Bestselling author Alvin Toffler dies

LOS ANGELES • Alvin Toffler, the United States author and visionary known for several world bestsellers, including Future Shock and The Third Wave, has died at age 87.

He died late on Monday, Toffler Associates, the consultancy firm he founded, said in a statement without giving a reason for his death.

Mr Toffler accurately predicted economic and technological developments - including cloning and the Internet - as well as the social effects they helped bring about, including social alienation, the decline of the nuclear family, and rising crime and drug use.

He is to be buried in a private ceremony in Los Angeles.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

French unions reject amendments

PARIS • French government efforts to end a sometimes violent showdown with trade unions over plans to loosen labour laws were dealt a blow yesterday when unions rejected new amendments.

Unions opposing the Bill have scheduled a protest on Tuesday.

President Francois Hollande wants to make it easier for firms to hire and fire staff in an effort to bring down unemployment before next year's presidential election, but unions say the reforms erode workers' rights.

One of the contentious articles focuses on handing more power to individual companies to negotiate pay and working conditions.

REUTERS