Half a million protesters across France in youth-led unrest

Around 550,000 protesters demonstrated across France on Saturday, including 110,000 in Paris, in a major show of youth-led unrest against government policies, with police firing tear gas to disperse crowds. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported the turnout, while organizers estimated higher numbers. Protests occurred in Rennes, Lyon, and Marseilles, with reports of government buildings broken into and fires set. Demonstrators cited concerns over wealth inequality, cost of living, and perceived democratic decline under President Emmanuel Macron. At least 195 people were detained, and authorities reported injuries including a protester losing a hand in Saint-Étienne. Macron condemned "sowers of chaos" and vowed prosecution for violence. The protests follow last month's student-led rallies over school funding and police conduct, with solidarity actions held in Belgium, Albania, and Italy.