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☆ When Europe’s railroad dining cars were the height of luxury
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The most luxurious experience of them all, however, could be found in the dining car. The latter was the first train car to offer on-board meals, including regional specialties like gumbo, which were prepared in a 3-foot-by-6 foot kitchen. By the 1870s, dining cars could be found on sleeper trains across North America. But this decentralized production model also contained the seed of dining car’s ultimate demise. And despite a revival of interest in train travel on the continent, dining cars (or certainly those equipped with kitchens) are now largely the preserve of tourist services.

Persons: —, impeccably, Henri Opper de Blowitz, Francois Guillot, Graham Greene, Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens, George Pullman, ”, Pullman, Georges Nagelmackers, Arthur Mettetal, “, René Prou, glassmaker, ” —, Mettetal, ” Mettetal Organizations: CNN, Orient Express, Gare de, Getty, New, Compagnie Internationale des, Orient, Nord, Express, “, Pullman, Deco, Italy —, Bettmann, SNCF, Documentation Department Locations: Gare, Gare de l’Est, Paris, Europe, Constantinople, Istanbul, AFP, Britain, America, New York, North America, Belgian, Saint Petersburg, Lisbon, France, North Africa, East, London, Vichy, Switzerland, Italy, Toulouse

☆ French telecoms network hit by vandalism within days of arson attacks against national railways
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Normal train service had resumed on the French rail network by Monday — when authorities reported damage to telecoms infrastructure, which caused local power outages and raised the specter of further national disruption. Secretary of State for Digital Affairs Marina Ferrari that France's telecoms network was experiencing isolated outages due to damage carried out overnight in several regions. It was not immediately clear whether vandalism to the telecoms network was connected to the damage and arson carried out on the rail network last week. Disclosure: CNBC parent NBCUniversal owns NBC Sports and NBC Olympics. NBC Olympics is the U.S. broadcast rights holder to all Summer and Winter Games through 2032.

Persons: —, State for Digital Affairs Marina, Ferrari, Dmitry Peskov, Gerald Darmanin, Darmanin Organizations: Paris, Olympics, State for Digital Affairs, CNBC, NBCUniversal, NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, NBC, Games Locations: Vandieres, France, Paris, Russia, U.S

CNN —France is still facing travel disruption a day after saboteurs targeted high-speed railway lines in an attack coinciding with the start of the Olympics. They recovered an “amount of evidence” following the operation, Darmanin told CNN affiliate France 2. Authorities should not rule out industrial espionage, Persson told CNN on Friday, saying that a railway staffer, or someone who built the tracks including construction workers, could also be to blame. Railway staff and police work to repair one of several sites where vandals targeted France's high-speed train network, in the northern villege of Croisilles, on Friday. CNN has previously reported on a host of suspected Russian attacks across Europe.

Persons: Gabriel Attal, Gerald Darmanin, Darmanin, Axel Persson, Persson, ”, Jean, Pierre Farandou, “ don’t, Brian Snyder, Emmanuel Macron, Dmitry Peskov, Dale Buckner Organizations: CNN —, French, CNN, France, Olympic, CGT, Employees, SNCF, Environmental, Railway, Police, Kremlin, Games, Global Guardian, CNN France Locations: CNN — France, French, France, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Paris, Europe

☆ France's high-speed rail network hit by arson attacks, canceling trains ahead of Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

French train services were canceled and delayed on Friday, after the nation's high-speed rail network faced a series of "malicious" acts overnight, including arson, just ahead of the opening of the Olympic Games in Paris. Railways operator SNCF said in a statement that its network had experienced several concurrent attacks on Thursday night, with fire damaging its facilities. The high-speed LGV Atlantique line was hit, along with northern and eastern lines, causing knock-on disruption that the operator expected will impact hundreds of thousands of people. "Following this massive attack aiming to paralyze the high-speed line network, a large number of trains were diverted or canceled," SNCF said, according to a CNBC translation, advising those who are able to not to travel to the station. The impact also hit international Eurostar services, which connect the U.K., France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

Organizations: Paris, Olympic Games, SNCF, Atlantique, CNBC, Eurostar, Lille Locations: Gare Montparnasse, Paris, Paris . Railways, Paris's, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany

Paris CNN —France’s high-speed train lines were targeted by multiple “malicious” acts including arson on Friday, in what has been described as “coordinated sabotage” to disrupt travel ahead of the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics. SNCF said one of the acts was “foiled.”Travel on these lines is “very disrupted,” with the railway network needing to divert and cancel a large number of trains, SNCF said. Passengers gather around the departure boards at the Gare Montparnasse train station in Paris. Eurostar, the high-speed train service that connects the United Kingdom with France, has been forced to cancel and divert trains due to the “coordinated acts of malice,” on French lines. Meanwhile, the Paris 2024 Olympic Committee canceled its pre-opening ceremony press conference amid the incident, and CNN has also asked Paris 2024 for comment.

Persons: ”, “, Thibaud Moritz, Loire, Amélie, Castera, Patrice Vergriete, Valerie Pecresse, ” Vergriete, Laurent Nunez, Nicolas Nordman, Darmanin Organizations: Paris CNN —, Paris, SNCF, Passengers, CNN, Getty, Eurostar, Lille, International Olympic, French, of Sports, Olympic, Paralympic Games, Games, France, Security, Paris Mayor Locations: France’s, Northern, Paris, du Nord, Gare Montparnasse, AFP, Courtalain, France, United Kingdom

☆ French rail network hit by 'acts of sabotage' in latest transport woes for Paris during the Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewFrance's rail network has been hit by a series of "malicious acts" that have damaged transport routes leading to the capital, causing cancellations and disruption just hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. AdvertisementThough several Olympic events are being held outside Paris, Attal highlighted the impact on French families leaving for vacation this weekend rather than on the Olympics. Michel Euler/ APThe attacks also add more pressure to concerns over whether Paris' transport infrastructure can manage the Olympic crowds. Officials promised to reinvigorate the transport system after Paris won the Olympic bid. But, in November 2023, the mayor of Paris said there were parts of the city where "transport will not be ready and there will not be enough trains," according to French radio network RFI.

Persons: —, Gabriel Attal, Attal, Brian Snyder, Michel Euler, Jimmy Brun, France24 Organizations: Service, SNCF, Business, South, Lille, Railway, Reuters, Eurostar, Paris, RFI, Paris Metro, Paris's Metro, Bloomberg Locations: Atlantique, Northern, Paris, Bordeaux, France, Strasbourg, Germany, London, Seine, Paris's

☆ The most exciting new trains coming in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( Ben Jones | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

CNN —Around the world, travelers are flocking back to trains, and demand is increasing across the board for high-speed trains, luxury “land cruises” and long-distance day and night trains. Here are some of the best new trains you’ll be able to take in 2024. Laurie Dieffembacq/Belga/AFP/Getty ImagesLinks between two of Europe’s most visited capitals have traditionally been pretty poor, with no direct trains since the 1990s. Ian Clarke/Alamy Stock PhotoFour continents, 13 countries, and seven luxury trains across 80 days – the ultimate experience for rail travel connoisseurs is due to depart in late 2024. BelmondOne of the world’s greatest luxury train journeys is returning to the rails in 2024 after a four-year gap.

Persons: Laurie Dieffembacq, Dimorestudio, Vita ”, Riva Aquarama, itineraries, Jeroen Berends, Gabriel Bouys, it’s, Jesus Hellin, That’s, Trenitalia, Luigi Ferraris, France –, Railbookers, Ian Clarke, we’ve, ”, Frank Marini, Alex Halada, There’s Organizations: CNN, Orient, Getty, ÖBB, Austrian Federal Railways, SNCF, Eurostar, National, Europa Press, French, Renfe, FS, Rocky Mountaineer, Royal, Orient Express, Oriental, ”, Oriental Express, Austrian Railways, Swiss Locations: Swiss, Venice, Paris, Berlin, AFP, Strasbourg, Frankfurt, Italy, Rome, Matera, Palermo, Sicily, Messina, Europe’s, Istanbul, Split, Brussels, Prague, Europe, Dutch, Dresden, Belgian, Roman, Naples, Madrid, Spain, France, Spanish, Barcelona, Lyon, Marseille, Canada, Central Europe, India, South Africa, Eastern, Vancouver, Malaysia, Singapore, Malaysia’s, Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang, Bangkok, Vienna, Innsbruck, Hamburg, Switzerland, Germany, Zürich, Gornergrat Bahn, Zermatt, Gornergrat, Riffelalp

☆ France boosts air, rail security amid rise in bomb hoaxes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

French police stand guard in front of the Chateau de Versailles (Palace of Versailles) as tourists enter again after the Palace was evacuated for security reasons, in Versailles, near Paris, France, October 17, 2023. REUTERS/Clotaire Achi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - France, already on its highest security alert, is to boost security at airports around the capital and on trains after a wave of bomb hoaxes, the transport minister said on Sunday. Alongside the heightened risk, there were "people who are playing with fear", he said, referring to the wave of fake bomb alerts that have hit transport networks, schools and cultural centres over the last week. Since last Wednesday, there have been 70 bomb hoaxes in airports in France, he said, adding that almost all of these alerts were sent from the same Swiss-based email address. Beaune told France Inter that hoaxes are not "small jokes, they are serious crimes" and that they will be investigated.

Persons: Chateau, Clotaire, Clement Beaune, Layli Foroudi, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, ., SNCF, France Inter, Thomson Locations: Versailles, Paris, France, Arras, Europe, Beaune, Swiss

☆ France’s health minister says country not ‘invaded by bedbugs’ and urges calm
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Chris Liakos | Maya Szaniecki | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Paris CNN —France’s health minister has assured the French public that there’s “no reason for widespread panic” as Paris reports a “widespread” rise in bedbugs. “Bedbugs have been increasingly present in France for two or three years now, regularly peaking in the summer. French transport operators say they remain “vigilant” about bedbugs following reports of what were said to be sightings in public transport. In the videos, the bedbugs were said to be spotted on public transport and other public locations, such as cinemas. French health minister Aurelien Rousseau also dimissed the idea that the rise in bedbugs is related to imigration.

Persons: Aurelien Rousseau, haven’t, we’ve, ”, Marie Effroy, ” Effroy, Effroy, Clement Beaune, bedbugs, RATP, “, Paris Emmanuel Gregoire, Gregoire, ” Johanna Fite, ” Fite, “ It’s, ” Gregoire, “ Bedbugs Organizations: Paris CNN —, France Inter, bedbugs, National Institute for, CNN, ” Railway, SNCF, Eurostar –, Paris, French Inter, “, Olympic Locations: Paris, France, ”, bedbugs

☆ Protesters prepare last-ditch bid to stop French pension overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Protests have been going on for six months, it's unprecedented," Sophie Binet, the new leader of the hardline CGT union said on BFM TV. "There's a lot of anger but also fatigue," she said, adding that strikers were feeling the pinch on paychecks. Between 400,000 and 600,000 people are expected to turn out at protests across France, authorities said, which would be down from more than a million who took part in marches at the height of the pension protests earlier this year. But unions hope a big protest turnout could pressure lawmakers into reviewing the bill anyway and holding a vote. Opposition lawmakers, meanwhile, say the bill being rejected would revive public anger, branding any such move "antidemocratic".

Persons: Emmanuel Macron's, Sophie Binet, I'm, Jean, Claude Mailly, Macron, Michel Rose, Hugh Lawson Organizations: CGT, Inter, SNCF, Thomson Locations: Macron, France, Paris, Orly

☆ Strikes, Delays and Lost Luggage: How to Survive Air Travel This Summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Elaine Glusac | The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +27 min

Illustration by Yukai Du Strikes, Delays and Lost Luggage: How to Survive Air Travel This Summer With the travel season in full swing, we compiled a guide to help you navigate the year’s most hectic time in the skies. If you don’t care which beach, shop around.” If you haven’t booked summer flights, do it now. For one, avoiding the airports with the highest levels of delays and cancellations last summer may be a good idea. They’re also getting longer inside airport lounges, longtime havens from the masses clogging the terminals at peak times. Standard membership in Priority Pass, a network of 1,300 airport lounges, starts at $99 a year, with each visit costing $35 at that level.

Persons: Yukai Du, we’ve, haven’t, Hopper, What’s, ”, Laura Lindsay, Ted Rossman, Priceline, Mr, Rossman, Charlotte Douglas, Toronto Pearson, it’s, “, Carter Langston, Rhonda Lawson, C.B.P, you’ve, you’re, You’ll, Lawson, Emmanuel Macron, Tomasz Pawliszyn, Jamie Larounis, Larounis, they’re, SITA —, They’re, Eric Goldmann of Atlanta Organizations: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Google, Miami, JetBlue, Heathrow Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol, Gatwick, Air Canada, Labor, Newark Liberty International, La Guardia Airport, Kennedy Airport, Reagan, Miami International, Orlando International, Boston Logan International, Charlotte Douglas International, Toronto Pearson, Federal Aviation Administration, Washington , D.C, Customs, Western, Gulf, Phoenix, Transportation Security Administration, Global, Border Protection, Clear, PreCheck, Heathrow, Air, SNCF, U.S . State Department, Smart, Union, Travelers, New Tech, Airlines, Lufthansa, Siemens, Alaska Airlines, KLM, U.S . Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Apple, The Department of Transportation, American, Venture, Dallas Fort Worth International, JPMorgan Chase, Club, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Americas Locations: Europe, United States, Asia, San Francisco, Jacksonville, Fla, Miami, London, Amsterdam, U.S, La, New York, Washington, Charlotte, N.C, Newark, Orlando, Toronto, Sydney, Jakarta, Frankfurt, Munich, Heathrow, Washington ,, States, Denver, Seattle, Reno, Nev, Gulf Coast, Atlantic, Houston , New Orleans, Atlanta, Luton, T.S.A, ’, noncitizens, France, Britain, Italy, Germany, Berlin, Dutch, Swiss, Delta, United, Hong Kong, Dallas, Boston, North, Central, South America, Dallas , Newark

☆ Protesters storm Paris Euronext building in anger over pension law
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Noemie Olive | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Benoit TessierPARIS, April 20 (Reuters) - A group of protesters briefly invaded offices of stockmarket operator Euronext in Paris' La Defense business district on Thursday, saying big companies must pay up to finance pensions, as part of wider protests against a rise in the retirement age. Waving union flags, the group of a few hundred protesters occupied Euronext's lobby, engulfed in red smoke from flares, and chanted words popular with pension protesters: "We are here, we are here, even if Macron does not want it we are here." At the weekend, Macron signed into law the rise in the retirement age which means citizens must work two years longer, to 64, before receiving their state pension. "We'll continue until the (pension law's) withdrawal," protesters shouted in La Defense's central square, standing by a banner that read: "No to the pension reform". Macron himself faced protests on Thursday during his second public outing since signing the bill into law.

☆ French pension protesters flood LVMH headquarters in Paris
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Security members stand in front of the headquarters of luxury retailer Louis Vuitton after a protest action French SNCF workers, members of French CGT and Sud Rail labour unions in Paris as part of the 12th day of nationwide strikes and protests against French government's pension reform, in Paris, France, April 13, 2023. REUTERS/Bart BiesemansPARIS, April 13 (Reuters) - Scores of French workers protesting against pension reforms flooded into the Paris headquarters of luxury group LVMH (LVMH.PA) on Thursday, calling for the rich to contribute more to financing the state pension. France's labour unions have been staging strikes and marches since mid-January in protest against President Emmanuel Macron's plans to raise the legal retirement age. The government says it is necessary to raise the retirement age for most workers to balance the pension budget in years to come. Reporting by Bart Biesemans and Ingrid Melander, writing by Mimosa Spencer; editing by Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ France faces another day of nationwide protests against Macron's pension plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, March 11 (Reuters) - France faced a seventh day of demonstrations on Saturday against President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular pension reform plans amid ongoing rolling strikes which have affected refineries, public transport and garbage collections. Demonstrations started at 10 a.m (0900 GMT) in the streets of major cities including Toulouse and Nice. Opinion polls show a majority of voters oppose Macron's plan, while a slim majority supports the strike actions. An additional day of nationwide strikes and protests is planned for March 15. Reporting by Tangi Salaun, Forrest Crellin and Benoit Van Overstraeten; Editing by Mike HarrisonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Air France said about 20% of short-haul flights would be canceled, but long-haul services would be maintained. The reforms will gradually increase the age at which most French citizens can draw a state pension to 64, from 62. A record 1.3 million people took part in demonstrations on January 19, which brought the country to a standstill and shuttered the Eiffel Tower to visitors. The government has said the pension legislation is necessary to tackle a funding deficit, but the reforms have angered workers at a time when living costs are rising. The legislation is currently before French lawmakers, with a vote on the final version of the text expected later this month.

☆ Unions seek to bring France to a halt to block pension reform
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Ingrid Melander | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Suburban trains are seen at the Saint-Lazare train station in Paris on the eve of the sixth nationwide day of strike and protests against the pension reform in France with heavy disruption on French SNCF railway and the Paris transport RATP networks, France, March 6, 2023. "Together, on March 7th, let's put France to a halt! "People massively reject this reform," CFDT union leader Laurent Berger told France Inter radio. "The future of our pension system is at stake," Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told France 5 TV on Monday. "We are moving up a gear," the head of CGT union, Philippe Martinez, told weekly JDD.

☆ 'Let's bring France to a halt': Oil refineries blocked and trains halted by pension reform protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Christophe Archambault | Afp | Getty ImagesStrike action over plans to raise the pension age in France caused widespread disruption on Tuesday, as trains came to a near-standstill, many schools were shut and fuel deliveries were blocked from refineries. Lou Benoist | Afp | Getty ImagesEric Sellini, a representative from the CGT union at TotalEnergies, told Reuters that a strike blocking the Gonfreville refinery in Normandy would run until Thursday. Another at the Donges refinery in western France is set to run until Friday, he added. Sameer Al-doumy | Afp | Getty ImagesThe strikes come as French workers grapple with red-hot inflation, which accelerated unexpectedly in February to hit 6.2% year-on-year. Around two thirds of the public support protests against the pension reforms, according to an Elabe survey.

PARIS, March 5 (Reuters) - Industrial action in France over the government's planned pensions overhaul will cause heavy disruption to public transport again on Tuesday, the transport minister and several public transport authorities said on Sunday. Some unions, such as the hardline CGT, called for a rolling strike at refineries and at the national railway operator SNCF. "We are moving up a gear," the head of CGT, Philippe Martinez, told French weekly JDD. It is up to him to withdraw this reform," he said, referring to President Emmanuel Macron. RATP, the public transport operator for the Ile-de-France region around Paris, also said metro lines and suburban trains will be heavily disrupted, with some metro lines only running at peak hours.

The slogan reads "No to the Macron's pension reform". In what could prove a prolonged standoff, unions and their members are seeking to minimise the impact on personal finances already strained by the worst cost of living crisis in decades. French unions generally do not have permanent strike funds to help members cope, though some will set up occasional kitties financed by donations for a specific cause. While it is generally used to cover legal fees and compensate workers in local strikes, members are now clamouring for it to help cover lost pay during the pension strikes. However, even before the cost of living crisis, French unions have struggled to resist government reform plans in the decades since massive strikes in 1995 successfully forced a conservative government to drop a pension overhaul.

Paris/London CNN —French schools and transportation networks were heavily disrupted Tuesday for the second time this month, as unions staged another mass strike against government plans to raise the retirement age for most workers. Strikes that day brought the transportation network to a standstill and shuttered the Eiffel Tower to visitors. Air France (AFLYY) canceled 10% of short-haul flights but said strikes would not affect long-haul services. On Sunday, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne said raising the retirement age was “not negotiable,” during an interview on domestic television station France Info. Raising the retirement age to 64 will keep France below the norm in Europe and in many other developed economies, where the age at which full pension benefits vest is 65 and increasingly moving towards 67.

☆ France hit by nationwide strike as unions fight Macron’s plan to raise retirement age
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

French workers would have to work longer before receiving a pension under the new rules — with the nominal retirement age rising from 62 to 64. Many French workers expressed mixed feeling about the government’s plan and pointed to the complexity of the pension system. For those who do not fulfil that condition, like many women who interrupted their career to raise their children or those who studied for a long time and started working late, the retirement age would remain unchanged at 67. Those who started to work early, under the age of 20, and workers with major health issues would be allowed early retirement. Protracted strikes met Macron’s last effort to raise the retirement age in 2019.

☆ France contends with widespread strikes as unions take to streets against pension reform
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

French unions and demonstrators have taken to the streets on Thursday in widespread industrial action against the government's projected pension reforms. The pension reform is "just and responsible" and must be carried out, Macron said Thursday, according to Reuters. The organizations will convene Thursday evening to determine convening further industrial action. Rail operator SNCF warned train travel will be "severely disrupted" by industrial action between 7 p.m. local time on 18 Jan. and 8 a.m. on Friday. He reiterated his objections to the reform plan and stressed the syndicates' willingness to continue strikes beyond the first day of industrial action, "It is a first day, therefore, we will have others."

☆ Factbox: Unions vs Macron: French pension strikes snarl trains, close schools
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Jan 19 (Reuters) - French workers across the private and public sectors joined nationwide strikes on Thursday, snarling the rail network, closing schools and halting refinery deliveries. Here's where the impact is being felt:RAILWAYS, BUSES, METRONational train services and bus and metro operations in Paris were severely disrupted. The hard-left CGT's refinery federation has announced a further 48-hour strike next week and a 72-hour strike the week after. The Education Ministry said just 35% of high school teachers joined the industrial action, and 42% of primary school teachers. French law compels medics and other critical public services to guarantee a minimum level of cover.

Protests in major French cities, including Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Nantes and Nice, brought transport services to a standstill. Eight of the biggest unions had called for a “first day of strikes and protests” against pension reforms unveiled by President Emmanuel Macron’s government. Train lines across France were seeing “severe disruption,” according to French rail authority SNCF. Macron’s proposed pension reforms come as workers in France, as elsewhere, are being squeezed by rising food and energy bills. The French government has said that raising the retirement age is necessary to tackle a pension funding deficit.

[1/5] SNCF Express Regional (TER) trains are seen at the Saint-Lazare train station in Paris on the eve of a nationwide day of strike and protests in key sectors like energy, public transport, air travel and schools against the pension reform, France, January 18, 2023. The nationwide day of strikes and protests is a major test for President Emmanuel Macron, but also for the unions. Opinion polls show French voters overwhelmingly reject a reform that the government says is vital to ensure the pension system does not go bust. Government spokesman Oliver Veran said the cabinet was "calm, determined" ahead of the strike and urged workers not to paralyse the country. Meanwhile, Macron and several of his ministers will be in Barcelona on Thursday for a meeting with the Spanish government.

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