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French President Emmanuel Macron had proposed it during the election campaign this year and now 200 randomly chosen French citizens have come together to consider "priority issues" regarding the "end of life". Last Sunday as the World Cup fever gripped France news was published that beginning January 6th the "citizens convention" will look at 10 priority issues including "extreme forms of psychological suffering" which will constitute reasons to "end life". The convention's recommendations will go onto French lawmakers for consideration. Good news Friday for the government as railroad unions reached labor agreements... Today in Paris Yellow Vests on the streets......

The excitement in France running high and media attention focused on the World Cup of football (soccer). Sunday's championship match in Qatar between France and Argentina follows last Wednesday's semifinal match between France and Morocco that brought French President Emmanuel Macron to the stadium in Qatar. Controversy over Macron going to Qatar as the "scandal" broke late in the week regarding the EU and alleged bribery of EU officials to paint a positive picture of the Persian Gulf oil kingdom. There were disturbances in France after the "Blues" defeated Morocco... Today protesters on the streets of Paris...

For the eighth time Constitution Article 49.3 invoked by President Emmanuel Macron's Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Her move on Thursday was to force President Macron's budget through the National Assembly where a majority of members are now from opposition parties. It was also on Thursday that we learned that President Macron will push a rise in France's retirement age to 65 as part of his "pension reform" plan... The protest in Besancon near the Swiss border at a traffic circle with a message labeled on the video: "Until when will you accept the unacceptable"...

French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington this week meeting with Joe Biden. Ukraine mentioned at the joint news conference with both leaders speaking of the notion of talking with Russia about Ukraine but offering no intention to do so. Mr. Macron told TF 1 that he will hold a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future... Today President Macron wading into the subject of rotating power outages this winter. He says if the French can reduce all power consumption by 10 percent rotating outages will not be needed... In Paris Yellow Vests gathering on Saturday... And...

Prosecutors in France are conducting a "preliminary investigation" into consultancy firms and their role in the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections. The controversy over the ties between President Emmanuel and the US McKinsey firm has been in the public arena for years. Suspicion is that McKinsey was being used to funnel financial support into political campaigns and getting sweetheart contract deals with the French government... Meanwhile a Leftist member of the National Assembly is backing away from his bill to ban bullfighting in France... Saturday afternoon in Paris and protesters again gathering... After that video got taken down I found...

The official anniversary of the Yellow Vests protest is November 17, 2018 and there were observances on Thursday including this one in Paris at a replica of New York's Statue of Liberty... The protests began in response to the decision of the government of President Emmanuel Macron to raise gasoline taxes in France as a means of fighting "climate change"... The issue of the "Ocean Viking" migrants continued this week... On Friday the notion of electricity being cut in France starting in January was unveiled... And from Paris today live video from the Yellow Vests protest. A large crowd in...

Thursday was another day of workers striking in Paris led by workers in the subway system. The "Moderate" government of President Emmanuel Macron found another issue to distract people on the "Left" who might be sympathetic to this protest.' The government deciding to accept a boat of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea after it was refused by Italy. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin taking the opportunity of announcing acceptance of the "Ocean Viking" into the port of Toulon to slam the new "far-right" government of Italy. In addition France suspended a plan to take in 3,500 migrants currently in Italy. Italian...

Even as President Emmanuel Macron's executive power was again used to push through a budget opposed by a majority of the National Assembly Macron's minority faction found an issue to distract from its heavy-handed approach to passing laws. "Racism" A debate about a migrant boat in the Mediterranean and whether France should help the migrants distracted when a National Rally member of the National Assembly, Gregoire de Fournas interrupted a speech by a LFI (Left) Deputy who is black... Meanwhile increasingly empty shelves in French supermarkets... Yellow Vests on the street in Paris Saturday afternoon... New leadership for the National...

Labor union forces and the Left came together last Tuesday to give support to workers in general under the pressure of inflation. The action supported oil refinery strikes that were in the process of being broken by government orders to return to work but they laid a foundation for future protest. This Thursday October 27th and Thursday November 10th two weeks later now designated as inter-professional strike days to demand higher wages in France in the face of inflation. In the National Assembly this week the government flexed the strong executive power of the French Presidency under the 1958 "Fifth...

On Newsdump Friday Night in France the government of President Emmanuel Macron brought in opposition politicians for consultations on "Pension Reform" Emmanuel Macron's plan to raise the retirement age in France in the coming years. The National Rally leader in France's legislature Marine Le Pen spoke to reporters outside her meeting at Hotel Matignon the home of French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Le Pen telling the media "Wanting to implement pension reform at all costs seems unreasonable to me." The Government lacking a majority in the National Assembly holding out the notion of President Emmanuel Macron implementing Article 49.3 of...

Striking workers blockading oil refineries in France have disrupted the distribution of gasoline in France this week. At the European nations conference in Prague President Emmanuel Macron called for things like: "calm" "responsibility" trying to discourage a rush by motorists to fill up their tanks. One in five French service stations having problems providing fuel to customers today. Late today word that in some parts of France motorists and truckers were being subjected to restrictions on the amount of fuel they could fill up with. (30 liters or 7.93 gallons for cars and 150 liters or 39.63 gallons for trucks)...

This week talks of a "third way" when it comes to President Emmanuel Macron's controversial 'pension reform' plan. Instead of a head-on move this fall a delay until early next being talked about. On Thursday government spokesman Olivier Veran said the pension legislation is set to take effect the summer of 2023. In the end by 2027 the retirement age will be 64 and by 2031 it will be 65. President Macron, meanwhile, remains ready to use his special powers to push his pension plan through and promises to dissolve the National Assembly if they vote a motion of censure...

The Left in France's National Assembly facing allegations that two men in its ranks were involved in violence against women. The charges caused Adrien Quatennens of the LFI Party to step down from his leadership role and Julien Bayou to be suspended from his leadership role in the Greens. The media slamming of the "Left" continued later in the week with attention drawn to "Left" leader Jean-Luc Melenchon touching the cheek of a reporter the notion of violence presented. Meanwhile the French have been polled on pension reform by Elabe for BFM-TV. This follows President Emmanuel Macron's intention to broach...

This week President Emmanuel Macron trying to go around the opposition victory in the parliamentary elections earlier this year. Macron starting a "National Council Of Renewal" with a Thursday meeting that brought together more than 40 people from various groups and local governments. Issues including climate change and aging discussed all without any opposition politicians to question the presuppositions of Macron on the issues. Saturday September 10th promoted as an important day of protest in Paris and Yellow Vests have again gathered in the city. The video showing the Yellow Vested protesters was taken down shortly after it was put...

In France this week talks about a: "quota trading system" for energy and the possibility of energy rationing as the natural gas situation for France moved into a new phase. Russia's Gazprom announced an end to natural gas supplies for France due to non-payment. The suspension effective Thursday. Russia wanting payments in Russian roubles following financial sanctions imposed on it over Ukraine... On Friday it was announced that nuclear reactors currently offline in France (32 out of 56) will be brought back in service this winter. The weekly protest continues in Paris this Saturday. The march in the streets of...

France is at a "tipping point" and the "age of abundance" is over. The end of summer message from President Emmanuel Macron at a cabinet meeting last Wednesday clearing the way trying to brace France for energy related problems in the months ahead. Much said being said about Ukraine less being said about any "climate" policies which could impact energy in the months and years ahead... Finding new sources of natural gas other than Russia driving President Macron's visit to Algeria late this week. Macron says it's time to lay the "painful history" behind during his visit a reference to...

Speaking in the south of France Friday President Emmanuel Macron raised the dramatic tone regarding Ukraine as France moves towards a winter that may be one of suffering for France due to the situation there. Macron speaking of Russia staging a "brutal attack" in Ukraine and "the price of freedom" in his remarks in Var at a ceremony commemorating its liberation by allied forces during World War II (August 1944). France pulling the last of its troops out of the African nation of Mali this week... Russia's Wagner Group now providing a contracted mercenary force to fight the terrorists. Mali...

The focus of media attention the massive brush fire in southwestern France. Hundreds of firefighters backed up by aircraft battling the blaze near Bordeaux. Assistance from other countries brought into help with the firefighting effort... Today in the summer heat Yellow Vests again on the streets in Paris... The protesters today in the hundreds marching with flags and banners some in Yellow Vests others not one banner read by demonstrators simply saying: "Les Medias Mentent" translated: "The Media Lie" A detachment of police along with the protesters in the streets as is the norm. A 67 minute video posted online...

Drought a big concern of France's government at the end of the week Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne activating an inter-ministerial crisis group. As the very hot summer continues with temperatures in many parts of France regularly exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit more than 100 communities said to be without water supplies. The situation described by mainstream media as historic... And this 59 minute video gives you an inside look at the protest on the streets of Paris today you will see the distribution of fruit, magicians and comics in the midst of today's march on the streets...

France's Senate voting last night on purchasing power legislation. "Emergency measures for the protection of purchasing power" is the way the legislation was described. The Senate amending the original version that passed the National Assembly focused on helping the poorer French but keeping in the key measure of a four percent hike for pensions and other government subsidies retroactive to July 1st. The Senate voted to help business in France as well so a commercial rent cap ot 3.5 percent a year was put in the Senate version... In the summer in the heat the protests continue they are very...