Macron's Pension Reform Sparks Ongoing Protests and Criticism.

French unions held new protests across the country, blocking train stations, airports, refineries, and ports, and disrupting travel. Tens of thousands of people gathered in Paris and other cities to demonstrate against President Emmanuel Macron's decision to raise the retirement age without a vote. The strikes are the ninth round of nationwide demonstrations and strikes called by France’s eight main unions since January. Macron's government invoked a constitutional provision last week to get the pension bill adopted without the approval of lawmakers.