1 dead, 227 injured in French fuel tax protests

PARIS — A protester was killed and 227 other people were injured — eight seriously — at roadblocks set up around villages, towns and cities across France on Saturday as citizens angry with rising fuel taxes rose up in a grassroots movement, posing a new challenge to beleaguered President Emmanuel Macron.

Police officers fired tear gas at demonstrators on the famed Champs-Elysees Avenue as groups of “yellow jackets,” as the protesters called themselves, tried to make their way to the presidential Elysee Palace. A total of 117 people were arrested.

The planned increase in fuel taxes, notably for diesel fuel, spoke to those French who feel Macron has asked ordinary citizens to make the largest efforts in his bid to transform France. Those French who have a hard time making ends meet often rely on cheaper diesel fuel. In Thailand: Officials on Saturday recovered a boat that sank in rough weather off Thailand’s southern resort island of Phuket in July, killing 47 Chinese tourists. Two tour boats sank off Phuket on July 5. Tourists from one boat were rescued, while the sinking of the doubledecker Phoenix left 47 Chinese tourists dead.