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Received — 17 October 2026 ⏭ France 24 - English

Fires and clashes rock France amid massive nationwide protests

17 October 2026 at 13:31
Protesters clashed with police in Paris and other French cities on Saturday as hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest higher living costs and the declining conditions in schools and other public services. Several town halls were broken into – and in at least one instance set on fire – and many shops were vandalised and ransacked. One protester had his hand torn off by what appeared to be a crowd-control grenade used by police.

Ukraine war: "Mothers of Kherson" opera opens in Poland

17 October 2026 at 16:57
"Mothers of Kherson" has opened at Poland's National Opera. The performance was co-produced with New York's Metropolitan Opera and created in close association with Save Ukraine, a group helping to bring back Ukrainian children who remain in Russia. More than four years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the opera aims to "reawaken" global interest in the war.

Protests in France: "Two fires broke out in Place de la République"

17 October 2026 at 16:53
Police and protesters clashed in Paris and other French cities on Saturday, with smoke from fires and tear gas filling the air at demonstrations nationwide against high prices, ahead of elections to replace President Emmanuel Macron. "Two fires broke out in Place de la République," reports France 24's Antonia Kerrigan from the ground.

Protests in France: "Living conditions are too harsh"

17 October 2026 at 16:10
Saturday’s mobilisation in France follows calls on social media to revive the Yellow Vests movement, which emerged in 2018 against social injustice. Student groups protesting since mid-September have urged supporters to join. We discuss this with our journalist on the ground, Antonia Kerrigan, and our guest, Paul Smith, head of Modern Languages at the University of Nottingham.

Israeli settlers attack European delegation convoy in West Bank, beat French mayor

17 October 2026 at 15:58
Israeli settlers on Saturday attacked a convoy carrying a European delegation in the occupied West Bank, beating up a 78-year-old  French mayor. While Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – who is just days from a crucial election – described the incident as a "smear" campaign against Israeli settlers, France's top diplomat urged Israel to "urgently halt criminal violence".

France: "We've seen extremely high tensions between protesters and law enforcement"

17 October 2026 at 15:46
Protesters across France called for street demonstrations on Saturday against rising living costs. France 24's Antonia Kerrigan reports from Paris. "The march from here to Place de Clichy isn't set to start for another hour. However, we've seen it kicking off extremely early doors. It seems that what's happened is that police attempted to block the protesters from reaching Place de la République, and we saw the use of tear gas. We've seen people running with their masks on. We also saw the use of stun grenades."

France faces day of cost-of-living protests

17 October 2026 at 12:47
French authorities detained dozens on Saturday at the start of nationwide protests against the cost of living, in what is likely to be a key indicator of the social climate heading toward elections to replace President Emmanuel Macron. France 24's Antonia Kerrigan tells us more.

Cameroonian journalist shot in Bamenda

17 October 2026 at 12:16
Cameroonian journalist Ambe Macmillan is recovering in hospital after being shot in the legs by gunmen in the north-western city of Bamenda. A young woman was also killed as the attackers opened fire on mourners attending a wake. The shooting has renewed concerns about the dangers facing journalists in Cameroon's English-speaking regions, after years of conflict between government forces and separatist groups.

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