General World News

Well technically one side of politics does…

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It says:

‘ From 2027, employees would also be required to make social security contributions over 43 years instead of 42 in order to obtain a full pension.’

That sounds like they’re adding 1 year of extra work required to get full pension, while adding 2 years to retirement age. It doesn’t say consecutive years, and it says that’s what is required to obtain a full pension. Presumably you’d still get most of a pension if you worked most of those years?

Either way, it doesn’t sound like a huge change from what’s already in place. And when we all live longer, it seems more sensible to still have pension available at a slightly later time than risk the whole system failing.

There must be subtleties I’m missing, or the French really, really don’t like change.

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There is also the issue of employer contributions to the pension
In addition to joint employee employer contributions, companies must pay an additional supplement.
It seems that this is viewed as a tax, raising the percentage rate has been ruled out.
In comparing the retirement ages between countries (some saying France can’t be compared with other EU) you would also need to look at unemployment statistics as well as between different employment sectors.
The retirement age debate has been raging in France for about four years.

French media are having a laugh at Macron arranging for the State dinner for CRIII to be held at the Palace of Versailles, a reminder that uneasy is the head that wears the Crown. This time it might be the head of the President of the Fifth Republic after his decision to bypass a vote in Parliament to secure his pension retirement age.

Surely must be time for another GFC

deutsch bank looks on the verge of a collapse too.

watch USA engage war mode to keep their economy afloat

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So this was a pleasing event. KC addressing the Bundastag reaffirming UK German relations. Despite BRexit etc. and with a bit of humour. They loved it. He’s got the vibe and has had a great start to his reign tbf.

The world needs these types of events … and Ukraine was top of the topics. Now for the planes and tanks Germany.

@Humble_Minion
You won’t like this article in DW News
Cooked Bats Found in Van at Belgian Border

dw.com

Trial data from preliminary studies in Burkina Faso showed the R21 vaccine was up to 80% effective when given as three initial doses, and a booster a year later.

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Sudan is in the middle of a coup attempt. This is a good summary of where things are at. Basically two military forces combined to take power off the civilian government a few years ago and are now fighting amongst themselves.

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From the UNSG latest noon briefing:
UN buildings in Sudan looted and ransacked, some UN workers killed.
All humanitarian aid halted ( at least one third of the population is dependent on humanitarian aid).
4k UN staff (including 800 international) are sheltering. There is no way out of the country, all borders closed, UN plane destroyed.
Reportedly, the UN special envoy is targeted for assassination.
Neither side has shown any interest in mediation. No third country or group has come forward to offer.

Just saw on my FB feed this morning that the mother of a colleague is stuck there right now. Her building is in lockdown, they have drinking water and an emergency generator for power part of the day. She can’t go out for food or other essentials as it is too dangerous. She is a teacher in an international school.

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As bad as it is for the Sudanese, the Rohingya, Yemeni and Syrian refugees in Khartoum are even more desperate.
After some UN workers were killed, the UN humanitarian agencies are doing what they can after relocating to Sudan Port.

Ding Liren has become the new World Chess Champion after a tie break win over Ian Nepomniachtchi ( Magnus Carlsen opted not to defend his long held title, so these were the next two up) .

This means China now holds the world titles in both men’s and women’s competition. Interestingly, there was a time when the CCP banned Chess as a symbol of western decadence , lol. Chess is decadent!?

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They should get chess renamed as Not-West-Taiwan Chess.

I always loved how the “rooks” in “Chinese Chess” don’t take the piece in front of them but the piece behind it… made for all sorts of fun if you got two of them on the same column.

Penny Wong has tweeted thanks to an Indonesian friend for assisting in getting Australians out of Sudan.
Australia has had zero capacity to directly assist, France appears to have a done a lot of the heavy lifting in arranging airlifts for a range of nationalities. Other Europeans and the likes of India have also engaged, including by ferrying to Saudi Arabia.
The US has a policy of not providing assistance to evacuation of its civilians.
Sudanese have been left to their own devices apart from limited UN humanitarian aid.
The UN has forecast that up to 800k Sudanese are seeking refuge in neighbouring States, which have their own problems with food supply and conflicts.

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“My opponent is gay!”- Erdogan

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New Zealand having a shocking run of bad news.