French protests draw nearly 1,000 arrests as clashes hit Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Lyon

Nearly 1,000 arrests were made as hundreds of thousands protested across France on Saturday, with clashes erupting in several cities after largely peaceful demonstrations. Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds, though officials avoided rioting on last weekend's scale. The interior ministry estimated 410,000 protesters, while unions cited 800,000, with 70,000 police deployed. Clashes occurred in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Lyon, involving barricades, projectiles, and tear gas. Two people were seriously injured, and authorities identified around 500 rioters among the marchers. The protests stem from cost-of-living concerns and school conditions, following last weekend's unrest that saw 2,500 arrests and hundreds of millions in damage. President Macron restricted demonstrations to union-organized events, with hundreds jailed in fast-track hearings. The unrest comes six months before presidential elections.