France

In the first big test of Emmanuel Macron's presidency, protests have begun in cities across France against changes to the country's labour laws, reported BBC. 

Some 4,000 strikes have been called too, but two of the biggest unions have distanced themselves from the action.

Marches were due in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Nantes and the other main cities.

Tourists take photographs as French President Emmanuel Macron walks outside Athens Cathedral on Friday. France's president has called for greater European investment in Greece to help offset the cash-strapped country's increasing reliance on non-European countries, notably China. [Elena Becatoros/AP]

Standing at a Greek site where democracy was conceived, French President Emmanuel Macron called on members of the European Union to reboot the 60-year-old bloc with sweeping political reforms or risk a "slow disintegration."

French President Emmanuel Macron expresses his optimism for the future of Greece in an interview with Kathimerini, describing his upcoming visit to Athens as a message of trust and an attempt to cast Greece as a country that is attractive for investments and entrepreneurship.

Ahead of a landmark visit to Athens on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron has told Kathimerini that he is optimistic about Greece's future as a country for investments and entrepreneurship and underlined his support for the country as an ally and a member of the eurozone.

French President Emmanuel Macron accused journalists of being too interested in themselves and inadequate to the country after reporters from the national public television, France 2, asked him questions about his restrained style of communication, France's press reported.

More than 2,000 police officers are to be deployed across Athens for a scheduled visit this week by the French President Emmanuel Macron that the government is keen to use to exploit its narrative that Greece is turning a corner. 

More than 2,000 police officers are to be deployed across Athens for a scheduled visit this week that the government is keen to use to exploit its narrative that Greece is turning a corner. 

Greek authorities have been beefing up security, in cooperation with their French counterparts, ahead of Macron's two-day visit which is scheduled to begin on Thursday.

French President Emmanuel Macron's gamble is very important for both France and Europe. If the French leader is successful in imposing painful but necessary reforms in his country, he will be able to play a key role in the shaping of a new European monetary fund and revive France's traditional leadership role in the European Union.

President Emmanuel Macron's government has begun its drive to overhaul France's rigid labour laws, vowing to "free up the energy of the workforce".

The reforms aim to make it easier for bosses to hire and fire.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said they were ambitious, balanced and fair but it was natural that not everyone would support the changes.