French police fire tear gas, disperse demonstrators as nation braces for another weekend of protests

Key Points:

• French police used tear gas on protesters in Lyon as authorities deployed up to 70,000 officers nationwide with helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons to prevent a repeat of last week's riots over the high cost of living.
• Thousands demonstrated in Orleans against Marine Le Pen's National Rally party and President Macron, with protests called by around 50 groups including labor unions and student organizations; turnout estimates ranged from 11,000 to 26,000.
• Major museums in Paris, including the Louvre and Orsay, were closed on Saturday due to security concerns, and several NFL-related venues were shuttered ahead of the first-ever NFL game in France scheduled for Sunday.
• Parisian businesses boarded up in anticipation of unrest after last weekend's protests caused damage to some 3,000 shops nationwide; a soccer match in Paris was postponed due to security fears.
• The demonstrations began with high school students demanding better conditions but escalated into widespread protests against rising living costs, with some cities banning rallies and incidents such as arson reported in Limoges.