By Juliette Jabkhiro, Dominique Vidalon and Lucien Libert PARIS/LYON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Nationwide demonstrations unfolded largely peacefully in France, despite some clashes with police in Paris and Lyon,

An estimated 270,000 people joined nationwide strikes and protests across France on Thursday, putting pressure on President Emmanuel Macron's government.

Massive protests have swept across France since mid-September as students have rallied against the country’s education system and rising living costs. But the chaos could be a boon for France’s more extreme parties before next year’s elections.

Some protesters clashed with police in Paris and Lyon on Thursday during largely peaceful nationwide demonstrations and a one-day strike by some public sector workers in a renewed challenge to President Emmanuel Macron.

Hackers targeted cold storage systems at three French blood banks, but staff quickly moved supplies to uncompromised refrigerators before damage could be done.

PARIS, Nov 6 - A bus crashed on Friday morning in eastern France near Switzerland, resulting in "several victims", local authorities said. Education Minister Edouard Geffray said the crash involved a bus believed to be transporting school pupils.

PARIS, Nov 5 (Reuters) - France faced its latest nationwide protests on Thursday after weeks of unrest ⁠over ⁠the cost of living and public services, with trade unions ⁠and student groups mobilising demonstrators across the country.

France is bracing for another wave of protests as the Yellow Vest movement calls for nationwide blockades Friday and mass demonstrations