French protests over living costs draw nearly 1,000 arrests nationwide

Hundreds of thousands marched across France on Saturday to protest rising living costs and underfunding of essential services, with nearly 1,000 arrests nationwide. Demonstrations in Paris began peacefully but ended with a heavy security response, according to France 24 International Affairs Editor Oliver Farry. The protests targeted government resource allocation for schools and other public services. The nationwide protests highlight growing public frustration over economic pressures and service cuts, reflecting broader social tensions in France as the government faces mounting criticism over its policy priorities.