A group of French lawmakers struck a tentative deal on Tuesday on a contested bill that will toughen immigration laws and has highlighted the difficulties for President Emmanuel Macron of running the country with no majority in parliament. 

French lawmakers and senators prepared to hammer out a compromise over a beleaguered immigration bill on Monday as President Emmanual Macron’s government hoped to salvage what is seen as a flagship reform of his second term. French authorities have been seeking to push through legislation to harden France’s immigration law, but members of the right-wing and left-wing opposition last week joined forces to vote down the draft law without even debating the measures. A mixed parliamentary commission consisting of seven upper house senators and seven lower house lawmakers was expected to meet from 5:00 pm (1600 GMT) Monday in a bid to thrash out a compromise text. FRANCE 24’s Catherine Norris Trent reports.

British teen Alex Batty expected back in UK in next few days Alex Batty is…

The kidnapped teenager’s grandmother and her husband say they have spent the last six years gripped by fear for his safety.

Six years after his kidnapping during a holiday in Spain, Alex Batty, aged 11, was found in Revel on Wednesday.

Teachers say they are ‘dealing with vindictive parents who prefer to believe their children than us’.