French general strike shuts Eiffel Tower, sparks protests in 260 cities

A nationwide strike in France over the cost of living has shut the Eiffel Tower and triggered protests in 260 cities, with up to 700,000 demonstrators expected. The action, backed by united unions, demands wage increases and improved purchasing power. In Toulouse, a high school was set on fire by hooded individuals who launched fireworks inside, causing part of the building to burn. Separately, in the Paris suburb of La Courneuve, an 18-year-old stabbed a peer who was setting fire to bins outside a blocked school, wounding him in the chest. The protests include students and yellow vest activists, with some Louvre museum rooms also closed due to the worker walkout. Regional officials condemned the school fire as "unacceptable acts" and called for exceptional measures and severe sanctions.