France hit by nationwide public-sector strike and student protests

France is staging a nationwide day of public-sector strikes and student demonstrations over wages, working conditions and school overcrowding.

• Public-sector unions called a strike across France, with more than 170 demonstrations planned in Paris, Marseille, Nice and Toulouse.
• The civil aviation directorate asked airlines to cut flight schedules at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Marseille Provence airports.
• Police used tear gas at the Park Imperial school complex in the Alps after students tried to close the entrance and set fire to electric bicycles.
• The Interior Ministry reported disturbances at 180 educational institutions on Monday, as a student union called to expand protests.