France braces for nationwide protests uniting diverse groups against high living costs

France faces a major day of protests on Saturday, uniting diverse groups like "yellow vests," students, climate activists, and farmers in roughly 1,500 actions nationwide against the high cost of living. Six months before the presidential election, the call to revive the yellow vest movement has merged with student demands for better study conditions, pushing youth issues up the political agenda. Organizers urge residents, workers, and retirees to join blockades at roundabouts, tolls, and fuel depots, with authorities anticipating about 140 actions in Paris and 150,000 protesters elsewhere. President Emmanuel Macron appealed for calm on Friday, stressing that the right to protest must respect others. The mobilization's scale is uncertain as school holidays begin, while unions have separately called for a strike on November 5 over wages and public services.