France

France's citizens have protested for months over what appears to be the extension of the retirement age by two years. But the issue runs deeper. The public is upset at the president who they believe was voted in to do nothing.

French police clashed with hundreds of black-clad anarchists in Paris and other cities during union-led protests against President Emmanuel Macron's increase in the retirement age, as workers staged Labour Day rallies across Europe.

When Macron attended a football match on Saturday, he was met with activists waving red cards.

He has faced a hailstorm of criticism after forcing the pensions law through the lower house of parliament without a vote using a controversial constitutional power.

Food suppliers need to demonstrate transparency across the global supply chain, with French health authorities confirming that the E. coli bacteria infection and complications were the cause of the death of a child.

Some 380,000 people took to the streets nationwide on Thursday in the latest day of union-led action against the bill since January.

France's proposed pension program is similar in some ways to other countries. However, French citizens oppose this plan and demand a better solution.

If the law is approved, it remains to be seen if unions will call more strikes.

The Head of China Research at the French Institute of International Relations says that Macron's hopes of China acting as mediator in Ukraine are unrealistic.

China views democratic, self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day, by force if necessary.

France, the "country of a thousand cheeses", is often a source of inspiration.

The UK has been grappling with a surge in cross-Channel arrivals for around five years.

Macron said that nationwide union-led protests and strikes against contentious pension reforms prevented France from hosting Charles in the manner it had hoped.

France held on to beat Ireland 1-0 in Dublin on Monday to win their second Euro 2024 qualifier, while the Netherlands eased past Gibraltar 3-0.

A state visit to France by Britain's King Charles III, which had been due to begin on Sunday, was postponed because of the unrest.

Opposition parties are hoping the Council will rule against the government over the reform because of the way it was forced through parliament without a vote.

Police fired tear gas and fought with violent black-clad anarchists in Paris and across France on Thursday as hundreds of thousands of protesters marched against President Emmanuel Macron's plan to raise the pension age.

French President Emmanuel Macron drew an angry response from unions and opposition parties on Wednesday when he said he would press on with plans to raise the pension age, rejecting calls for a U-turn in response to growing public anger.

Oil refinery workers and bin collectors in France have gone on a strike, with another day of protests planned for Thursday just before King Charles's visit.

A French journalist and a US aid worker who had been kidnapped by jihadists in the Sahel have been released, an AFP journalist saw Monday.

President Emanuel Macron faces a critical moment on Monday when the National Assembly is due to vote on no-confidence motions.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will agree closer defence and security ties with French President Emmanuel Macron when they meet on Friday, committing to greater collaboration in supporting Ukraine and in the Indo-Pacific region.

Oil steadied on Thursday after a two-day decline as strike-disrupted fuel supply in France, a drop in U.S.

Swiss fragrance and flavour maker Givaudan said on Tuesday that it was being investigated by European Union and Swiss antitrust authorities.

Labour unions will seek to bring France to a standstill on Tuesday, as they step up their fight against President Emmanuel Macron's plans to make the French work two years more, to 64, before they can retire with a pension.

The new legislation comes days before a summit Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron, where enhancing cooperation to "stop the boats" is expected to feature high on the agenda.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has reached a deal with the country's main supermarket chains to help shoppers cope with food price inflation, he said on Monday.

France faces massive strikes over pension reform.

King Charles III will make his state first state visits as UK monarch when he travels to France and Germany later this month, Buckingham Palace announced Friday.

Paris Fashion Week launched Monday with touches of scandal and grief, as Balenciaga tries to move past recent controversies while Vivienne Westwood and Paco Rabanne hold their first shows since their founders' deaths.