French workers strike nationwide for higher wages and reforms

Workers across France went on strike Thursday, with hundreds of thousands expected to protest for higher wages and reforms. Demonstrations occurred in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Nantes, and Lille, demanding a minimum wage increase and better school conditions. President Emmanuel Macron convened a security meeting Wednesday to ensure public order. The protests, which began in September over high school conditions, have expanded to address rising living costs, with organizers expecting rallies in 260 cities and 16 percent of teachers striking. The unrest comes ahead of April's presidential election, where Marine Le Pen is favored to win. Riot police fired tear gas in Lyon, and the G7 foreign ministers' meeting was moved from Marseille to Paris, with diplomats calling the decision "chaotic."