World News by Wild Rose

It’s been a week of vigils, protests and political upheaval – from Israel, where three years after the Hamas-led attacks, former hostages and mourners called for accountability over the failures of October 7th, as questions grow over the stalled path to peace in Gaza; to France, where mass demonstrations over chronic underfunding and poor conditions have drawn students, unions and hundreds of thousands of protesters into the streets, just months ahead of a presidential election. In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has made the housing crisis the centrepiece of a high-stakes electoral gamble, as protests intensify following the death of a pensioner whose eviction helped ignite the movement. And in the UK, questions remain over a suspected Iranian plot targeting US aircraft at RAF Fairford, after American B-1 bombers were hastily withdrawn amid warnings of a serious and immediate threat.

In response to the massive high school student protests in France, Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced emergency measures on Thursday, October 8. Some students reacted to these measures in interviews with France 24. 

San ​Antonio Spurs player Victor Wembanyama offers solidarity to students protesting conditions in schools in France.

Amid student protests, Al Jazeera visualises how French spending stacks up against defence and healthcare.

François Picard is pleased to welcome Julian Jackson, British historian, author and, Emeritus Professor of Modern French History at Queen Mary University of London. His biography of General de Gaulle laid the foundation for France's two-part biopic "De Gaulle". And on the heels of this surprise box office hit, Jackson's book is now out in French:. "La Chute: France 1940". He returns to the occupation of Paris and extraordinary collapse of France in the summer of 1940.

French students and teachers protesting school conditions spoke with Al Jazeera about their demands.

Despite being behind at half-time, France scored four goals in 15 minutes to defeat Belgium in the Nations League (4-1). Thanks to this win, France are top of Group 1 after four matches.  

France’s student protests have become the target of a wave of false and misleading videos shared by far-right figures, including Alex Jones and Tommy Robinson. Old footage and unrelated videos have been shared to portray the demonstrations as evidence of an “anti-white” or Islamist uprising linked to uncontrolled immigration. The protests are over school conditions, including large class sizes, teacher shortages and poor facilities, not immigration. Vedika Bahl fact-checks in Truth or Fake.

Lessons were suspended at hundreds of French high schools on Monday, as part of a wave of student protests over learning conditions that have rocked the European nation. Larger demonstrations are expected on Tuesday.

A 15-year-old student lost a hand on Monday picking up a police grenade as part of nationwide protests in France over classroom conditions that have disrupted lessons at hundreds of schools since last week. Some students returned to classrooms but others maintained actions outside their schools, ahead of a day of larger demonstrations expected on Tuesday. Authorities said the teenager was injured in the northern town of Lens. A police union source said he appeared to have picked up a sting-ball...

PRESS REVIEW: Monday, 5 October – more than 400 schools closed on Monday across France, as government fails to assuage the anger of protesting students. In other news, Boulder, Colorado takes on ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy, demanding billions for damage caused by wildfires. And, finally, we take a look at some of nature's most whimsical offerings.

France face Belgium in the fourth and last Nations League game this international break. France already beat Belgium on September 28 in Matchday 2 (1-0).

France’s decision to share defence documents with the Italian judiciary has raised hopes of a breakthrough in investigations into the 1980 crash of a passenger jet near the island of Ustica, which a former Italian president claimed was mistakenly shot down by a French fighter jet. Sceptics caution that the files are unlikely to shed light on one of Italy’s most enduring mysteries, let alone reveal a culprit.

The Stade de France was filled to capacity as the new French national team manager, Zinedine Zidane, prepared to make his home debut. The very side against whom he had ended his playing career in 2006 was once again the opponent he faced. Despite Michael Olise’s splendid free kick, the French were quickly overpowered by a clinical Italian side.

Students have set fire to schools and clashed with police as protests spread across France

Italy's Alessandro Bastoni cancels out Michael Olise's opener for France in 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw in Saint-Denis.

France 24's Olivia Bizot reports from the Paris suburb of Aubervilliers, where she says protests over school conditions have left "apocalyptic" scenes in their wake. The protest movement, which began last week in the Paris region and rapidly spread nationwide, has seen teenage pupils block access to buildings and clash with police.

?? ? ? High schoolers across #France continued to blockade their #schools on Thursday, trying to form a "blocus" at the entrances of their schools in #protest. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that 625 people, mostly students, had been detained during blockade attempts on Wednesday, noting "an expansion of the movement". But what are they asking for? FRANCE 24's Tanishk Saha explains.

More than 400 people, mainly minors, were arrested on Tuesday, the country's interior minister says.

Following their victory in Turkey, France won away at Belgium (1-0). Thanks to this victory, Les Bleus are now at the top of Group A.

A 10-year-old child and two women died on Monday on the treacherous and illegal migration route across the English Channel from France, apparently trampled to death on a packed boat, French authorities said. The dinghy left the area of Sangatte in northern France at around 5.15am carrying 105 people, local prefect François Xavier Lauch said. The boat ran into difficulty with its passengers asking for help, authorities said. They called rescue services at around 8am when they were some six...

France's maritime police ‌‌said ​they received a distress ​call from an inflatable dinghy carrying 105 people.

France face Belgium on Matchday 2 of the Nations League. With Kylian Mbappé out due to injury, Ousmane Dembélé will serve as captain if he starts.

Pope Leo XIV continued his visit to France in Lourdes, at the major Catholic pilgrimage site in the foothills of the Pyrenees, where he celebrated mass before around 150,000 people. Hendro Munstermann, a Vatican correspondent for the Dutch newspaper Nederland Dagblad, joins us from Lourdes to share his impressions and tell us more about the Pope’s visit.

Pope Leo XIV is visiting the pilgrimage town of Lourdes this weekend as part of his four-day trip to France, the first official papal state visit to the country in 18 years. He is expected to hold an open-air Mass this morning at the Lourdes Sanctuary and will meet privately in the afternoon with victims of clergy sexual abuse. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments.

After two days in Paris where he drew hundreds of thousands of worshippers, Pope Leo XIV will continue his visit to France on Sunday in the southwestern pilgrimage town of Lourdes with a private meeting with victims of clergy sexual abuse. The pope's four-day trip is the first official papal visit to France in nearly two decades.

Pope Leo XIV drew huge crowds on the first Papal visit to France in 18 years.

The BBC's Hugh Schofield looks at why the visit is met with enthusiasm the Church attributes to growing spirituality among the French.

Pope Leo XIV flies to France on Friday for the Vatican's first state visit to the European nation in 18 years, with artificial intelligence and young believers near the top of his agenda. President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte will be on the tarmac to greet the 71-year-old pope. 

The Vatican’s recent excommunication of followers of a Catholic splinter sect, the Society of Saint Pius X, has revived a longstanding feud within the Roman Catholic Church ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s state visit to France. The ultra-conservative group has established an extensive network of schools and has attracted thousands of followers in France.