April 27, 2026
World
World
WASHINGTON, April 27 — A man accused of targeting US administration officials at a Washington event has been arrested after allegedly opening fire, injuring a Secret Service agent.
PARIS, May 25 — French taxi drivers are set to escalate their protests next week by blocking access to Paris airports and the French Open in a growing dispute with the government, the country's main taxi federation announced yesterday.
Over the past week, taxi drivers have staged road blockades across France in protest against new regulations affecting payments for patient transportation—an essential income source for many in the industry.
Tensions have also reignited over ride-hailing services like Uber and Bolt, which taxi drivers view as inadequately regulated and harmful to their livelihoods.
A critical meeting with sector representatives is scheduled at the Ministry of Transport at 3pm GMT Saturday. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is expected to attend—a reflection of the issue’s urgency. Bayrou has acknowledged the drivers’ frustration, saying, “We must address this together while recognising the constraints we face.”
At the core of the protest is opposition to new regulations set to take effect in October, aimed at standardising rates for medical transport. Taxi drivers argue the changes will significantly reduce their earnings.
“We are demanding the immediate cancellation of this agreement and a return to the negotiating table,” said Emmanuelle Cordier, president of the National Taxi Federation (FNDT), in an interview with France Info radio.
“If no progress is made, starting Monday, taxis will block access to Paris’s Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, as well as the Roland Garros stadium,” she added, referring to the two-week French Open tennis tournament kicking off Sunday.
In previous actions, drivers typically used their vehicles to block road access, forcing pedestrians to travel long distances on foot.
Despite mounting pressure, the government remains firm on implementing the new rules, citing escalating healthcare transport costs, which reached €6.74 billion in 2024—€3.07 billion of which involved licensed taxis.
“We’ll keep expressing our dissatisfaction peacefully, but with even stronger blockades,” said Noel, a 60-year-old taxi driver from Lyon with 21 years in the profession. — AFP
