Eiffel Tower closes as 700,000 join French protests over wages and education

The Eiffel Tower closed to visitors on November 5 due to nationwide strikes and protests in France, with demonstrators demanding better wages and improved education conditions. Up to 700,000 people were expected to join demonstrations outside Paris. French authorities deployed 70,000 police officers and gendarmes to maintain public order during the mobilisation, according to the Interior Ministry. The monument advised visitors who booked tickets online to check their email for updates, while disruptions were also expected across rail, air services, schools and the public sector. The November 5 strike follows a protest movement that began with student demonstrations in mid-September and later expanded to include trade unions and other groups.