Chaos as protests, strikes challenge Macron

PARIS - Tens of thousands of nurses, teachers and other public sector workers joined forces to march against French President Emmanuel Macron's reforms on Thursday, causing widespread travel disruption and bringing brief clashes with police in some cities.

While the vast majority of around 180 demonstrations nationwide were peaceful, scuffles erupted between police and hooded young protesters in Paris and the western city of Nantes, where security forces fired tear gas and water cannons.

It was the first time public sector workers, ranging from air traffic controllers to civil servants, had joined with rail workers and pensioners to protest over the economic reforms Macron has sought to introduce since he took office in May.