France declares a significant police mobilisation

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has ordered 13,000 police officers to counter nationwide protests against the government's controversial pension reforms. He is expecting "radical activists" from abroad to instigate violence at the demonstrations, and 5,000 of the mobilized officers will be stationed in Paris ahead of marches on Tuesday. Protesters in Paris and Marseille blocked railway lines, while a group of demonstrators set off a smoke bomb in Biarritz Airport. The Council of Europe has condemned the government for using excessive force against protesters, while France's National Consultative Commission on Human Rights issued a report last week accusing police of arresting hundreds of demonstrators without cause. Macron is insistent on keeping his reforms in place, saying he has no regrets pushing for them.