Commuters on the Paris metro faced another day of travel havoc Thursday as unions pressed their strike against a planned pension reform. (Photo: AFP/Philippe LOPEZ) Officials have said they are ready to negotiate, with Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer meeting teachers' representatives on Friday to try to stave off another day of class shutdowns. "It was an intense and frank meeting ... but we still need details, and maintain our call to strike on Tuesday," Stephane Crochet of the SE-Unsa teachers' union said. Unions are hoping for a repeat of 1995, when they forced a rightwing government to back down on pension reforms after three weeks of metro and rail strikes just before Christmas. The prospect of a protracted standoff has businesses fearing big losses during the crucial year-end festivities, and travellers worried that their holiday plans are compromised. "Right now it's a catastrophe here, but we're hoping there will be a solution before Christmas," Frederic Masse, a … [Read more...] about France braces for holiday misery as pension strike persists
Macron about czech republic
Việt Nam’s fruit and vegetable export value falls in 11 months
Việt Nam saw a slight decrease in the export value of fruit and vegetables during the first 11 months this year. Photo vietnambiz.vn HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam's fruit and vegetable exports dropped 0.6 per cent year-on-year to US$3.5 billion in the first 11 months this year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). The drop was attributed to falling earnings from dragon fruit, which accounted for 31 per cent of total fruit exports, (down 9 per cent), durian (down 17.4 per cent), coconut (down 35 per cent), longan (down 56 per cent) and watermelon (down 26.4 per cent). MARD’s Agricultural Products Processing and Market Development Department said the strong decrease in exports to China, which accounted for 66.8 per cent of all fruit and vegetable exports, was also a reason behind the fall. The rise in exports to the US, the European Union, Japan and the Republic of Korea was not … [Read more...] about Việt Nam’s fruit and vegetable export value falls in 11 months
U23s South Korean training camp ahead of Asian U23 football champs
The Vietnam's U23 football team left Hanoi at 12.30am on Saturday for a training session in the Republic of Korea (RoK). Vietnam's U23 football team at Noi Bai Airport at midnight on December 13 to fly to South Korea. Photo by Tien Phong The team will have a nine-day training camp in the home country of coach Park Hang-seo starting on December 13. The U22 players had only two days rest after winning the SEA Games 30 gold medal on December 10. Coach Park Hang-seo at the airport The squad for the AFC U23 Championship in January 2020 announced by coach Park Hang-seo on December 12 includes three goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 11 midfielders and four strikers. They include most of the SEA Games winners except for midfielders Do Hung Dung and Nguyen Trong Hoang who are over the age limit and defender Doan Van Hau who has returned to his Dutch club SC Heerenveen. Captain Nguyen Quang Hai is surrounded by fans at the airport Park also recalled midfielders Tran … [Read more...] about U23s South Korean training camp ahead of Asian U23 football champs
EU warns of post-Brexit rival Britain after Johnson win
French President Emmanuel Macron warned of the possibility that London could become an 'unfair competitor'. (Photo: AFP/Aris Oikonomou) But the EU chiefs, meeting in Brussels, also expressed relief that British voters had sent a clear message, bringing to an end the first phase of a crisis that has dogged Europe for more than three years. Led by France and Germany, EU member states said they would pursue a swift trade deal with a tight deadline of end 2020, but insisted that any new arrangement must uphold European values and norms. "There is no question of concluding a deal at any price," EU Council President Charles Michel told a news conference after the talks. "Negotiations are over when the results are balanced and guarantee respect for the different concerns," the former Belgian premier said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that Britain would be an economic "competitor at our door" after it leaves the EU and French President Emmanuel Macron saw a threat that London … [Read more...] about EU warns of post-Brexit rival Britain after Johnson win