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French strikes rumble on as PM vows to ‘go to end’

Paris commuters battled to reach work again on Monday as a 40-day-old strike dragged on and France’s premier vowed “to go to the end” with the pension reforms that sparked the action.
There was still major disruption on the Paris metro and national railway systems, even after Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced a major concession to the unions at the weekend.
But the situation was somewhat improved from the previous weeks with all Paris’ metro lines now open in peak hours and the trains running slightly more regularly.
National rail operator SNCF said that eight out of ten high-speed TGV trains were now operating, although slower regional trains were more affected.
“We are going to go to the end” in implementing the pension reforms, Philippe told France 2 TV late Sunday.
“Those who incite (the strikers) to continue the strike are leading them perhaps into a dead-end... I think that they need to assume their responsibilities.”
“I think you know the phrase ‘you need to know how to end a strike’. We are not far now,” he added.
Philippe announced Saturday he would drop plans to increase the official age for a full pension to 64 from 62 -- the so-called “pivot age” a move welcomed by the more moderate trade unions like the CFDT.
However, the more hardline CGT, FO, and Solidaires unions were standing firm, calling for the strike and protests to continue, including a major demonstration on January 16.
The government is not budging on its plan for a universal scheme to rationalize 42 existing pension schemes into a single, points-based system it says will be fairer and more transparent.
“The end of the pivot age does not mean the end of the strike,” commented the Le Parisien daily.
The strike has also been observed by other public service workers affected by the reforms, including staff at the Paris Opera which on Saturday canceled its performance of The Barber of Seville, its first show of 2020.
Demonstrators in the capital on Saturday, some masked and hooded, broke shop windows along their protest route, set fires and threw projectiles at police in riot gear who responded with tear gas.
source: AFP
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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