Hundreds of thousands of protesters are expected to take part in a march in Paris this afternoon JEAN-PAUL PELISSIER/REUTERSFrance was at a standstill today as schools, railway stations and public buildings were shut amid a nationwide strike against President Macron’s plans for pension reform. The movement is widely thought to be likely to determine Mr Macron’s ability to pursue the reformist agenda on which he was elected in 2017. With more than 50 per cent of teachers off work, nine out of ten trains cancelled and eleven of Paris’ fourteen underground lines closed, millions of workers stayed at home. The strike marks the biggest industrial action since Mr Macron took power. Seven of France’s eight petrol refineries were…

Source: The Times December 05, 2019 12:11 UTC