France's New Strikes Shut Eiffel Tower and Disrupt Transport

France faces a new day of nationwide strikes and protests on Thursday, forcing the closure of the Eiffel Tower and severely disrupting transport and schools. Unions have called for action against rising living costs and in support of student-led movements. Around 260 protests are planned in cities including Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, with unions warning of recession and multiplying layoffs. Hundreds of secondary schools are closed, and authorities have mobilized 70,000 police officers, with some clashes reported. The demonstrations began in mid-September, sparked by high school students, and have spread to other European countries. Unions demand higher wages, tax fairness, and public service protection, as President Emmanuel Macron's term nears its end in May.