European protests lead to nearly 1,000 arrests in France

Widespread protests erupted across several European cities over the weekend, with French police arresting nearly 1,000 people on Saturday amid demonstrations involving up to 800,000 participants nationwide. In France, riot police used tear gas in Paris and other cities, with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez attributing high levels of violence to black-clad left-wing extremists. Meanwhile, in Italy, thousands protested rising living costs, with a small group attempting to force their way into the Colosseum in Rome. Portuguese police cleared a protest camp in Lisbon overnight, and demonstrations also occurred in Madrid and Tirana, reflecting diverse grievances including housing shortages, pensions, and corruption.