On the Agenda: What's happening in France this week
From crunch time in pay negotiations for railway workers to seasonal festivals and the small matter of a football match, here's what is happening in France this week.
Monday
Train disruption - there was major disruption over the weekend as train conductors and ticket inspectors walked out, leading to around half of all TGV services being cancelled. The strike ended on Sunday night, but there is expected to be significant knock-on disruption on Monday.
Tuesday
St Nicolas Day - this festival is a huge deal in Germany, but it's also celebrated in the historic Alsace region of France. The festival involves parades in some towns, gifts for well-behaved children (and a visit from a scary figure with a whip for bad kids) and lots of gingerbread.
What you need to know about St Nicolas Day in France
Wednesday
Rail strike - unions have issued a provisional strike notice for Wednesday, ahead of a crunch day of talks on Thursday in the ongoing pay negotiations for SNCF workers.
Thursday
Railway pay negotiations - the key meeting between bosses and unions representing French rail workers. Depending on how these talks go, there could be further strike action over the Christmas and New Year weekends.
Fête des lumières - the Lyon festival of lights begins on Thursday and runs until Sunday. The festival is the biggest and most famous of the many light festivals that take place in France through December.
What you need to know about the Lyon festival of lights
Friday
Right to die - launch of the citizen convention looking at France's right to die laws. This is the beginning of a public consultation looking at the question of whether France should relax its laws on assisted suicide. It comes after the national Ethics Committee for Health and Life Sciences issued a positive response on the question of assisted suicide.
Saturday
France v England - France take on England in the quarter finals of the men's football World Cup in Qatar.
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Monday
Train disruption - there was major disruption over the weekend as train conductors and ticket inspectors walked out, leading to around half of all TGV services being cancelled. The strike ended on Sunday night, but there is expected to be significant knock-on disruption on Monday.
Tuesday
St Nicolas Day - this festival is a huge deal in Germany, but it's also celebrated in the historic Alsace region of France. The festival involves parades in some towns, gifts for well-behaved children (and a visit from a scary figure with a whip for bad kids) and lots of gingerbread.
What you need to know about St Nicolas Day in France
Wednesday
Rail strike - unions have issued a provisional strike notice for Wednesday, ahead of a crunch day of talks on Thursday in the ongoing pay negotiations for SNCF workers.
Thursday
Railway pay negotiations - the key meeting between bosses and unions representing French rail workers. Depending on how these talks go, there could be further strike action over the Christmas and New Year weekends.
Fête des lumières - the Lyon festival of lights begins on Thursday and runs until Sunday. The festival is the biggest and most famous of the many light festivals that take place in France through December.
What you need to know about the Lyon festival of lights
Friday
Right to die - launch of the citizen convention looking at France's right to die laws. This is the beginning of a public consultation looking at the question of whether France should relax its laws on assisted suicide. It comes after the national Ethics Committee for Health and Life Sciences issued a positive response on the question of assisted suicide.
Saturday
France v England - France take on England in the quarter finals of the men's football World Cup in Qatar.
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