France deploys 70,000 police as protests begin over living costs and cuts

France has deployed 70,000 police officers as protests against the high cost of living and public service cuts begin, following last week's riots and looting. The Yellow Vests movement has already called for a new protest day on October 31. Police in Lyon used tear gas to disperse around 150 demonstrators near the city center, where protests are banned. In Paris, authorities seized "prohibited objects" but reported a "calm" situation, while the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay remain closed on Saturday. The Yellow Vests' call follows a last-minute route change for a union march in Paris, which they say they will challenge next Saturday "for the right to demonstrate and all our freedoms." Last Saturday's protests led to major riots and looting in several locations, prompting the heightened security measures. Various demonstrations have been banned, drawing criticism from Amnesty International. In Marseille, armored vehicles and a water cannon are on standby, with only one union-organized protest permitted in the Bouches-du-Rhône department.