"France on Edge: Protests Escalate Over Pension Reforms"

Thousands of protesters marched across France against President Emmanuel Macron's pension bill, which will raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. The government rejected a new demand by unions to suspend and rethink the bill, leading to clashes with police in some cities. The protests have evolved into broader anti-Macron sentiment, with millions of people demonstrating and joining strike action since mid-January. The rallies were largely peaceful, with some clashes on the fringes, and the city rubbish collectors suspended their weeks-long strike.