Author: staff

France is reeling after violent clashes and looting during nationwide protests over the cost of living and school conditions. In Paris, Lille, Lyon, Marseille and other cities, damaged shops, smashed windows and burnt debris marked the aftermath. Shopkeepers condemned the destruction, saying it traumatised staff and threatened family-run businesses, while others stressed that violence undermined the protesters’ cause. Cleanup crews and residents worked to clear the streets as the country assessed the damage from one of its worst episodes of unrest in recent years. Watch the video for more.

Torrential rain caused severe flooding in eastern Spain, leaving at least four people dead and prompting more than 400 rescues in the Valencia region. Floodwaters swept away parked cars, submerged roads and left some residents stranded, with emergency crews airlifting people to safety. In Oliva, one of the worst-hit areas, two people died, including a 79-year-old woman found at home. Authorities ordered around 100 municipalities to remain indoors for several hours as heavy rain battered the Mediterranean coast. Most restrictions were lifted by early Monday afternoon as conditions improved.

Published on 19/10/2026 – 21:20 GMT+2 “I am confident that Iran’s cause, like Russia’s, is a just cause,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday at a joint press conference in Tehran with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. Lavrov accused Washington and Israel of launching what he described as an unprovoked military campaign against the country whilst reaffirming Moscow’s commitment to continue supporting Tehran. His remarks came hours after US President Donald Trump defended easing economic pressure on Moscow, arguing that further sanctions could jeopardise negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. He said he also wanted to ensure…

Published on 19/10/2026 – 15:40 GMT+2 Twenty-five Chinese carmakers were among the 60 on display this year, offering many visitors their first chance to see such their models in the metal. Marques such as Zeekr, Changan, Denza and AITO are emerging onto the European market, and the Paris car show is an important moment for them to promote their unique technology and style. This biennial event comes amid trade tensions between Europe and China, including a new deal to limit the number of hybrid cars exported from China to the EU, and Chinese firms now making cars in European factories…

Saturday saw hundreds of thousands of protesters take to the streets nationwide across France, with students — who have been blockading schools in recent weeks to call for better study conditions, more teachers and more funding — joining trade unions and members of the public to protest the cost of living. While many protested peacefully, scenes of extreme violence also played out across the country. According to the latest figures from the interior ministry, some 2,000 people were arrested during the turmoil. During Attal’s tenure as prime minister in 2024, France blocked TikTok access to one of its overseas territories,…

Published on 19/10/2026 – 19:51 GMT+2 Edi Rama has accused some of those taking part in anti-government protests in Albania as having crossed a “red line” as demonstrations continued across the country on Monday. Anti-government “Flamingo” protests have been ongoing in Albania for months amid calls for Rama to resign as prime minister, but clashes ramped up early last week as a student movement calling for action over high tuition fees launched fresh demonstrations. “Protests are a right, whereas violence is a crime, and this red line will be drawn firmly at this critical stage of our democratic development,” Rama…

Qatar will soon announce a new defence partnership, Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Monday, while also calling for talks and closer economic ties with Iran to prevent further conflict. Sheikh Saoud, also minister of state for defence affairs, told the Global Security Forum in Doha that Qatar was using lessons from the Iran war to better protect itself and develop new defence plans with its neighbours. The planned defence partnership would help Qatar counter ballistic missiles, drones and cyberattacks, he said, also focusing on water security. He also said Qatar would soon announce a…

Das deutsche Gesundheitssystem beschränkt sich auf die Behandlung von Folgeerkrankungen der Adipositas, etwa Typ-2-Diabetes oder Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen. Deren Behandlung ist medizinisch notwendig. Die politische Frage lautet jedoch, ob es auf Dauer wirtschaftlich sinnvoll ist, vor allem die Folgen der Adipositas zu finanzieren, anstatt Adipositas direkt zu behandeln. Das ist vor dem Hintergrund des demografischen Wandels und mangelnder Fachkräfte besonders relevant. Eine vom Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft veröffentlichte Prognose geht davon aus, dass Deutschland bis 2036 rund 4,3 Millionen Arbeitskräfte fehlen könnten. Adipositas ist nicht die Ursache des Fachkräftemangels und auch nicht die alleinige Lösung. Sie ist aber ein Faktor, der die…

Published on 19/10/2026 – 17:00 GMT+2 As France continues to reel from the unprecedented violence that engulfed parts of the country over the weekend, the stories of those who fought back against rioters have sparked a wave of public support. Millions of social media users have watched the now iconic scene of a gaming shop employee in Nice, identified as Pierre, confronting looters who tried to enter his store – even after one hooded individual kicked him in the back and another person hurled objects at him. Pierre, who works at a Micromania store, told French TV network BFM that…

With only months left in his presidency, Emmanuel Macron faces mounting social unrest and political criticism that could ultimately shape his legacy. After student protests over living conditions erupted into violence last Saturday, Macron has come under fire from across the political spectrum over his handling of the security situation and his response to grievances over education, the cost of living and inflation. The unrest comes as France grapples with record public debt, soaring fuel prices and escalating international conflicts. The Yellow Vests movement, which has helped coordinate the protests, announced a “second act” on Monday, with further demonstrations planned…