France on High Alert as Police Use Tear Gas in Lyon Protests
France is on high alert following last week's violent riots, with 70,000 security forces, helicopters, water cannons, and armored vehicles deployed. Police in Lyon have already used tear gas to quell disturbances. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported 135 arrests by 1 p.m., with assembly bans and curfews imposed in several cities. In Nice, all gatherings are prohibited, and security forces are stationed in the city center. The army has also been mobilized in some areas. The protests stem from demonstrations against high living costs and education system failures, which escalated into widespread looting and arson last weekend. Amnesty International criticized the restrictions as authoritarian, while the Council of Europe's human rights commissioner urged respect for protest rights. The "Yellow Vests" movement plans over 700 actions nationwide.