‘Yellow Vest’ protest erupts again in Paris

French police clamped down on Saturday on thousands of yellow-vested protesters trying to converge on the presidential palace, firing tear gas and water cannon at projectile-hurling demonstrators angry at President Emmanuel Macron and France's high taxes. The country imposed exceptional security measures to prevent a repeat of rioting a week ago that damaged a major monument, injured 130 people and served a new blow to France's global image. According to the country's deputy Interior Minister, police frisked people or searched bags throughout central Paris, and confiscated gas masks and protective goggles from Associated Press journalists. “We had set up an exceptional safety arrangement in the whole of France and Paris in particular to have the capacity to repel violent protesters and proceed to many arrests. At the time at which we are speaking, we have proceeded to 575 arrests in Paris,” said Laurent Nunez. By mid-afternoon, more than 700 people had been stopped and questioned. National police estimated the number of protesters in Paris on Saturday at 8,000, among 31,000 protesters nationwide. They appeared to be outnumbered by police, with 8,000 officers deployed in the capital alone and 89,000 fanned out around the country.