France and Germany braced for unrest with hundreds of demonstrations planned

In Paris, two separate marches planned by unions and gilets jaunesthrough the city centre have been banned. Instead, police have authorised a single march in the far south-east. An appeal by organisers against the decision to exclude them from the centre was rejected late on Friday night.

The interior ministry has said 410,000 people marched last Saturday, when a strong police presence mostly prevented a repeat of the widespread violence and looting that swept French cities during a first wave of mass protest on 17 October.

Unions and the gilets jaunes movement protesting over low wages, the cost of living and deteriorating public services have joined school and university students calling for better learning conditions, with a nationwide ​strike called for 5 November.

Government measures to address the students’ demands – including replacing a creaking university admissions platform and providing loans to local authorities for school renovations – did not go far enough, student leaders said.

Source: www.theguardian.com