powers

Proposed legislation by France's new government to enshrine into regular law certain far-reaching powers allowed under the current state of emergency has passed its first parliamentary test after the Senate approved the bill by a two-thirds majority, meaning it will now go before the lower house, the National Assembly, where the government has a large majority, in October.

French parliament approved a second extension of the powers, introduced after the November 13th Paris terrorist attacks, until May 26th.

French President François Hollande on Wednesday told French parliament leaders that he will seek a third extension of state of emergency powers introduced immediately after the November 13th terrorist attacks in Paris which left 130 people dead. The announcement followed two separate and fiercely critical reports published this week, one by the government’s own official consultative committee on human rights which denounced "abuses" and the "devastating damage" of the special powers the government has granted itself, and another by a panel of United Nations rights experts who said the measure had created “excessive and disproportionate restrictions”. Jérôme Hourdeaux reports.

The move would bar legal challenges to search and detention powers and the stripping of French citizenship from dual nationals convicted of terrorism.

Renault's board approves capping French state's increased weight in shareholder votes and to abandon Renault's right to control Nissan strategy.

French regions are in charge of economic development, tourism, business development, professional training and oversee public transport.