France braces for new round of student and Yellow Vest protests

Two major protests have been announced for Saturday. One will see students and unions marching against high living costs, while the Yellow Vests plan to march separately, despite a police ban.

France is bracing for its fourth weekend of mass demonstrations, as student protests over cost of living and the state of the country's schools show no sign of abating. On Saturday afternoon, authorities say students and labor unions will take part in an authorized central Paris march "against the high cost of living and in support of young people." Separately, the country's so-called " Yellow Vest " movement — which gained notoriety eight years ago by violently protesting a proposed fuel tax hike — has rejected invitations to join the student rally.

Instead, the Gilets Jaunes are calling for "mass disobedience" at a banned event at Paris' Place de la Concorde , close to parliament and the presidential Elysee Palace.