Mayor targets $2.3m cleanup of Paris

PARIS • The mayor of Paris wants to spend €1.5 million (S$2.3 million) on a cleanup campaign, including ridding the city of rats.

Mayor Anne Hidalgo told a weekly magazine out on Sunday that greater cleanliness is a "priority" that also requires more sanitation workers and health inspectors.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Strike hits rail travel in England's cities

LONDON • Rail workers in northern England joined their London colleagues in strike action yesterday, causing travel disruption in some of England's biggest cities.

They are supporting their RMT union in a dispute with operator Govia Thameslink Railway over staffing numbers and who should open train doors at stations.

REUTERS

Nato allies urged to hike defence budget

BRUSSELS • Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg yesterday told allies to boost defence spending, as demanded by US President Donald Trump, if they want to preserve crucial transatlantic defence ties.

He said in Nato's 2016 annual report that members of the military bloc must redouble efforts in 2017 to keep to a pledge to each spend at least 2 per cent of their gross domestic product on defence - a target only five of 28 allies now achieve.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE