Strike Closes Eiffel Tower Down on 100th Anniversary of Creator Death

This photograph taken on December 27, 2023 in Paris shows the reflection of tourists and the Eiffel Tower in a board informing visitors that the site is closed after staff went on strike. (AFP)
This photograph taken on December 27, 2023 in Paris shows the reflection of tourists and the Eiffel Tower in a board informing visitors that the site is closed after staff went on strike. (AFP)
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Strike Closes Eiffel Tower Down on 100th Anniversary of Creator Death

This photograph taken on December 27, 2023 in Paris shows the reflection of tourists and the Eiffel Tower in a board informing visitors that the site is closed after staff went on strike. (AFP)
This photograph taken on December 27, 2023 in Paris shows the reflection of tourists and the Eiffel Tower in a board informing visitors that the site is closed after staff went on strike. (AFP)

The Eiffel Tower was closed on Wednesday, the 100th anniversary of its creator's death, due to a strike, the company that oversees the tower, Societe d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), said on the website of Paris' most famous landmark.

"A symbolic action on a symbolic date," said the CGT union in a statement, adding that staff members wanted to call out the current financial management of SETE.

They said they feared poor decisions could lead to a cash shortage, due in part to a lack of visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to expensive repairs needed on the historical building.

The statement added that if the city did not revise its management, the tower could be closed during Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The wrought-iron 324-meter (1,063 ft) high tower, built by Gustave Eiffel in the late 19th century, is among the most visited tourist sites in the world, welcoming about six million visitors each year.



Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz University Hosts Chinese Students for Knowledge Exchange Program

Running from November 11 to 22, the initiative aims to strengthen educational collaboration between Saudi and Chinese institutions
Running from November 11 to 22, the initiative aims to strengthen educational collaboration between Saudi and Chinese institutions
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Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz University Hosts Chinese Students for Knowledge Exchange Program

Running from November 11 to 22, the initiative aims to strengthen educational collaboration between Saudi and Chinese institutions
Running from November 11 to 22, the initiative aims to strengthen educational collaboration between Saudi and Chinese institutions

King Abdulaziz University (KAU) is hosting a delegation of 23 students from the Chinese Language Department at Zhejiang International Studies University as part of a 10-day knowledge exchange program.

Running from November 11 to 22, the initiative aims to strengthen educational collaboration between Saudi and Chinese institutions, particularly in the field of Chinese language education.

The program includes the "Chinese Language Bridge" activities, organized under the theme "Enhancing Understanding and Building the Future." It offers an immersive experience for students in the Chinese Language Department at KAU, blending academic learning with cultural exploration.

In addition to language-focused workshops, the delegation is participating in various educational activities and cultural visits, fostering mutual understanding and strengthening ties between the Kingdom and China in higher education.