Elisabeth Borne

France's Senate voted early yesterday to approve a deeply unpopular reform to the country's pension system, hours after demonstrators took to the streets to oppose the cornerstone policy of President Emmanuel Macron's second term in office.

The upper house of the French parliament - the Senate - adopted the controversial pension reform, which caused a wave of protests throughout France and was considered a key measure of Emmanuel Macron's second presidential term, BTA reported.

"An important milestone has been overcome," said French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.

Unions have organized strikes across the country against President Emmanuel Macron's intention to implement pension reform.
There were also reports of students blocking schools, while BFM TV showed footage of workers leaving cars on the side of the road near Amiens in northern France, while others blocked access to an industrial area, Reuters reports.

France's prime minister has ruled out backtracking on a plan to raise the retirement age as unions prepared for another day of mass protests and strikes against the contested reform.

An increase in the minimum retirement age to 64 from the current 62 is part of a flagship reform package pushed by President Emmanuel Macron to ensure the future financing of France's pensions system.

French President Emmanuel Macron's government will try this week to revive his economic reform drive and score a major political victory by launching a pension reform in the face of fierce union opposition, Reuters reported today.

Recently described as "250 grams of magic and perfection" by President Emmanuel Macron, the French baguette is at risk from surging energy prices, with some bakers warning they can no longer afford to fire up their ovens.

More than 1,000 firefighters were struggling Thursday to contain a major wildfire which has burned a large area of pine forest in southwestern France, in a region that was already ravaged by flames last month.

Allies of French President Emmanuel Macron started working on June 20 to cobble together a working parliamentary majority to salvage his second term, after his alliance crumbled in the election against surges from the left and far-right.

France ceases all flights outside the Schengen area, French Transport and Environment Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Tuesday, quoted by Reuters.

"There are no more international flights outside the Schengen zone," Borne told French RTL radio.

France introduces an eco tax on air flights. Thus, the government of President Emmanuel Makron fulfills the promise to take measures to combat pollution and climate change.

The fee will be phased in for all airplanes departing from France.