French protests draw 1.6 million as unions demand higher wages

Hundreds of thousands of people across France took to the streets on Thursday in a new national day of protests, demanding higher wages, lower living costs, and better public services. The CGT union reported 1.6 million participants nationwide, including 350,000 in Paris. The French Interior Ministry gave a much lower preliminary estimate of over 600,000 demonstrators nationwide. While most protests were peaceful, some cities saw clashes with police and fires, including a school set ablaze in Toulouse and a gas leak in Lille. In Paris, police used charges and tear gas to disperse crowds, and the Eiffel Tower was closed to the public. Schools were occupied, transport was disrupted, and health workers joined strikes. Further protests are expected over the next two days.