Yellow vest protests rock France

Protests against French President Emmanuel Macron, which started on Nov 17 following a fuel tax hike, have slowed recently, but demonstrations have continued across France.

Macron back tracked on his proposed fuel tax hike but the movement has ballooned into widespread anger over rising costs of living and Macron's perceived neglect of struggling families in rural and small-town France over the following weeks.

About 282,000 people turned out for the first Saturday protest wearing the yellow, high-visibility vests that French motorists must carry in their cars. The protests have seen rioting in Paris and other cities and taken a heavy financial toll. By Dec 22, 10 people had died in connection with the "yellow vest" protests.