Hundreds of thousands of people are protesting in France, schools and the Eiffel Tower are closed

On Thursday, protests organized by French unions saw participation from around 270,000 people, with significant police presence due to fears of violence. Demonstrations are also affecting schools, with over a thousand closed and many students participating. The CGT union is demanding higher wages and better conditions, criticizing the government for not addressing rising living costs. The government has promised partial solutions and plans to announce measures related to minimum wage soon. Protests are ongoing in multiple cities, with authorities expecting up to 700,000 participants nationwide. Police have intervened in some areas to maintain order, following previous violent incidents during protests.