French protests escalate as police deploy water cannons and tear gas

Nationwide protests in France escalated on Saturday, with police using water cannons and tear gas in several cities, while the Paris march remained peaceful. At least 135 people have been detained across the country. Tensions flared in Lyon, Nice, Lille, Toulouse, and Nantes, where demonstrators threw objects at officers, prompting the use of water cannons and tear gas. In Nantes, looters ransacked a jewelry store. The Paris demonstration, drawing 110,000 people, proceeded calmly along an official route, with far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon praising participants' discipline. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had deployed 70,000 police officers to prevent a repeat of violence seen during the October 17 protests. Authorities banned demonstrations in Marseille and halted public transport there for 24 hours. This marks the second wave of "national mobilization" following last week's unrest.