and their passengers - enjoy greater safety. DS SMART ACCESS With DS SMART ACCESS, DS 9 enables the car operator to forget about the key by giving right of access to a smartphone. When unlocking, the flush fitting door handles deploy from the bodywork 'as if by magic'. It's possible to access and start the car. Even remotely, this control can be shared to five other people's phones. The MyDS app can also unlock the doors of the shared car. This feature enables authorising access to and starting of DS 9 by another telephone according to a timetable set by the owner. Using Bluetooth®, the system is operational even without GSM network coverage.

Had a good 6hrs sleep on flight nice dinner too Starter Duck confit Cheese Breakfast chose pork porridge

Engine failure forces Air France A380 back to Abidjan. So within 3 days 3 airplane incidents with 1 involving a major air crash. - Engine failure on Air France A380 - Turkish Airway flight to New York severe turbulence, dozens injured includin 1 air stewardess with broken leg - Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed Personally i have phobia of taking airplanes but still take anyway but i am literally scared stiff whenever theres air turbulence, even the slightest vibration or shaky feeling can make me very uncomfortable. i am also unable to sleep through flights which can be a very bad experience esp long haul flights. any others here with same phobia of taking planes? or should i be same as dennis bergkamp the non flying dutchman just dont fly aha though i believe strongly that if its time to go, its time to go. say a prayer, hold the hands of your loved ones if youre flying with them, if not, try to send a text message out to them / call if thats even possible. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/engine-failure-forces-air-france-a380-back-to-abidjan-11329626?cid=fbcna&fbclid=IwAR3gvtygu42aM1aJgR8Eg5oqXYwmcwH1fxqm7xtdqDRUXvjlXgBEgbenPdw

http://news.yahoo.com/female-french-journalists-fed-lecherous-politicians-142451902.html Female French journalists fed up with lecherous politiciansParis (AFP) - Fed up with bawdy remarks and wandering hands, dozens of female French journalists have signed a petition published Tuesday denouncing sexism from male politicians. "Get your paws off me!" read the front page of the Liberation newspaper, where 40 female political reporters detailed sexist and lewd behaviour suffered while working in the corridors of power. One describes waiting in the heart of the National Assembly only to be greeted by a lawmaker saying: "Ah but you're on the game, hustling for a client." Another mentions a deputy running his hands through her hair, while a minister's advisor asked a journalist upon her return from holiday if she was "tanned all over". From a political spokesman taking photos of sleeping female journalists onboard a plane during the last presidential campaign, to a "friend of the president" declaring that journalists are "much more interesting when they have big breasts", the female hacks have had enough. In the petition, they condemn the fact that little has changed after the downfall of International Monetary Fund chief and presidential frontrunner Dominique Strauss-Kahn, whose notorious sexual appetite landed him in court on several occasions. View gallery Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, seen here on February 17, 2015, whose notorious sexual appe … "We thought that the DSK case had shifted the line and that chauvinist attitudes were on the verge of extinction. Alas!" read the article. Strauss-Kahn's career imploded after his arrest for allegedly sexually assaulting a New York hotel maid. The charges were dropped but the case revealed details of his often crude behaviour with women, highlighting sexist attitudes from French male politicians. The journalists writing in Liberation also described insistent text messages or phone calls seeking late night meetings, suggestions to pop into a nearby hotel "for a bit of fun" and one official who had to be threatened with sexual harassment charges to get him to back off. "There are also condescending sighs when we ask questions in press conferences: 'That is such a girl question'", wrote the journalists. View gallery French Minister for Social Affairs, Health and Women's Rights, Marisol Touraine, delivers a spee … However the petition highlights that there are also many politicians who do not act in this manner, especially the younger generation. "The fact that these practices -- which mirror those that happen every day in the street, factories and offices -- involve elected officials charged with creating policy, leads us to denounce them." - Rampant sexual harassment - The petition was signed by 16 reporters from the main French media houses including Liberation itself, Le Monde and Le Parisien newspapers, Radio France International and Agence France-Presse. The rest of the journalists preferred to remain anonymous due to their "complicated professional situation". Women's Rights Minister Marisol Touraine said the petition was a good reminder that sexism permeates the whole of society. "This must also be an opportunity to recall the sexism confronting millions of women in their daily life on public transport, in their place of work and on the street," she said. "Sexism is more insidious than before, but it is well and truly present." Sexual harassment in France has come under the spotlight in recent weeks after the High Council for Equality between Women and Men urged government to crack down on the phenomenon, saying 100 percent of women using public transport have been the victim at least once in their lives.

When? Tell me when Our beloved gahmen pass this law instead of squeezing lemons??? More information: http://www.theguardian.com/money/shortcuts/2014/apr/09/french-6pm-labour-agreement-work-emails-out-of-office

Seldom use a mobile phone, but carry one when on holiday in Europe just in case. Both last year and this year couldn't get access by phone using an M1 sim card in France. Went to the Nokia Customer shop and the guy there spent 45 minutes or so trying to get access using my phone but could not. Contacted M1 who were no help. Recently in Portugal and Spain had no problem at all using my mobile. Anyone else had problem in France with M1 mobile sim card. The phone is G3.???

France Train Shooting - First Video Immediately After Gunman Tackled First footage emerging from the Paris Train Shooting, France. 21/08/2015. See the SECOND video taken on board the train at http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=03c_1440223970 Description of Events from the US Armed Forces involved in the Incident Members of the Oregon National Guard and Air Force on some R&R in Europe. Terrorist on train with an AK, pistol, and knife. He exited the toilet with AK at the ready and tried to load and fire off his first clip, tried to load again and dropped the clip/AK. Assailant was rushed by Armed Service persons, he raised AK and tried to fire. He then dropped the AK and reached for pistol which is dislodged from hand. A knife is then pulled and one of the Armed Forces personnel receives injuries to face, neck and almost hand (almost severed finger). The AK is now in the hands of other Armed Forces member who quickly loaded clip and pointed at terrorist to shoot, but was jammed/misfired, so instead the buttstock of the AK is put to the head of the terrorist and he is secured to ground. At time of video, looking for the pistol. News Report At least three people have been injured after a man, reportedly armed with a Kalashninov rifle, opened fire on a Thalys high-speed train between Amsterdam and Paris on Friday. The attacker was apprehended by two soldiers traveling on the same train, according to local media.The shooting occurred near the town of Arras in northern France around 6:00pm local time (4:00pm GMT). The attacker has been detained by the police. According to La Voix du Nord, a US and British soldiers apprehended the attacker after hearing the noise of a machine gun being loaded in the toilet. One of the soldiers was shot, while the other was stabbed in the struggle with the gunman. The third injured person is reportedly French actor Jean-Hugues. The 60-year-old has starred in over 30 movies, including international hits Killing Zoe, Betty Blue and Nikita. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaRCs9cP3G4

News out

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/french-massive-tour-group-china-vip-treatment-183740515.html This is pretty cool. :) French give massive tour group from China the VIP treatment By Anne Chaon | AFP News – Sun, May 10, 2015 RELATED CONTENT View PhotoEmployees of Chinese company Tiens attend a parade on May 8, 2015 in Nice, France, … View PhotoThis photo from Image Trans shows Tiens employees arranging themselves in the phrase … View PhotoCEO of Tiens Li Jinyuan © waves to his employees on May 8, 2015 in Nice, Franc … The biggest-ever tour group to visit France, 6,400 mainly Chinese visitors invited by their company boss, received a VIP welcome Saturday in the southern resort town of Nice. In the morning the luxury department store Galeries Lafayette closed its doors to all other shoppers so that the visitors could browse the aisles, and queue at the till, in relative peace. Later, the group, 5,400 of whom arrived in France from China on Tuesday aboard 84 commercial planes, filled up the Palais Nikaia to watch the Moulin Rouge cabaret show. They are all employees of the Chinese conglomerate Tiens, which is celebrating its 20th birthday. Christian Mantel, head of the French tourism development agency Atout France said the authorities were pulling out all the stops to accommodate the wishes of the group, who are paying 13 million euros ($14.5 million) for the 5-13 May visit. "And that's without counting the shopping," added Mantel. With an average of 1,500 euros in purchases, Chinese tourists are among the world's biggest holiday spenders. The Tiens directors have relaxed in the most luxurious hotel rooms. Less elevated employees have been treated to three- or four-star accommodation. In the capital Paris, the group had the famous Louvre museum to themselves for a private visit on May 6 before heading south to Nice. "We have mobilised public services as well as tourism professionals, hotels, restaurants, shops and designer brands," said Mantel. "So far everything has gone smoothly, the feedback has been extremely positive." The whole adventure began back in December when Atout France got wind that the Tiens boss group Li Jinyuan wanted to celebrate in style the 20th birthday of his company which operates in tourism, trade and cosmetics among other sectors. Mantel said French authorities worked hard to narrow down his destination short-list, which had originally also included London and Rome. Along with the Chinese visitors, there were also Russians and Kenyans in the Tiens tour group. While in Nice, the group entered the Guinness World Records book after forming the longest ever "human phrase," positioning themselves in groups that read "Tiens' dream is Nice in the Cote d'Azur" in letters visible from the air. Tiens CEO Li Jinyuan even took part in a parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Standing in an American jeep he smiled and saluted towards his massed co-workers in the crowd. While the group have been getting the VIP treatment, the Tiens top dogs have gone one better with the VVIP treatment lavished on them. On Wednesday they met up with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. Fabius, who hopes France will welcome 100 million tourists this year, is well aware that "the reservoir for tourists is mainly in the Far East, particularly in China," a member of his team said.

Having won the World Rally Championship (WRC) nine times in a row, Sebastien Loeb is widely regarded as the most successful rally racer ever. However, he has already made plans forward after the current season. Loeb's 2013 run in the WRC was on a limited schedule (sounds like part-time if you ask us). The versatile racing driver has decided to take part in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) next year, piloting the Citroen C-Elysee WTCC race car. He will also take part in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (PCCA) at the season's final race in Macau. While the future looks bright for the talented driver, things didn't look too well at his last WRC career race in France. At the first stage of the final day of competition at the Rally of France, Loeb crashed and landed top down in the forest. Fortunately, both Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena came out of the wreckage unhurt. Jump to the video to catch the in-car footage of the whole accident. http://dai.ly/x15t563

Caterham Motorsport celebrated the completion of its maiden Le Mans 24 Hours at the La Sarthe circuit by finishing 11th place (out of 22 entries in its class) in the LMP2 category. The team came in 24th in the overall standings. Drivers Alexander Rossi, Tom Kimber-Smith and Eric Lux delivered behind the wheel of the Caterham Motorsport Zytek Z11SN-Nissan despite suspension failure and a puncture. From the lights, Kimber-Smith took the Caterham LMP2 as high as fifth place in class, before handing over to Caterham F1 reserve driver, Alexander Rossi, in his first ever Le Mans race. The American driver

There is a new gentleman in France, and a fast one. This gentleman runs on four wheels instead of two feet. The heart of this man is a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 engine which pumps out 542bhp. We are talking about the GT-R Gentleman Edition which Nissan has offered specifically for sale in France. Only 10 units will be built. Based on the GT-R Black Edition, the Gentleman Edition is available only in Gunmetal Grey. The limited edition GT-R is distinguished by a pair of 'Gentleman Edition' badging located at the front fender vents. On the inside, the super car gets amber red leather upholstery and an individually-numbered titanium plaque. The leather-stitched steering wheel, gear stick and dashboard receive a sporty two-tone treatment. Gentlemen, start your engine!

PARIS

Renault plans to cut 7,500 jobs in France by 2016 as a result of declining sales in Europe. This represents 17 percent of its current workforce in the country. The company would achieve its target mainly by not replacing retiring workers and by offering early retirement. The French carmaker's sales in Europe sank 19% between January to November 2012, which is the steepest among major car manufacturers in the region. The plan would save Renault 400 million euros a year in annual fixed cost, which is required to lower its break-even point. Despite the reduction in workforce, CEO Carlos Ghosn announced that no plants in France will be closed. Year 2012 is tough but 2013 is not expected to be smooth riding either. Carlos said at the Detroit Motor Show that he expects the European market to be "difficult" in 2013, predicting that car sales would fall about 3%, after contracting 8 % in 2012. Renault's action adds further woes to France's ailing industrial sector.

Pizza's here usually gets delivered with Class 2b motorcycles though I have heard a well to-do individual uses his Mercedes. Order a hot pizza from Domino's in the town of Swindon, U.K. and you will be greeted by a delivery man in a Renault Twizy. Besides the standard Domino

The mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, launched a proposition to the French government to ban old vehicles from the city to improve the air quality and reduce noise pollution. In his proposal, cars over 17-years old would not be allowed in Paris. Trucks and buses more than 18 years old and motorcycles built before 2004 would also be banned. To help poorer residents of Paris to upgrade to newer vehicles, the Socialist Party mayor suggested a "cash-for-clunkers"-type program. If approved, the ban will take effect in the second half of 2014. The proposal is part of a plan to cut air pollution in the city by 30% by 2015 and to turn Paris into a low-emission zone. French officials report about 43,000 annual death caused by poor air quality. Pierre Chasseray, a spokesman for a non-profit organization, commented that only 3% of the vehicles in France are above 17-years old and therefore the impact from the ban would not be great. Other critics say that the plan should focus on cutting down the use of diesel fuels instead. Collectors of vintage and classic vehicles would not be happy with the proposal as well. Other elements of the plan include reducing local speed limits from 80km/h to 70km/h and imposing a tax on heavy vehicles travelling in the city center. The reduction of speed limit does not really make sense to me as most cars would not be travelling at the highest gear ratio at 70km/h, which is no good for fuel efficiency. It seems like the only sensible suggestion is the tax on heavy vehicle.

Nowadays, when we mention the term pocket rocket (with regards to automobiles) the first car or cars that comes to our minds are models such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Peugeot 207 GTI and the Mini Cooper JCWs. The Japanese have their hot hatches too, for example the Suzuki Swift Sport. These are the examples of today

The rumour mill has been churning out news of Renault preparing a new Clio Williams. Ever since Renault signed a new contract with the Williams Formula One team to supply them with engines, many hoped that the French automaker would release a new version of the ever popular hot hatch. The original Renault Clio Williams was released in 1993 and it was said that the car was launched to celebrate Nigel Mansell