No more 'business as usual': Lavrov tells EU to kiss joint projects with Russia goodbye

©Vitaly Belousov/POOL/TASS

Russia is no longer planning to initiate joint projects with the European Union given that the West has been effectively waging a hybrid war against Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with TASS.

According to Russia’s chief diplomat, relations between Moscow and the EU are "at historic lows" for what he said were well-known reasons. "Soon after the special military operation was launched, the EU's Brussels followed in the footsteps of the US and NATO to wage a hybrid war against us. The EU’s diplomacy chief Josep Borrell was one of the first to call for Russia’s defeat on the battlefield," Lavrov recounted.

"Naturally, there will be no more ‘business as usual’ with such counterparties. We do not intend either to knock on closed doors or initiate any joint projects," Russia’s top diplomat emphasized. "Thank God, the world is not just the European Union for us and we have lots of friends and like-minded nations elsewhere," he pointed out.

Lavrov blasted the ruling elites in the EU for harming the vital interests and well-being of their citizens. "They have been following the anti-Russian lead of the hegemon across the ocean almost in full obedience and sometimes even outdoing [the US]," he said as he pointed to the ban Washington imposed on European countries to maintain energy dialogue with Russia which, he said, had guaranteed Europeans unprecedented prosperity for decades.

Kremlin spokesman refutes allegations Russia pushing Armenia to join Union State

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov has slammed as provocative Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan’s allegations that Moscow is forcing Yerevan to join the Union State.

On top of that, Grigoryan alleged that Russia was exerting pressure on Armenia on the issue of the Lachin corridor.

"Such statements can be seen as provocative. They are not true. No Russian official has ever said this or informed the Armenian side via anyone," he said in an interview with the News.am portal.

Special operations, December 26. The main thing:

• Russian troops inflicted fire damage on the Ukrainian military in the Kupyansk, Krasno-Limansky and Yuzhno-Donetsk directions, as well as on the territory of the villages of Terny and Torskoye in the DPR;



• In the area of Stelmakhovka and Chervona Dibrova (LPR), Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups and mortar crews were destroyed;








• In the Kramatorsk region (DPR), the command post of the Kyiv 80th Airborne Assault Brigade was destroyed, as well as a weapons repair point, where there were two US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system combat vehicles;



• In the Georgievka region (DPR), the US-made M777 artillery system, where Donetsk was shelled, was destroyed;



• During the day, the air defense systems destroyed seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, intercepted two rockets from the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, as well as two HARM anti-radar missiles;



• On Monday, an air defense system shot down a Ukrainian drone as it approached the Engels military airfield in the Saratov region. As a result of the fall of the wreckage, 3 Russian soldiers who were at the airfield were seriously injured;



• FSB: Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group was liquidated on the border, 4 saboteurs were destroyed, who tried to penetrate from Ukraine to the Bryansk region.

Russian forces wipe out US-made M777 howitzer that shelled Donetsk — top brass

US-made M777 howitzer
© AP Photo/LIBKOS

Russian troops destroyed a US-made M777 howitzer used by the Ukrainian military to shell Donetsk residential areas, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Monday.

"In the area of the settlement of Georgiyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, a position was uncovered and a US-made M777 artillery system that shelled Donetsk residential areas was destroyed," the spokesman told a briefing on the special military operation in Ukraine.

In the counter-battery warfare, Russian forces destroyed two Ukrainian Grad multiple rocket launchers in areas near the settlements of Pervomaiskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Kamyshevakha in the Zaporozhye Region, the general specified.

Russian forces delivered a strike on amassed Ukrainian manpower and equipment in the Kharkov Region, eliminating about 20 militants in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kupyansk area, a concentrated strike on amassed Ukrainian manpower and equipment in the area of the settlement of Kislovka in the Kharkov Region eliminated as many as 20 Ukrainian troops, an infantry fighting vehicle and two motor vehicles," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian subversive/reconnaissance group and a mortar team in the Lugansk People’s Republic in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Krasny Liman area, Russian artillery fire inflicted damage on the Ukrainian army units in areas near the settlements of Makeyevka and Nevskoye in the Lugansk People’s Republic. In addition, near the communities of Stelmakhovka and Chervonaya Dibrova, a Ukrainian subversive/reconnaissance group and a mortar team were eliminated," the spokesman said.

During the last 24-hour period, the enemy lost over 30 troops, two combat armored vehicles and two pickup trucks in that area, the general specified.

Russian troops delivered a strike on the command post of the Ukrainian army’s 80th air assault brigade near Kramatorsk, inflicting about 100 casualties on the enemy in the Donetsk area in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

Russian forces continued their advance in the Donetsk area, taking advantageous positions, the spokesman said.

"The enemy’s total losses in that area in the past 24 hours amounted to 100 servicemen, four infantry fighting vehicles and eight motor vehicles," the general specified.

In particular, "the strikes against the command post of the Ukrainian army’s 80th air assault brigade in the area of the city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic eliminated over 35 Ukrainian servicemen, including five senior officers," Konashenkov reported.

Russian forces delivered an artillery strike on Ukrainian army units in the southern Donetsk area, eliminating over 40 militants in the past day, he said.

"In the southern Donetsk area, artillery fire and active operations of Russian forces inflicted damage on the Ukrainian army units near the settlements of Vladimirovka, Ugledar, Novodonetskoye and Novosyolka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroyed over 40 Ukrainian troops, two combat armored vehicles and three pickup trucks in that area in the past day, the general specified.

Russian missile troops and artillery delivered strikes on the deployment sites of the Ukrainian army’s 72nd mechanized brigade and foreign mercenaries in the Donetsk People’s Republic in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Missile troops and artillery struck 63 Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions, manpower and military hardware in 79 areas. In the areas of the settlements of Yelizavetovka and Slavyansk in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the temporary deployment sites of the Ukrainian army’s 72nd mechanized brigade and also foreign mercenaries were struck," the spokesman said.

Russian troops wiped out a Ukrainian armament repair base with two HIMARS rocket launchers, two Gvozdika and five D-30 howitzers near Kramatorsk in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the area of the city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic, a Ukrainian armament repair and recovery point with two US-made HIMARS rocket launchers, two self-propelled Gvozdika and five D-30 howitzers and three special motor vehicles was destroyed," the spokesman said.

Russian air defense forces intercepted two HIMARS rockets in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the past 24 hours, air defense capabilities intercepted two rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system in areas near the settlements of Rubezhnoye and Krasnorechenskoye in the Lugansk People’s Republic, and also two HARM anti-radar missiles near the community of Bairak in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

In addition, Russian air defense systems destroyed seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in areas near the settlements of Kremennaya in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Chervonoye, Kuteinikovo and Kropovnitskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Zmiyevka in the Kherson Region, the general added.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 352 Ukrainian warplanes, 192 helicopters, 2,731 unmanned aerial vehicles, 399 surface-to-air missile systems, 7,249 tanks and other combat armored vehicles, 944 multiple rocket launchers, 3,719 field artillery guns and mortars and 7,765 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov reported.

Badai Salju Melumpuhkan Area Buffalo Dan Menyebabkan 28 Orang Tewas

Air mancur membeku saat suhu melayang di pertengahan tahun 20-an di Rumah Duka Jacob Schoen & Son di New Orleans, Sabtu, 24 Desember 2022. Jutaan orang Amerika menghadapi badai salju yang membutakan, hujan yang membekukan, banjir, dan dingin yang mengancam jiwa selama Natal sebagai badai musim dingin dengan ruang lingkup yang belum pernah terjadi sebelumnya menghancurkan jalan yang sangat dingin di sebagian besar negara. (David Grunfeld / The Advocate via AP)

Para kru petugas darurat di New York bergegas pada hari Senin untuk menyelamatkan penduduk yang terdampar dari apa yang oleh pihak berwenang disebut "badai salju abad ini", badai tanpa henti yang telah menewaskan sedikitnya 28 orang di negara bagian itu dan menyebabkan kekacauan perjalanan Natal di AS.

Kondisi badai salju terus terjadi di beberapa bagian Timur Laut AS, sisa-sisa cuaca ekstrem yang membandel yang melanda negara itu selama beberapa hari, menyebabkan pemadaman listrik yang meluas, penundaan perjalanan, dan setidaknya 47 kematian di sembilan negara bagian.

Di negara bagian New York, pihak berwenang telah menggambarkan kondisi yang ganas, terutama di Buffalo, dengan pemadaman listrik selama berjam-jam, mayat ditemukan di dalam kendaraan dan di bawah gundukan salju, dan personel darurat pergi "mobil ke mobil" mencari lebih banyak pengendara - hidup atau mati.

A loader clears snow on December 26, 2022 in West Seneca, New York. The historic winter storm Elliott dumped up to four feet of snow on the area leaving thousands without power and twenty five confirmed dead in the city of Buffalo.

Badai sempurna dari badai salju yang ganas, angin menderu dan suhu di bawah nol memaksa pembatalan lebih dari 15.000 penerbangan AS dalam beberapa hari terakhir, termasuk setidaknya 2.600 pada hari Senin, menurut situs pelacakan Flightaware.com.

Buffalo, sebuah kota di Erie County yang tidak asing dengan cuaca musim dingin yang buruk adalah pusat krisis, terkubur di bawah salju yang sangat banyak.

"Tentu saja ini adalah badai salju abad ini," kata Gubernur Kathy Hochul kepada wartawan, menambahkan "terlalu dini untuk mengatakan ini sudah selesai."

Kathy Hochul mengatakan beberapa kota di New York bagian barat dilanda "30 hingga 40 inci (0,75 hingga 1 meter) salju dalam semalam."

Pada Senin malam, Hochul berbicara dengan Presiden Joe Biden, yang menawarkan "kekuatan penuh pemerintah federal" untuk mendukung negara bagian New York, dan mengatakan dia dan Ibu Negara Jill Biden sedang berdoa bagi mereka yang kehilangan orang yang dicintai dalam badai, menurut a pernyataan Gedung Putih.

Layanan Cuaca Nasional memperkirakan hingga 14 inci lagi pada hari Senin di samping beberapa kaki yang telah membuat kota terkubur salju, dengan para pejabat berjuang untuk membuat layanan darurat kembali online.

Kepala daerah Erie, Mark Poloncarz mengatakan dalam jumpa pers bahwa dia "sangat merasa pilu" saat melaporkan jumlah kematian terkait badai salju telah meningkat menjadi 25 di seluruh wilayah.

#buffaloblizzard
Currently on Linden Ave in North Buffalo pic.twitter.com/Y1phSO45HT

— Cheryl marranco (@cheryl_marranco) December 25, 2022

Poloncarz mengatakan jumlah kematian di Erie kemungkinan akan melampaui badai salju Buffalo yang terkenal pada tahun 1977, ketika hampir 30 orang meninggal.

"Kami memperkirakan akan ada lebih banyak" kematian akibat badai yang sedang berlangsung, tambahnya.

Dengan perkiraan lebih banyak salju dan sebagian besar Buffalo "tidak dapat dilewati", dia bergabung dengan Hochul untuk memperingatkan penduduk agar bersembunyi dan tetap di tempat.

'Memilukan'

Anggota Garda Nasional dan tim lain telah menyelamatkan ratusan orang dari mobil yang tertutup salju dan rumah tanpa listrik, tetapi pihak berwenang mengatakan masih banyak orang yang terjebak.

Sheriff Erie County, John Garcia, menyebutkan, badai itu "yang terburuk" yang pernah dia lihat, dengan periode jarak pandang nol dan pihak berwenang tidak dapat menanggapi panggilan darurat.

"Sungguh memilukan ketika Anda mendapat telepon di mana keluarga bersama anak-anak mereka dan mereka mengatakan mereka kedinginan," katanya kepada CNN.

Hochul, penduduk asli Buffalo, mengatakan dia terkejut dengan apa yang dilihatnya selama tur pengintaian kota.

"Ini (seperti) pergi ke zona perang, dan kendaraan di sepanjang sisi jalan mengejutkan," kata Hochul, menggambarkan arus setinggi delapan kaki (2,4 meter) terhadap rumah serta bajak salju dan kendaraan penyelamat "terkubur "di salju.

"Ini adalah perang dengan alam," katanya.

Cuaca ekstrem membuat suhu di bawah titik beku di 48 negara bagian AS yang berdekatan selama akhir pekan, termasuk di komunitas Texas di sepanjang perbatasan Meksiko di mana beberapa migran yang baru tiba berjuang untuk menemukan tempat berlindung.

Seseorang berjalan di jalan saat badai musim dingin melanda New York Barat Sabtu, 24 Desember 2022, di Amherst N.Y. Badai musim dingin yang melanda telah mematikan listrik ke ratusan ribu rumah, rumah, dan bisnis di seluruh Amerika Serikat pada hari Sabtu. Itu membuat jutaan lebih khawatir tentang prospek pemadaman lebih lanjut dan melumpuhkan polisi dan pemadam kebakaran. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Menyapu pemadaman listrik

Pada satu titik pada hari Sabtu, hampir 1,7 juta pelanggan tanpa listrik dalam cuaca dingin yang menggigit, menurut pelacak poweroutage.us.

Jumlah itu turun secara substansial, meski masih ada sekitar 50.000 tanpa listrik Senin tengah hari di pantai timur AS.

Karena gardu listrik yang membeku, beberapa penduduk Kabupaten Erie diperkirakan tidak akan mendapatkan kembali listrik sampai Selasa, dengan satu gardu dilaporkan terkubur di bawah salju setinggi 18 kaki, kata seorang pejabat senior daerah.

Bandara internasional Buffalo tetap ditutup hingga Selasa dan larangan mengemudi tetap berlaku untuk kota dan sebagian besar Erie County.

Kondisi jalan yang tertutup es dan whiteout juga menyebabkan penutupan sementara beberapa rute transportasi tersibuk di negara itu, termasuk bagian dari jalan raya Interstate 70 lintas negara.

Drivers were being warned not to take to the roads -- even as the nation reached what is usually its busiest time of year for travel.

Elon Musk Says Number of Starlink Devices in Iran Approaching 100

©AP Photo / Patrick Pleul

A total number of Starlink satellite internet terminals in Iran has been approaching 100 active devices, Elon Musk, SpaceX and Tesla founder and Twitter owner, said on Monday.

"Approaching 100 Starlinks active in Iran," Musk tweeted.

Approaching 100 Starlinks active in Iran

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 26, 2022

In October, White House officials and Musk reportedly negotiated the supply of the internet service to Iran as a way of supporting the protest movement.

Public demonstrations began across Iran following the death of 22-year old Mahsa Amini in September, allegedly at the hands of the country's so-called Morality Police for improperly wearing of a hijab. The Iranian authorities claim Amini died of a heart attack.

The billionaire had said in September that he would activate Starlink in Iran as part of a U.S.-backed effort "to advance internet freedom and the free flow of information" to Iranians.

The satellite-based broadband service could help Iranians circumvent the government's restrictions on accessing the internet and certain social media platforms amid protests around the country.

The Islamic Republic has been engulfed in protests that erupted after the death in September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody after being arrested by the morality police for wearing "unsuitable attire".

Starlink has more than 2,000 tiny satellites orbiting just a few hundred kilometres above Earth, providing internet access to users below.

The land-based terminals are then wired up to basic routers that create small Wi-fi spots.

Earlier this year, controversial billionaire Musk gained hero status in Ukraine after sending thousands of Starlink terminals to the country in the days after Russia’s invasion.

Ukraine now has 20,000 of the small white receivers throughout the country

Twitter head Musk’s Monday message was posted in response to a user whose video they said was taken in the “streets of Iran”, where there is now “more freedom for the women to choose whether they cover their hair or not”.

The post appeared to reference protests that swept Iran and the world after the September death of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini following her arrest in Tehran for an alleged breach of the country’s strict dress code for women.

Iran has unleashed a crackdown arresting around 14,000 people, according to the UN, and killing 469 protesters according to Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR).

The country’s top security body in early December gave a toll of more than 200 people killed, including security officers.

The authorities had already restricted access to Instagram and WhatsApp – until this autumn the last remaining unfiltered social media services – and then clamped down on apps like the Google Play Store as well as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) that seek to circumvent local access restrictions.

Iranians have long used VPNs to access sites blocked in Iran – even government officials including the foreign minister have Twitter accounts despite the network being blocked in the country.

Dilaporkan ke KPK karena Dugaan Penyelewengan Bantuan, Bupati Cianjur: Silakan Cek ke Gudang

Bupati Cianjur Herman Suherman(KOMPAS.COM/FIRMAN TAUFIQURRAHMAN)

Bupati Cianjur, Herman Suherman, menanggapi santai pelaporan dirinya ke Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) dengan aduan dugaan penyelewengan bantuan bagi korban gempa. Herman percaya KPK akan menilai mana yang benar atau salah.

"Ah itu mah silakan saja. KPK juga nanti akan menilai. Ini benar atau tidak, akan menilai kan," kata Herman kepada wartawan di Pendopo Cianjur, Senin malam, 26 Desember 2022.

Kalau informasi pelaporan itu tidak benar, Herman mengaku tidak akan melakukan langkah hukum apapun. Herman pun mengaku akan menyampaikan apa adanya jika nanti dipanggil KPK untuk dimintai keterangan.

"Akan saya sampaikan apa adanya. Saya sampaikan apa adanya kondisi Cianjur seperti ini," jelas Herman.

Herman mengaku mengetahui adanya bantuan tersebut. Ia menyarankan wartawan mengecek ke gudang agar lebih jelas.

Itu adalah tanggapan dari Bupati Cianjur Herman Suherman menanggapi adanya pelaporan atas dirinya ke Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK).

Herman dilaporkan atas dugaan penyelewengan bantuan gempa oleh Acsenahumanis Respon Foundation.

Menurut Herman, sangat keterlaluan apabila dirinya menjual bantuan ke pasar sebagaimana yang dituduhkan.

“Saya terlalu naif kalau harus menjual barang-barang bantuan, masyarakat Cianjur kasihan. Bupati banyak kerjaan yang lain,” kata Herman saat dikonfirmasi wartawan di Pendopo bupati, pada hari Senin malam, 26/12/2022.

Herman menjelaskan bahwa, setiap bantuan yang diterima pemerintah daerah tercatat dan terdokumentasikan

“Terima apa saja dan itu ada tanda terimanya. Setelah itu ada permintaan dari masyarakat, melalui RT, RW, kades, camat. Setelah diverifikasi lalu disalurkan bantuannya, dan itu semua tercatat, ada buku catatannya,” terang Herman.

Terkait bantuan dari pihak asing yang dipersoalkan tersebut, Herman meminta para pihak untuk melakukan pengecekan langsung ke gudang.

"Saya tahu ada bantuan itu. Silakan cek ke sana (gudang). Tanggal berapa menerimanya, dikirim ke mana-mana saja. Seperti itu saja yang kemarin ramai, tenda. Silakan, diterimanya tanggal berapa, dikirim ke mana. Rendang, juga tanya, dapat berapa, dikirim ke mana sudah jelas. Tinggal tanya, cek ke lapangan," tuturnya

“Silakan cek ke gudang, tanggal berapa penerimaannya, dikirim ke mana saja, transparan,” ujar dia.

Herman menjelaskan setiap bantuan ada yang melalui pemerintah daerah, ada juga yang disalurkan langsung ke masyarakat. Bantuan yang melalui pemerintah daerah dipastikan akan tercatat dalam pembukuan serta ada tanda terimanya.

"Setelah itu kan ada permintaan dari masyarakat yang melalui RT, RW, kades, dan camat. Setelah verifikasi diberikanlah oleh penjaga gudang. Dan itu ada buku catatannya, ke siapa, jam berapa, dan fotonya juga ada. Itu langsung di-SPJ-kan. Sehingga setiap hari, setiap minggu ada pemasukan, pengeluaran, dan saldo di gudang," ungkapnya.

Karena itu Herman memastikan dirinya tidak mungkin menjual bantuan ke pasar. Ia menegaskan dirinya masih banyak pekerjaan mengurusi para pengungsi korban gempa yang hingga saat ini masih cukup banyak yang tinggal di pengungsian.

"Mohon maaf ya, mohon maaf, bantuan itu gak sampai dijual bupati ke pasar. Maenya bantuan dijual bupati ke pasar atuh (masak bantuan dijual bupati ke pasar). Aduh keterlaluan. Bupati banyak kerjaan. Bupati banyak kerjaan yang lain. Tinggal itu mah silakan saja. Saya terlalu naif lah kalau harus menjual barang-barang bantuan. Masyarakat Cianjur kasihan," terangnya.

Bahkan Herman selalu mengingatkan ke setiap perangkat daerah tidak bermain-main dengan bantuan untuk korban gempa. Malahan sejatinya para pejabat harus bisa menambah bantuan.

"Saya sampaikan, kalau ada yang mengkorupsi uang atau barang, itu hukumannya mati. Hati-hati jangan sampai hal tersebut disalahgunakan," jelasnya

Merespons pelaporan dirinya tersebut, Herman mengaku tidak akan mengambil langkah apapun saat ini.

“Slakan saja. KPK juga nanti akan menilai ini benar atau tidak. Saat ini saya fokus saja bekerja untuk rakyat. Rakyat masih di tenda-tenda (pengungsian), itu tugas kita, tugas pemerintah,” tandas Herman.

French Doctors Launch Week-Long Strike to Double Patient Admission Fees

French health workers launch week-long holiday strike

French general practitioners, as well as doctors of other specialties in private practice, have gone on strike from Monday to January 2, demanding double fees for receiving patients, BFMTV reported

In an interview published Monday by Le Parisien-Aujourd'hui en France (The Parisian-Today in France), Health Minister Marisol Touraine said she was “confident” that patients would receive necessary care during the strike but urged “vigilence”.

The doctors are calling for a reduction in working hours to 48 hours per week – down from the current 60 – and for overtime to be granted to anyone working more than 39 hours a week.

AFP

The strike is supported by 63 percent of the French with 36 percent opposed, according to an OpinionWay survey published in Le Figaro.

Doctors are calling on their colleagues to close offices from Monday, demanding an increase in patient admission fees from 25 euros ($27) to 50 euros, as well as better working conditions, the report read.

This is the second such protest in a month, after doctors went on strike across the country in early December.

The strike is organized by the association Doctors for Tomorrow (Medecins pour demain), created in September 2022 to draw attention to the shortage of doctors in the country and the difficult conditions in which they work, as well as trade unions SML (Syndicat des Medecins Liberaux), FMF (Federation des Medecins de France) and UFMLS (Union Francaise pour une Medecine Libre), according to the report.

Doctors complain about overcrowded hospitals amid ongoing epidemics of influenza, coronavirus and bronchiolitis in the country, the report read.

Negotiations between the ministry of health and emergency physicians continued throughout the weekend. While doctors praised the “significant” progress made during the talks, it was not enough to prompt them to end their calls for a strike.

The Association of Emergency Physicians of France (AMUF) expects some 80 percent of emergency room workers to take part in the strike.

But the action is not expected to compromise hospital care over the holidays. Strikers will be wearing white badges to show their solidarity with the strike action, but will continue to work.

A general practitioner receives a patient for a vaccination in 2021. (Photo by Fred SCHEIBER / AFP)

"There are epidemics, but there are also chronic patients. Today we no longer have the capacity to manage our patients, whether they are newborns or the elderly. We have whole waiting lists for consultations," general practitioner Florence Lapica said, as quoted by the broadcaster.

This strike will not be as massive as the December 1 and 2 actions, when up to 30% of offices were closed, but industry professionals are reportedly preparing a large nationwide action on January 5.

In summer, strikes by medical workers were held across France, to demand higher wages and more staff, and express dissatisfaction with the authorities' health care policies.

Trade unions previously noted that France was facing a health care crisis, and health care workers have been trying to draw attention to the situation in public hospitals, medical and social institutions for the past three years.

Doctors are also protesting against a bill that would allow nurses to write certain prescriptions, which is a policy aimed at preventing the collapse of the public health system.

The ongoing 7-day strike was called by the Union of Doctors in Free Practice, (SML), the Federation of Doctors of France (FMF), and the French Union for a Free Medicine (UFMLS).

The doctors' strike comes amid rising inflation that has mobilized other workers to protest. Last week, the workers of the national railway company SNCF were also on strike, which ended temporarily thanks to an agreement reached on Friday.

Originally initiated by the collective “Doctors for Tomorrow”, unions such as Generalists-CSMF and Jeunes Médecins have joined in calling on médecine géneralists (GPs or family doctors) to “be united in anger” and to close their practices for two days.

The idea to close down GP practices during the first few days of December was originally born in September, when members of the small Facebook group “Doctors for Tomorrow” began discussing their frustrations with their careers – as doctors say they do not have enough time for proper consultations and are not happy with the fees set by the government.

France and other European countries are facing rising energy prices and a massive energy crisis amid ongoing energy policies, including the imposition of sanctions against Russia after the start of a special operation to protect Donbass