Free Republic

.."the processes can be divided into two categories, one material aimed at the most popular sites and most important economically, (Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, etc.) and the second directed against important figures [of] Paris, led by the mayor of Paris."

The stairs were climbed by Gustave Eiffel to inaugurate the tower A part of the Eiffel Tower's iron spiral staircase is set to go under the hammer at an auction in Paris.The 4.5m (14.7ft), 20-step section, which once linked the tower's second and third levels, is expected to fetch up to 30,000 euros ($44,000; £21,000). It was one of 24 sections removed in 1983 to make room for new lifts. The 324m tower, built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Universal Exhibition, is the world's most popular monument, drawing six million visitors a year. It was the tallest building...

PARIS, France (AP) -- A Norwegian man was killed after jumping from the Eiffel Tower when a parachute he was wearing got stuck on an upper deck of the monument, officials said Tuesday. Preliminary investigations indicated that the man planned to film his jump as part of publicity for a Norwegian clothing brand, police said. The man, 31, entered the tower on Monday evening with a hidden parachute and a helmet that had a small video camera attached to it, said the official at Paris' police headquarters. Upon reaching the Eiffel Tower's 115-meter-high (380-foot-high) second deck, the man jumped. Investigators...

Local news just flashed that an Egypt Airliner has crashed in Egypt... Reporting majority of ~135 passengers are French tourists....

<p>PARIS, France -- The top of the Eiffel Tower was on fire Tuesday night and smoke could be seen billowing from the Paris monument.</p> <p>The fire broke out in a so-called technical room housing antenna equipment at the top of the tower, Paris police said. Smoke was curling from the third floor of the top level of the famous tower.</p>