The French government is deploying 70,000 police officers to cities across the country as authorities expect a third week of intense anti-government protests to resume Saturday.

Demonstrators objecting to rising costs and President Emmanuel Macron's government have engaged in looting and damaging property, prompting the law enforcement surge, according to officials.

"Everyone is on deck to ensure an extremely firm response to any trouble," Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said at a news conference early in the week.

FRANCE ON EDGE WITH 70,000 POLICE DEPLOYED FOR UNREST AS AUTHORITIES PROBE SUSPECTED TERROR ATTACK NEAR PARIS

The expected protests, coinciding with Halloween, introduce an additional element to authorities' response, as some protesters are expected to don Halloween masks to hide their identities.

At least 150 planned gatherings across the country have been tracked and acknowledged by the Interior Ministry.

FRANCE'S MACRON BLAMES PROTESTS ON 'ULTRA-LEFT GROUPS WHOSE AIM IS TO BRING DOWN THE REPUBLIC'

One of the events, a planned march between the iconic Parisian squares of Republique and Bastille, has been banned by France's top administrative court. The demonstration was instead rerouted to boulevards on the eastern fringe of the city, far from the main shopping centers.

France's Chamber of Commerce has estimated retail losses from looting and property damage at over $1 billion, while other estimates that include lost revenue calculate losses could be double that.

PHOTOS SHOW AFTERMATH OF RIOTS AS MASKED GROUPS CLASH WITH POLICE ACROSS FRANCE

Some of Paris' iconic luxury shops, like Hermes and Louis Vuitton, have been targeted by rioters as France's marquee shopping avenues now show scores of buildings with protective wooden boards.

In response to the unrest, France's government is crafting a law that would punish rioters who caused property damage and make them liable to pay up to €10,000, or $11,000.

VIOLENCE ERUPTS AT FRANCE PROTESTS AS MACRON WARNS UNREST IS BEING EXPLOITED

Demonstrations originated with the country's young people protesting schooling conditions and pushing for educational reform and quickly ballooned to include other social groups and issues, including economic anxieties, rising costs in fuel and borrowing.

Though the French government has vowed to reform education and reduce fuel costs, the promises have not satisfied the protesters.

"When I was little, I was told young people were the future," 15-year-old high school student Aaron Berthier de Grandry, who plans on protesting over the weekend, told Reuters.

"Well, if we, as the future of France, lack resources, that means France will end up collapsing," de Grandry added.

The U.S. Embassy in France has advised travelers to avoid areas where large gatherings are taking place.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Reuters contributed to this report.

So much for the narrative that French trans basketball player Julie Tetart couldn't make it in the WNBA. If the WNBA was true to its word that it's inclusive, a team would pull the trigger and bring in this unique player.

In a Round of 16 Coupe de France tournament showdown Wednesday night against Lyon-ASVEL Féminin, which is owned by NBA legend Tony Parker, Tetart put the doubts to rest. The 6'3 phenom put up 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds in an 81-71 loss to a team featuring 6'1 19-year-old Ainhoa Risacher, who is expected to be a top-15 pick in the 2027 WNBA Draft. Despite playing five fewer minutes, Tetart outscored and out-rebounded the big-time prospect while also shooting better from the field.

This is Angel Reese's worst nightmare - a top-level defender who can score and is built like a middle linebacker.

"If they contact me, I won't say no. But you have to be realistic: I'm old, and there are far better players than me!" Tetart told OutKick in French over Instagram direct messages in August.

Age is just a number based on how Tetart has started the 2026-27 season. Through five league games in the LF2 (France’s second division), where her team remains undefeated (5-0), Julie is averaging 13.8 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. A year ago, Tetart averaged a league-high 20.7 points and 20 rebounds a game while playing 31 minutes per game. Through five games, Julie is averaging 22 minutes of court time per game.

WNBA SILENT ON WHETHER FRENCH TRANSGENDER STAR DOMINATING WOMEN'S LEAGUE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY

The loss to Tony Parker's team wasn't due to Tetart. The Monaco team shot 27% from 3 (6-of-22) while Lyon sank 11 threes. Game over.

Tetart more than held up in the paint while facing former University of South Florida rebound machine Bethy Mununga, who finished her career as one of the school's all-time best players. Tetart, who has never played outside of France and never played high-level basketball before declaring to be trans, dominated Mununga on the glass.

GOP CONGRESSMAN PRESSES WNBA TO DEFINE ‘WOMEN’ AFTER ENES KANTER FREEDOM, ROYCE WHITE RULED INELIGIBLE

Could Tetart join the WNBA if a team actually practiced what it preaches about being inclusive? The WNBA isn't saying "no," at least not that we know of.

SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER

The league's current collective bargaining agreement currently doesn't include a clear legal definition of "women." WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert boldly declared that both Enes Kanter and Royce White are ineligible to play in the league because they're "both men," but she's still not giving a definition for "women."

FRENCH TRANS PHENOM JULIE TÉTART LOOKS WNBA-READY — SO WHY HASN’T THE ‘INCLUSIVE’ LEAGUE CALLED?

As for this idea that Tetart is too old for the WNBA, that's nonsense. Alysha Clark just completed the 2026 season and she's 39. So is DeWanna Bonner. She averaged 10 points a game this season. A total of 14 players in the league are the same age as Tetart, or older. Brittney Griner is 35. She poured in 13 points a game for Connecticut.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The ball is officially in the WNBA's court.