France

The European country's President Emmanuel Macron has told Britain's monarch not to travel across the channel this weekend amid the violent protests. The 74-year ...

King Charles's state visit to France has been postponed amid planned protests over the French government's controversial pension reforms.

Charles and Camilla were due to travel from France to Germany on Wednesday for a state visit. However a decision to postpone the visit was made after In Bordeaux, demonstrators set fire to the entrance of the city hall during skirmishes with police, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.

King Charles III's state visit to France has been postponed after a request by President Emmanuel Macron, Downing Street says. The president said "we would ...

The King and Camilla were due to ride along the Champs-Elysées in the heart of Paris and have a banquet at Versailles with President Macron. Dining with a king in Versailles would have been jarringly inappropriate and could have played rather too directly into the hands of his detractors. "I listened to Macron yesterday and it was as if someone was spitting in our face," said Adèle, a 19-year-old law student in Nanterre. The town hall, its front door set alight on Thursday, was due to be part of the visit. Interior Minister Mr Darmanin said earlier on Friday that there were "no known threats" to the King. All the background briefing had been that this was an important diplomatic statement about rebuilding relationships with European neighbours. The decision is a significant loss of face for France and for President Macron. [Camilla was expected to open an art exhibition](https://www.royal.uk/king-and-queen-consort-will-undertake-state-visits-france-and-germany) at one of the main Paris attractions, the Musée d'Orsay. Some UK journalists had already travelled to Paris to cover the event. Mr Macron said France had proposed moving the trip to early summer, "when things calm down again". Several French cities saw violence on the sidelines of Thursday's largely peaceful demonstrations that attracted more than a million people. Common sense and friendship led us to suggest a postponement."

The joint decision was taken by the British and French governments after trade unions called for further strikes.

"There are protests and strikes everywhere." I don't know, that's weird." "We're not bad people. Charles' trip would have included a lavish banquet at the Palace of Versailles. A British government spokesperson said the decision was "taken with the consent of all parties" after Macron asked the British government to postpone the visit. "Common sense and friendship pushed us to propose to postpone (the visit)."

PARIS—Since he took office six years ago, French President Emmanuel Macron has hardly had a moment of plain sailing. First came the so-called yellow vests, ...

[30 percent](https://www.oecd.org/governance/trust-in-government/) of the French said they had confidence in the government, more than 10 points lower than the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development average. “We can expect [Macron’s] Renaissance party to struggle in the European elections,” Belin said. In a sign that despite the tensions it’s still possible to find some common ground, text that facilitates the construction of new nuclear reactors was approved with a large majority by the National Assembly this week. [polls](https://www.ifop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/119808-Rapport.pdf), Le Pen is the public figure that best embodies the opposition to Macron’s pension reform, closely followed by radical left-wing firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon. With the exception of budget bills, the 49.3 procedure can only be invoked once per parliamentary term, and Macron, who still has four years in the top job, will need to reach out to the opposition to get things done. The article is a key provision of a constitution largely shaped by former French President Charles de Gaulle’s desire to have a stable political system as he established the Fifth Republic in 1958, after a decade of short-lived, inefficient cabinets. With his time in office going by fast, “he is trying to push through at all costs a number of reforms that he considers essential.” “They want to govern by decree, without the National Assembly,” said Raquel Garrido, a parliamentarian with La France Insoumise left-wing party. Meanwhile, thousands of tons of trash continue to pile up in the streets of Paris and other cities, as a result of rolling walkouts by garbage collectors. Macron has always aspired to play a large role in Europe and beyond, and observers expect him to focus even more on international issues in the coming years in a bid to seek respite from his troubles at home. With two-thirds of the French Strikers are disrupting public transport and road traffic in parts of the country on a daily basis as well as blockading several oil refineries and depots, causing fuel shortages at gas stations and airports.

Fury at President Emmanuel Macron's decision to bypass parliament on pension reform has sparked days of unrest across the country, reviving scrutiny of ...

“The president seems in no mood to compromise, so we can only imagine the crisis will drag on.” In the current context, Roché added, heavy-handed policing stems from the “crisis of authority” undermining Macron’s minority and deeply unpopular government. “It follows a nationwide strategy, which is why you see large-scale arrests everywhere and not at the discretion of local police forces.” On Friday, the Council of Europe became the latest body to condemn police’s “excessive use of force”. He also accused trade unions of refusing to seek a compromise. “This could end up in tragedy: the death of a protester.” Meanwhile, lawmakers from the left-wing opposition denounced a campaign aimed at intimidating protesters with threats of arrest. In Paris alone, more than 420 people were detained during the first three days of protests triggered by Macron’s decision to bypass parliament last Thursday. He pointed to a special motorised unit known as the BRAV-M, whose baton-wielding officers are frequently accused of beating people at random – be they protesters, bystanders or journalists covering the rallies. “By remaining invisible, we avoid contact with the hardliners who are merely looking for a fight.” Heavy-handed police tactics have in turn exacerbated the unrest, in a spiral of violence that France is all too familiar with. Darmanin, typically considered a hardliner in Macron’s government, was among ministers who pleaded with the president not to trigger article 49.3 – and for good reason.

A total of 457 people were arrested and 441 security forces injured on Thursday during nationwide protests against French President Emmanuel Macron's ...

We should accept a democratic, social debate, but not a violent debate.” Police had warned that anarchist groups were expected to infiltrate the Paris march and young men wearing hoods and facemasks were seen smashing windows and setting fire to uncollected rubbish in the latter stages of the demonstration. “There were a lot of demonstrations and some of them turned violent, notably in Paris,” Darmanin added, saying the toll was “difficult” while praising the police for protecting the more than million people who marched around France.

Police fired tear gas at protesters in the capital and 80 people were arrested across the country. The demonstrations were sparked by legislation raising the ...

All my gratitude to the police and rescue forces mobilized.” “If Mr Macron can’t remember this historic reality, I don’t know what he is doing here”. The government is hoping that the protests will lose momentum, and that the violence on the streets will turn people away. Police fired tear gas at protesters in the capital and 80 people were arrested across the country. The demonstrations were sparked by legislation raising the retirement age by two years to 64. More than a million people took to the streets across France on Thursday, with 119,000 in Paris, according to figures from the interior ministry.

Ahead of the strike, French authorities had mobilized 12,000 police officers throughout the country, including 5,000 in Paris.

“It’s in the greater interest of the country. The country’s generous pension system and early retirement have been a point of pride since they were enacted after World War II. This state visit will be rescheduled as soon as possible,” the statement continued. And earlier in the day, about 70 protesters blocked terminal one at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport, an airport spokesperson told CNN. Despite protests, Macron’s government has not backed down. Unionized workers blockaded a major oil refinery in Normandy and another one in Fos-sur-Mer in the south of the country, according to a government spokesperson.

The decision followed a 10th day of pension protests planned on Tuesday, France's Elysée Palace said. The BBC reports that the trip to Paris and Bordeaux had ...

France and Netherlands look to stamp their authority as two titans clash in their first match of the Euro 2024 Qualifying campaign.

With Louis Van Gaal ending his third spell as Netherland’s manager, former Barcelona leader Ronald Koeman will be in charge of the national team during their visit to France. France possesses a majestic record against their opposition of the night. But the French team’s record at home could be a point of concern for Didier Deschamps as his side struggled against Croatia and Denmark losing both games in the Nations League last year.

Kylian Mbappe marked his first game as France captain on Friday with two goals and an assist as the World Cup finalists romped to a 4-0 win against a ...

There was a touch of real class about the third goal as Kolo Muani’s decision not to touch Aurelien Tchouameni’s through ball completely did for the Netherlands defence and left Mbappe through to beat the goalkeeper. Dayot Upamecano bundled in the second goal in the eighth minute and Mbappe got his name on the scoresheet to make it 3-0 before the midway point in the first half. Kylian Mbappe marked his first game as France captain on Friday with two goals and an assist as the World Cup finalists romped to a 4-0 win against a depleted Netherlands side in a Euro 2024 qualifier in Paris.

A planned visit to France from Sunday by King Charles III has been postponed due to ongoing protests over pension reform, the French presidency announced.

After France Charles was expected to travel to Germany on Wednesday. The entrance to the public building was set on fire on Thursday. Charles was due to arrive with Queen Consort Camilla on Sunday evening before spending a day in Paris on Monday and travelling to Bordeaux in the southwest on Tuesday.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice and assisted while wearing the armband, while Antoine Griezmann continued his electric form to lift France to a 4-0 win.

[Nigeria 0-1 Guinea-Bissau: How did THAT happen?](/en-ng/lists/nigeria-0-1-guinea-bissau-trying-to-explain-super-eagles-disaster/blt8af85e43b00b0e52) [‘Guinea fowl beat Super Chickens’, ‘They were Super Pigeons today’, ‘Most useless team on the planet?’](/en-ng/lists/guinea-fowl-beat-super-chickens-they-were-super-pigeons-today-most-useless-team-on-the-planet/blt3a725301e17cd3f0) [Nigeria Super Eagles Player Ratings vs. Guinea-Bissau: Abuja abomination for Osimhen & co.](/en-ng/lists/nigeria-super-eagles-player-ratings-vs-guinea-bissau-abuja-abomination-for-osimhen-and-co/blt12464a6debb728ce) [Nigeria Super Eagles squad: Introducing Peseiro's 23](/en-ng/lists/nigeria-super-eagles-squad-introducing-peseiro-s-23-men-for-guinea-bissau-with-osimhen-headlining/blt6bad3861206ed712) [How to build a €10m NXGN wonderkid](/en-ng/news/how-build-10m-wonderkid-rise-nxgn-andreas-schjelderup-nordsjaelland-football-university/blt99474762c14c5e90) Dayot Upamecano doubled the French advantage five minutes later, turning home from close range after a goalkeeping blunder from Jasper Cillessen.

Get a report of the France vs. Netherlands 2024 European Championship Qualifying, Group Stage football match.

We'll have to look at this, it's difficult to analyse it so quickly, but 2-0 behind after seven minutes is just a shame." [Memphis Depay](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/159255/Memphis-Depay)'s attempt went just wide as Koeman sent striker [Wout Weghorst](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/177042/Wout-Weghorst) on for midfielder [Kenneth Taylor](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/282228/Kenneth-Taylor) in the 33rd minute. [Randal Kolo Muani](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/252971/Randal-Kolo-Muani), who started as a lone forward in France's 4-3-3 formation, also put in a decent display until he was substituted for [Olivier Giroud](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/88965/Olivier-Giroud) in the 76th minute. [Ibrahima Konate](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/251634/Ibrahima-Konaté)'s header was tipped away by [Jasper Cillessen](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/137783/Jasper-Cillessen) nine minutes before the break. Mike doesn't like to concede goals and for his first time as number one he got a clean sheet. "We're all behind him. Then they play a fairly simple match with their qualities. [Aurelien Tchouameni](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/265919/Aurélien-Tchouaméni). [Hugo Lloris](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/43372/Hugo-Lloris) ended his international career in January, set up [Antoine Griezmann](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/140416/Antoine-Griezmann) for the opener before scoring the third, after [Dayot Upamecano](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/222793/Dayot-Upamecano) had doubled the tally in a first-half blitz, before wrapping the scoring up late in front of an ecstatic crowd. [Ronald Koeman](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/79505/Ronald-Koeman) in charge of his first match since he took over from Louis van Gaal, after the Oranje reached the World Cup quarterfinals in Qatar, for his second stint after a first spell from 2018-2020. [Raphael Varane](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/153053/Raphaël-Varane) now out of the international picture, France were looking to impress in their first game since losing the [World Cup](/football/league/_/name/FIFA.WORLD) final against [Argentina](/football/team?id=202) last December and did just that against a virus-hit Dutch side under their newly-appointed manager. [France](/football/team?id=478) captain [Kylian Mbappe](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231388/Kylian-Mbappé) lived up to expectations with two goals in a 4-0 statement home win against the [Netherlands](/football/team?id=449) as Les Bleus got their Euro 2024 Group B qualifying campaign started in ruthless fashion on Friday.

Days after the French government passed much-despised pension reforms, chaos reigns throughout the country.

What’s more, there are claims that agitators have taken advantage of the discord to wreak havoc. For background on why President Emmanuel Macron says the reforms are central to plugging France’s ballooning debt hole and boosting productivity, see [here.](https://www.gzeromedia.com/macrons-big-gamble) Either way, it was the most violent day in a series of protests that have gripped the country for months.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice and assisted while wearing the armband, while Antoine Griezmann continued his electric form to lift France to a 4-0 win.

Dayot Upamecano doubled the French advantage five minutes later, turning home from close range after a goalkeeping blunder from Jasper Cillessen. Griezmann opened the scoring early, curling a shot into the far corner off an Mbappe pass inside two minutes. Les Blues scored early and settled in thereafter to brush aside an injury-crippled Netherlands team, completing a convincing 4-0 win to start their Euro qualifying campaign.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice and assisted while wearing the armband, while Antoine Griezmann continued his electric form to lift France to a 4-0 win.

Dayot Upamecano doubled the French advantage five minutes later, turning home from close range after a goalkeeping blunder from Jasper Cillessen. Griezmann opened the scoring early, curling a shot into the far corner off an Mbappe pass inside two minutes. Les Blues scored early and settled in thereafter to brush aside an injury-crippled Netherlands team, completing a convincing 4-0 win to start their Euro qualifying campaign.

PARIS — France is protesting against Emmanuel Macron's plans to raise the retirement age. After months of strikes and protests, tension reached its peak on ...

That constitutional maneuver added a new layer to existing angriness, [protesters say](https://www.politico.eu/article/france-emmanuel-macron-protest-against-democratic-gap-in-macrons-pensions-reform/). [compared](https://www.politico.eu/article/macron-digs-in-stands-by-no-alternative-pensions-reform-opposition-parties-trade-unionists-parliamentary-vote-elisabeth-borne/) violent protests with subversive riots [in the U.S](https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/06/how-capitol-hill-riots-started-455654). [to point out](https://youtu.be/Ah-_JmvULJc?t=410) that the retirement age in France is among the lowest in Europe — a comparison that could make international observers wonder why the French are so reluctant to adapt their pension system to rising life expectancy. [hard to compare](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/les-decodeurs/article/2023/03/01/french-pension-reform-why-comparing-european-systems-is-hardly-relevant_6017744_8.html) and France is closer to its neighbors when comparing the effective retirement age. or [in Brazil](https://www.politico.eu/article/jair-bolsonaro-brazil-far-right-riot-investigation/). At last year’s parliamentary election, Macron lost an outright majority in the French National Assembly and the decision to skip a parliamentary vote on the reform [further exposed](https://www.politico.eu/article/macron-invokes-nuclear-option-to-force-through-his-pensions-reform-in-huge-political-setback/) the president’s weakness. Protesters POLITICO [spoke with](https://www.politico.eu/article/france-emmanuel-macron-protest-against-democratic-gap-in-macrons-pensions-reform/) are furious with Macron for the reform — which would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, and extend contributions to get a full pension — but also for [bypassing](https://www.politico.eu/article/macron-invokes-nuclear-option-to-force-through-his-pensions-reform-in-huge-political-setback/) a parliamentary vote. They are also multiple [allegations of police brutality](https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/retraite/reforme-des-retraites/temoignages-je-me-suis-fait-tabasser-gratuitement-plusieurs-manifestants-contre-la-reforme-des-retraites-denoncent-des-violences-policieres_5724542.html), something that has fueled the fire of demonstrations in recent years, including during the Yellow Jacket crisis. In parallel, the Constitutional Council is In theory, the reform is done. Violent actions and vandalism have been a key feature of Yellow Jacket protests everywhere in France. Some protesters were wearing their fluorescent uniform during marches in Paris and some small spontaneous Yellow Jacket meetings are

Saturday's papers lead on protests in France and the King's cancelled meeting with Emmanuel Macron.

The Telegraph called it the "beginning of the end" of asylum hotels, which are being used to house more than 50,000 migrants at a cost of nearly £7m a day. Senior teachers tell the paper that "Ofsted's punishing inspection regime" is driving them out of the profession. The Sun is reporting that the former prime minister, Liz Truss, has nominated four of her closest political allies, who backed her mini-budget, for peerages, despite serving as PM for just 49 days and sparking a market meltdown. The paper thinks the decision has left the UK's "reset" with the EU in "disarray". The paper say Mr Macron has been mocked over what it calls his "Marie Antoinette moment" - as he hid his "£2,100 watch" during a television interview. The royal tour is axed after fears for the safety of the King, declares

Violent pension reform protests in France led to the postponement Friday of King Charles III's trip to the country, highlighting the growing security and ...

King Charles had been set to visit the southwestern city on Tuesday, after a day in Paris. “It would calm things down.” While France’s Constitutional Court still needs to give the final word on the reform, Macron said in a televised interview Wednesday that the changes needed to “come into force by the end of the year”. The leader of the moderate CFDT union, Laurent Berger, said Friday he had spoken to an aide to the president and suggested a pause on implementing the pensions law for six months while opening a channel for negotiations. Speaking to reporters during a trip to Brussels on Friday, Macron said discussions over rescheduling the visit could take place in the coming months. The Council of Europe — the continent’s leading human rights watchdog — warned that sporadic acts of violence “cannot justify excessive use of force by agents of the state” or “deprive peaceful protesters of their right to freedom of assembly”.

Here, seven people in France share their views on pension reform and the protests. 'I'm not averse to changing the system'. “The system is fed by the ...

The population is getting older and there are fewer people to finance the system. “The anger is not going to go away. “I was at the protest in Avignon [on Thursday] morning and it was peaceful. “For me it’s not about the pension reform any more. “There was no democratic process in the way it was done – we feel very looked down on. [Many] people feel democracy is very broken – that’s why there was low turnout at the last election. “The problem is not raising the pension age per se. “The reforms are not fair to people who have physically demanding jobs and women who may take time off work for parenting and will now have to work for longer. It’s about the system of governance. Had there been a conservative government in place, the new law would have been considerably tougher. “I have attended all the protests in my city since February, although I’m nine months pregnant. I’m not averse to changing the system but it should have been done with more consultation.

Goals from Antoine Griezmann and Dayot Upamecano had France two up after only eight minutes, before Kylian Mbappe added a third to see the hosts out of sight ...

In the same group Bulgaria went down 1-0 at home against Balkan neighbours Montenegro. Romelu Lukaku hit a hat-trick as Belgium put their World Cup woes behind them with a comfortable 3-0 win away to Sweden. Mbappe netted again two minutes from the end to ensure the World Cup runners-up took firm control of their qualification group, while a heavy defeat for the Netherlands meant they suffered embarrassment in Koeman’s first game since returning.