World briefs 10A

British firefighters begin new strike over pay

LONDON -- Firefighters walked off the job for the fifth time in three months Saturday, starting a 48-hour strike in their bitter dispute over pay.

Military crews with outdated trucks and equipment stood in once again for the 55,000 striking firefighters, on call to respond to emergencies starting at 9 a.m.

It was the 14th day of walkouts since the dispute began last year -- strikes have lasted as little as 24 hours and as long as eight days.

Fire Brigades Union officials said there was no sign of a resolution and that the dispute could drag on for months more.

The union has demanded a 40 percent raise but has indicated its members would settle for less. Local government employers are offering an 11 percent pay hike in return for changes in working practices, which the union says would cost 4,500 jobs.

Crowds rally in France to defend pension system

PARIS -- At least 150,000 people, some braving snow, poured into streets across France on Saturday to protest government plans to reform the country's generous -- but overburdened -- pension system.

In an uncommonly broad show of unity, major unions and labor federations led an estimated 100 rallies across the country to defend a system that enables people to retire at 60.

The demonstrations amounted to a shot across the bow for conservative Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who is expected to outline the proposed reforms on Monday.

In Paris, more than 25,000 people marched amid snow flurries. In northern Lille, about 4,500 protesters endured up to 6 inches of snow.

France's pension system is under pressure from a graying population. Experts say a cash crisis could cause the system to collapse by 2020 if nothing is done.

Two boats, 25 people missing in Philippines

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines -- Two boats with 25 people on board were missing Saturday as strong winds whipped up rough seas in the southern Philippines, officials said.

The ML Rabia, with eight crewmen and 11 passengers, left Taganak, about 590 miles southwest of Manila, on Tuesday but had not reached its destination, said Lt. Commander Epifanio Navarro. The trip usually takes two days, he said.

Another vessel, the ML Parhana-2, left Tawi-Tawi's Mapun island on Tuesday but failed to arrive in the port of Bongao. There was no word on what happened to the vessel, which had six crewmen on board.

Navarro said it was possible that the two boats, which were reported missing on Thursday, were delayed by rough seas.

-- From wire reports