Toulouse

Tens of thousands marched across French cities on Thursday as public-sector workers walked off the job in a nationwide strike over pay and public services. In Lyon, authorities counted 30,500 marchers while the CGT union put the figure at 55,000; police used tear gas and water cannon and made six arrests after around 500 black-clad demonstrators threw projectiles near Pont Gallieni. All metro and funicular services in Lyon were suspended, and the Eiffel Tower closed for the day. The interior ministry said 270,000 people had taken part outside Paris, while the CGT said more than 250,000 were marching in 73 cities by the afternoon. The march was the fourth nationwide strike day this autumn.

French students blocked dozens of high schools and universities on Tuesday, 3 Nov, to pressure the government over education reforms. Authorities counted 48 of the country's 3,700 high schools blocked, including in Paris, Rennes, Toulouse and Lyon, while the student union USL put the figure at 500 establishments. Officials said 51 of 184 higher education institutions were disrupted. Trade unions have called a nationwide strike for Thursday. The protests follow a wider movement against rising prices and weak public services that has drawn hundreds of thousands onto the streets over three weekends.