here's an update on the day's events in english from the guardian:
French strikes: panic-buying at petrol pumps | World news | guardian.co.uk
les echos, the french equivalent of the financial times, published yesterday a poll with 59% of respondents supporting the strike and the idea that it continues.
an inter-union committee announced this afternoon that there are to be two more waves, one beginning next tuesday and another on 6 november.
Retraitesomg: deux nouvelles journées de mobilisation, les 28 octobre et 6 novembre - RETRAITE POLITIQUE SOCIALE SYNDICAT
and while sarkosy continues trying to maintain a firm demeanor--"we won't give in to pressure" blah blah blah---in the senate he floated the idea that maybe another discussion of the retirement and pension situations could be pencilled in for 2012...
Retraites : fermeté face aux blocages, ouverture au Sénat - RETRAITE
so the situation's still pretty fluid.
and gas shortages are getting bigger.