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The fact that Charles had picked France and Germany for his first state visit, even before his coronation in May, was an important "European gesture", said German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who greeted Charles and his wife Queen Consort Camilla in Berlin. "Today, exactly six years after Britain started its exit from the European Union, we are opening a new chapter in our relations," Steinmeier said. [1/14] Britain's King Charles III and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier review an honor guard during a ceremonial welcome at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, on March 29, 2023. Steinmeier said he had invited Charles to visit Germany at Elizabeth's funeral last September. However, any warmer relations with Europe brought about by the visit could cool if other post-Brexit issues flare up.

☆ Paris police 'very vigilant' ahead of new round of pension protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A protester walks his dog wearing a CGT labour union vest during a demonstration as part of the tenth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French government's pension reform in Nice, France, March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Eric GaillardPARIS, March 28 (Reuters) - French police are on the lookout for more protesters bent on violence joining marches against planned pension reform, the chief of police in Paris said on Tuesday, hours before a new round of country-wide demonstrations and strikes. Laurent Nunez, president of Paris's Prefecture de Police, told France Inter radio that security agencies believed more people intent on violence could join the protests and police had to be ready. "We are talking about individuals which often are being monitored by intelligence services ... and we are very vigilant about their presence," Nunez said. A total of 13,000 police agents will be deployed during the protests throughout the day, more than ever before, Darmanin said.

☆ New protests against Macron and his pension bill amid warnings of violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Ingrid Melander | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Protests against President Emmanuel Macron's plans to delay retirement age by two years to 64 had been largely peaceful so far. In the last nationwide day of protests on Thursday, "Black Bloc" anarchists smashed shop windows, demolished bus stops and ransacked a McDonald's restaurant in Paris, with similar violence in other cities. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin warned on Monday that there was "a very serious risk" of further violence on Tuesday, in the capital and beyond. The government says the pension bill is vital to ensure the system does not go bust. Macron responded that he is more than willing to talk to unions, but on other topics.

[1/2] Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla leave after their visit to the Bolton Town Hall, in Bolton, Britain January 20, 2023. Steinmeier, said it was an important "European gesture" that Charles had chosen France and Germany for his first state visit, even before his coronation in May. Steinmeier said he had extended an invitation to Charles, who has traveled to Germany more than 40 times, at the funeral of his mother last September. However, any warmer relations with Europe brought about by the visit could cool quickly if other post-Brexit issues flare up. Macron has suggested Charles' visit to France could be rescheduled for the summer.

☆ Fact Check-Video of police personnel dropping their handcuffs predates the protests against Macron’s pension changes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Video of French police personnel discarding their handcuffs in a protest in 2020 has been shared online as depicting the officers joining protests in France against President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to raise the pension age. A tweet sharing the miscaptioned video has been viewed more than 128,000 times at the time of writing (here). The clip can be seen at the 00:30 mark of a video shared by Russian news agency Ruptly in 2020 (here). The video was filmed during widely reported demonstrations in France in June 2020 in response to tougher measures imposed on the police force. The video shows French police personnel discarding their handcuffs in a demonstration in 2020.

☆ Pension reform protesters block Paris' Louvre
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsPension reform protesters block Paris' LouvrePostedTrade union protesters angered by President Emmanuel Macron's move to raise the French retirement age without a final vote in parliament blocked the Louvre museum in Paris on Monday, frustrating crowds of visitors.

☆ French pension protest blocks entry to Louvre museum
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] French police look on as protesters holding French CGT labour union flags in front of the glass Pyramid block the entrance of the Louvre museum to protest against the French government's pension reform, in Paris, France, March 27, 2023. REUTERS/Marco TrujilloPARIS, March 27 (Reuters) - Trade union protesters angered by President Emmanuel Macron's move to raise the French retirement age without a final vote in parliament blocked the Louvre museum in Paris on Monday, frustrating crowds of visitors. Demonstrating peacefully against plans to make most French work an extra two years to 64 to balance the pension budget, a small number of protesters gathered at the foot of the Louvre's glass pyramid. The protest came one day ahead of a 10th round of nationwide strikes and street marches and followed violence in cities across France over the pension system changes. Separately, Paris police said they were carrying out an operation to prevent unauthorised gatherings in front of the Centre Pomopidou, another landmark museum in Paris.

Two of Germany's largest airports, Munich and Frankfurt, suspended flights, while long-distance rail services were cancelled by rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DBN.UL). "Millions of passengers who depend on buses and trains are suffering from this excessive, exaggerated strike," a Deutsche Bahn spokesperson said on Monday. At the same time, in France they go on strike all the time about something," said passenger Lars Boehm. The head of the Bundesbank Joachim Nagel said last week Germany needed to avoid a price-wage spiral. "Despite signs of second-round effects, we have not observed a destabilising price-wage spiral in Germany so far."

☆ Streets of Paris set ablaze in pension protest
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsStreets of Paris set ablaze in pension protestPostedEmergency services extinguished fires on the streets of Paris on Thursday (March 23) after demonstrators set trash ablaze during protesters against President Emmanuel Macron's plan to raise the pension age.

[1/4] Britain's King Charles waves as he arrives for a visit to the new European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London, Britain March 23, 2023. Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool via REUTERSPARIS, March 24 (Reuters) - Britain's King Charles on Friday cancelled a state visit to France after social unrest over President Emmanuel Macron's new pension law erupted into some of the worst street violence seen in years across the country. "The King and The Queen Consort's State Visit to France has been postponed. Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said. A Buckingham Palace source said Charles' visit to Germany will go ahead as planned.

☆ France looks to AI-powered surveillance to secure Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Layli Foroudi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PARIS, March 23 (Reuters) - France's National Assembly on Thursday approved the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) video surveillance during the 2024 Paris Olympics, overlooking warnings from civil rights groups that the technology posed a threat to civil liberties. If formally adopted, France would become the first country in the European Union to legalise AI-powered surveillance. That would be setting a worrying surveillance precedent, a group of several dozen European lawmakers said last week. The plan to deploy AI surveillance has met strong resistance from rights groups such as Amnesty International and digital rights groups. Access Now's Leufer questioned the utility of AI in spotting would-be attackers because of the complexities in training algorithms on rare incidents.

☆ Protesters in Paris torch trash over pension reform
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsProtesters in Paris torch trash over pension reformPostedProtesters set piles of rubbish on fire in central Paris on Monday (March 20) after President Emmanuel Macron's government narrowly survived a no-confidence motion in parliament on Monday over a deeply unpopular pension reform.

☆ Protests as French govt survives no-confidence vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsProtests as French govt survives no-confidence votePostedProtesters set piles of rubbish on fire in central Paris on Monday after President Emmanuel Macron's government narrowly survived a no-confidence motion in parliament on Monday over a deeply unpopular pension reform. Flora Bradley-Watson reports.

A successful no-confidence vote would fell the government and kill the legislation, which is set to raise the retirement age by two years to 64. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Sunday called the votes "a moment of truth" for the government. Senior officials from the conservative Les Republicains (LR) party have said they will not get behind the no-confidence motions. Le Monde calculated that at least 26 LR lawmakers would need to back the motion for it to succeed. Even if the motions flop, Macron's failure to find enough support in parliament to put his pension system overhaul to a vote has undermined his reformist agenda and weakened his leadership, observers say.

☆ French strikes continue to block refinery shipments and LNG terminals
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Forrest Crellin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Eric GaillardPARIS, March 20 (Reuters) - Shipments of refined products from French refinery and depots were blocked on Monday by a 13th day of strike action, though some refineries operated with a reduced flow. The cost of keeping LR2 vessels floating outside ports is leading many traders to avoid shipments into France, traders said. Strikes also continued through the weekend and into Monday at ExxonMobil (XOM.N) subsidiary Esso's Fos refinery, blocking deliveries, CGT union representative Germinal Lancelin said. At French liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, the strike was extended until March 27 at the three terminals operated by Engie (ENGIE.PA) subsidiary Elengy, a union representative said. Another vote will be held later this week, possibly on Wednesday, on whether to take further strike action, the representative added.

☆ On the picket line with Paris garbage collectors
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsOn the picket line with Paris garbage collectorsPostedMeet the Paris garbage collectors who have spent two weeks on the picket lines protesting French President Emmanuel Macron's pensions reform. Like other workers, they're angered by the government forcing the measure through, and gearing up for a day of industrial action this week. Lucy Fielder has more.

☆ Burnt rubbish on Paris streets after pension protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsBurnt rubbish on Paris streets after pension protestsPostedCars were torched in Paris and other French cities overnight during otherwise peaceful demonstrations after President Emmanuel Macron's decision to push through a contested pension overhaul without a vote. "Something fundamental happened, and that is that, immediately, spontaneous mobilizations took place throughout the country," hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon said.

☆ Analysis: Macron wins Pyrrhic victory on pension bill, risks fuelling anger
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Michel Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

By using special constitutional powers instead of risking lawmakers rejecting the reform, Macron has given ammunition to the opposition and to trade union leaders who cast the reform as undemocratic. LE PEN AMBUSHTo be sure, claims of authoritarianism by the pension bill's critics are far-fetched. Political observers say Le Pen played her hand well. "Mrs Le Pen is ready for the ambush," Laurent Berger, the head of the moderate CFDT union said on Thursday, hours before the vote. But the end of debates in parliament may do little to quell anger on the streets.

[1/8] Protesters, holding a placard which reads "Members of parliament, do not vote the pension reform bill", gather in front of the National Assembly in Paris as French parliament set to vote on pensions reform bill, France, March 16, 2023. The afternoon vote in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, is a different matter. "It seems that the tally does not ensure a win in the National Assembly," Bruno Retailleau, the head of the LR senators told Public Senat TV. It could decide to resort to a procedure known as "49:3", which would allow it to push the text through without a vote. "If this reform is adopted, the anger and the contestation of this reform will not end," Laurent Berger, the head of CFDT, France's largest union, told franceinfo.

[1/11] Protesters take part in a demonstration against the French government's pension reform plan, as part of the eighth day of national strike and protests, in Ancenis-Saint-Gereon, France, March 15, 2023. The pension bill passed to a joint parliamentary committee on Wednesday where lawmakers from the lower and upper chambers are seeking a compromise text. If a deal is reached, a final vote in both the Senate and National Assembly will be held on Thursday. This new day of protests "is meant to tell lawmakers: don't vote this reform," he said. "In the National Assembly, there will not be an easy vote, nor will there be panic," government spokesman Olivier Veran told Europe 1 radio station.

☆ French refinery strikes renewed for sixth day
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, March 13 (Reuters) - Strikes blocking fuel deliveries from French refineries continued for a sixth day on Monday, after the Senate voted over the weekend to adopt President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular pension reform plan. TotalEnergies' refineries and depots remained blocked, with 41% of the operators on the morning shift joining the strike, a company spokesperson said. ExxonMobil's (XOM.N) subsidiary Esso's Fos refinery in France was also blocked, a CGT union spokesperson said. There was no strike at the Port Jerome site, but that could resume on Wednesday, the union spokesperson said. The Senate voted on Saturday to adopt Macron's pension reform plan, which among other measures raises the retirement age by two years to 64.

☆ TotalEnergies: Strike continues for sixth day at company's French sites
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PARIS, March 12 (Reuters) - TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) said on Sunday the rolling strike over the government's planned pension reform continued for the sixth day running at its French refineries and depots, an company spokesperson told Reuters. The French Senate on Saturday night passed President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular plan, an important step in it becoming law, shortly after a seventh day of demonstrations that were not as large as authorities had expected. Reporting by Forrest Crellin; Editing by Benoit Van OverstraetenOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ French Senate votes for Macron's pension plan, despite new protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 19: People gather to demonstrate against pension reform in Paris, France on January 19, 2023. Workers, employees, and students hold a strike against French President's plan to raise the legal retirement age from 62 to 64. (Photo by Julien Mattia/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)The French Senate on Saturday night adopted President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular pension reform plan in the wake of a seventh day of demonstrations that were not as large as authorities had expected. The protests - and rolling strikes that have affected refineries, public transport and garbage collections - aimed to pressure the government to withdraw the pension plan, which it said is essential to ensure the pension system does not run out of money. "After hundreds of hours of discussions, the Senate adopted the pension reform plan.

☆ French union leader vows to keep fighting Macron's pension plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, March 12 (Reuters) - French unions will keep on fighting against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform plan despite the upper house of parliament approving the text on Saturday, a leader of one of the main unions said on Sunday. "Given the mobilisation of the population, the level of opposition to the plan (...) you cannot resort to a democratic flaw by using this 49:3 procedure," he said on BFM TV. "In my opinion, (using 49:3) would be very dangerous as it risks creating a great degree of bitterness," Berger added. French unions have called for an eighth round of nationwide demonstrations on that day to keep up the pressure on the government and parliament. Reporting by Benoit Van Overstraeten; Editing by Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ France faces another day of nationwide protests against Macron's pension plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, March 11 (Reuters) - France faced a seventh day of demonstrations on Saturday against President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular pension reform plans amid ongoing rolling strikes which have affected refineries, public transport and garbage collections. Demonstrations started at 10 a.m (0900 GMT) in the streets of major cities including Toulouse and Nice. Opinion polls show a majority of voters oppose Macron's plan, while a slim majority supports the strike actions. An additional day of nationwide strikes and protests is planned for March 15. Reporting by Tangi Salaun, Forrest Crellin and Benoit Van Overstraeten; Editing by Mike HarrisonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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