Macron meets students and security officials as France braces for new protests

French President Emmanuel Macron met with high school student representatives Friday for the first time since month-long protests over teacher shortages and run-down schools began, while also holding a "defence council" to prepare for Saturday's planned demonstrations. Authorities in Lyon and Marseille banned all demonstrations on Saturday ahead of new nationwide protests against the rising cost of living. Macron said after meeting with intelligence services that all demonstrations not organised by workers unions would be banned. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu met with political party representatives, but left-wing France Unbowed coordinator Manuel Bompard accused him of wasting time by refusing to address the student protest movement's demands. A French administrative court suspended a Paris police order banning a university student demonstration, allowing hundreds to march peacefully.