Peaceful protests

TENS of thousands of demonstrators turned out across France for new protests against President Emmanuel Macron, amid a marked decline in violence despite dozens of arrests and clashes with police in Paris and other cities.

The ninth round of “yellow vest” rallies since November began calmly amid a heavy police deployment of some 80,000 officers nationwide, including 5,000 in the capital.

It was reported that 84,000 protesters turned out for round nine.

This was up from 50,000 the previous week.