France deploys 70,000 security forces as protests spread across Paris, Marseille, and Lyon

France has deployed approximately 70,000 security personnel nationwide to prevent violence and looting during fresh protests against inflation scheduled for Saturday, following last week's unrest that saw over 500,000 demonstrators take to the streets. The protests, which began over poor school conditions and have expanded to include grievances about rising costs and cuts to public services, have resulted in more than 2,700 arrests, damage to at least 3,000 shops, and curfews in multiple cities including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. The Louvre Museum is closed and a football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon has been postponed. President Emmanuel Macron met with student union representatives on Friday for the first time since the movement began, while the UNEF student organization has vowed to hold a rally despite restrictions. Labor unions have announced a strike for November 5, and the government has warned that additional curfews could be imposed if violence escalates.