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The conservative-dominated Senate is rushing to meet a deadline of midnight Sunday to finalise the legislation.

Campaigners say the government's proposals would further deepen gender inequalities at workplaces in France.

Emmanuel Macron's government says a minimum pension age of 64 is needed to tackle funding deficit.

Unions are staging a general strike in France over proposed pension changes, which include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.

French trade unions are planning massive strikes from Tuesday aiming to bring the country "to a standstill".

French president's latest tour of Africa comes at a time of ever-increasing competition from China and Russia, and growing resentment of the close economic ties between France and its former colonies, which some see as a form of continued exploitation.

After more than two tonnes of cocaine washed ashore, locals in villages along the Normandy coast have described an influx of unfamiliar people in luxury cars and 4x4s who have been scouring the sand.

The sovereign will also address the German Bundestag during a six-day tour of France and Germany next month.

Macron said France harboured no desire to return to past policies of interfering in Africa ahead of an environment summit in Gabon, the first leg of his trip.

Government is banking on support from Senators belonging to the conservative Les Republicains (LR) party, who favour raising the minimum legal retirement age from 62 to 64, and having citizens work longer to obtain a full pension.