French PM brings forward 1.6% increase in minimum wage in bid to calm protests

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced on Monday that a planned 1.6% increase in the minimum wage would be brought forward from January to December after holding talks with trade unions and business leaders over the cost-of-living crisis that has fuelled weeks of unrest across France. The increase fell well short of the demands of unions, which have called for fresh protests in the coming days.