France braces for protests with 70,000 police after riots

France braces for another day of mass protests Saturday under high security with 70,000 police deployed, one week after violent riots and looting marred demonstrations against the high cost of living. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced a "massive" police operation including elite units, helicopters, and armored vehicles, vowing forces would be "intractable" with rioters. Nearly 3,000 shops were vandalized last weekend, and many protest routes have been banned, with curfews imposed in several cities. Yellow vest groups plan over 700 actions nationwide, while unions, students, and activists will march in authorized rallies. Human rights groups criticized the restrictions as authoritarian, and a far-right party congress in Orléans is expected to draw 20,000-30,000 counter-protesters.