French Museums Shut Down in Nationwide Strikes
France’s “Block Everything” national protests intensified on Wednesday, coinciding with the appointment of new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. Several major cultural landmarks—including the Musée d’Orsay, Musée Delacroix, and the Arc de Triomphe—were forced to close, while the Louvre operated only partially open.

The French national library and museum (BnF) saw its entrances blocked by around 100 protesters, according to union group CGT-Culture. Three major cultural unions—CGT, FSU, and SUD—organized the protests, demanding “social and fiscal justice, fair wages, higher pensions, stronger social benefits, and a real cultural policy that reduces inequality.” By noon, French outlet Le Monde reported at least 145 arrests across the country.

UK Poll Shows Rising Support for Parthenon Marbles’ Return
Meanwhile, in Britain, momentum is growing for the return of the Parthenon Marbles—also known as the Elgin Marbles—to Greece. A JL Partners poll for the Parthenon Project found that 56 percent of respondents favor restitution, up from 53 percent in last year’s survey. Only 22 percent support keeping the sculptures in the British Museum.

Notably, almost one in three respondents said they would like to see all looted and disputed artworks in the UK returned to their countries of origin.

“Support for the return of the Parthenon sculptures isn’t confined to one part of society—it cuts across age, region, and political affiliation,” said Lord Vaizey of Didcot, a Conservative peer and co-chair of the Parthenon Project.

With the British Museum preparing for a major renovation, the debate over the marbles’ future is expected to intensify, as public opinion increasingly favors their journey back to Athens.