Protests across France to test government resolve

Hundreds of thousands of people were expected to take part in demonstrations across France on Saturday as protesters seek to keep up the pressure on the government over its plans to make people work longer before retiring.
After three days of nationwide strikes since the start of the year, unions are hoping to match a mass turnout from Jan. 19 when more than a million people marched in opposition to pushing the age to take a full state pension to 64 from 62.
The French spend the largest number of years in retirement among OECD countries – a benefit that opinion polls show a substantial majority are reluctant to give up.
President Emmanuel Macron says the reform is “vital” to ensuring the viability of the pension system.