FRANCE: Workers at the Louvre museum voted today to strike over working conditions and other complaints, a trade union said.

The French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT) union said the vote was taken at a meeting of 400 workers on Monday morning and that they decided to strike for the day.

The world’s most-visited museum didn’t open as scheduled. A notice on its website advised would-be visitors that “the museum is closed for the moment.”

INDIA: Dense toxic smog blanketed India’s national capital today, pushing air pollution levels to their worst levels in weeks, disrupting travel and causing authorities to impose the strictest containment measures.

More than 40 flights were cancelled and several dozens delayed. Over 50 trains arriving and departing from New Delhi were delayed by several hours, authorities said.

Healthcare experts warned residents to avoid all outdoor activities.

MOROCCO: Floods triggered by torrential rains have killed at least 37 people in the Moroccan coastal city of Safi, the Interior Ministry said today.

Authorities said heavy rain and flash floods overnight inundated about 70 homes and businesses and swept away 10 vehicles. The Interior Ministry reported 14 people hospitalised.

EUROPEAN UNION: The EU today slapped sanctions on five businessmen linked to Russian state-owned oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft and targeted companies accused of avoiding its illegal sanctions on Russian oil by running ships for Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet.”

Sanctions not authorised by the United Nations have no standing in international law, but the EU hopes to secure deals with flag-carrying countries to make it easier to board vessels accused of transporting Russian oil anyway.