France deploys 70,000 police and closes Paris museums ahead of protests

France deployed 70,000 police officers and closed major Paris museums on Saturday to prevent a repeat of last week's violent protests, which featured looting and attacks on public buildings. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the nationwide deployment, including helicopters and water cannons, after over 500,000 people marched last week. The Louvre, Orsay, and Picasso museums shut their doors, and shopkeepers barricaded stores as protests were scheduled in Paris and Marseille. The unrest began last month over high school staffing shortages and has expanded to broader grievances about living costs. Some rallies were banned in Lyon and Nice, drawing union criticism, while President Emmanuel Macron faces low popularity ahead of next spring's presidential election.