French protests largely peaceful after weekend arrests near 1,000

Nearly 1,000 people were arrested Saturday in France as protests occurred despite bans in several cities, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, though demonstrations were largely peaceful. The Interior Ministry reported about 410,000 marchers nationwide, while union organizers claimed 800,000. Police confiscated weapons including metal balls, fireworks, and a katana, and faced some clashes with rioters, but violence was lower than the previous weekend. Over 70,000 police were deployed, with restrictions in many cities. Authorities noted isolated incidents, including vandalism in Paris and attacks on officers in Bordeaux, while a far-right rally in Orléans ended peacefully.