31/05/2016 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today with me Geeta Guru-Murthy.

The headlines - In Paris a warning that more strikes and protests

But President Hollande refuses to withdraw the reforms

which would make it easier for employers to hire

Iraqi government forces are facing ferocious resistance

from Islamic State militants in the key city of Falluja.

Growing controversy in Pakistan after an Islamic council advises

husbands that it's OK to "lightly beat" your wife.

We're in the country's highlands finding out why they've produced

We start in France, where strikes and protests by workers opposed

to the government's controversial proposed labour reforms continue

President Hollande has repeated his refusal

Two government ministers have appealed for the CGT

Let's remind you why the reforms are stirring up such anger.

They could end France's cherished 35 hour week and bosses would also

have more power to reduce pay and shed jobs.

The dispute has been running for two months and could escalate

with a national railway strike due to start on Wednesday.

Six of the country's eight oil refineries are still halted

or running at reduced capacity, and workers on the Paris Metro

One CGT union leader wants the government to reconsider

the reforms which were pushed through the lower house

With France due to host the Euro 2016 football competition next week,

tourism officials are concerned tourists will be put

The US State Department has just issued a warning that the tournament

could also be a target for terrorists. Lucy Williamson has been

watching the days events. From France's northern cities to its

southern ports. Opposition to these reforms has spread among the

nation's industrial planes. The tactics as simple as the simple bash

message. Stop. The government says it is trying to unblock France's

economy. But union leaders say that freedom comes at the expense of

workers' rights. Over the past few weeks the protests have spread. From

oil refineries to highways. The transport hopes. There is no shame

as a political leader in admitting when you have made a mistake. Then

we can work together on creating social progress in this country. The

government is admitting nothing of the sword. It has been dipping into

the country's oil reserves and removing arcades to keep the country

running. The Prime Minister has said compromise is possible but he will

not scrap the bill. Blocking the country, stopping the French people

from getting around, from living their normal lives, damaging

France's reputation, threatening the economic revival which is taking

hold is unacceptable. Today, railway workers joined the rolling strikes.

40% of high-speed trains are thought to be affected, two thirds of

intercity lines. Further strikes are planned this week by air traffic

controllers and Paris underground star. Several unions have called for

the protest to continue as the clock ticks on to was the start of the

European Championships next week. Christophe Premat joins us now

with further insight. Thanks very much for joining us.

What do you make of this action that we are seeing? Do you think it can

and should be solved? Shouldn't be sorted out before the big football

tournament? It is hard to predict but I would

say that we pay the fact that we didn't have any parliamentary debate

on this. We paid the fact we leave under an in emergency state. There

are a lot of frustrations. The year has been really hard. You have this

feeling of frustration coming up now with these discussions. It is too

bad we give this image of a Ken Tribbett cannot advance. -- that

cannot. We need to go back to negotiation about the explanation.

Who are you supporting? New supporting the government and the

changes it is trying to implement all those who are protesting? I

support the parliamentary debate we didn't have. We owe that to the

citizen is because it is important for the future of the country. They

understand the government, we have to have a responsibility. I don't

think this is the right way to block the country just because of one or

two trade unionists and stop we need to have a discussion somewhere in

the country. The parliament is the location for that. We should have

discussion in parliament even if the government decides not to have a

vote. At least, discussion is needed. We have had a few

discussions in a few committees but not in a plenary session. How

worried are you about the impact of people coming to France for the Euro

competition? We've heard from the United States about a potential

security threat saying they are worried and are warning all US

citizens in your up, potentially including the football tournament,

US citizens are the targets. It adds up to a few difficult days for

France. We live under an emergency is states. It will be in order in a

few days. We have the last game right now, if I may express myself

in the loose terms. We need to find out a way, we need a solution for

that. Maybe you could try to go back to negotiation. We could have a

parliamentary debate in the upcoming weeks. You have different

alternatives so I am not worried about that. We should be careful

with that because if you have big strikes, people feel you don't

control a situation. There is this terror, terrorist threat that we

should be able to be together in this event, not just show an image

of it country that is divided. That could be bad. I am confident about

the situation that it will be solved. How are you confident? In

what way can it be solved? You are looking at multiple strikes in

multiple different areas of everyday life and a president that has never

been popular from the beginning. It isn't a question of popularity, it

is a question about the law. We didn't have the debates are we

didn't have the space to explain. You have all the trade unions trying

to wary about just one particular article, the second article of the

law. It decentralised the process of social rejuvenation -- regulation.

It was the law but determined the way it negotiated the content of

work before. But now it is inside the company. We have to make sure it

will be better for workers, it'll be better for the companies that they

can try to have a social compromise. That is something that worries

French people right now. They think, yes, the government just once to

decentralise the decisions and doesn't want to be responsible for

that. It is where we have to explain. Many thanks indeed her

joining us. Staying with France,

the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, has announced plans for what she calls

a 'humanitarian camp' for migrants and refugees

in the north of the capital. Several hundred migrants have been

living rough under railway bridges These people pictured were moved

out of their makeshift site near a Paris Metro station

earlier this month. The new camp is expected to provide

both day facilities and overnight accommodation and is expected

to open in the next six weeks. Now a look at some of

the days other news. Belgium hit by transport strikes,

with France to follow suit as unions protest over pension

and labour reforms. The protesters are not happy with

the government is's austerity measures.

Poland launched a fresh bid to extradite Oscar-winning director

Roman Polanski to the United States at the request of the country's

justice minister who appealed to the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

The US had requested that the Oscar-winning filmmaker be

sent back to face sentencing over a 1977 case if statutory rape.

The trial of Argentina and Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi on tax fraud

Messi and his father Jorge, who manages his financial affairs,

are accused of defrauding Spain of more than four million euros

The authorities allege that the two used tax havens in Belize

and Uruguay to conceal earnings from image rights.

A top EU court advisor says that employers in the EU may be able

to ban Muslim staff from wearing headscarves to work

as long as it is part of a general prohibition

The opinion was issued by Juliane Kokott, an Advocate General

It came after a Belgian court sought clarification on what is banned

In the Belgian case, a receptionist was fired for wearing

Pakistan's human rights commission has condemned a draft bill

from a group of Islamic religious advisors which says a husband can

The controversial proposal was a response to a women's

protection law passed by the Punjab government in March.

Pakistani religious groups called the bill un-Islamic.

BBC Urdu's Iram Abbasi reports from Islamabad.

Maria has been coming to this court for two years.

She wishes to remain anonymous fearing social persecution

for speaking out against domestic violence.

Translation: After our first daughter was born, my husband would

beat me every second day for hours, pulling out my hair and slapping me.

He was upset I hadn't given birth to a boy.

Human Rights Watch estimates that between 70% to 90% of Pakistani

women face domestic violence and self harm.

In a conservative Pakistani society it is an

honour will be maligned if a woman can't sustain her marriage,

thus forcing her to stay in an abusive relationship at all cost.

Earlier this year in a landmark move, Pakistan's parliament enacted

the protection of women against violence Bill.

This legislation set out penalties for crimes including

domestic violence, psychological and economic

But hopes were quickly dashed as the Council

of Islamic Ideology rejected the law declaring it un-Islamic.

The council is a constitutional body with advises parliament on religion

and offers recommendations on how laws can conform with the

conservative form of Islam, sharia law.

After it rejected the women's protection bill,

The council says it doesn't have a final draft but it

hasn't denied media reports that a man can lightly beat his

Translation: Whether it is the father or husband,

he's not allowed to hit a woman where she suffers a bone

The proposals have generated anger across Pakistan.

Many have taken to social media to protest.

The human rights commission has said the

No woman or sane man in Pakistan do not accept this.

First of all, the Council of Islamic Ideology has

overstepped its constitutional mandated and its jurisdiction.

I demand a constitutional amendment to disband CII.

The government can ignore the council's

recommendations and has done in the past.

A small victory for Pakistan's many domestic violence victims.

Iraqi forces trying to fight their way into the key city

of Falluja say they have repelled a four hour counter attack by

Iraqi commanders say they have started probing the city's defences.

As the fighting continues, aid agencies are increasingly

concerned for the safety of up to fifty thousand civilians

trapped in the city which was seized by IS more two years ago.

Shi'ite militia and Iraqi government forces are now moving ever closer

to the city of Fallujah itself, having fought their way

through the surrounding countryside over the past week.

There's been fierce fighting this morning in a key southern suburb

and government troops claim they may enter the city itself later today.

Fallujah lies less than 50 miles from the capital Baghdad

and Islamic State has been in control of it

Retaking the city is a key goal for the government.

But as the final assault on Falluja draws closer, concern

about the fate of the civilian population is intensifying.

These refugees are amongst the lucky ones.

They managed to get out of the city in time.

This woman says there is no food or medicine in the city and says

Islamic State militants had taken their men away.

She doesn't know if they are alive or dead.

Aid agencies say, so far, only around 4,000 civilians have

That leaves more than 40,000 still trapped inside the city.

And there are reports Islamic State is preventing people from leaving.

We are extremely concerned that the 50,000

individuals that are still trapped inside Falluja.

We have also, I have been talking to families that

have managed to get out, tell us that, Isis came to my house

and threatened us on our lives if we had any plans of escaping.

No doubt, we are extremely concerned.

And while these children and their families are now safe

there are more reports of civilian casualties inside the city

due to heave shelling by government forces including seven members

Peter Hawkins is in Erbil, about 350 kilometres north of Baghdad.

He's part of the UNICEF team providing humanitarian relief

Thanks for joining us. You have been into which, your organisation has

been interred should with those who have escaped. Can anyone reach those

who are trapped? Know and we haven't for over a year. The last time we

were able to send in any assistance was this time last year when we were

able to undertake the vaccination campaign for children. How worried

are you about those who are in the city and what are you hearing about

those who have managed to get out? We're very concerned for all the

civilians in the city, particularly the children who must be going

through a horrendous experience as the bombs descend upon Falluja

especially in the dark. You have the sounds of the explosions. This is on

top of period whereby they have not had the basic needs for a long time.

Their medication on these have been put on hold, all they want to do is

come out and lead a normal life. Do you think it is possible for this to

resolve with the Iraqi government forces driving out IS without

further civilian casualties? It is precarious at the moment. We call on

all sides to protect all civilians especially children who were not

party to this conflict. The situation has been precarious over

the past few months, over 60,000 people have been displaced. Unicef

have been providing water. A lot of the people have been displaced

multiple times. There is always hope when heavy situation like this that

once displaced and they are able to return back to their homes their

normal lives will be able to continue. Some people might ask,

Falluja is a city that has had a lot of problems for a long time, why

people didn't get out earlier. It is difficult. Many B but did get out

but those who were unable to leave have been stuck there for now for

over two years. Many people further up the river have been stuck and

unable to go back. This is where they live, this is their land, this

is where their houses are and where their future lives. They are trying

to stay as close to that as they can. We were not needed there. Many

thanks. California Governor Jerry Brown

on Tuesday endorsed Hillary Clinton for the 2016 Democratic presidential

nomination, saying it was the only way to keep

Republican Donald Trump out Mr Brown said he believes this

is the only way forward to win the presidency and stop

the dangerous candidacy He also said Hillary Clinton had a

huge lead. Leading architects from across

the globe are showcasing their ideas Among them is Lord Foster who,

having already designed the world biggest airport in China,

has taken up the challenge of building the world's

smallest in Rwanda. The aim is to create a network

of droneports to deliver medical supplies to some of Africa's

most inaccessible locations. Lord Foster has been

speaking to our Arts Editor, You could envisage a future perhaps

where there were so many of these that the final footprint was bigger

than the biggest airport. You look at the structure,

you just think, compare it with a traditional structure,

concrete, steel, thick, this is one It could be built locally,

literally digging it out of the ground because it

is only 8% concrete. What is the cultural

and architectural I think the perceived answer

to the needs of emerging communities has been to ship a ready-made

solution and in a way to impose it, and that is not really sustainable

in terms of transportation and there is no buy in so you either

accept or reject it. It might be a tin shed,

a prefabricated this or that. Think of a community,

able to create something, to learn skills and to have

ownership of it. Does this mark a moment

in architecture where we are seeing the perfect marriage

of the modern and ancient? What is interesting is that this

fusion of tradition and cutting edge technology has produced something

which is very delicate. It is beautifully thin and it seems

to almost float on the ground. We think of of the drone

as a killing machine. Here we think of it

as a living machine. The lack of roads and railways

and to be able to deliver cargo and medical supplies and do it

quickly and cheaply using drone technology, which is now moving

at such a fast rate. Bekoji, a small town

in the highlands of Ethiopia, has produced some of the best runners

in the world, including 16 Olympic medals and dozens

of World Championships. The town of just under 20,000

people is the home of some of Ethiopia's most renowned

athletes, all discovered and trained by one man,

coach Sentayehu Eshetu. The BBC's Emmanuel Igunza has

visited the town to go for a run The new breed of young athletes

in Bekoji begin their routine under the keen eye of coach

Sentayehu Eshetu, a man who was discovered and trained four

of Ethiopia's gold medallists. Today he has invited me to take part

in the session. Three times a week they come to this

forest that has previously been the training ground

for the likes of Tirunesh Dibaba The training is intense,

lasting up to an hour and a half. Some of these girls

are as young as 11 and 12. But you can see their fitness levels

are very high. They have been going down the slope

for at least five times only Coach Sentayehu says the secret

for Bekoji's success in athletics is the high altitude

of about 2800 metres above sea level which helps in endurance,

discipline and hard work. Already, he has seen potential

in this group he trains Translation: We want them to be

good athletes competing at the international level,

representing their country. We will first get them in clubs

and if they are capable of representing their country we will

let them compete at a national level and then they will move

on to the international arena. This place is, therefore,

where they start by journey. But the training here is about much

more than producing gold medallists. Coach Sentayehu is part

of the unique scholarship programme that aims

to give young female athletes life skills and an opportunity

to further their education. Translation: I started running

at elementary school When I finished school I joined

athletes at the camp. Before leaving the camp I spoke

to the manager to be part of his team because I wanted

to have an opportunity to participate on the

international stage for my country and to change the livelihood of my

family. In future, I want to reach

the highest level and help my family Coach Sentayehu acknowledges

not everyone here will turn professional but it shows how

a positive impact sport can have on the community,

something this town Emmanuel Igunza, BBC

News, Bekoji, Ethiopia. Now, after six decades in football,

the only player ever to have won Strikes are causing disruption right

across France. President Holland is refusing to withdraw the reforms

which would make it easier to hire and dismiss workers. The writer

states has warned of potential terrorist attacks during the

football championships. Five. -- United States.

Hello. They were big contrast of weather across the UK, some were

fine and sunny and some of us were quite wet. Scotland and Northern

Ireland will see the best of the sunshine on offer tomorrow. Here is

the big picture through the middle of the week. Whether frustrated

across England and Wales bring that cloud and