Violent clashes have erupted as tens of thousands of people took to the streets in France to protest against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms.
Tuesday was the 10th day of action since protests began in mid-January against pension reform plans which would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
In Paris, police fired tear gas and launched a charge after some people at the head of the protest, dressed in black with their faces covered, started a fire.
Protesters in Nantes threw projectiles at security forces who responded with tear gas. Water cannon was used against demonstrators in Lyon, and in Lille police fired tear gas at protesters.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 13,000 members of the security forces were being deployed on Tuesday, 5,500 of them in Paris alone. The number, a record, was justified by "a major risk to public order".
At least 22 people were arrested in the capital by the afternoon, Paris police said.
Protesters delayed trains at Gare de Lyon station in Paris, walking on the rails and lighting flares in what they described as a show of solidarity for a railway worker who had lost an eye in a previous protest.
Mr Macron had been urged to make a peace gesture to protesters on Tuesday as unions staged another round of strikes.
Mr Macron was accused of “playing a dangerous game with democracy” by refusing to yield on his pension reform bill.
Strikes caused transport chaos as workers carrying flares blocked train tracks in Paris. Walkouts in the energy sector have left some petrol stations short of fuel.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said an unprecedented 13,000 police and security officers were called up for Tuesday’s strikes.
Protesters want Mr Macron to withdraw a bill raising France’s retirement age from 62 to 64.
The bill was forced through parliament without a vote after Mr Macron failed to persuade a majority of MPs. He says the reform is necessary to cut the rising costs of France’s welfare state.
The government and opposition have accused each other of failing to offer a compromise.
There are suggestions Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne could offer tweaks to the pension law that ease the impact for older workers and people in physically demanding jobs.
But unions are calling for the entire bill to be delayed and renegotiated, even as Mr Macron wants it to take effect this year.
“The deep social crisis that already existed in our country has been coupled with a democratic crisis. We need to calm things down,” Yvan Ricordeau of the CFDT union told French television.
He said the union was proposing to “take several months to go back over the issue with common sense, and show that there are alternatives to working to 64”.
Mathilde Panot, the leader of a left-wing group in parliament, said the chaos was “putting France to shame” on the international stage.
“Emmanuel Macron is playing an extremely dangerous game with democracy,” she said.
Sebastien Chenu, the far right National Rally MP, said Mr Macron had “started fires” and was the “number one person responsible” for the unrest.
The unrest forced Mr Macron to ask Britain’s King Charles III to postpone a state visit that was planned for this week.
Allies of the president say opposition leaders have failed to condemn the violence that took place at some protests.
“Some people are coming in flocks to cause havoc and call our republic into question,” said Charles Rodwell, an MP from Mr Macron’s centrist bloc.
“I am convinced of the merits of this reform, but those who want to show their opposition must be able to do it in calm and security.”
One poll published on Monday showed Mr Macron’s approval rating at just 28 per cent, the lowest since the height of the Yellow Vest protests in 2018.
Another survey suggested the president’s centrist bloc would come third with 22 per cent of the vote if new elections were called to break the impasse.
The National Rally and a coalition of left-wing parties would be tied on 26 per cent, the poll predicted.
France’s constitutional council has yet to decide on the bill after opponents filed objections that could, in theory, lead to a referendum.
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October 18 – 7.30pm, UAE v Oman, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 19 – 7.30pm, UAE v Ireland, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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October 24 – 10am, UAE v Nigeria, Abu Dhabi Cricket Oval 1
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He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
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2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
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Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
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The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
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The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
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Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
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Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Key facilities
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