Paris bans protests in central areas after unrest and looting

Police in Paris have banned demonstrations in central areas of the French capital on Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., following recent unrest and looting in several cities across the country. The ban covers key locations including the presidential palace, the Louvre museum, and the Champs-Élysées. It follows three weeks of high school student protests demanding more school resources, which have grown into broader calls for lower living costs and better public services. While hundreds of thousands have marched peacefully, weekend violence led to 2,400 arrests and riots, including looting in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Bordeaux. A 19th-century town hall in Limoges was set on fire, and hundreds have been injured. New large demonstrations are planned for the weekend.