French protests over funding and costs turn violent with nearly 1,000 arrests

Nearly 1,000 people have been arrested as violence erupted in French cities during largely peaceful protests over school funding and living costs, with over 400,000 rallying nationwide in a challenge to President Emmanuel Macron. The Paris march began peacefully but ended with masked protesters hurling objects at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the arrests, made with 70,000 officers deployed, helped prevent widespread looting seen the previous weekend. The unrest began with a high school protest last month and has grown into a national movement testing Macron's authority before the May election. Protesters demand more education funding and help with soaring costs, vowing to continue until concrete measures are announced.