French Pension Protests Escalate into Violence and Strikes

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence that erupted during Thursday's demonstrations against raising the French retirement age and vowed to continue with the "democratic process" to legalise the reform. The pension reform bill is now being examined by France's highest constitutional authority. Macron said he was ready to talk to union leaders once the Constitutional Council has made its decision on the pension reform bill. A planned state visit to France from Britain's King Charles III has been postponed due to the ongoing protests.