France

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular planned pension changes have prompted strikes and street demonstrations in recent weeks. Now, his government is facing a harsh political battle at parliament.

The National Assembly on Monday starts debating the contested bill, which would notably raise the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64. The parliamentary session comes a day before a third round of protests called by eight main workers’ unions. More demonstrations are planned for Saturday.

PARIS, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron and visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries and strengthen bilateral relationship in all areas, the Elysee said in a press release on Friday.

During a working dinner Thursday night, Macron said Netanyahu choosing France as his first visit outside the Middle East since his appointment as Israeli prime minister shows the "closeness" between the two countries and the two people.

PARIS (AP) — An estimated 1.27 million people took to the streets of French cities, towns and villages Tuesday, according to the Interior Ministry, in new massive protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to raise the retirement age by two years.

31 Jan 2023; MEMO: The Mayor of the French city of Lyon, Gregory Doucet, yesterday cancelled a conference hosting French-Palestinian lawyer Salah Hamouri, to "ensure harmony" in the city.

The conference entitled "Thirty years after the signing of the Oslo Accords, a look at Palestine" was due to take place at Lyon's City Hall tomorrow.

PARIS (AP) — France’s prime minister insisted Sunday that the government’s plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 is “no longer negotiable,” further angering parliamentary opponents and unions who plan new mass protests and disruptive strikes this week.

Raising the pension age is one part of a broad bill that is the flagship measure of President Emmanuel Macron’s second term. The bill is meeting widespread popular resistance — more than 1 million people marched against it earlier this month — and misunderstanding about what it will mean for today’s French workers.

PARIS, Jan 27 (Reuters) - A total of 321 heavy tanks have been promised to Ukraine by several countries, Ukraine's ambassador to France said on BFM television on Friday.

"As of today, numerous countries have officially confirmed their agreement to deliver 321 heavy tanks to Ukraine," Vadym Omelchenko, Ukraine's ambassador to France, said in an interview with French TV station BFM.

"Delivery terms vary for each case and we need this help as soon as possible," he added.

Omelchenko did not provide a breakdown of the number of tanks per country.

26 Jan 2023; MEMO: France has promised to speed up the handover of its colonial archives to Algeria, and to clean up the sites where it conducted nuclear tests in the Sahara Desert in the 1960s, the ministry of foreign affairs in Algiers has announced.

25 Jan 2023; MEMO: France has repatriated 15 women and 32 children from a detention camp in north-west Syria after pressure on the European country from human rights organisations.

The decision follows criticism from a UN committee that said Paris is failing to protect its citizens and is violating the Convention against Torture.

PARIS, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France repatriated 15 women and 32 children held in Kurdish-control prison camps in northeastern Syria, the French foreign ministry said Tuesday.
 
“The minors were handed over to the services in charge of child assistance and will be subject to medical and social monitoring,” the ministry said in a statement.

It added that “the adults have been handed over to the competent judicial authorities”.

PARIS, January 22. /TASS/: French President Emmanuel Macron has promised assistance to Ukraine in the post-conflict revival.

"When it comes to [Ukraine’] revival, we will help," he said at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "We will help Ukraine in all spheres. We are committed to it.".