Scuffles and fires break out as protesters rally across France, joining students

A car burns at Place de La Republique during a protest against rising living costs in Paris on Saturday. Emma Da Silva/AP hide caption Emma Da Silva/AP PARIS — 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. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez's office described "a growing number of violent incidents," including assaults on police officers, looting or attempted looting of shops and damage to public buildings. Authorities reported at least 272 arrests across the country, including in Paris. 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 an...