French Protests

More than 100,000 left-wing demonstrators rallied across France on Saturday to protest against the nomination of the centre-right Michel Barnier as prime minister and denounce President Emmanuel Macron's "power grab".

French police on Saturday blocked climate activists from holding a demonstration in central Paris on the first official day of the Olympic Games.

Around 1,000 French police officers will be on duty on Wednesday to protect Israel's football match against Mali at the Paris Olympics where protests are also expected.

Thousands marched in Paris and cities across France on Saturday to protest against the far-right National Rally (RN) ahead of upcoming elections to the French parliament.

The public's anger stems from the high cost of the Seine cleanup project, which is backed by 1.2 billion pounds (Rs 12231 crore) in state funds.

Hundreds of military and armed police reinforcements deployed Friday to the riot-scarred streets of France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia, seeking to quell clashes that have left five people dead and hundreds injured.

Armed forces were protecting New Caledonia's two airports and port after a third night of violent riots that have killed four people, the Pacific Island's top French official said on Thursday morning.

French President Emmanuel Macron spent the entire day at the annual agricultural fair Saturday, as angry farmers heckled him and scuffled with police.

Farmers drove tractors into central Paris on Friday to bring fresh pressure on President Emmanuel Macron, who promised them a meeting to discuss their grievances but then cancelled the event.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg Saturday joined a banned anti-motorway protest where police had fired tear gas and made arrests the previous day.

French farmers began moving on Paris Monday, threatening to choke off major highways and to blockade the capital as they demand better working conditions.

Farmers' leaders in the Paris region on Saturday promised to mount a "siege" on the French capital next week to pressure the government into meeting their demands on pay, tax and regulations.

French sports retail giant Decathlon has secretly continued selling clothes in Russia despite officially pulling out in protest at Russia's war in Ukraine, a media report published Tuesday said.

Police intervened to block some 200 protesters outside a Swiss university where French President Emmanuel Macron is due to give a speech on Thursday, Swiss public broadcaster SRF said.

The French government on Saturday denounced "unacceptable violence" at a protest led by the hard left against police brutality, with officers trapped in their police vehicle after it was attacked, an AFP correspondent said.

More than 100,000 left-wing demonstrators rallied across France on Saturday to protest against the nomination of the centre-right Michel Barnier as prime minister and denounce President Emmanuel Macron's "power grab".

French police on Saturday blocked climate activists from holding a demonstration in central Paris on the first official day of the Olympic Games.

Around 1,000 French police officers will be on duty on Wednesday to protect Israel's football match against Mali at the Paris Olympics where protests are also expected.

Thousands marched in Paris and cities across France on Saturday to protest against the far-right National Rally (RN) ahead of upcoming elections to the French parliament.

The public's anger stems from the high cost of the Seine cleanup project, which is backed by 1.2 billion pounds (Rs 12231 crore) in state funds.

Hundreds of military and armed police reinforcements deployed Friday to the riot-scarred streets of France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia, seeking to quell clashes that have left five people dead and hundreds injured.

Armed forces were protecting New Caledonia's two airports and port after a third night of violent riots that have killed four people, the Pacific Island's top French official said on Thursday morning.

French President Emmanuel Macron spent the entire day at the annual agricultural fair Saturday, as angry farmers heckled him and scuffled with police.

Farmers drove tractors into central Paris on Friday to bring fresh pressure on President Emmanuel Macron, who promised them a meeting to discuss their grievances but then cancelled the event.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg Saturday joined a banned anti-motorway protest where police had fired tear gas and made arrests the previous day.

French farmers began moving on Paris Monday, threatening to choke off major highways and to blockade the capital as they demand better working conditions.

Farmers' leaders in the Paris region on Saturday promised to mount a "siege" on the French capital next week to pressure the government into meeting their demands on pay, tax and regulations.

French sports retail giant Decathlon has secretly continued selling clothes in Russia despite officially pulling out in protest at Russia's war in Ukraine, a media report published Tuesday said.

Police intervened to block some 200 protesters outside a Swiss university where French President Emmanuel Macron is due to give a speech on Thursday, Swiss public broadcaster SRF said.

The French government on Saturday denounced "unacceptable violence" at a protest led by the hard left against police brutality, with officers trapped in their police vehicle after it was attacked, an AFP correspondent said.