Tens of Thousands Protest Across France for Third Weekend; Tear Gas Used in Several Cities

French police fired tear gas and clashed with some protesters on Saturday as about 320,000 people, according to the interior ministry, joined demonstrations across France against rising living costs and police violence. It was the third straight weekend of protests. Police said about 70,000 people marched in Paris, some in Halloween costumes. In Marseille, demonstrators clashed with police. In Lyon, people threw projectiles and officers fired tear gas, and in Toulouse police used water cannon on an unauthorized protest of several thousand, mostly young people. Arrest counts varied by report: more than 560 nationwide by Saturday night, at least 290, and more than 770. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had warned of a very high risk of disorder after dark on Halloween. Riots and looting marred the previous two Saturdays, when thousands were arrested. A general strike is expected in the coming days, and protests also took place in Albania, Germany and Italy.

Left-leaning CBS News leads with the tear gas and clashes, then gives city-by-city detail, the arrest toll, costumed marchers, protest placards and hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who accused Macron's government of an authoritarian turn. NPR frames the unrest as youth-led and Europe-wide, and highlights Nuñez's warning. Both use the 320,000 figure. Alternative outlets differ in emphasis: France 24 calls the protests largely peaceful and cites over 770 arrests, while the BBC stresses the Paris turnout, heavy police preparation, the coming general strike and spread across Europe. Right-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative outlets had.