New French PM under pressure as strikes disrupt schools and transport across country – Europe live

Up to 800,000 people are expected to march over budget cuts, public services and wages a week after Sébastien Lecornu’s appointment

• People in France: share your views on the strike

• Full report: France’s biggest strike in years under way amid political crisis

German industry chiefs have called on the European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen, to slash red tape and dump two laws for every new law added to European statute books.

They said the “one in, two out rule”, which has echoes of a ‘one in, one out’ policy pursued by Tony Blair when prime minister of the UK, is an essential part of any effort to accelerate competition conditions that will make it easier to take on rivals such as the Chinese.

“Complex regulations and excessive reporting requirements must not paralyse the innovative and investment power of our companies. Ambitious simplifications in environmental law are also necessary to speed up planning and approval procedures.”

“President Trump is not against Ukraine, like some people might think, and he’s moved a long way in his posture. And I think we’re going to see much more aggressive action in the weeks and months ahead.”

“I think the president is highly reluctant to put troops on the ground. That’s nothing to do with Ukraine. He just doesn’t like American troops put in harm’s way. He doesn’t like physical engagements. He’ll do these kinetic strikes from time to time, you saw that in Iran, but it’s still not really deploying American troops and putting them in a lot of risk.”

“He’s been pushing for [lower oil prices]. He wants sanctions. He wants Nato countries to stop buying Russian oil. So he sees this in economic war, as a businessman.”

“Putin hasn’t talked to anyone. He hasn’t talked to any American president – reluctant, won’t do anything. So Trump looks at this and says, let me see if I can be his friend. I’ll reach out. I’ll be overly generous, I’ll be overly kind.

And he tried that. I think he really honestly thought it was going to work. Continue reading...