Macron bans 'illegitimate' protests as France braces for weekend unrest

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that "illegitimate" protests will be banned in coming days, blaming "seditious" ultra-left groups for recent riots and looting, while allowing trade union demonstrations with alternative routes. Authorities banned all Saturday protests in Lyon, France's second-largest city, as businesses in central Paris boarded up windows and Hermes increased security. The student union UNEF called for rallies, and Yellow Vest movement planned a Paris march ahead of a potentially volatile weekend. The unrest follows October 17 riots, France's worst urban violence in years, amid soaring energy costs and budget pressures. Two arrests were made over a Limoges arson attack, while France's 10-year bond yields rose above US Treasuries for the first time since 2013.