France braces for another day of mass protests as security on high alert

More than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes are due to be deployed across France on Saturday as protests are planned over deteriorating school conditions and the rising cost of living. Authorities are seeking to prevent a repeat of the violence on October 17, when looting, vandalism and clashes damaged or ransacked thousands of businesses and led to more than 2,000 people being taken into police custody. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 20 percent more officers would be deployed, with the elite RAID unit supporting police operations. Several cities have banned demonstrations in their downtown areas, while a union-organised march in Marseille has been authorised under strict conditions.