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On March 7, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators across France joined in a new round of protests and strikes against the government's plan to raise the retirement age to 64. Police fired tear gas in Paris to disperse the protesters. The government has argued that raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, abolishing privileges enjoyed by employees in some sectors, and stiffening the requirements for a full pension are needed to balance the pension system. Public transportation and other services have been disrupted in most French cities. About one-third of all teachers are on strike nationwide, according to the education ministry.