Thousands of demonstrators, most of them unionists, filled Paris' streets on Wednesday (January 29) in protest of the French government's planned pensions overhaul, claiming the movement has fallen to President Emmanuel Macron's deaf ears.

Thousands march in Paris against pension reform as support for movement stays strong

Paris, home to two of the three French people taken ill in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wuhan-coronavirus-dos-and-donts-symptoms-276479">China's coronavirus outbreak</a>, cancelled a Lunar New Year parade on Sunday as a "precaution", the capital's mayor Anne Hidalgo said. "Yesterday, I met members of the Chinese community in Paris who themselves wished to cancel the procession" scheduled for Republique square, the mayor told reporters. "The principle of precaution takes precedence," she added.

On Friday, France's health ministry said three people who had recently travelled to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-virus-death-toll-rises-to-56-total-cases-near-2000-276577">China </a>were confirmed to have contracted the virus - the first cases in Europe. One was a patient at a hospital in the southwestern city of Bordeaux and the other two in the capital. All three were "very well", according to France's director-general of health Jerome Salomon. Health officials were tracking other people the three had been in contact with.

The Lunar New Year, sometimes called Chinese New Year, marks the beginning of the new year on the traditional Chinese calendar.&nbsp;This year, the start to the Year of the Rat fell on Saturday, but celebrations in China were dramatically scaled down amid a coronavirus outbreak that has killed 56 and infected nearly 2,000.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/coronavirus-outbreak-3-cases-in-france-1-in-australia-us-expecting-more-cases-276474">Coronavirus Outbreak: 3 cases in France, 1 in Australia, US expecting more cases</a>

<img alt="Coronavirus" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efbecbdf-401a-416a-9646-b2d014be329f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2020-01-24T101537Z_3_LYNXMPEG0M1G4_RTROPTP_3_CHINA-HEALTH.JPG" /> 
[ Nations the world over have been taking extreme measures to protect their citizens - Representative Image (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

Hidalgo did not specify whether other New Year's celebrations planned for the coming days would also be called off, including the main, yearly procession in Paris' so-called Asian quarter, set for next Sunday. "We were informed of the cancellation of the festivities last night," said Pierre Ducerf, a representative of the Franco-Chinese Association. Celebrations planned for Bordeaux on Sunday were also cancelled.

The outbreak emerged in late December in Wuhan, an industrial and transport hub of 11 million people in China's centre, spreading to several other countries including the United States.

A precautionary lockdown of Wuhan city has since been expanded too much of the rest of Hubei province. France on Sunday put in place a medical team of several dozen experts at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport to take charge of any arrivals with possible symptoms of infection with the contagious virus.

French carmaker PSA on Saturday said it would repatriate ex-pat staff and their families - 38 people in total - from Wuhan. They would be quarantined in the city of Changsha, 300 kilometres (180 miles) from Wuhan where the virus originated, before being allowed to return "to their countries of origin", the company said in a statement.

The virus has caused global concern because of its similarity to the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) pathogen, which killed hundreds across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Paris, home to two of the three French people taken ill in China's coronavirus outbreak, cancelled a Lunar New Year parade on Sunday as a "precaution", the capital's mayor Anne Hidalgo said.

Paris, home to two of the three French people taken ill in China's coronavirus outbreak, cancelled a Lunar New Year parade on Sunday as a "precaution", the capital's mayor Anne Hidalgo said. "Yesterday, I met members of the Chinese community in Paris who themselves wished to cancel the procession" scheduled for Republique square, the mayor told reporters. "The principle of precaution takes precedence," she added. On Friday, France's health ministry said three people who had recently travelled to China were confirmed to have contracted the virus - the first cases in Europe. One was a patient at a hospital in the southwestern city of Bordeaux and the other two in the capital. All three were "very well", according to France's director-general of health Jerome Salomon. Health officials were tracking other people the three had been in contact with. The Lunar New Year, sometimes called Chinese New Year, marks the beginning of the new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. This year, the start to the Year of the Rat fell on Saturday, but celebrations in China were dramatically scaled down amid a coronavirus outbreak that has killed 56 and infected nearly 2,000. Also Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: 3 cases in France, 1 in Australia, US expecting more cases [ Nations the world over have been taking extreme measures to protect their citizens - Representative Image (Courtesy: Reuters) ] Hidalgo did not specify whether other New Year's celebrations planned for the coming days would also be called off, including the main, yearly procession in Paris' so-called Asian quarter, set for next Sunday. "We were informed of the cancellation of the festivities last night," said Pierre Ducerf, a representative of the Franco-Chinese Association. Celebrations planned for Bordeaux on Sunday were also cancelled. The outbreak emerged in late December in Wuhan, an industrial and transport hub of 11 million people in China's centre, spreading to several other countries including the United States. A precautionary lockdown of Wuhan city has since been expanded too much of the rest of Hubei province. France on Sunday put in place a medical team of several dozen experts at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport to take charge of any arrivals with possible symptoms of infection with the contagious virus. French carmaker PSA on Saturday said it would repatriate ex-pat staff and their families - 38 people in total - from Wuhan. They would be quarantined in the city of Changsha, 300 kilometres (180 miles) from Wuhan where the virus originated, before being allowed to return "to their countries of origin", the company said in a statement. The virus has caused global concern because of its similarity to the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) pathogen, which killed hundreds across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.

Paris cancels Lunar New Year parade due to China's viral outbreak

Jean-Paul Gaultier has bowed out of fashion with all the cheek and showmanship with which he has lit it up over the last half century. 
The legendary French provocateur bid farewell Wednesday with an hour-long feelgood musical spectacular with an orchestra and a cast of hundreds to celebrate the friends and the often outrageous looks that helped make him a star. 
 
With what seemed like the entire fashion world gathered to pay tribute, the mammoth production began with a black coffin with two conical breasts sticking out of it being carried down a set worthy of Cecil B DeMille. 
 
It was Gaultier's knowing joke that the conical bra he famously put on Madonna will probably end up on his tombstone. 
 
British singer Boy George closed the show, with fashionistas on their feet as the designer emerged in the same blue work overalls as his studio staff when the curtain lifted to reveal the backstage.

<img alt="j" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="20c2cd9c-2915-4ba6-a2ff-1d7bf65c8b5f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-01-23T111559.385.jpg" />

<img alt="j" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d9ee3c52-b963-4b8d-ab45-e0602e40b9ed" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-01-23T111621.188.jpg" /> 
Raised onto the shoulders of some of the 220 models who had sashayed down the runway, he threw kisses as the audience chanted his name to the strains of the Culture Club hit "Church of the Poison Mind".

The ode to freaks and outsiders echoed the way the maverick designer pioneered body positive thinking and gender fluidity long before they became fashionable. 
 
American singer Beth Ditto and the bearded Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst were among the atypical models he managed to charm onto the catwalk. 
 
While Madonna herself did not make it to the show, the "French Madonna" Mylene Farmer did, along with a galaxy of Gallic stars including "Betty Blue" actress Beatrice Dalle. So did Indian actress&nbsp;Sonam Kapoor who shared multiple posts on her Instagram from the show.&nbsp; 
 
In a touching message before the curtain lifted, Gaultier gave the world a lesson in sustainability and making do. 
 
"There are too many clothes and too many that are never worn. Don't throw them away, recycle them," he said, declaring his final collection was his first "upcycled haute couture" one.

"When I was a child my mother told me how she would turn my father's old worn trousers into skirts. That marked me. You can love a garment again by transforming it," Gaultier said.&nbsp;

<img alt="j" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ccde0e0b-45c8-4373-a78e-7a26dcd7a3a8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-01-23T111636.767.jpg" /> 
 
"I have been doing that since... In my first show and in this my last there are creations made with the jeans I've worn," he said.&nbsp; 
"It's the most beautiful of materials. Like a lot of humans, it becomes even more beautiful as it gets older." 
 
The flamboyant creator stunned fans on Friday by announcing that the haute couture show in the French capital would be his last. 
 
- 'Laughing and crying' - 
 
Many believe the 67-year-old showman may now throw himself into showbiz. 
 
His "Fashion Freak Show", a cheeky cabaret revue based on his life has been a popular and critical hit. 
 
With its catchphrase "Tout le monde est beau!" ("Everybody looks so good!"), it was a feel-good smash when he premiered it at the Folies Bergere in Paris in 2018.&nbsp; 
 
It is now touring Russia after an acclaimed London run.

<img alt="j" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e30d6b51-34ba-4baa-bb89-b062549745f5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-01-23T111654.976.jpg" /> 
 
Gaultier's perfume range and high-end haute couture business, Gaultier Paris, will live on, the brand told AFP. 
 
"For years now Jean Paul-Gaultier has been saying, 'I am going to have to make a decision (about the future)'," said fashion historian Olivier Saillard. 
 
"I think the success of the show has shown him a way," he added.&nbsp;

<img alt="j" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ed4d6877-ddc5-4b57-9363-42050d4ae1fa" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-01-23T111715.777.jpg" />

<img alt="j" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4dc58a16-66a3-4f5d-a2ab-62ee6395dc44" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-01-23T111756.729.jpg" /> 
"It has been wonderful for him to see the public laughing and crying with him," the historian told AFP. 
 
"It is so much more joyful than a fashion show, which lasts 11 minutes and where people are always on their phones taking photos." 
The impish creator had previously carved out a cult following as a presenter of the late-night 1990s television show "Eurotrash".&nbsp; 
 
Gaultier stopped designing ready-to-wear clothes in 2015 to concentrate on haute couture -- extravagant handmade clothes which only the world's richest women can afford.&nbsp; 
 
-&nbsp;Body-positive pioneer - 
 
Never less than flamboyant, Gaultier was a fashion prodigy. 
 
From the start he challenged gender stereotypes and conventional ideas of beauty, once placing an advert for "atypical" models.&nbsp; 
"The facially disfigured should not refrain from applying," he added. 
<img alt="j" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="987ffdfd-9ef3-4caf-a510-e00954a30ed7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-01-23T111842.735.jpg" /> 
 
Saillard said the couturier was "like a father" to many top designers he had mentored over the years, but "he feels fashion has changed terribly". 
 
Nor was it a secret that Gaultier was unhappy with the Catalan luxury conglomerate Puig, who bought his brand in 2011.&nbsp;"He will be back, but in a different way," said Saillard.&nbsp;

Jean-Paul Gaultier has bowed out of fashion with all the cheek and showmanship with which he has lit it up over the last half century. The legendary French provocateur bid farewell Wednesday with an hour-long feelgood musical spectacular with an orchestra and a cast of hundreds to celebrate the friends and the often outrageous looks that helped make him a star.

Jean-Paul Gaultier has bowed out of fashion with all the cheek and showmanship with which he has lit it up over the last half century. The legendary French provocateur bid farewell Wednesday with an hour-long feelgood musical spectacular with an orchestra and a cast of hundreds to celebrate the friends and the often outrageous looks that helped make him a star. With what seemed like the entire fashion world gathered to pay tribute, the mammoth production began with a black coffin with two conical breasts sticking out of it being carried down a set worthy of Cecil B DeMille. It was Gaultier's knowing joke that the conical bra he famously put on Madonna will probably end up on his tombstone. British singer Boy George closed the show, with fashionistas on their feet as the designer emerged in the same blue work overalls as his studio staff when the curtain lifted to reveal the backstage. Raised onto the shoulders of some of the 220 models who had sashayed down the runway, he threw kisses as the audience chanted his name to the strains of the Culture Club hit "Church of the Poison Mind". The ode to freaks and outsiders echoed the way the maverick designer pioneered body positive thinking and gender fluidity long before they became fashionable. American singer Beth Ditto and the bearded Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst were among the atypical models he managed to charm onto the catwalk. While Madonna herself did not make it to the show, the "French Madonna" Mylene Farmer did, along with a galaxy of Gallic stars including "Betty Blue" actress Beatrice Dalle. So did Indian actress Sonam Kapoor who shared multiple posts on her Instagram from the show. In a touching message before the curtain lifted, Gaultier gave the world a lesson in sustainability and making do. "There are too many clothes and too many that are never worn. Don't throw them away, recycle them," he said, declaring his final collection was his first "upcycled haute couture" one. "When I was a child my mother told me how she would turn my father's old worn trousers into skirts. That marked me. You can love a garment again by transforming it," Gaultier said. "I have been doing that since... In my first show and in this my last there are creations made with the jeans I've worn," he said. "It's the most beautiful of materials. Like a lot of humans, it becomes even more beautiful as it gets older." The flamboyant creator stunned fans on Friday by announcing that the haute couture show in the French capital would be his last. - 'Laughing and crying' - Many believe the 67-year-old showman may now throw himself into showbiz. His "Fashion Freak Show", a cheeky cabaret revue based on his life has been a popular and critical hit. With its catchphrase "Tout le monde est beau!" ("Everybody looks so good!"), it was a feel-good smash when he premiered it at the Folies Bergere in Paris in 2018. It is now touring Russia after an acclaimed London run. Gaultier's perfume range and high-end haute couture business, Gaultier Paris, will live on, the brand told AFP. "For years now Jean Paul-Gaultier has been saying, 'I am going to have to make a decision (about the future)'," said fashion historian Olivier Saillard. "I think the success of the show has shown him a way," he added. "It has been wonderful for him to see the public laughing and crying with him," the historian told AFP. "It is so much more joyful than a fashion show, which lasts 11 minutes and where people are always on their phones taking photos." The impish creator had previously carved out a cult following as a presenter of the late-night 1990s television show "Eurotrash". Gaultier stopped designing ready-to-wear clothes in 2015 to concentrate on haute couture -- extravagant handmade clothes which only the world's richest women can afford. - Body-positive pioneer - Never less than flamboyant, Gaultier was a fashion prodigy. From the start he challenged gender stereotypes and conventional ideas of beauty, once placing an advert for "atypical" models. "The facially disfigured should not refrain from applying," he added. Saillard said the couturier was "like a father" to many top designers he had mentored over the years, but "he feels fashion has changed terribly". Nor was it a secret that Gaultier was unhappy with the Catalan luxury conglomerate Puig, who bought his brand in 2011. "He will be back, but in a different way," said Saillard.

Fashion legend Jean-Paul Gaultier bows out in style

Christian Dior took the fashion world back to ancient Greece on Monday (January 20) with vapourous peplum-style gowns and shimmering golden numbers at its Haute Couture show, part of a twice-yearly showcase of one-of-a-kind outfits by top designers in Paris.

Dior's Grecian goddesses kick off Paris fashion extravaganza

After part of the Louvre Museum staff went on strike and gathered at the entrance, the Louvre Museum shut its doors. Several tourists were booing towards the strikers. However, the museum said tickets bought for the day would be reimbursed.

Pension reform strikes shut Louvre Museum in Paris

January 18 in history: WW-1 peace conference, recognition of Vietnam, and a lot more!

The partnership between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/renault-nissan-alliance-in-flux-a-year-after-ghosn-shock-262664">Renault</a> and Nissan is "not dead", the alliance's president has insisted, after reports of a potential split in the wake of the Carlos Ghosn scandal.

Jean-Dominique Senard said that reports <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/japanese-auto-major-nissan-orders-drastic-spending-cuts-271085">Nissan</a> is mulling plans for a possible break-away had "no connection to the current situation of the alliance".

"The Renault-Nissan alliance is not dead! Soon we will show you why," he said in an interview with Belgian daily L'Echo published Tuesday.

"I ask myself, where does this sort of information come from? I am not sure it comes from a place of goodwill," Senard said.

Britain's Financial Times, citing "several people with knowledge of the matter", said on Monday that senior executives at the scandal-hit Japanese automaker were speeding up work on secret plans for a potential divorce with French partner Renault.

In early trading in Tokyo on Tuesday, Nissan fell 1.77 percent, while Renault stocks finished 2.8 percent lower in Paris.

The reports come after former alliance chief <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/carlos-ghosn-rearrested-in-japan-over-fresh-allegations-185576">Ghosn</a> jumped bail and fled Japan, where he was awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges.

His shock arrival in his native Lebanon prompted outrage from the Japanese government as well as from Nissan.

Ghosn alleges the charges against him were cooked up by disgruntled Nissan executives opposed to his plans to more closely align the Japanese firm with its French partner.

At a press conference in Lebanon last week, he slammed the state of the alliance he once led, saying it had been gutted and left directionless.

The 20-year partnership between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/renault-nissan-to-work-with-googles-waymo-on-driverless-cars-report-195389">Nissan and Renault</a>, whose alliance is based on cross-shareholdings without a joint structure, has been badly shaken by the scandal.

But Senard said the alliance was "nowhere near" the point of collapse and insisted its leaders were busy "recreating its original spirit" and planning future investments.

On Tuesday, a Nissan spokeswoman declined to comment, saying: "We don't comment on speculation."

A source close to the company told AFP the leaks probably came from "a few disgruntled souls" inside Nissan who wanted to "vent their frustration", adding that rebuilding trust between the two firms "will take time".

The partnership between Renault and Nissan is "not dead", the alliance's president has insisted, after reports of a potential split in the wake of the Carlos Ghosn scandal.

The partnership between Renault and Nissan is "not dead", the alliance's president has insisted, after reports of a potential split in the wake of the Carlos Ghosn scandal. Jean-Dominique Senard said that reports Nissan is mulling plans for a possible break-away had "no connection to the current situation of the alliance". "The Renault-Nissan alliance is not dead! Soon we will show you why," he said in an interview with Belgian daily L'Echo published Tuesday. "I ask myself, where does this sort of information come from? I am not sure it comes from a place of goodwill," Senard said. Britain's Financial Times, citing "several people with knowledge of the matter", said on Monday that senior executives at the scandal-hit Japanese automaker were speeding up work on secret plans for a potential divorce with French partner Renault. In early trading in Tokyo on Tuesday, Nissan fell 1.77 percent, while Renault stocks finished 2.8 percent lower in Paris. The reports come after former alliance chief Ghosn jumped bail and fled Japan, where he was awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges. His shock arrival in his native Lebanon prompted outrage from the Japanese government as well as from Nissan. Ghosn alleges the charges against him were cooked up by disgruntled Nissan executives opposed to his plans to more closely align the Japanese firm with its French partner. At a press conference in Lebanon last week, he slammed the state of the alliance he once led, saying it had been gutted and left directionless. The 20-year partnership between Nissan and Renault, whose alliance is based on cross-shareholdings without a joint structure, has been badly shaken by the scandal. But Senard said the alliance was "nowhere near" the point of collapse and insisted its leaders were busy "recreating its original spirit" and planning future investments. On Tuesday, a Nissan spokeswoman declined to comment, saying: "We don't comment on speculation." A source close to the company told AFP the leaks probably came from "a few disgruntled souls" inside Nissan who wanted to "vent their frustration", adding that rebuilding trust between the two firms "will take time".

Renault-Nissan president denies reports of potential split

Alain Robert, the so-called French Spiderman who scales the world's tallest buildings, climbed Total's skyscraper in Paris' La Défense district on Monday to call attention on the retirement protests.

French Spiderman backs pension protesters

Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through eastern Paris on Saturday against the French government's overhaul of the pension system, which aims to replace France's myriad of sector-specific pension schemes with a single points-based scheme. #WION #France #EmmanuelMacron

France: March against pension reform, Macron govt temporarily withdraws pivotal age limit

January 12 in history: Transmission of first long-distance radio message from Eiffel Tower and more

A man went on a rampage with a knife in a park near Paris on January 3, killing one person and wounding two. French investigators said that they had not dismissed possible links to terrorism. #WION #Paris #ParisKnifeAttack

Paris Villejuif Stabbing: Attack could be an act of terror

French anti-terrorist investigators said Saturday they have taken over the probe into an attack by a knife-wielding man who killed one person walking with his wife in a park south of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/paris-police-attacker-had-radical-vision-of-islam-253972">Paris </a>before being shot dead by police.

Police said the man, identified as 22-year-old Nathan C, attacked several people around lunchtime Friday in the suburb of Villejuif and they initially treated the incident as a criminal not terrorist incident.

But in a statement, the French national anti-terrorist investigation body (PNAT) said that while Nathan C&nbsp;was known to have had psychiatric problems, worrying evidence had also emerged about his conversion to Islam and radicalisation.

"Investigations over the past few hours have allowed us to establish that he was certainly radicalised (and to show)... organised preparation for his move towards the act," the statement said.

Additionally, they "showed a murderous path, thought out and chosen, of such a nature as to gravely disturb public order by intimidation or terror," it said.

Earlier a local magistrate told a press conference that Nathan C&nbsp;had shouted the Muslim invocation "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) during the attack.

Nathan C&nbsp;converted to Islam in mid-2017 and is believed to have suffered serious psychiatric problems since he was child, with several spells in hospital. In June stopped treatment he was being given.

Police found literature characterised as Salafist in a bag after the attack, Philippe Bugeaud of the Paris investigative police told the press conference.

There was also a letter "with phrases fairly typical of a Muslim man who self-flagellates and who knows that he may be about to take the plunge," Bugeaud added.

Nathan C's apartment in Paris also bore "every sign that it was going to be no longer lived in," magistrate Laure Beccuau said.

Nathan C&nbsp;apparently spared a first person who said he was a Muslim and had recited a prayer in Arabic, she said.

He then attacked the couple, killing the husband and seriously injuring the wife before wounding a woman jogger in the back.

Beccuau said the two women had now left hospital.

France remains on high alert after being hit by a string of attacks by jihadist extremists since 2015, with more than 250 people killed in total.

French anti-terrorist investigators said Saturday they have taken over the probe into an attack by a knife-wielding man who killed one person walking with his wife in a park south of Paris before being shot dead by police.

French anti-terrorist investigators said Saturday they have taken over the probe into an attack by a knife-wielding man who killed one person walking with his wife in a park south of Paris before being shot dead by police. Police said the man, identified as 22-year-old Nathan C, attacked several people around lunchtime Friday in the suburb of Villejuif and they initially treated the incident as a criminal not terrorist incident. But in a statement, the French national anti-terrorist investigation body (PNAT) said that while Nathan C was known to have had psychiatric problems, worrying evidence had also emerged about his conversion to Islam and radicalisation. "Investigations over the past few hours have allowed us to establish that he was certainly radicalised (and to show)... organised preparation for his move towards the act," the statement said. Additionally, they "showed a murderous path, thought out and chosen, of such a nature as to gravely disturb public order by intimidation or terror," it said. Earlier a local magistrate told a press conference that Nathan C had shouted the Muslim invocation "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) during the attack. Nathan C converted to Islam in mid-2017 and is believed to have suffered serious psychiatric problems since he was child, with several spells in hospital. In June stopped treatment he was being given. Police found literature characterised as Salafist in a bag after the attack, Philippe Bugeaud of the Paris investigative police told the press conference. There was also a letter "with phrases fairly typical of a Muslim man who self-flagellates and who knows that he may be about to take the plunge," Bugeaud added. Nathan C's apartment in Paris also bore "every sign that it was going to be no longer lived in," magistrate Laure Beccuau said. Nathan C apparently spared a first person who said he was a Muslim and had recited a prayer in Arabic, she said. He then attacked the couple, killing the husband and seriously injuring the wife before wounding a woman jogger in the back. Beccuau said the two women had now left hospital. France remains on high alert after being hit by a string of attacks by jihadist extremists since 2015, with more than 250 people killed in total.

Paris knife attack to be treated as terrorist act: Official

Police on Saturday fired tear gas at demonstrators in Paris's busy Gare du Nord station, used by tourists taking the Eurostar service, and at the Gare de l'Est, during demonstrations against plans to reform France's pension system. #France #Paris #EmmanuelMacron #WION

France: Mass demonstration break out at Paris protest against pension reform

Thousands of labour unionists and 'yellow vests' marched together in Paris on Saturday against the French government's planned pension reform as nationwide strikes entered the 24th consecutive day. #FranceProtest #EmmanuelMacron #MacronPensionReforms

France continues to be on boil against Macron's pension reform

For the first time in over two centuries, Paris' Notre-Dame Cathedral was unable to hold midnight mass on Christmas Eve, as reconstruction work continues after the April fire that ravaged ancient structure. #WION #Notre-Dam #Chistmas

No Christmas mass at Notre-Dame for the first time in 200 years

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/strike-makes-for-not-so-merry-christmas-travel-in-france-269597">Protests continue to soar</a> in France as demonstrators today got into a scuffle with the police. The events unfolded at the Gare de Lyon station in Paris.&nbsp;

People have been protesting against the plans by French President Emmanuel Macron to change the country's pension system.&nbsp;

According to a French TV station ''BFM'', the riot police got into an altercation with around 30 protesters at one of the busiest stations in Paris.

Watch:&nbsp;France Protests -&nbsp;Protest against pension reforms

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-protests-protest-against-pension-reforms-266756/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Protesters ticked off flares and fireworks, which releases smoke that heaved the whole station.

Due to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/frances-macron-to-give-up-presidential-pension-in-reform-gesture-269578">ongoing protests</a>, many stations in Paris have been affected. These include Gare du Nord, which takes care of the Eurostar services to London and Brussels, as well as the Gare de l'Est.

"I understand (the strike) but I am not OK with it as I think all French people are being held hostage and it is difficult for us to understand what the goal is," a commuter told Reuters at the Gare de L'Est station.

France has witnessed two weeks of nationwide industrial action against Macron's pension reform. If the reform is set into motion, &nbsp;special pensions for many public sector staff would be scrapped. This would effectively make people work until 64 to draw a full pension.

French PM Emmanuel Macron recently announced that he would forego a presidential pension payout after stepping down.&nbsp;

France's oil sector workers are also expected to vote in favour of shutting down oil refineries as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-thousands-protest-in-france-over-pension-reform-plans-268811">part of the protest</a>.

(With inputs from agencies)

Protests continue to soar in France as demonstrators today got into a scuffle with the police. The events unfolded at the Gare de Lyon station in Paris. People have been protesting against the plans by French President Emmanuel Macron to change the country's pension system.

Protests continue to soar in France as demonstrators today got into a scuffle with the police. The events unfolded at the Gare de Lyon station in Paris. People have been protesting against the plans by French President Emmanuel Macron to change the country's pension system. According to a French TV station ''BFM'', the riot police got into an altercation with around 30 protesters at one of the busiest stations in Paris. Watch: France Protests - Protest against pension reforms Protesters ticked off flares and fireworks, which releases smoke that heaved the whole station. Due to the ongoing protests, many stations in Paris have been affected. These include Gare du Nord, which takes care of the Eurostar services to London and Brussels, as well as the Gare de l'Est. "I understand (the strike) but I am not OK with it as I think all French people are being held hostage and it is difficult for us to understand what the goal is," a commuter told Reuters at the Gare de L'Est station. France has witnessed two weeks of nationwide industrial action against Macron's pension reform. If the reform is set into motion, special pensions for many public sector staff would be scrapped. This would effectively make people work until 64 to draw a full pension. French PM Emmanuel Macron recently announced that he would forego a presidential pension payout after stepping down. France's oil sector workers are also expected to vote in favour of shutting down oil refineries as part of the protest. (With inputs from agencies)

France: Protests against pension reform continue, scuffle breaks out at Gare de Lyon station

Holiday travellers across France scrambled for alternatives Sunday as an 18-day-old transport strike over pension reform saw train services slashed yet again.&nbsp;

President Emmanuel Macron issued an appeal on Saturday for a truce over the holidays but talks between the government and unions this week have failed to ease the standoff and labour leaders called for further mobilisation.

Workers at the SNCF and RATP public rail companies have downed tools to protest at the government's plan to forge a single points-based pension scheme out of 42 existing ones, which would see some public employees lose certain privileges.

As a result, weeks of travel misery worsened on Sunday, when tens of thousands planned to meet up with family and friends for the Christmas break.

Only half of high-speed TGV and a quarter of inter-city trains were running, and the SNCF urged voyagers to cancel or delay planned trips if possible.

In Paris, trains connecting the capital to its suburbs were down to a trickle, and only two out of 16 metro lines provided a service on the last shopping Sunday before Christmas.

Public support dropping 

Macron, on a visit to the Ivory Coast, urged striking workers to embrace a "spirit of responsibility" and for "collective good sense to triumph".

"I believe there are moments in the life of a nation when it is also good to call a truce to respect families and the lives of families," he said in Abidjan.

A poll by the IFOP agency published on Sunday showed public backing for the action dropping slightly by three percentage points, though 51 percent still expressed support or sympathy for the strikers.

Jean Garrigues, a historian with the University of Orleans, told AFP this was likely to change over the holidays -- cherished family time for the French.

"The transport blockage has mostly affected the Parisian region, and we can see that in the coming period, it will also affect people in the rural areas. This will alienate many people from the labour movement. There will certainly be a drop in support," he said.

On Saturday, frustrated traveller Jeffrey Nwutu Ebube was trying to find a way home to Toulouse in the south from the northern port town of Le Havre -- some 850 kilometres (530 miles) away.

"I'm upset, this strike is unbearable... The government must do something," he told AFP.

'Everything is full'

Many stranded travellers have turned to car rental agencies or ride-sharing platforms since the strike began on December 5, but the last-minute surge in demand meant vehicles were hard to come by.

Among those marooned was Jerome Pelletier, who lamented "everything is full, everything is taken."

The government insists a pension overhaul is necessary to crete a fairer, more transparent system.

It would do away with schemes that offer early retirement and other advantages to mainly public-sector workers, not least train drivers who can retire as early as 52.&nbsp;

While some unions support a single system, almost all reject a new proposed "pivot age" of 64 -- beyond the legal retirement age of 62 -- for retiring with a full pension.

Heavy toll on business

Unions are hoping for a repeat of 1995 when the government backed down on pension reform after three weeks of metro and rail stoppages just before Christmas.

The protest is taking a heavy toll on businesses, especially retailers, hotels and restaurants during one of the busiest periods of the year.

Industry associations have reported turnover declines of 30 to 60 percent from a year earlier.

Stormy weather contributed to travellers' woes Sunday, dropping trees on railway lines in the south of France, blocking several routes, as violent winds left 110,000 households in the southwest without electricity.

Holiday travellers across France scrambled for alternatives Sunday as an 18-day-old transport strike over pension reform saw train services slashed yet again. President Emmanuel Macron issued an appeal on Saturday for a truce over the holidays but talks between the government and unions this week have failed to ease the standoff and labour leaders called for further mobilisation.

Holiday travellers across France scrambled for alternatives Sunday as an 18-day-old transport strike over pension reform saw train services slashed yet again. President Emmanuel Macron issued an appeal on Saturday for a truce over the holidays but talks between the government and unions this week have failed to ease the standoff and labour leaders called for further mobilisation. Workers at the SNCF and RATP public rail companies have downed tools to protest at the government's plan to forge a single points-based pension scheme out of 42 existing ones, which would see some public employees lose certain privileges. As a result, weeks of travel misery worsened on Sunday, when tens of thousands planned to meet up with family and friends for the Christmas break. Only half of high-speed TGV and a quarter of inter-city trains were running, and the SNCF urged voyagers to cancel or delay planned trips if possible. In Paris, trains connecting the capital to its suburbs were down to a trickle, and only two out of 16 metro lines provided a service on the last shopping Sunday before Christmas. Public support dropping Macron, on a visit to the Ivory Coast, urged striking workers to embrace a "spirit of responsibility" and for "collective good sense to triumph". "I believe there are moments in the life of a nation when it is also good to call a truce to respect families and the lives of families," he said in Abidjan. A poll by the IFOP agency published on Sunday showed public backing for the action dropping slightly by three percentage points, though 51 percent still expressed support or sympathy for the strikers. Jean Garrigues, a historian with the University of Orleans, told AFP this was likely to change over the holidays -- cherished family time for the French. "The transport blockage has mostly affected the Parisian region, and we can see that in the coming period, it will also affect people in the rural areas. This will alienate many people from the labour movement. There will certainly be a drop in support," he said. On Saturday, frustrated traveller Jeffrey Nwutu Ebube was trying to find a way home to Toulouse in the south from the northern port town of Le Havre -- some 850 kilometres (530 miles) away. "I'm upset, this strike is unbearable... The government must do something," he told AFP. 'Everything is full' Many stranded travellers have turned to car rental agencies or ride-sharing platforms since the strike began on December 5, but the last-minute surge in demand meant vehicles were hard to come by. Among those marooned was Jerome Pelletier, who lamented "everything is full, everything is taken." The government insists a pension overhaul is necessary to crete a fairer, more transparent system. It would do away with schemes that offer early retirement and other advantages to mainly public-sector workers, not least train drivers who can retire as early as 52. While some unions support a single system, almost all reject a new proposed "pivot age" of 64 -- beyond the legal retirement age of 62 -- for retiring with a full pension. Heavy toll on business Unions are hoping for a repeat of 1995 when the government backed down on pension reform after three weeks of metro and rail stoppages just before Christmas. The protest is taking a heavy toll on businesses, especially retailers, hotels and restaurants during one of the busiest periods of the year. Industry associations have reported turnover declines of 30 to 60 percent from a year earlier. Stormy weather contributed to travellers' woes Sunday, dropping trees on railway lines in the south of France, blocking several routes, as violent winds left 110,000 households in the southwest without electricity.

Strike makes for not-so-merry Christmas travel in France

Protests in France against government's new pension plans

Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/determined-to-take-pension-reform-to-completion-will-address-peoples-concerns-french-pm-266964">Edouard Philippe</a> defied striking workers on Wednesday with plans for a long-anticipated overhaul of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/frances-emmanuel-macron-to-hold-meeting-on-pensions-as-strike-bites-266909">France's byzantine pension system</a> that he said would be fairer and encourage people to work longer.

France would replace a convoluted system of more than 42 separate state-funded plans with a universal, points-based system that will apply to those entering the job market for the first time in 2022, Philippe said in a speech that followed days of protests and strikes.

He did though show some flexibility to unions over the timing of the implementation of the plan, saying anyone within 17 years of retirement would be exempt.

"The time has come to build a universal pension system," Philippe said in a much-anticipated speech. "There is no hidden agenda. "We want to protect the purchasing power of the workers and pensioners of today and tomorrow."

The legal retirement age would remain at 62, the prime minister said, but workers would be incentivised to work longer through a system of bonuses and discounts.

There would be a minimum pension of 1,000 euros&nbsp;per month for those who worked a full career.

Reform of France's pension system, which offers some of the most generous benefits in the industrialised world, has proven a treacherous task for past and present governments.

A strike by public sector workers over the past week has crippled France's transport network, closed schools and forced the cancellation of some flights.

The strongest opposition to the planned reform has come from workers with 'special benefit' plans, including rail employees, dockers and Paris Opera singers who are entitled to retire on a full pension years before the average retirement age of 62.

Philippe said a universal, points-based system would be fairer, giving every pensioner the same rights for each euro contributed, and enable workers to move more freely from one job to another in the modern-day labour market.

"We know our children won't have the same linear careers we had and we need a pension system that allows that. We need to have faith in a system that is not deemed to favour one person over another."

Philippe said that under the new system, every hour worked will earn pension rights, which will benefit gig economy workers such as bicycle courriers and office cleaners, who often do not earn enough to lock in pension rights under the current system.

With the strike over the reform in its second week, there were signs of mounting irritation among morning commuters as they grappled with a skeleton train and metro service in the capital, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/paris-opera-ballet-dancers-hang-up-shoes-in-pension-reform-protest-267326">Paris</a>.

"I've had it today," said one frustrated traveler as he battled his way through a crowded platform.

Before the prime minister's speech, hard-left unions showed no sign of backing down in a battle of political will that could make or break Macron's presidency. The CGT union has called for further protests on December&nbsp;12 and December&nbsp;17.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe defied striking workers on Wednesday with plans for a long-anticipated overhaul of France's byzantine pension system that he said would be fairer and encourage people to work longer.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe defied striking workers on Wednesday with plans for a long-anticipated overhaul of France's byzantine pension system that he said would be fairer and encourage people to work longer. France would replace a convoluted system of more than 42 separate state-funded plans with a universal, points-based system that will apply to those entering the job market for the first time in 2022, Philippe said in a speech that followed days of protests and strikes. He did though show some flexibility to unions over the timing of the implementation of the plan, saying anyone within 17 years of retirement would be exempt. "The time has come to build a universal pension system," Philippe said in a much-anticipated speech. "There is no hidden agenda. "We want to protect the purchasing power of the workers and pensioners of today and tomorrow." The legal retirement age would remain at 62, the prime minister said, but workers would be incentivised to work longer through a system of bonuses and discounts. There would be a minimum pension of 1,000 euros per month for those who worked a full career. Reform of France's pension system, which offers some of the most generous benefits in the industrialised world, has proven a treacherous task for past and present governments. A strike by public sector workers over the past week has crippled France's transport network, closed schools and forced the cancellation of some flights. The strongest opposition to the planned reform has come from workers with 'special benefit' plans, including rail employees, dockers and Paris Opera singers who are entitled to retire on a full pension years before the average retirement age of 62. Philippe said a universal, points-based system would be fairer, giving every pensioner the same rights for each euro contributed, and enable workers to move more freely from one job to another in the modern-day labour market. "We know our children won't have the same linear careers we had and we need a pension system that allows that. We need to have faith in a system that is not deemed to favour one person over another." Philippe said that under the new system, every hour worked will earn pension rights, which will benefit gig economy workers such as bicycle courriers and office cleaners, who often do not earn enough to lock in pension rights under the current system. With the strike over the reform in its second week, there were signs of mounting irritation among morning commuters as they grappled with a skeleton train and metro service in the capital, Paris. "I've had it today," said one frustrated traveler as he battled his way through a crowded platform. Before the prime minister's speech, hard-left unions showed no sign of backing down in a battle of political will that could make or break Macron's presidency. The CGT union has called for further protests on December 12 and December 17.

France's prime minister defies unions with pension overhaul

When tens of thousands of French workers downed tools and took to the streets in protest against pension reform last Thursday, in their midst was a seemingly unlikely group of aggrieved picketers: ballet dancers from the Paris Opera.

More accustomed to gliding across stages to orchestral melodies than pounding the pavement to the rhythm of angry chants, the dancers doffed their pointe shoes to defend a special retirement regime they have enjoyed since 1689 under the reign of the Opera's founder, the Sun King Louis XIV. 
 
Though by no means their first strike, "in 20 years with this company, this is the first time that I saw dancers in the streets," said Alexandre Carniato, a dancer and troupe representative on pension matters. 
 
Of 154 dancers employed at the prestigious opera house, "we were 120 who demonstrated, from the corps de ballet to the principals," he told AFP. 
 
The arts have been a major casualty of the strike, which caused the cancellation of several top ballet, opera, and theatre shows in Paris, disappointing tourists and locals who need to book long in advance for the pricey seats. 
 
The Opera said 11 shows have been cancelled at both its historic Garnier stage and the modern Bastille venue since the strike started last Thursday, representing a loss of 1.8 million euros ($2 million) in ticket revenues. 
 
The performances cancelled have included the great classical ballet "Raymonda", the modern ballet "Le Parc" and a hugely ambitious new production of Borodin's opera "Prince Igor". 
 
And it is far from the only French cultural institution to take a hit. The Comedie-Francaise, France's most prestigious theatre -- which also has a special pension regime -- cancelled performances as some of its staff went on strike. 
 
Hired at 16&nbsp; 
 
Carniato has just a year left before the obligatory retirement age of 42 for Paris Opera dancers brings the curtain down on his career. 
The limit was set by taking into account the physical arduousness of the job, the high injury risk, and the assumption that most dancers cannot not continue performing at their best beyond a certain age. 
 
"The Paris Opera Ballet is the only employer in France to train its future employees from the age of eight," tweeted dancer Adrien Couvez, adding the rate of work accidents in the sector "are among the highest in France." 
 
From the moment a dancer "is hired by the Opera at 16, we have work days that last from 9:00 am to 11.30 pm... The older one gets, the more one worries about not being able to keep it up," said Carniato. &nbsp; 
 
"At 40, some already have titanium (replacement) hips."

Carniato said he would earn a pension of 1,067 euros ($1,180) per month from next year, which would augment what he expects to be a salary of about 1,200 if he manages to find work as a school teacher. 
 
"The biggest concern is finding a new job at the age of 42," he said. 
 
These, the dancers say, are among the reasons for the special pension provision they now fear will be taken away. 
 
But they are defending a regime that is envied by counterparts dancing for highly regarded ballet companies in cities like Bordeaux or Toulouse. 
 
"The dancers of the Paris Opera are the only ones in France with this advantageous retirement age of 42 years," tweeted Marc Ribaud, ballet director at the Opera of Nice in southern France. 
 
"All the other dancers have mainly part-time jobs with nothing at the end of it!" 
 
Musicians on strike too 
 
The government's reform plan seeks to unify 42 separate pension schemes into a single points-based system for all workers, which it says will be fairer, with fewer exceptions for certain sectors -- including rail workers who retire earlier than most. 
 
The French state covers half of the Paris Opera's pension fund, about 14 million euros per year. 
 
On top of its dancers, several other Opera workers are also on strike, including musicians and machine operators. 
 
French Culture Minister Franck Riester confirmed to BFMTV that the Paris Opera's special regime would disappear.&nbsp;"But does this mean that we will not take into account the realities of... certain jobs? Of course not," he said, without giving details.

When tens of thousands of French workers downed tools and took to the streets in protest against pension reform last Thursday, in their midst was a seemingly unlikely group of aggrieved picketers: ballet dancers from the Paris Opera.

When tens of thousands of French workers downed tools and took to the streets in protest against pension reform last Thursday, in their midst was a seemingly unlikely group of aggrieved picketers: ballet dancers from the Paris Opera. More accustomed to gliding across stages to orchestral melodies than pounding the pavement to the rhythm of angry chants, the dancers doffed their pointe shoes to defend a special retirement regime they have enjoyed since 1689 under the reign of the Opera's founder, the Sun King Louis XIV. Though by no means their first strike, "in 20 years with this company, this is the first time that I saw dancers in the streets," said Alexandre Carniato, a dancer and troupe representative on pension matters. Of 154 dancers employed at the prestigious opera house, "we were 120 who demonstrated, from the corps de ballet to the principals," he told AFP. The arts have been a major casualty of the strike, which caused the cancellation of several top ballet, opera, and theatre shows in Paris, disappointing tourists and locals who need to book long in advance for the pricey seats. The Opera said 11 shows have been cancelled at both its historic Garnier stage and the modern Bastille venue since the strike started last Thursday, representing a loss of 1.8 million euros ($2 million) in ticket revenues. The performances cancelled have included the great classical ballet "Raymonda", the modern ballet "Le Parc" and a hugely ambitious new production of Borodin's opera "Prince Igor". And it is far from the only French cultural institution to take a hit. The Comedie-Francaise, France's most prestigious theatre -- which also has a special pension regime -- cancelled performances as some of its staff went on strike. Hired at 16 Carniato has just a year left before the obligatory retirement age of 42 for Paris Opera dancers brings the curtain down on his career. The limit was set by taking into account the physical arduousness of the job, the high injury risk, and the assumption that most dancers cannot not continue performing at their best beyond a certain age. "The Paris Opera Ballet is the only employer in France to train its future employees from the age of eight," tweeted dancer Adrien Couvez, adding the rate of work accidents in the sector "are among the highest in France." From the moment a dancer "is hired by the Opera at 16, we have work days that last from 9:00 am to 11.30 pm... The older one gets, the more one worries about not being able to keep it up," said Carniato. "At 40, some already have titanium (replacement) hips." Carniato said he would earn a pension of 1,067 euros ($1,180) per month from next year, which would augment what he expects to be a salary of about 1,200 if he manages to find work as a school teacher. "The biggest concern is finding a new job at the age of 42," he said. These, the dancers say, are among the reasons for the special pension provision they now fear will be taken away. But they are defending a regime that is envied by counterparts dancing for highly regarded ballet companies in cities like Bordeaux or Toulouse. "The dancers of the Paris Opera are the only ones in France with this advantageous retirement age of 42 years," tweeted Marc Ribaud, ballet director at the Opera of Nice in southern France. "All the other dancers have mainly part-time jobs with nothing at the end of it!" Musicians on strike too The government's reform plan seeks to unify 42 separate pension schemes into a single points-based system for all workers, which it says will be fairer, with fewer exceptions for certain sectors -- including rail workers who retire earlier than most. The French state covers half of the Paris Opera's pension fund, about 14 million euros per year. On top of its dancers, several other Opera workers are also on strike, including musicians and machine operators. French Culture Minister Franck Riester confirmed to BFMTV that the Paris Opera's special regime would disappear. "But does this mean that we will not take into account the realities of... certain jobs? Of course not," he said, without giving details.

Paris Opera ballet dancers hang up shoes in pension-reform protest

Anais raped by an Uber driver in 2016 in Paris. More than 200 women reported being assaulted by the drive.

Paris: Uber can't fix safety issues

Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Monday met Ukranian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time ever at a Paris <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-praises-europe-defence-spending-boost-as-summit-looms-265274">summit</a> aimed at agreeing to measures to help end five years of conflict in the east of Ukraine.

No comprehensive peace deal is expected from the meeting,&nbsp;mediated by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel,&nbsp;but diplomats hope the summit will help to bolster trust between the two men.

The four-way talks at the Elysee Palace are expected to be followed by a hotly-awaited bilateral between wily ex-KGB agent Putin,&nbsp;in power for two decades,&nbsp;and ex-comedian Zelensky who won the presidency this year. &nbsp;

Thousands have been killed and one million have fled their homes since pro-Russia militias in eastern Ukraine launched a bid for independence in 2014, kicking off a conflict that deepened Russia's estrangement from the West.

Separatists seized control of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions shortly after Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.&nbsp;

The issue of Crimea, whose seizure gave Putin a popularity boost at home but led to international sanctions being imposed against Moscow, is not on the table at this summit.

The meeting's aims include agreeing to disband illegal militias, the departure of foreign fighters from Donetsk and Lugansk, and Ukraine taking back control of its border with Russia, according to a French presidential source.

Also key is agreeing to a calendar for local municipal elections to be held in Donetsk and Lugansk under Ukrainian law, with the two regions enjoying special status,&nbsp;an idea known as the Steinmeier Formula.

"If the summit meeting is to be meaningful, it should have a result, and the result should very much be on the Steinmeier Formula," said Gerhard Mangott, professor of international relations at Austria's Innsbruck University.

'Festering wound'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/ukraine-seeks-to-require-uk-court-hearings-if-russia-tries-to-enforce-debt-267127">Ukrainian</a> Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko ahead of the meeting reaffirmed his country's key demands of a "total and permanent ceasefire, our control over the borders of a unitary and indivisible state, the disarmament and dismantling of illegal armed groups, local elections in accordance with our legislation." &nbsp;

The Kremlin has sent signals that it is ready to work with Zelensky, whom Putin has described as "likeable" and "sincere".&nbsp;

But the Russian leader also will not want to return empty-handed and will be pushing for an easing of sanctions.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told the Funke newspaper group that "we have to do everything we can... to make progress in the Ukrainian peace process", and described the conflict as "a festering wound in Europe".

Maas praised Zelensky for bringing "new momentum" to the talks, adding that "to make progress with the next difficult steps, Russia needs to make a move too".

"There remains the problem of trust between the parties," said the French presidential source, who asked not to be identified by name. "This needs to be created before we can move forward."&nbsp;

Watch: Zelensky and Putin to come face-to-face

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraine-russia-summit-zelensky-and-putin-to-come-face-to-face-267077/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

'Wound of war'

Monday's summit is the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-russia-leaders-set-to-meet-for-paris-talks-with-bleak-prospects-of-peace-266434">first of its kind in three years</a> and seeks to implement accords signed in Minsk in 2015 that call for the withdrawal of heavy weapons, the restoration of Kiev's control over its borders, wider autonomy for Donetsk and Lugansk, and the holding of local elections.

The summit is a hugely delicate event for everyone involved, but particularly for Zelensky, who is under pressure not to cede ground to the Kremlin.

About 200 demonstrators spent the night in tents outside the Ukrainian president's office, seeking to put pressure on Zelensky not to "capitulate" to his Russian counterpart.

The Ukrainian leader,&nbsp;who came to power after starring in a comedy show about a school teacher who suddenly becomes president, took a realistic tone ahead of the talks.

"I want to come back with concrete results, but we understand that we cannot have everything. The meeting is already a victory. Since 2016, there has been no dialogue."

For Macron, the summit is a centrepiece of an increasingly bold foreign policy he is driving despite troubles at home, where transport workers have been on strike for days in a dispute over pension reforms.

Macron, who shocked NATO allies last month by declaring the alliance brain dead, has made clear his belief that Europe needs a strategic partnership with Russia.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Monday met Ukranian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time ever at a Paris summit aimed at agreeing to measures to help end five years of conflict in the east of Ukraine.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Monday met Ukranian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time ever at a Paris summit aimed at agreeing to measures to help end five years of conflict in the east of Ukraine. No comprehensive peace deal is expected from the meeting, mediated by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but diplomats hope the summit will help to bolster trust between the two men. The four-way talks at the Elysee Palace are expected to be followed by a hotly-awaited bilateral between wily ex-KGB agent Putin, in power for two decades, and ex-comedian Zelensky who won the presidency this year. Thousands have been killed and one million have fled their homes since pro-Russia militias in eastern Ukraine launched a bid for independence in 2014, kicking off a conflict that deepened Russia's estrangement from the West. Separatists seized control of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions shortly after Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. The issue of Crimea, whose seizure gave Putin a popularity boost at home but led to international sanctions being imposed against Moscow, is not on the table at this summit. The meeting's aims include agreeing to disband illegal militias, the departure of foreign fighters from Donetsk and Lugansk, and Ukraine taking back control of its border with Russia, according to a French presidential source. Also key is agreeing to a calendar for local municipal elections to be held in Donetsk and Lugansk under Ukrainian law, with the two regions enjoying special status, an idea known as the Steinmeier Formula. "If the summit meeting is to be meaningful, it should have a result, and the result should very much be on the Steinmeier Formula," said Gerhard Mangott, professor of international relations at Austria's Innsbruck University. 'Festering wound' Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko ahead of the meeting reaffirmed his country's key demands of a "total and permanent ceasefire, our control over the borders of a unitary and indivisible state, the disarmament and dismantling of illegal armed groups, local elections in accordance with our legislation." The Kremlin has sent signals that it is ready to work with Zelensky, whom Putin has described as "likeable" and "sincere". But the Russian leader also will not want to return empty-handed and will be pushing for an easing of sanctions. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told the Funke newspaper group that "we have to do everything we can... to make progress in the Ukrainian peace process", and described the conflict as "a festering wound in Europe". Maas praised Zelensky for bringing "new momentum" to the talks, adding that "to make progress with the next difficult steps, Russia needs to make a move too". "There remains the problem of trust between the parties," said the French presidential source, who asked not to be identified by name. "This needs to be created before we can move forward." Watch: Zelensky and Putin to come face-to-face 'Wound of war' Monday's summit is the first of its kind in three years and seeks to implement accords signed in Minsk in 2015 that call for the withdrawal of heavy weapons, the restoration of Kiev's control over its borders, wider autonomy for Donetsk and Lugansk, and the holding of local elections. The summit is a hugely delicate event for everyone involved, but particularly for Zelensky, who is under pressure not to cede ground to the Kremlin. About 200 demonstrators spent the night in tents outside the Ukrainian president's office, seeking to put pressure on Zelensky not to "capitulate" to his Russian counterpart. The Ukrainian leader, who came to power after starring in a comedy show about a school teacher who suddenly becomes president, took a realistic tone ahead of the talks. "I want to come back with concrete results, but we understand that we cannot have everything. The meeting is already a victory. Since 2016, there has been no dialogue." For Macron, the summit is a centrepiece of an increasingly bold foreign policy he is driving despite troubles at home, where transport workers have been on strike for days in a dispute over pension reforms. Macron, who shocked NATO allies last month by declaring the alliance brain dead, has made clear his belief that Europe needs a strategic partnership with Russia.

Putin, Zelensky meet at Paris Summit amid push to end Ukraine war

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/turkey-and-china-tie-themselves-in-knots-over-syria-and-xinjiang-257735">Turkey</a> has sent 11 French relatives of suspected "terrorist fighters" back home, the Turkish interior ministry said Monday, the latest in the country's renewed push to deport foreign jihadist insurgents.

"Eleven French citizens have been deported to their home country," it said in a statement.&nbsp;

A judicial source in France confirmed that four women and their seven children had arrived in France early on Monday.

Under a 2014 accord between France and Turkey, Paris agreed to take back jihadists trying to return home from Syria via Turkey and incarcerate them at home.

Two of the women returned Monday were already targeted by arrest warrants and will soon face a judge, while the other two were sought by police and have been placed in custody, the French source said.

Another source close to the case said the women had escaped from a camp controlled by Kurdish forces in Syria before being captured by Turkish police.

Ankara has sharply criticised Western countries for refusing to take back citizens who left home to join the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/west-asia/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-sri-lanka-bombings-212899">Islamic State group</a> (IS) in Syria and Iraq.

It says it has around 1,200 foreign IS members in custody.&nbsp;

The bulk of the foreign jihadists are being held in Syria itself, with thousands languishing in prisons and camps across the country's northeast.

Turkey's interior ministry said last week that 59 "foreign terrorists" have been deported to their home countries since November 11, when it began a new push to expel them.&nbsp;

Of them, 26 were sent back to the United States and Europe.

"Turkey is no one's open-air prison or hotel," said ministry spokesman Ismail Catakli, adding that&nbsp;Turkish authorities would deport all of the suspects.

Turkey has sent 11 French relatives of suspected "terrorist fighters" back home, the Turkish interior ministry said Monday, the latest in the country's renewed push to deport foreign jihadist insurgents.

Turkey has sent 11 French relatives of suspected "terrorist fighters" back home, the Turkish interior ministry said Monday, the latest in the country's renewed push to deport foreign jihadist insurgents. "Eleven French citizens have been deported to their home country," it said in a statement. A judicial source in France confirmed that four women and their seven children had arrived in France early on Monday. Under a 2014 accord between France and Turkey, Paris agreed to take back jihadists trying to return home from Syria via Turkey and incarcerate them at home. Two of the women returned Monday were already targeted by arrest warrants and will soon face a judge, while the other two were sought by police and have been placed in custody, the French source said. Another source close to the case said the women had escaped from a camp controlled by Kurdish forces in Syria before being captured by Turkish police. Ankara has sharply criticised Western countries for refusing to take back citizens who left home to join the Islamic State group (IS) in Syria and Iraq. It says it has around 1,200 foreign IS members in custody. The bulk of the foreign jihadists are being held in Syria itself, with thousands languishing in prisons and camps across the country's northeast. Turkey's interior ministry said last week that 59 "foreign terrorists" have been deported to their home countries since November 11, when it began a new push to expel them. Of them, 26 were sent back to the United States and Europe. "Turkey is no one's open-air prison or hotel," said ministry spokesman Ismail Catakli, adding that Turkish authorities would deport all of the suspects.

Turkey deports 11 French relatives of 'terrorist' suspects

Protests in France enter day 2, Protesters and Police clash across Paris

Protests in France enter day 2

French police on Thursday (December 5) deployed tear gas and used pepper spray on protesters and black blocs as a pensions reform protest in Paris turned rowdy.

Fires, tear gas and clashes in Paris protests against pension reforms

Fineprint: Workers to gather on streets of Paris

Thousands march on streets against pension reforms.

WION Dispatch: Workers to gather in streets of Paris

Ukrainian and Russian leaders will try to seal a ceasefire in eastern <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-lawyer-giuliani-back-in-ukraine-as-impeachment-probe-escalates-266286">Ukraine</a> and agree on prisoner swaps when they meet next week, but with Kiev politically constrained and Moscow unlikely to bend, the prospects for peace remain bleak, diplomats said.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-encyclopaedia-to-replace-wikipedia-in-putins-expensive-attempt-to-curb-fake-news-266106">Vladimir Putin</a> hold their first face-to-face talks on December&nbsp;9 in Paris with the French and German leaders more than three years since the countries' heads of state last met. It comes after a slight easing of tensions.

Over 13,000 people have been killed in the more than five-year-old conflict in east Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces. There has been little sign of a peaceful solution despite a ceasefire agreement signed in February 2015 in Minsk.

Zelenskiy won a landslide election victory in April promising to end the simmering conflict, but facing pressure from his opposition, he is wary of conceding too much to Moscow.

"If we start discussing the real political, military and security issues, namely, withdrawal of some troops on the line of contact, the question of local elections and the status of Donbass region, you see that the two leaders don't have a lot of room for manoeuvre," said a senior French diplomat.

Relations between Ukraine and Russia collapsed following Moscow's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014, which prompted Western sanctions.

Key to the accords are elections in Donbass, but both sides accuse each other of failing to stick to the deal, which also includes restoring Kiev’s control over the whole border with Russia and the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the conflict zone.

"Our main expectation for #NormandySummit and any other formats is what I call #RUxit - we want Russiа and Russian forces to leave Ukraine," Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said on Twitter on Tuesday.

Vladimir Frolov, a former senior Russian diplomat, said he saw little chance of a major breakthrough in Paris describing the positions as irreconcilable.

"Zelenskiy is going to hit two walls, one in Paris and one afterwards - the wall of Russian intransigence and the wall of Ukrainian public unwillingness to endorse humiliating compromises with Russia," Frolov said.

"Moscow does not care about sanctions relief, it cares about meeting its strategic objectives in Ukraine ... and a confederate Ukrainian state that Kiev does not fully control," he said.

Calling it a test barometer to see where both sides stood, another French diplomat said progress on a ceasefire and prisoner swaps would be a good basis to move forward.

The summit also comes within the wider context of Europe's relations with Russia. French President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/unions-protest-in-paris-against-macrons-pension-reform-266405">Emmanuel Macron</a> has sought a reset with Moscow, something that has unnerved eastern European Union partners.

"It can't just be about Ukraine. It has to be about the Russia-West-US&nbsp;conflict otherwise the Russians don't have the incentives to resolve things because Ukraine is too valuable a chip," said a former senior US&nbsp;official.

Ukrainian and Russian leaders will try to seal a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and agree on prisoner swaps when they meet next week, but with Kiev politically constrained and Moscow unlikely to bend, the prospects for peace remain bleak, diplomats said.

Ukrainian and Russian leaders will try to seal a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and agree on prisoner swaps when they meet next week, but with Kiev politically constrained and Moscow unlikely to bend, the prospects for peace remain bleak, diplomats said. Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Vladimir Putin hold their first face-to-face talks on December 9 in Paris with the French and German leaders more than three years since the countries' heads of state last met. It comes after a slight easing of tensions. Over 13,000 people have been killed in the more than five-year-old conflict in east Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces. There has been little sign of a peaceful solution despite a ceasefire agreement signed in February 2015 in Minsk. Zelenskiy won a landslide election victory in April promising to end the simmering conflict, but facing pressure from his opposition, he is wary of conceding too much to Moscow. "If we start discussing the real political, military and security issues, namely, withdrawal of some troops on the line of contact, the question of local elections and the status of Donbass region, you see that the two leaders don't have a lot of room for manoeuvre," said a senior French diplomat. Relations between Ukraine and Russia collapsed following Moscow's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014, which prompted Western sanctions. Key to the accords are elections in Donbass, but both sides accuse each other of failing to stick to the deal, which also includes restoring Kiev’s control over the whole border with Russia and the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the conflict zone. "Our main expectation for #NormandySummit and any other formats is what I call #RUxit - we want Russiа and Russian forces to leave Ukraine," Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said on Twitter on Tuesday. Vladimir Frolov, a former senior Russian diplomat, said he saw little chance of a major breakthrough in Paris describing the positions as irreconcilable. "Zelenskiy is going to hit two walls, one in Paris and one afterwards - the wall of Russian intransigence and the wall of Ukrainian public unwillingness to endorse humiliating compromises with Russia," Frolov said. "Moscow does not care about sanctions relief, it cares about meeting its strategic objectives in Ukraine ... and a confederate Ukrainian state that Kiev does not fully control," he said. Calling it a test barometer to see where both sides stood, another French diplomat said progress on a ceasefire and prisoner swaps would be a good basis to move forward. The summit also comes within the wider context of Europe's relations with Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron has sought a reset with Moscow, something that has unnerved eastern European Union partners. "It can't just be about Ukraine. It has to be about the Russia-West-US conflict otherwise the Russians don't have the incentives to resolve things because Ukraine is too valuable a chip," said a former senior US official.

Ukraine, Russia leaders set to meet for Paris talks with bleak prospects of peace

Unions protest in Paris against Macron's pension reform

Lionel Messi receives his sixth Ballon d'Or, Megan Rapinoe bags women's award

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/paris-police-fire-tear-gas-on-yellow-vest-protests-anniversary-262597">Paris</a> public transport operator warned Thursday of "severely disrupted traffic" on metro and bus lines during a strike on December 5 against the government's pension reforms.

Officials are bracing for major protests that could snarl rail and metro traffic across the country, raising the spectre of a second French winter of discontent a year after the start of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/yellow-vest-protesters-back-on-streets-of-paris-262729">"yellow vest"</a> protest movement.

Unions have called a new indefinite strike against an overhaul of the pensions system that they say will require people to work longer or accept a lower pension.

The national rail operator SNCF has taken the unusual step of halting all ticket sales for December 5-8 on expectations of sweeping train cancellations.

RATP, which operates the Paris metro, said it would team up with companies offering travel alternatives for commuters, such as carpooling groups and ride-hailing firms.

It will also provide "complementary mobility services" such as bicycles and the electric scooters which have inundated the French capital since last year.

Many schools in Paris have warned parents that classes might be cancelled next Thursday and Friday, and firms already expect many employees will be unable to make it in to work.

In September, the city already got a foretaste of the possible disruption in store when a one-day strike shut down most of the 16 lines on the metro.

Alongside the rail and metro workers, unions at Air France and the electricity group EDF have also announced plans to strike, as have lawyers who say the pension reforms will drain the financial reserves of their own separate pension scheme.

The government has vowed to do away with dozens of advantageous pension schemes enjoyed by workers in state transport and utility companies, as well as sailors, solicitors and Paris Opera workers.

Metro workers say the reforms would remove their long-held rights to early retirement, secured decades ago to compensate for spending long hours underground.

A recent report from France's state auditor, the Cour des Comptes, found that the average retirement age for public transport workers in Paris in 2017 was 55.7, compared with 63 years for most French workers.

The strike poses a stiff challenge to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/poland-says-frances-macron-comments-on-nato-dangerous-261350">President Emmanuel Macron</a>'s reform agenda, feeding into a growing mood of discontent that has brought tens of thousands of hospital workers, students, firefighters, police, farmers and lawyers onto the streets in the past three months.

The Paris public transport operator warned Thursday of "severely disrupted traffic" on metro and bus lines during a strike on December 5 against the government's pension reforms.

The Paris public transport operator warned Thursday of "severely disrupted traffic" on metro and bus lines during a strike on December 5 against the government's pension reforms. Officials are bracing for major protests that could snarl rail and metro traffic across the country, raising the spectre of a second French winter of discontent a year after the start of the "yellow vest" protest movement. Unions have called a new indefinite strike against an overhaul of the pensions system that they say will require people to work longer or accept a lower pension. The national rail operator SNCF has taken the unusual step of halting all ticket sales for December 5-8 on expectations of sweeping train cancellations. RATP, which operates the Paris metro, said it would team up with companies offering travel alternatives for commuters, such as carpooling groups and ride-hailing firms. It will also provide "complementary mobility services" such as bicycles and the electric scooters which have inundated the French capital since last year. Many schools in Paris have warned parents that classes might be cancelled next Thursday and Friday, and firms already expect many employees will be unable to make it in to work. In September, the city already got a foretaste of the possible disruption in store when a one-day strike shut down most of the 16 lines on the metro. Alongside the rail and metro workers, unions at Air France and the electricity group EDF have also announced plans to strike, as have lawyers who say the pension reforms will drain the financial reserves of their own separate pension scheme. The government has vowed to do away with dozens of advantageous pension schemes enjoyed by workers in state transport and utility companies, as well as sailors, solicitors and Paris Opera workers. Metro workers say the reforms would remove their long-held rights to early retirement, secured decades ago to compensate for spending long hours underground. A recent report from France's state auditor, the Cour des Comptes, found that the average retirement age for public transport workers in Paris in 2017 was 55.7, compared with 63 years for most French workers. The strike poses a stiff challenge to President Emmanuel Macron's reform agenda, feeding into a growing mood of discontent that has brought tens of thousands of hospital workers, students, firefighters, police, farmers and lawyers onto the streets in the past three months.

Paris metro faces 'severe' disruptions from December 5 strike

paris

Paris, News on Paris, stories on Paris, articles on Paris, Paris stories at Wion, Paris news, Paris latest news