A car and a newspaper kiosk were set on fire in Paris as police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse violent groups of protesters, while similar tensions erupted Saturday in other big cities on the fringes of nationwide demonstrations against rising living costs and in support of high school students’ grievances. In the French capital, police used tear gas and water cannons to push back people wearing hoods and masks and throwing fireworks and other objects at officers in the Place de la République, northeast of the Paris city center. Large numbers of riot police were deployed in the square and surrounding streets. The majority of peaceful protesters joined a march that moved toward northwestern Paris. The crowd chanted France’s national anthem as French flags were waved. The chants were accompanied by people playing trumpets and violins. Has France lost its name as a global power?
