As fuel prices surge nearly 37 per cent and protests over living costs turn violent, French President Emmanuel Macron is seeking fresh energy supplies and partnerships in the Gulf. But can diplomacy abroad ease mounting pressure at home?
French authorities imposed local curfews in parts of Paris, Lille and Nice on Monday after a weekend of riots and looting linked to nationwide anti-government protests, as the government faced mounting criticism over security failures.
French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the violence, looting and vandalism that erupted during cost-of-living protests across France. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held crisis talks on Monday, calling for partial curfews and raising the possibility of a state of emergency.
Protests swept across France, Albania, Portugal, Belgium and Italy over the weekend, driven by anger over rising living costs, housing shortages, education concerns and government policies. Demonstrations in several countries escalated into violent clashes with police.
What started out as planned protests against the cost of living, declining public services and education funding in France, quickly devolved into violent riots across the country on Saturday.
France is preparing for a fresh wave of nationwide demonstrations this weekend as rising living costs, education concerns and growing political tensions converge into one of the most significant protest movements seen in the country in recent years.
Nationwide protests are set to begin in France on Saturday with students, trade unionists and remnants of the Yellow Vest movement expected to demonstrate against rising living costs amongst others.
Marine Le Pen benefits from a fragmented opposition. The consequences could reach beyond the presidency, into Ukraine, NATO and the commitments that hold European security together.
Hackers forced the temperature of fridges and freezers in hundreds of French supermarkets up to 50 degrees Celsius overnight, causing fires and food losses in what the Paris Prosecutor’s Office described as a “large-scale” attack.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined high school students protesting outside a school in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis on Tuesday, as a wave of student demonstrations continues across France.
French authorities have opened a major investigation after a cyberattack disrupted refrigeration systems at hundreds of supermarkets, causing widespread food spoilage, forcing stores to discard stock and, in some cases, triggering fires.
The 2026 Paris Motor Show has opened with a clear message: competition is intensifying as carmakers race to embrace electric vehicles, cutting-edge technology and new designs.
A 14-year-old pupil has been arrested after shooting and injuring a headteacher and a teacher with a hunting rifle at a school in Aubagne, near Marseille, on Monday. Neither suffered life-threatening injuries, officials said.
Two paintings by French Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir worth millions of dollars have been recovered a month after they were stolen from a French Riviera museum. Four men have been charged in connection with the theft, while two other suspects have been released without charge.
Air France has reportedly informed its pilots and cabin crew of new Israeli restrictions preventing employees holding certain nationalities, including dual nationals, from operating flights to Israel, according to an investigation published by French outlet Mediapart on Saturday.
France’s internal police watchdog (IGPN) is investigating 24 cases linked to student protests across the country, including an incident in which a 14-year-old boy suffered a broken jaw and shattered teeth after allegedly being struck by a police projectile.
Student protests are gaining momentum across France over worsening school conditions, as online calls for nationwide demonstrations on 17 October raise the prospect of wider unrest.
Riot police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters in Brussels on Friday, 9 October, as students joined workers in a nationwide strike against government austerity measures and spending cuts.
It started with classrooms. Too many students, not enough teachers, deteriorating buildings and growing anxiety over what comes after high school. But within weeks, a movement that began outside French lycées had spread across the country.
Maisa, a 17-year-old in a deprived Paris suburb who aspires to be an English teacher, joined tens of thousands of other students and their supporters this week in protests that spread across France over dilapidated schools, classroom overcrowding and teacher shortages.
Around 400 schools across France remained closed on Friday as protests over teacher shortages and deteriorating buildings escalated into violence, leaving dozens injured and leading to 2,000 arrests.
The Trump administration has urged France and Germany to release emergency diesel reserves to ease global fuel prices, warning they could otherwise face restrictions on U.S. diesel exports, according to three people familiar with the discussions who spoke to Reuters.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 30 September 2026. These are the top five stories making headlines in Europe.
A decade ago, a far-right party winning a major Western European election would have caused a political shock. Today, such results are increasingly becoming part of Europe’s political landscape.
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