Pension strike brings travel chaos for a 2nd day in France

PARIS (AP) — Frustrated travelers ran into transportation mayhem across France for a second day on Friday, as unions dug in for what they hope is a protracted strike against President Emmanuel Macron's plans to redesign the national retirement system. Most trains were shut down - including Paris subways -...

Lebanese PM asks friendly nations for credit amid crisis

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon's outgoing prime minister called on several Arab and world leaders Friday to help his country secure credit lines for imports from friendly nations as the tiny Mediterranean country passes through its worst economic and financial crisis in decades. According to a statement released by...

Stocks advance as investors eyes jobs report, trade talks

BANGKOK (AP) — Global shares rose Friday as investors awaited what's expected to be a healthy U.S. jobs report, while monitoring the China-U.S. trade talks as more tariffs are due to go into effect this month. One sign that talks between the world's two biggest economies could be thawing came Friday when...

France’s Macron faces decisive test over economic policies

PARIS (AP) — Massive strikes against a planned overhaul of the pension system are sending a powerful warning to French President Emmanuel Macron. Half-way through his term, the 41-year-old centrist is still determined to push through the reform and keep remodeling the French economy. Macron is facing a...

New Ukrainian leader heads to high-stakes meeting with Putin

MOSCOW (AP) — For new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a summit meeting with Russia, France and Germany marks a decisive moment in his push to end more than five years of fighting with Moscow-backed separatists in the eastern part of his country. While the Kremlin may share that objective, there...

New Ukrainian leader heads to high-stakes meeting with Putin

MOSCOW (AP) — For new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a summit meeting with Russia, France and Germany marks a decisive moment in his push to end more than five years of fighting with Moscow-backed separatists in the eastern part of his country. While the Kremlin may share that objective, there...

Iran accuses France, Germany and UK of false missile claims

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Iran accused France, Germany and the United Kingdom on Thursday of “a desperate falsehood” for saying its missile program goes against a U.N. resolution calling on Tehran not to undertake any activity related to nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. Iranian officials said...

Paris police arrest scores amid strike over pension reform

PARIS (AP) — Paris police fired tear gas at demonstrators Thursday as the Eiffel Tower shut down, France’s high-speed trains came to a standstill and hundreds of thousands marched nationwide in a strike over the government’s plan to overhaul the retirement system. At least 90 people were...

US feels the heat as Trump pulls out of global climate pact

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is aiming to make the annual U.N.-sponsored climate talks underway in Madrid the last ones for full participation by the United States, which is the world's No. 1 economy and the second-biggest carbon emitter. Trump dismisses climate change and he thumbed his nose...

Correction: Climate Talks-Goodbye US? story

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a story December 4, 2019, about the Trump administration's role in the Madrid climate conference, The Associated Press erroneously reported the details of a poll measuring public opinion on the Paris climate agreement.