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French Senate approves Macron’s pension plan amid new protests

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French Senate approves Macron’s pension plan amid new protests

The French Senate has accredited President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular pension reform plan as a whole bunch of 1000’s of protesters rallied in cities throughout the nation to oppose the modifications.

Senators voted late on Saturday to undertake the reforms by 195 votes to 112, bringing the package deal — whose key measure is elevating the retirement age by two years to 64 — nearer to turning into regulation.

“After a whole bunch of hours of discussions, the Senate adopted the pension reform plan. It’s a key step to make a reform occur that may assure the way forward for our pension system,” Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne wrote on Twitter.

She added she was “completely dedicated to make sure the textual content will probably be definitively adopted within the coming days”.

Now that the Senate has adopted the invoice, it is going to be reviewed by a joint committee of decrease and higher home legislators, in all probability on Wednesday.

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If the committee agrees on a textual content, a closing vote in each chambers is prone to happen on Thursday. However the consequence of that also appears unsure within the decrease chamber, the Nationwide Meeting, the place Macron’s celebration wants allies’ votes for a majority.

If the federal government fears it is not going to have sufficient votes within the decrease home, it’s nonetheless doable for it to push the textual content by way of with no parliamentary vote through a not often used and extremely controversial constitutional instrument often known as article 49:3.

A Normal Confederation of Labour (CGT) commerce union brand is seen as demonstrators march in opposition to the federal government’s pension reform plan in Paris, France, March 11, 2023 [Benoit Tessier/ Reuters]

‘Now or by no means’

Unions, which have fiercely opposed the measures, nonetheless hoped on Saturday to pressure Macron to again down, although the day’s protests in opposition to the reform have been far smaller than some earlier ones.

In accordance with figures from the inside ministry, 368,000 demonstrators marched by way of numerous cities on Saturday. Authorities had anticipated as much as one million folks to participate after a report 1.28 million folks rallied within the streets earlier within the week.

Tensions flared on Saturday night, with Paris police saying that they had made 32 arrests after some protesters threw objects at safety forces, with garbage bins burned and home windows damaged.

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In a joint assertion, the French unions, sustaining a uncommon present of unity for the reason that protest motion was launched on the finish of January, known as on the federal government to organise a “residents’ session” as quickly as doable.

The unions stated they plan to maintain up the stress with an extra day of nationwide strikes and protests deliberate for Wednesday.

“That is the ultimate stretch,” Marylise Leon, deputy chief of the CFDT union, advised the broadcaster Franceinfo. “A variety of issues can nonetheless occur subsequent week,” she stated. “Will the textual content be voted within the Nationwide Meeting? We now have to rally. It’s now or by no means.”

Opinion polls present a majority of voters oppose Macron’s plan, whereas a slim majority helps the strike actions. Most individuals, nevertheless, stated they imagine the president would find yourself getting the reform adopted.

The federal government insists the reform plan is important to make sure the French pension system doesn’t run out of cash, however many see the modifications, resembling elevating the retirement age, as unfair to individuals who began working younger.

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“I’m right here to battle for my colleagues and for our younger folks,” stated Claude Jeanvoine, 63, a retired prepare driver demonstrating in Strasbourg, in jap France.

“Individuals shouldn’t let the federal government get away with this, that is about the way forward for their kids and grandchildren,” he advised the AFP information company.

Rubbish bins set on fire as French unions rally against pensions reforms in Paris, France.
Garbage bins set on fireplace as folks attend a march in opposition to the federal government’s pension reform plan in Paris, France, March 11, 2023 [Benoit Tessier/ Reuters]

The reforms would additionally enhance the variety of years folks must make a contribution in an effort to obtain a full pension. Protesters say that ladies, particularly moms, are additionally at a drawback beneath the brand new reforms.

“If I’d identified this was coming, I wouldn’t have stopped working to take care of my children once they have been small,” stated Sophie Merle, a 50-year-old childcare supplier within the southern metropolis of Marseille.

Rolling strikes

The protests and rolling strikes have affected a number of sectors of the French economic system, together with rail and air transport, energy stations, pure gasoline terminals and garbage assortment.

A spokesperson for TotalEnergies stated that strikes proceed within the oil producer’s French refineries and depots, whereas public railway operator SNCF stated nationwide and regional companies would stay closely disrupted over the weekend.

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In Paris, rubbish continues to pile up on the streets, with residents seeing a rising presence of rats, in line with native media.

Nationwide energy manufacturing in France was lowered by 7.1 gigawatts, or 14 p.c, at nuclear, thermal and hydropower vegetation on Saturday as a result of strikes, a CGT union spokesperson advised the Reuters information company.

Upkeep was additionally blocked at six French nuclear reactors, together with Penly 1, the spokesperson stated.

Regardless of the protests and strikes, Macron this week twice turned down pressing calls by unions to fulfill with him in a last-ditch try and get him to alter his thoughts.

The snub made unions “very offended”, stated Philippe Martinez, boss of the left-wing CGT union.

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“When there are thousands and thousands of individuals within the streets, when there are strikes and all we get from the opposite aspect is silence, folks surprise: What extra do we have to do to be heard?” he stated, calling for a referendum on the pensions reform.

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Entertainment giant Paramount agrees to a merger with Skydance

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Entertainment giant Paramount agrees to a merger with Skydance

NEW YORK (AP) — Entertainment giant Paramount, which owns CBS and was behind blockbuster films such as “Top Gun” and “The Godfather” has agreed to merge with Skydance, the companies said.

The new combined company is valued at around $28 billion.

“Given the changes in the industry, we want to fortify Paramount for the future while ensuring that content remains king,” said Shari Redstone, chair of Paramount Global.

Redstone’s National Amusements owns more than three-quarters of Paramount’s Class A voting shares though the estate of her late father, Sumner Redstone, according to data firm FactSet. Shari Redstone had battled to keep control of the company.

Skydance, based in Santa Monica, California, has helped produce some major Paramount hits in recent years. Those include several Tom Cruise films including “Top Gun: Maverick” and installments of the “Mission Impossible” series.

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Skydance was founded in 2010 by David Ellison, son of billionaire Larry Ellison, the founder of the software company Oracle. It quickly formed a production partnership with Paramount that same year.

David Ellison will be chairman and chief executive officer of what’s being called New Paramount. The agreement still needs regulatory approval.

The on-again, off-again merger arrives at tumultuous time for Paramount, which in an annual shareholder meeting in early June laid out a restructuring plan that includes major cost cuts. The company also saw a leadership shakeup earlier this year.

Paramount has struggled in an evolving media landscape, particularly as its traditional cable business has declined. To capture today’s growing streaming audience, the company launched Paramount+ back in 2021, but losses and debts have still piled up over time.

Sumner Redstone used National Amusements, his family’s movie theater chain, to build a vast media empire that included CBS and Viacom, which have merged and separated a number of times over the years. Most recently, the companies re-joined forces in 2019, undoing the split consummated in 2006. The company, ViacomCBS, changed its name to Paramount Global in 2022.

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Under Sumner Redstone’s leadership, Viacom became one of the nation’s media titans, home to pay TV channels MTV and Comedy Central and movie studio Paramount Pictures.

Skydance wasn’t the only one to make a Paramount bid in recent months — Apollo Global Management and Sony Pictures also made competing offers. Late last year, Warner Bros. Discovery also made headlines for exploring a potential merger with Paramount. But by February, Warner had reportedly halted those talks.

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French parliament divided among far-left, center, far-right after elections

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French parliament divided among far-left, center, far-right after elections

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France’s parliament is divided among far-left, center and far-right, as no single political faction even neared the majority needed to form a government.

President Emmanuel Macron, who has three years left of his term, anticipated that his decision to call snap elections would give the country a “moment of clarification,” according to The Associated Press, but the results told a different story.

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This, less than three weeks before the start of the Summer Olympics in Paris, puts France at the center of international attention.

FRENCH PM TO RESIGN AS LEFTISTS NAB PLURALITY OF PARLIAMENTARY SEATS IN SNAP ELECTION

People gather on the Republique plaza following the second round of the legislative elections on Sunday in Paris. (AP)

Second-round results tallied early Monday showed that a leftist coalition surged to take the most seats in parliament, according to The AP. 

Macron’s centrists have the second-largest faction, forcing the president to have to form alliances to run the government. Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally, meanwhile, finished in third after political efforts to keep its candidates away from power.

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Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said he would offer his resignation Monday, although he could stay on through the Olympics or beyond if needed.

Official results released early Monday showed that all three main blocs fell far short of the 289 seats required to control the 577-seat National Assembly, which is the more powerful of France’s two legislative chambers.

FRENCH ELECTION PREVIEW: POLLS SHOW RIGHT-WING PARTY LEADS RUNOFF AS OPPONENTS URGE TACTICAL VOTING

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron leave the voting booth before voting for the second round of the legislative elections in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage on Sunday. (AP)

Just over 180 seats will now be held by the New Popular Front leftist coalition, while Macron’s centrist alliance have more than 160 seats and Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and its allies hold more than 140 seats.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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After Moscow, Hungary's Orbán makes surprise visit to Beijing

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After Moscow, Hungary's Orbán makes surprise visit to Beijing

Orbán has proclaimed himself the one EU leader on friendly terms with the world’s two preeminent authoritarian governments.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has made an unexpected visit to China, following his trips to both Ukraine and Russia to discuss a peace settlement for Ukraine.

Stepping off the plane, Orbán was greeted by Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying and other officials.

He later posted a picture with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with which he wrote: “[Besides Russia and Ukraine, the end of the war] depends on the decision of three world powers, the United States, the European Union and China.”

Orbán visited Moscow and Kyiv last week, where he proposed that Ukraine consider agreeing to an immediate ceasefire with Russia.

Unlike most other leaders in the EU, the Hungarian prime minister is widely seen as having a close relationship with Vladimir Putin. He has routinely blocked, delayed or watered down EU efforts to assist Kyiv and impose sanctions on Moscow for its actions in Ukraine.

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His visit to Moscow triggered condemnation from Ukraine and other European leaders, but Orbán justified the trip as an outreach effort.

“The number of countries that can talk to both warring sides is diminishing,” he said. “Hungary is slowly becoming the only country in Europe that can speak to everyone.”

Although Orbán has long argued for an end to hostilities in Ukraine, he has not outlined what that might mean for the country’s territorial integrity or future security.

Tightening ties with China

Two months ago, Xi made a similar trip to Budapest as part of the Chinese President’s three-country European tour that also included stops in France and Serbia.

Hungary and China signed a number of new agreements during these talks to deepen their economic and cultural cooperation.

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Beijing has invested billions in Hungary and sees the European Union member as an important foothold inside the 27-member bloc.

In December, Hungary announced that one of the world’s largest EV manufacturers, China’s BYD, will open its first European production factory in the south of the country — an inroad that could upend the competitiveness of the continent’s car manufacturing industry.

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