French Hate Idea of Working 'Til Age 62

Judging by the throngs on the streets of France today—somewhere between 800,000 and 3 million, depending on who's counting—it's safe to say that Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 is not all that popular. (Another day of protests is set for Tuesday, the day before a Senate vote.) Meanwhile, strikes at refineries have caused nationwide fuel shortages—serious enough that Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport warned planes to make sure they land with enough fuel to get home.

"They must come with a maximum capacity in their fuel tanks," said a spokesman. "Obviously, these instructions apply only to short- and medium-haul flights" because oceanic flights can't "double carry" fuel. The finance minister went on TV to insist "there is no reason, no reason, I repeat, to panic because there is no risk of shortages." Late today, a key pipeline that supplies the airport resumed service, easing the immediate concern. More details from the AP, BBC, and the Guardian. (More France stories.)