Public protests continue in France amid police crackdown

Police in several French cities are using tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators following ongoing protests over the cost of living and education issues. Authorities are working to prevent a recurrence of the violence and looting seen in previous weeks. The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry reports that over 2,000 businesses have been affected, with damages estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros. Two people are reported to be seriously injured in Toulouse and Clermont-Ferrand. Similar protests linked to economic grievances have also spread to other European cities, including Barcelona and Tirana, where clashes and arrests have occurred.