Paris, 6 November, 2026 (Nosheen): French authorities reported 448 arrests and 53 injured police officers on Thursday as hundreds of thousands of people took part in nationwide protests over wages and the rising cost of living. According to the Interior Ministry, the nationwide figures recorded by 6pm included 448 arrests, 53 injured law enforcement officers and 86 fire incidents. The ministry said authorised demonstrations had generally proceeded smoothly and remained largely peaceful, although tensions were reported in Paris, Lyon, Rennes and Toulouse. It estimated that 575,000 people participated in protests across France, including 65,000 in Paris, revising downward an earlier provisional estimate of nearly 600,000. However, the CGT trade union put the nationwide turnout at nearly 1.6 million, including 350,000 demonstrators in the capital. CGT Secretary-General Sophie Binet described the strike as “extremely effective” and urged the government to address workers’ demands. Speaking during the Paris demonstration, she said, “Nothing will stop us,” while calling for wage increases for all workers and a 10 per cent rise in the minimum wage. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced that a social conference involving trade unions and employers’ organisations would be held at Matignon on Monday, according to a government statement. The nationwide strike also disrupted schools and universities, with the Higher Education Ministry reporting disruptions at 60 of 184 institutions. The SNES-FSU union estimated that 52 per cent of middle and high school staff participated in the strike. Police also intervened against student blockades in several cities, including Paris and Bordeaux, local media reported. The protests come amid a student movement that began in mid-September over concerns about education conditions, funding and staffing.