France braces for fresh nationwide student demonstrations

France prepared on Tuesday for new nationwide demonstrations in support of students protesting poor classroom conditions. The mobilization, which includes a march through Paris starting at 1200 GMT and marches in other cities, is backed by unions and the far-left France Unbowed party. Both authorities and participants expressed wariness regarding the potential for further violence.

The student protest movement began in late September. According to Free Malaysia Today, students have used rubbish bins and other obstacles to block access to secondary schools, leading to occasional clashes with police. Recent demonstrations on Thursday involved more than 70,000 people across France and resulted in approximately 500 arrests.

The education ministry stated on Monday that while the number of school closures is falling, the violence is intensifying. As of Monday, only 130 of France's 3,700 lycees were closed. Free Malaysia Today also reported an unrelated incident on Monday near Marseille where police arrested a 14-year-old after a middle school headmaster and a teacher were shot with a hunting rifle.

Brief written by urgent.news from Japan Today, Free Malaysia Today, Channel News Asia, RTE News — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.