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La Voie Bleue: European Cycle Route of the Year is in France
700km bike path linking Luxembourg and Lyon has been crowned winner of the 2026 title
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Before and after: Garonne river floods in south-west France
Satellite images show extent of flooding from back-to-back storms in February
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Home insurance increases expected in France after floods
Compensation costs for the recent storms and flooding across the west and south-west is estimated to be in the billions of euros
Cigarette prices to rise
Tobacco prices have been raised for the second time in a few weeks in a bid to force manufacturers to raise prices.
Cigarette makers absorbed the last rise in February but health minister Marisol Touraine applied the so-called minimum de perception rate which is intended to stop cigarettes and rolling tobacco being sold as loss-leaders.
The cheapest cigarettes – News, Lucky Strike or Winston – will rise between 10 and 20 centimes but top-selling brands such as Marlboro are unaffected as they are above the minimum price level. In all, 80% of the tobacco price is tax.
