France sees dozens of arrests as mass protests grip Paris and beyond

Dozens of arrests have been made in France during a day of mass protests against the rising cost of living, with 40 people detained near Paris by 9:30 AM, mostly for weapon possession or banned protective gear. The protests follow weeks of student demonstrations and include the return of the yellow vests movement. Authorities anticipate potential riots, with police checking IDs at Place de la Bastille and a demonstration ban in place around the Champs-Élysées, where shops have boarded up. Officials expect 40,000 demonstrators in Paris and 150,000 across the rest of France, with hundreds of actions planned nationwide, according to the Interior Ministry.