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Photos: The best places to buy a second home in Provence named in new ranking
The list considered 28 criteria to rank 90 villages in the sought-after region
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ZFE: Basque Country to ban most-polluting vehicles from June 2025
It comes as increasing numbers of towns in France are introducing low emission zones
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More communes in France deploy ‘intelligent’ traffic lights to fight speeding
The lights force approaching drivers to slow down to the correct speed limit
Floating ‘sea bins’ come to France’s ocean ports
Floating sea “rubbish bins” that suck up rubbish in the ocean and improve seawater quality are to be adopted across the country after being successfully tested in the Hérault (Occitanie).

Dubbed the “Seabin”, the rubbish collector floats in the ocean - near beaches or marinas - and sucks up litter such as plastic bags, bottles and other debris.
Originally created in Australia, it has been tested in France in Grande-Motte in the Hérault since November 2017.
The Marseille coast began using the €3,300 Seabin this month, and the Ports Rade de Toulon have also began using it. Paris is set to buy six of the models this summer, to help clean up its ports and waterways.
The Seabin has also been hailed as a clever educational tool.
Éric Pallier, port director in Grande-Motte, said: “This is not only a product, it is also a real step forward in increasing young people’s sensitivity [to the problem of ocean waste]. They are already quite aware, but we must try to use this product to help educate people.”
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