Paris protests force Louvre and Orsay Museum closures as tensions rise

French authorities are preparing for another wave of protests after half a million people took to the streets last weekend, prompting the closure of major Paris tourist sites including the Louvre and Orsay Museum on Saturday. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said up to 70,000 officers will be deployed nationwide with helicopters, armored vehicles and water cannons. Some 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted last weekend, and Paris shopkeepers have been barricading their stores. The demonstrations began last month over high school staff shortages and have expanded into broader protests about living costs. President Emmanuel Macron's popularity is at its lowest since 2017, with a presidential election due next spring.