WORLD BRIEFS

FRANCE/Retirement reform passes

France's parliament granted final approval Wednesday to a bill raising the retirement age from 60 to 62, a reform that has infuriated the country's powerful unions and touched off weeks of protests and strikes. The 336-233 vote in the National Assembly was a victory for conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has stood firm despite the protests. Protesters aren't yet giving up the fight, since Sarkozy hasn't yet signed the bill. In an attempt to revive a protest movement, unions plan a nationwide day of street demonstrations and strikes today that are expected to cause travel problems.

EUROPE/Security overhaul sought

European officials accused the United States of imposing unnecessary and overly intrusive air travel security measures, calling on the Obama administration Wednesday to re-examine policies ranging from X-raying shoes to online security checks for Europeans. The crux of the issue is how much security is sufficient and how much delay is tolerable - and whether it's time for a review of security measures that have accumulated since 9/11. The U.S. government issued a statement Wednesday saying it would continue to review its security measures "based on the latest intelligence." The debate flared a day after British Airways chairman Martin Broughton accused the United States of demanding "completely redundant" security checks at airports, such as removing shoes.

UNITED NATIONS/Iran to join women's panel

Iran, where a woman convicted of adultery has been sentenced to death by stoning, is likely to become a member of the board of the new UN agency to promote equality for women, prompting outrage from the United States and human rights groups. Some rights groups are also upset that Saudi Arabia, where women are not allowed to drive and are barred from many facilities used by men, is also vying to join the governing body of UN Women. The 54 nations on the UN Economic and Social Council are expected to elect UN Women's board on Nov. 10.