John Laurenson

Latest Stories (71)

In France, consumers and business owners react to new "health pass"

Jul 30, 2021
The health pass requires people to show proof of vaccination before going into cafés, restaurants and bars, among other venues, along with some forms of transportation.
A man shows his health pass to a vendor before sitting at a coffee shop in Benerville-sur-Mer on July 27.
Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images

France’s budget electric vehicle looks like a toaster and is sold like one, too

Jul 21, 2021
Citroën's "mobility object" is a small two-seater — think of it as a four-wheel moped. No driver's license required.
The new all-electric urban vehicle named 'Ami' by French carmaker Citroen is taken for a test drive for the purposes of a photo illustration in the Place le la Concorde on 23 September 2020, in Paris, France. Citroen's Ami falls into the quadricycle category, and can be driven without a license in France from the age of 14.
Photo by Abdulmonam Eassa/Getty Images

How one French landscape gardener saves and sells abandoned plants

Jun 16, 2021
Some of the plants are donated, others come from nurseries and wholesalers that were going to throw them away.
Plant Protection Society founder Nicolas Talliu with plants saved from the trash.
John Laurenson

French hotels offer haute cuisine room service in COVID lockdown

May 18, 2021
With their restaurants closed, some hotels are giving patrons a chance to experience restaurant-style meals in their rooms.
A three-course dinner for two in your hotel room.
Laurent Jordan, courtesy Maison Albar Hotels - Le Pont-Neuf

Paris experiments with driverless shuttle service

May 10, 2021
The transport authority uses an autonomous vehicle to bring people to a park. The free weekend service offers a glimpse of the future.
The Paris transit authority tests a driverless vehicle in 2016. An autonomous shuttle has been taking people to the Bois de Vincennes on weekends since January.
Eric Feferberg/AFP via Getty Images

Eau de livestock, anyone?

Apr 26, 2021
France has passed a law to protect the sounds and smells of the countryside as a way to preserve French heritage.
A new law protects France's "sensorial heritage" — its smells and sounds, including those that have provoked lawsuits by annoyed rural residents.
Jean-Francois Monier/AFP via Getty Images

French farmers protest taking meat off Lyon school lunch menu

Mar 30, 2021
Green Party Mayor Grégory Doucet says adopting a single meatless menu helps to make social distancing easier during COVID-19.
Farmers protested the meat ban with a banner reading "Stop ideology in our plates."
Olivier Chassignole/AFP via Getty Images

British "booze cruise" to France dialed back under new trade rules

Feb 16, 2021
The pandemic has limited travel in Europe. But once it starts up again, Britons will face lower limits on how much wine, beer and spirits they can purchase in France without paying taxes.
Stephane de Sakutin/AFP via Getty Images

Italy launches app with incentives to get consumers to go cashless

Jan 18, 2021
In its battle against tax evasion, the government wants more Italians to change their payment method.
The Italian government is discouraging the use of cash and encouraging purchases by credit card to help it collect taxes.
Ridofranz via Getty Images