French protests over prices and education lead to dozens of arrests

Protests against rising living costs and education policy erupted across France on Saturday, October 17, leading to dozens of arrests, including at least 61 in Paris. In Paris, 21 people were detained after a protest at the CNews headquarters, where demonstrators threw objects at the building, and 40 more were held for carrying protective gear or banned weapons. In Marseille, protesters briefly entered the city hall before being removed by police. Nationwide, about 1,500 demonstrations were announced, with authorities expecting roughly 40,000 participants in Paris and 150,000 elsewhere. The unrest stems from cost-of-living increases and planned education budget cuts, with students demanding more teachers and smaller classes since mid-September.