PARIS - The French National Assembly on Friday approved a package of emergency concessions first announced by President Emmanuel Macron in a bid to end the violent "yellow vest" protests. The measures include the removal of a planned tax increase for a majority of pensioners and tax-free overtime pay for all workers. Tens of thousands of people joined rallies across France on consecutive Saturdays in a movement which sprung up over fuel tax hikes but snowballed into broader opposition to Macron. On Thursday the president told critics of the fuel tax hikes "you're right" after 1.15 million people signed a petition suggesting several other ways to fight fossil fuel pollution. He reminded the petition signers that his government has cancelled the planned increase in fuel tax and that no hikes in gas and electricity prices would be made during the winter.

Source: Bangkok Post December 21, 2018 05:03 UTC