Paris Garbage Collectors Strike Piles Up Trash in City of Light
A strike by Paris garbage collectors has resulted in growing heaps of trash throughout the French capital, threatening its aesthetic appeal.
The 16-day strike has created veritable blight on the city, where piles of garbage have been seen to stand higher than a human being.
Macron Enacts Pension Reform Without Parliamentary Vote
President Emmanuel Macron's government has enacted a controversial pension reform bill, raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.
The decision was made via a special constitutional power after the government could not guarantee a majority vote in parliament.
The move has led to widespread protests across France and a no-confidence motion against Macron's government.
Protests and No-Confidence Votes Over Pension Reform in France
Protests against the proposed pension reform in France continued over the weekend, with some incidents of violence reported.
The protests took place as no-confidence votes were scheduled to take place in parliament.
French Government Survives No-Confidence Vote After Pension Reform
The French government has narrowly survived two motions of no confidence after pushing through plans to raise the country's pension age.
While the centrist group's vote was higher than expected, it did not garner the 287 votes needed to topple the government.
A successful no-confidence vote would have sunk Macron's government, killing the legislation that aims to increase the retirement age by two years to 64.
However, the failure of the vote did not quell the outrage, as protesters took to the streets in several cities across France, and opposition lawmakers have vowed to force a U-turn.
French National Strike Over Pension Reform Causes Widespread Chaos
French workers went on a nationwide strike in protest against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform plan, which includes raising the retirement age by two years.
The strikes caused disruptions to public transport, schools, airports, railway stations, and ports.
The aviation fuel shortage at refineries coupled with strikes resulted in the government considering requisitioning refinery workers to prevent planes from being grounded due to fuel shortage.
Charles's Paris visit suffers setback as striking workers refuse to lay red carpet
The French unions have threatened the visit of King Charles III by pulling back the red carpet.
The three-day visit of the British king to France next week is clouded by strikes against the reforms of President Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension plan.
Staff from two organizations in charge of furnishing official buildings, such as the Elysée Palace, are expected to strike during the royal visit.
The administration has sought the help of the non-striking workers to organize the visit of King Charles III.
King’s state visit to France postponed amid widespread retirement age protests
The French Presidency confirmed the postponement on Friday morning.
French tram drivers threaten to strike during King Charles III's state visit
King Charles III's state visit to France, which is aimed at strengthening cross-Channel ties, is threatened by ongoing mass protests, including violent protests against pension reform, happening across France.
French tram drivers have threatened to strike as a part of the protests, which may disrupt the royal tour of Bordeaux, France.
Scattered protests continue as Paris reels from violence
Protesters angry at French President Emmanuel Macron are continuing scattered actions on Friday following mass demonstrations the previous day
King's banquet in France moved due to safety fears over violent protests
Reports suggest that a state banquet planned for King Charles during his upcoming visit to France may be moved or even cancelled due to safety concerns regarding violent protests.
The banquet was scheduled to take place at the Palace of Versailles on Monday evening but may now be relocated to the Elysée Palace in Paris.
Protests have been ongoing in response to President Emmanuel Macron's decision to raise the retirement age, with demonstrators and politicians accusing him of being out of touch.
Trade unionists and other protesters have announced plans to disrupt all events attended by the British Monarch.
Ryanair Seeks EU Help to Overcome French Air Traffic Control Strikes
Ryanair has launched a petition urging the European Commission to allow flights in French airspace even when air traffic controllers go on strike.
The company argues that the strikes, which have become more frequent due to President Emmanuel Macron's proposed pension reforms, disrupted travel for nearly a million passengers, despite the latter not being directly impacted by the strikes.
Two Ryanair executives announced the initiative, stating that the EU should protect its citizens' freedom of movement.
King Charles’ France visit postponed as pension protests rage – latest news
Emmanuel Macron asked King to stay away as pension riots take over streets in Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon
Macron vows to implement pension reforms amid protests
Protests have continued across France as President Emmanuel Macron pledges to implement the controversial pension reforms by the end of the year.
The reforms, which will raise the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64, have sparked widespread opposition and mass strikes since January.
Despite strong pushback from unions and citizens, Macron has defended the bill as necessary for the country's future.
Trains were disrupted and a new day of nationwide protests kicked off on Thursday, following Macron's announcement the day before.
King Charles 'should cancel' France visit as workers will refuse to welcome him
King Charles and the Queen Consort are due to visit France this weekend as part of their first state visit since the Queen's death, amid fears protests could cause disruption
Macron wants French pension plan implemented by end of year
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that the pension bill he pushed through without a vote in parliament needs to be implemented by the "end of the year,” sticking to his decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 desp
Macron triggers no-confidence vote after pushing through unpopular pension bill
French President Emmanuel Macron has triggered a no-confidence motion in his government after using a special constitutional power to push through a highly unpopular bill that will raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
The decision was made just minutes before the scheduled vote because the government couldn't guarantee a majority.
The bill is the flagship legislation of Macron's second term, but has prompted major strikes and protests across the country.
Protests in France Over Pension Reform
Protests and riots erupted across France after the government pushed through a controversial pension reform without a vote in parliament.
Refinery strikes, rubbish piling up on the streets, rolling strikes on the railways, and clashes between protesters and riot police marked the ongoing unrest.
President Emmanuel Macron is facing his toughest challenge since the yellow vest protests of 2018.
Bordeaux town hall set on fire in France pension protests
Fire engulfs the building's front as violence flares in several cities during pension reform protests.
Macron to continue pension reforms despite violent protests across France
President Emmanuel Macron has stated his intention to push forward with pension reforms, despite protests and violence across the country.
The protests, which began weeks ago in response to proposed reforms raising the pension age by two years to 64, turned violent on Thursday night, with police stations attacked and hundreds of fires set nationwide.
441 police officers were injured, along with dozens of protesters, and 475 people were arrested.
France hit by strikes and protests over pension reform
The French government pushed through a rise in pension age from 62 to 64 without parliamentary vote, resulting in nationwide protests and strikes.
Over 300 people were reportedly arrested in France during the protests that caused chaos on the streets.
The government invoked article 49.3 of the constitution to adopt a bill without parliamentary vote amid opposition accusations of brutality and undemocratic actions.
Anti-pension reform protesters blocked traffic on the Paris ring road early on Friday morning.
French Government Uses Special Powers to Push Through Controversial Pension Reform
French President Emmanuel Macron's government has resorted to using special powers to pass a controversial reform, raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, to avoid a knife-edge vote in the country's National Assembly.
This move triggered chaos in the assembly as left-wing politicians chanted "Resign!" and sang lines of the national anthem.
The prime minister invoked article 49: 3 of the constitution, enabling the government to bypass a vote in the assembly, citing that the reforms are essential to ensure the pension system does not go bust.
The plan had already passed in the upper house, but ministers worried they might not get the support of MPs.
Paris rubbish pile-up sparks political battle
Refuse collectors in Paris have been on strike for ten days, leading to thousands of tonnes of rubbish left uncollected across the city.
As the mounds of waste continue to pile up, the national government and the socialist-run city hall are embroiled in a bitter dispute over who is responsible for resolving the crisis.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has warned that he will force employees to end their strike and return to work due to serious concerns over health and safety.
Meanwhile, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is supporting the strikers and has refused to intervene.
French journalist Olivier Dubois released after almost two years of captivity in Sahel
French journalist Olivier Dubois, who was kidnapped in Mali in 2021 by the al Qaeda-linked Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM) has been released.
He was the first French national to be taken hostage by rebels in Mali since French aid worker Sophie Petronin was freed in October 2020.
Alongside Dubois, US aid worker Jeffery Woodke was also released after being held captive since 2016.
Both men arrived at the airport in the capital of Niger, Niamey on Monday.
SNP leadership contender Ash Regan meets with Scotland's top civil servant
Ash Regan, one of the candidates for the leadership of the Scottish National Party (SNP), met with Permanent Secretary John-Paul Marks in Edinburgh on Friday to discuss her vision for Scotland if she became the first minister.
The other two candidates for the SNP leadership, Kate Forbes and Humza Yousaf, have also been offered meetings with the head of the civil service.
Regan said the meeting was a pleasure and allowed her to share her inclusive, positive vision for Scotland, which includes establishing an Independence commission on day one of her becoming first minister.
UK's Sunak meets Macron to discuss efforts to stop cross-channel migrants
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss joint efforts to halt the flow of migrants crossing the English Channel.
A main point of discussion is boosting police patrols on French beaches, from where many small boat crossings originate.
However, returning migrants arriving in the UK to France is unlikely to be agreed upon.
Mr Sunak recently revealed new tactics to curb people from making the dangerous crossing.