A million people are taking to the streets across France on Saturday, as the protests against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms roll into a seventh day.
In a rare display of unity, a coalition of French unions hopes to keep up pressure on the government to withdraw the reforms, whose key measure is a two-year extension of the retirement age to 64.
The continuing strikes have affected refineries, public transport and refuse collection, while a possible vote on the text of the reforms by the upper house of the Parliament is expected on Sunday night.
Rolling industrial action
A TotalEnergies representative told Reuters that the strikes were continuing on at the company's refineries and fuel depots, while public railway operator SNCF said national and regional services would remain heavily disrupted over the weekend.
In Paris, rubbish is piling up on the streets, with some residents reporting a growing presence of rats, according to local media.
The right-leaning Senate, aligning with Mr Macron's centrist Renaissance party, is expected to vote in favour of the pension reform.
If that happens, the bill will be reviewed by a joint committee of lower and upper house politicians, probably next week.
If that committee agrees on a text, a final vote in both chambers of Parliament would likely go ahead, but the outcome of such a vote still appears uncertain.
"A lot of things can still happen next week," Marylise Leon, deputy secretary general of the CFDT union, the country's largest, told Franceinfo radio.
"Will the text be voted in the National Assembly? We have to rally. It's now or never."
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
Copa del Rey
Barcelona v Real Madrid
Semi-final, first leg
Wednesday (midnight UAE)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
New schools in Dubai
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
