Here's the latest on the violent protests in France.
What are the France fuel protests?
Motorists are demonstrating over the hike in fuel prices.
In France, the cost of diesel has increased by around 23 per cent in the last year.
It is the most commonly used fuel in French cars, but motorists are now paying €1.51 (£1.32) per litre when they fill up.
It's the highest price for diesel in France since the early 2000s.
World oil prices did rise before falling back again but the Macron government raised its hydrocarbon tax this year by 7.6 cents per litre on diesel and 3.9 cents on petrol, as part of a campaign for cleaner cars and fuel.
The decision to impose a further increase of 6.5 cents on diesel and 2.9 cents on petrol on 1 January 2019 was seen as the final straw for drivers.
On November 17, 2018, one protester was killed and almost 230 others injured at roadblocks set up around villages, towns and cities across France.
Today, violence erupted in Paris when protesters clashed with police.
Water cannons and rounds of teargas were used by riot cops against thousands of French "Yellow Vest" fuel protesters today as the Champs Elysee was reduced to a battlefield.
The worst violence took place on the most famous avenue in the city where a huge crowd called for President Emmanuel Macron to resign.
The campaigners are all part of a ‘Yellow Vests’ movement.
They were largely planned on social media to prevent road access to some fuel depots and airports.
Now the Yellow Vests have also drawn support from some who are dissatisfied with Macron's economic reforms and his governing style.
The yellow vest movement has snowballed swiftly over the past month, catching Macron and even opposition parties off guard.
It has already prompted a rare concession from the government, which announced last Wednesday fresh funds to help motorists on the lowest incomes.
What happened in Angers?
A man armed with a hand grenade was arrested by police in Angers, Western France, just hours before the Paris protests began.
According to local police, the 45-year-old was holding a grenade in his hands, demanding "the yellow vests be received at the Élysée" Palace, the president's official residence in Paris.
The man had spent the afternoon with a group of protesters who had gathered near the Espace Anjou shopping centre, local official Bernard Gonzalez said, according to news agency AFP.
He was taken into custody following several hours of negotiations with officers.
He finally surrendered at 10.30pm last night (November 23).
How is Emannuel Macron involved?
Macron has insisted that fuel prices have to rise in line with green initiatives made necessary by the Paris Climate Change agreement.
He said there would be ‘no possiblity’ of his government backing down in the face of disturbances.
Taxes on diesel have gone up 7 cents and are to keep climbing in the coming years, Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne has said.
The tax on petrol is to increase 4 cents with the fuel currently costing about 1.64 euros (£1.45) a litre in Paris, slightly more than diesel.
Since coming to power, Macron has seen off trade union and street demonstrations against his changes to the labour rules, and overhauled the heavily indebted state rail operator. Foreign investors have largely cheered his pro-business administration.
Source: Read Full Article