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By Janis Laizans, STAMOS PROUSALIS and Yann Tessier PARIS, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Rioting erupted in cities across France on Saturday as demonstrations against rising living costs and declining public services spiralled out of control in some of the worst violence the country has witnessed for decades.
While hundreds of thousands protested peacefully in street marches in scores of cities, violent fringe groups targeted public buildings, looted luxury boutiques and supermarkets and attacked police vehicles and officers. In Limoges the city hall was set ablaze, in Marseille black-clad protesters broke into City Hall and defaced the building with anarchic graffiti and in Lyon protesters torched the city's tourist office.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the government would not be "intimidated" by violence, and blamed the unrest on the "far-left" and criminals just months before a presidential election next year. "To those who clearly want to use this violence as a 'warm-up' before the presidential election, I say clearly: We will not let ourselves be intimidated.
No one will impose their political agenda through violence," he wrote in a post on X. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told reporters that about 400 people had been arrested after violent incidents, most of whom were adults. Around 550,000 people had participated in the demonstrations across the country, he said.
The CGT union told Reuters it estimated protesters at 800,000 people. President Emmanuel Macron vowed to prosecute and punish people who had performed such attacks. "We will all stand united against the sowers of chaos, who only seek to undermine our institutions and prevent those who peacefully express their demands from doing so," he wrote in a post on X. Belgium, Portugal and Italy also faced smaller-scale protests on Saturday as living costs rise in Europe, while protesters in Albania again rallied against perceived government corruption, a lack of jobs and poor education standards.
Protesters said most people had marched peacefully, and put much of the violence down to troublemakers who had set out to cause damage and clash with the police. Many held signs bearing slogans against the police, the president and the wealthy. "We are fighting because the cost of living is too harsh, because the price of fuel is too high, because high school pupils are being violently attacked and hurt all over the country just for trying to protest and ask for more teachers and decent learning conditions," said Lola, a 19-year-old protester in Paris.
TEAR GAS, FIRE AND LOOTING Most protests kicked off around midday, with some beginning before the official start of the demonstrations. In some parts of Paris, police fired tear gas rounds as they retreated in the face of mostly young protesters, many of whom were dressed in black and wore hoodies, masks and goggles to protect against tear gas.
Rioters tried to break into the Galeries Lafayette department store, smashed up banks, ransacked a Lacoste store as well as other boutiques and looted an SFR mobile phone shop. Protesters had been setting objects ablaze all day, including numerous cars. In protests partly inspired by those in France, several hundred mostly young people protested in Brussels, and some clashed with police.
Belgian student groups have said they are protesting against rising education costs and reforms they fear will make higher education less accessible. In Albania, police fired what appeared to be rubber bullets at protesters during a fifth day of mass student demonstrations calling for Prime Minister Edi Rama to step down.
In Portugal, tens of thousands took to the streets of Lisbon following days of unrest to protest against housing and other living costs. Housing prices in Portugal have doubled since 2017, fuelling one of the worst affordability crises in Europe. In Italy, a march against high costs of living in Milan degenerated into disorder, with police clearing the central cathedral square with tear gas.
Police in Bologna used water cannons to try to disperse crowds and made seven arrests after another protest turned violent, the ANSA news agency reported. FRENCH POLICE RESPONSE UNDER SCRUTINY The protests in France began last month at high schools in Paris' working-class northern suburbs, where anger over teacher shortages and shabby facilities evolved into a broader movement focused on inequality, public spending and living standards.
In Paris on Saturday, protesters in high-visibility vests blocked streets, recalling the Yellow Vest movement that marked President Emmanuel Macron's previous term in office. Saturday's protests eclipsed the size of the crowds at the peak of the Yellow Vest movement, though they were far lower than the levels seen at the protests in 2023 against Macron's pension overhaul.
Macron is entering the final stretch of his presidency, facing a fragmented political landscape and growing pressure over the economy. France's efforts to reduce public debt have failed to reassure investors, pushing government borrowing costs to their highest levels in over two decades. Police tactics have drawn criticism following injuries among demonstrators, including a teenager who lost a hand after picking up a stun grenade.
The police watchdog is investigating at least two dozen allegations of police violence. Lecornu said more than 900 police officers had also been injured in previous protests. Nunez said one person lost his hand in clashes with police on Saturday. French media reported he tried to pick up a stun grenade.
The UNSA police union posted a video on X showing crowds attacking police vans with clubs and bricks in multiple locations. The union warned the government police forces were at breaking point. “Today again, in every corner of France, our colleagues are being used as punching bags.
Pelted with stones, injured, trapped in real ambushes,” the union said. “Let everyone take responsibility: this cannot go on indefinitely. The rope is stretched to its maximum." (Reporting by Janis Laizans, Stamos Prousalis, Yann Tessier, Clotaire Achi, Abdul Saboor, Dominique Vidalon, Makini Brice, Sybille de La Hamaide in Paris, Stephane Mahe in Nantes, Petra Wischgoll in Strasbourg, Marc Leras in Marseille; Writing by Sybille de La Hamaide; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Mark Potter, Timothy Heritage and Chizu Nomiyama ) This article originally appeared on Reuters at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/students-trade-unions-yellow-vests-050603763.html
As Americans express frustration with the country’s economic outlook, Vice President JD Vance told CBS News this week…
Top Republicans and Democrats alike lined up Saturday to condemn President Trump's decision to waive recent sanctions on Russia, calling it "irresponsible" and "a deal with the devil." Why it matters: Trump already faces a bipartisan effort to overturn his Russian diesel deal when Congress returns after the election.
Now he may have to deal with even broader outrage over sanctions Congress approved just a month ago.Driving the news: Late Friday night, Trump issued an executive order waiving implementation of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which he signed in September.The act would have imposed broad sanctions not only on Russia, but on other countries buying its oil.What they're saying: Democrats forcefully criticized Trump's decision."By giving the Russian economy life support, Trump's deal with the devil keeps getting dirtier," Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote."Trump's latest surrender to Putin again betrays our Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent of legislation designed to punish Russia for its illegal war of aggression," Rep.
Don Beyer (D-Va.) posted on X."These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, & everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin. I hope my Republican colleagues will join me in condemning this craven, cowardly action," Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said on X.Republicans were equally unsparing.
"We should be increasing economic pressure on Russia, not easing up. We need to use every tool at our disposal, including fully implementing the Graham sanctions and my REPO Act, to squeeze Putin until he ends his illegal and barbaric war in Ukraine," Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) wrote.
"I have requested a classified briefing on the rationale for this decision.""Beyond irresponsible. What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand?" Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) posted on X. "It's unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine and butchers innocent civilians every single day."Sen.
John Cornyn (R-Tex.) posted simply: "Lindsey would be appalled." One soon-to-depart congressman, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), hinted at the trouble Trump may face when Congress returns. "Congress has a lame-duck session. The President has an agenda: supplemental, reconciliation, Ballroom, etc… I think the agenda is dead.
Many of us won't fund these things knowing he is propping up a dictator's invasion and throwing an ally under the bus," Bacon wrote.For the record: The White House defended Trump's decision. "President Trump has been clear that he wants to see this brutal war come to an end.
As talks continue, this Act provides the President with additional authorities to pursue a peaceful resolution," spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement."Enforcing the sanctions provisions now would impede ongoing U.S. efforts to negotiate a durable and comprehensive peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. The President retains the ability to exercise these authorities at any time if he determines that doing so would advance national interests."What to watch: The question now is just how hard Congress will push back when it returns in a few weeks.
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President Trump is carrying his insatiable appetite for controversy into the most unforgiving stretch of the electoral calendar, fortified by a decade of political survival."Bottom line, it's gonna all work out. You know why? It always does," Trump told reporters this week.Why it matters: Gone are the days of a single "October surprise," swallowed by a familiar barrage of scandals, provocations and shattered conventions that have persisted in the closing weeks of Trump's final midterm election.The big picture: Axios has documented Trump's steady demolition of presidential norms in his second term, from the transition through his first 100 days and first year in office.This year, even the threat of losing Congress — and with it, much of his ability to pursue his agenda over the next two years — has done little to temper the pace or audacity of Trump's presidency.Consider the first 15 days of October alone, and the succession of controversies that might have shaken the foundation of a more conventional presidency:Raid on a political opponent: Federal agents searched Rep.
Ilhan Omar's (D-Minn.) home and seized her phone as part of an investigation aimed at stripping the sitting member of Congress of her U.S. citizenship and ultimately deporting her, the Wall Street Journal reports. Omar denies wrongdoing.Calls to shoot leakers: Trump declared at an Arizona campaign rally that officials who leak sensitive military information "should be shot," invoking an earlier era when he claimed the government routinely executed leakers.Concessions to Vladimir Putin: Trump eased sanctions on Russian diesel, demanded the ouster of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and pressured Kyiv to stop attacking Russian refineries.
Late Friday night, Trump waived sweeping new Russia sanctions under a bipartisan law named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham that he signed just last month.Taxpayer-funded political ads: Trump spent millions in taxpayer dollars on campaign-style ads promoting his presidency, until a federal judge ordered them halted.
He then directed his MAGA Inc. super PAC to finance future spots, drawing a separate complaint alleging violations of campaign-finance law.Federal crackdown on the press: The Justice Department launched an antitrust investigation into ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC after the networks suspended White House pool coverage to protest Trump's ban on three news organizations.$5,000 election promise: Trump pledged to send every adult American a $5,000 check if Republicans retain control of Congress, explicitly tying more than $1 trillion in proposed federal payments to the outcome of the midterms.DOJ intervention in the midterms: With voting already underway, the Justice Department sued California to block 20,000 ballots from suspected noncitizens — the latest escalation in a sweeping campaign to affect American elections.Grisly social-media posts: Trump posted footage of a man being fatally mauled by a tiger, followed by a montage of animal attacks set to upbeat music and an AI-generated video of himself wrestling and embracing a tiger.$333 million in ballroom donations: Secret records obtained by the Washington Post revealed the corporations and billionaires bankrolling Trump's White House ballroom, including donors who benefited from government contracts, regulatory decisions and a presidential pardon involving a family member.The other side: Three October episodes forced Trump into rare retreats — largely of other people's making.A televised execution: Trump scrapped the plan to livestream a convicted mass murderer's execution by firing squad after bipartisan outrage.An ambassador's downfall: Trump forced Kimberly Guilfoyle — who was engaged to his son for four years until 2024 — to resign as ambassador to Greece after reports that she solicited $100,000 from a political donor to cover personal credit-card bills.
Guilfoyle denies wrongdoing.A five-day press secretary: Trump ousted Katie Zacharia amid scrutiny of her legal credentials and a widely criticized debut. Axios reports Trump was blindsided to learn that Zacharia — whom he had introduced as an attorney — had never passed the bar exam.What they're saying: Far from seeing October as a month of political peril, the administration is celebrating it as a continuation of Trump's record."Since Day One of his administration, President Trump has boldly and consistently fulfilled on his campaign promises to protect national security, make America beautiful, secure the border, crack down on crime, ensure free and fair elections, and make life more affordable," White House spokesperson Allison Schuster told Axios."October is shaping up to be another incredible month," she added.Between the lines: Trump has spent a decade defying political gravity.
But the economic strength that helped insulate him during his first term has given way to a deepening crisis of public confidence.A Fox News poll released Wednesday put Trump's approval at 36% — his lowest in either presidency — including a devastating 22% for his handling of inflation.In the same Fox poll, government corruption narrowly surpassed inflation as the issue drawing the most extreme concern from voters.The bottom line: Trump is treating a moment of maximum political vulnerability like business as usual, betting that the instincts that carried him this far won't fail him now.
By Enas AlashrayCAIRO, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Saturday that his term would end in 2030 and outlined a plan for the country's main military academy to train potential future leaders for 30 months before then.The proposal gives the Egyptian Military Academy a central role in preparing future leaders, underscoring the armed forces' influence beyond national defence.
Under Sisi, a former general,the military has expanded its presence in the economy and civilian affairs.
Stellantis workers in Canada begin voting today on whether to give their union a strike mandate as collective bargaining negotiations remain stalled.
Adm. Brad Cooper says US blocked export of $25b of Iranian oil, controls Hormuz, even as at least one tanker said struck; increased Iranian help reportedly fueled Houthi advances
By Andrea Shalal, David Lawder and Jan StrupczewskiBANGKOK, Oct 17 (Reuters) - The global economy is showing remarkable resilience but there is no room for complacency, the head of the International Monetary Fund's steering committee said on Saturday, while divisions over Russia's war against Ukraine sparked a walkout of delegates.
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The euro area annual inflation rate was 3.8% in September 2026, up from 3.2% in August. A year…
How Russian and pro-Kremlin Telegram channels react to Ukrainian strikes on territory controlled by the Kremlin regime. Between 2024 and 2026, Ukraine's strikes on Russia's rear turned from isolated episodes into a sustained campaign. The targets moved far beyond the frontline zone: oil refineries and export ports, defence plants and, from summer 2026, the major logistics hubs of Russian online retail.
In parallel, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces launched a middle-strike campaign ...
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Environmental watchdog Mighty Earth reveals two-year effort to postpone and weaken EU Deforestation RegulationUS corporate lobbyists launched a two-year “blitz” to postpone and weaken the world’s most progressive legislation to protect forests, according to a new investigation by the environmental watchdog Mighty Earth.Major US firms and trade associations, including Cargill, Bunge, Mondelēz and the US Soybean Export Council, as well as numerous other US firms and organizations, sought to influence the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in more than 350 meetings, the advocacy group found.
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Sky-high oil prices and geopolitical turmoil have made less of a dent than feared … just don’t bank on it to lastInside the vast, glass-walled Queen Sirikit conference centre in Bangkok, the air-conditioned atmosphere was calm as policymakers from more than 100 countries gathered this week for the International Monetary Fund’s annual meeting – and contemplated the surprising strength of the global economy.A small army of smiling, uniformed Thai staff were on hand to explain the baffling geography of the heavily guarded building, where lunch options were as cosmopolitan as the delegates – including, improbably, a Burger King.
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The move offers relief to major Russian oil buyers as India and the US push to finalize a trade deal, with crude prices above $100 a barrel adding to pressure on New Delhi’s import bill and inflation.
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explicare.dePresident Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday, Oct. 16, waiving sweeping Russia sanctions and tariffs set to take effect Sunday under legislation he signed just a month earlier. The decision suspends 500% tariffs on Russian imports and 100% duties targeting major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
The move follows Trump’s diesel deal with Putin, drawing criticism that sanctions relief could fund Russia’s war.
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In an extract from his new book, the bowler recalls one of English cricket’s greatest days and the team’s resentment when ECB killjoys shut down their celebrationsAs Eoin Morgan lifted the World Cup to an explosion of fireworks and ticker tape, the sense of achievement finally hit home.
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WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order that puts on hold a sweeping new sanctions package targeting the Russian economy, telling Congress the pause was in the national interest. Trump personally signed the legislation just last month and his move came just two days before a deadline set in the law itself for its implementation.
It drew shift condemnation from congressional Democrats. Named after late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the legislation had sought to clamp down more quickly on the flow of financial resources fueling the war against Ukraine. Trump's unexpected decision comes a week after he stunningly said the U.S. had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to try to bring down global energy prices, despite that potentially hurting Ukraine in its war with Russia.
An AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll published Oct. 1 found that Americans disapprove of the president's handling of the Iran war and blame him for higher prices. Trump's approval ratings have sunk to near-historic lows and pressure is mounting as Republicans try
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President signed the legislation championed by late senator Lindsey Graham last month but has waived the restrictions as they were due to come into effectDonald Trump has put on hold a sweeping new sanctions package targeting the Russian economy, telling Congress the pause on the legislation passed by both chambers was in the national interest.In an executive order on Friday, the US president said he was waiving many sanctions, restrictions and duties on Russia, in a move that comes as he has been publicly criticising Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, including suggesting that Ukraine needs a new leader.
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