Paris's major museums will be closed on Saturday due to protests

Due to planned protests, major museums in Paris will be closed on Saturday, as announced by the French Ministry of Culture. This includes the Louvre, Orsay Museum, Picasso Museum, and Grand Palais. The ministry urged all institutions to ensure visitor safety and protect artworks. President Emmanuel Macron stated that only union-organized protests would be permitted, with some regions banning all demonstrations. The government faces criticism for its handling of protests and the recent violence attributed to foreign individuals. Tensions are expected over the weekend with a congress of the far-right National Rally and a large anti-racism demonstration in Orleans, raising concerns of clashes between far-left and far-right groups. Following last weekend's looting, many arrested individuals are facing expedited trials, with 174 already sentenced to prison.