In France, unions are holding another day of strikes and street protests against President Nicolas Sarkozy's plans to overhaul pensions and raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. More than 230 demonstrations are planned, and rail, air and urban transport systems have been disrupted. Organisers are hoping a better turnout than the September 7 strike, when more than one million workers took part. Mr Sarkozy says the reforms are needed to tackle the country's budget deficit. The pension reform bill has already been passed by the lower house of parliament. It will be debated from 5 October by the upper house, the Senate, where it is expected to pass comfortably.