Protests spread across France as Paris braces for 60,000 marchers

Protests are taking place in Paris and dozens of French cities, with a major union and student march underway in the capital. Authorities expect 60,000 attendees in Paris, where the atmosphere is currently calm despite a massive police deployment. The Paris march started at République and follows the same route as Thursday's demonstration, though it is smaller. The Yellow Vests have split from the main march to challenge a police ban and gather at Place de la Concorde, while Jean-Luc Mélenchon holds a campaign rally in the suburbs. Police have checked 850 people at Paris access points, and 70,000 officers are deployed across roughly 100 cities. Lyon has banned all gatherings in its center due to a high threat level from radical elements.