World News by Wild Rose

A coalition of the “Yellow Vests” movement, labor unions and students will march across France on Saturday with demands centered around studying conditions and purchasing power. Some 70,000 police will be deployed with authorities fearing ransacking and looting similar to the unrest that erupted last Saturday on the sidelines of protests that saw at least 550,000 participants. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

More than 70,000 police officers are to be deployed over fears protesters will defy restrictions on demonstrations.

Orléans will close three Loire bridges, suspend trams and shut most city-centre shops for Saturday’s march against the National Rally congress. The post French City Shuts Bridges Ahead of Protest appeared first on The Rio Times.

Younger Limoges residents see the destruction of their town hall as unfortunate collateral damage in a wider movement. For others, the fire was an unacceptable tragedy.

France is “certain” that its push with Germany for a tougher EU China policy propelled Beijing to moderate its hybrid car exports, despite warnings from the Chinese capital that the pressure did not work. “I’m certain that it played a role, and it’s very important that the German and French engine, which is very essential to the future of Europe, starts again – and I think that’s going to be the case,” French Trade Minister Nicolas Forissier said as he arrived at a ministerial meeting in Dublin...

Wooden boards are going up across France as shopkeepers brace for possible unrest. With a National Rally congress in Orléans and protests approaching in Lyon, businesses fear damage and disruption.

Recent youth-led protests in New Delhi and other cities in India have fuelled allegations that they are connected to unrest in France and elsewhere in Europe, with an influential Hindu nationalist organisation warning of foreign forces seeking to destabilise societies. While analysts caution against concluding that foreign interference played a role in demonstrations in India, they say protesters in Europe and India share similar concerns, reflecting their mounting anger that education and hard...

France’s National Assembly rejected the revenue part of the 2027 Social Security budget on 23 October, 115 votes to 1, sending the original text to the Senate. The post French Assembly Rejects Welfare Budget appeared first on The Rio Times.

Parents could face financial penalties if their children participate in vandalism or looting during demonstrations.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez says 70,000 police and gendarmes will be on duty Saturday, with Orléans, host of a National Rally congress, the main flashpoint. The post France Deploys 70,000 Police for Protests appeared first on The Rio Times.

President to meet for first time with student representatives on Friday before further protests.

Police across France are under pressure to maintain security during further protests expected in some cities, while facing scrutiny over their riot-control tactics used during previous unrest that left some teenagers seriously injured. Officers appeared outnumbered and overwhelmed during last weekend’s protests against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. In response, France’s Interior Ministry said it would deploy 20 per cent more police this Saturday than last weekend, even as...

French President Emmanuel Macron is meeting with high school student representatives Friday for the first time since the month-long student protests over teacher shortages and run-down schools began. The president is also holding a "defence council" to prepare for Saturday's planned demonstrations. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

Internet users in China are watching the protests in France with a mix of geopolitical cynicism, domestic pride and sadness at the damage to French landmarks. The protests started in September, when students and teachers in southeastern Paris rallied against deteriorating school conditions. Those specific grievances quickly escalated into nationwide protests at the rising cost of living and declining public services. What began as peaceful marches has since dissolved into violence, with rioters...

France is adding 20% more security forces for Saturday, 24 October, as Macron warns illegitimate protests will be banned and unions plan a 5 November strike. The post France Boosts Security for Saturday Protests appeared first on The Rio Times.

The cost of options hedges against more gains in Treasuries surged to its highest level since March on Thursday, as investors sought the safety of US government bonds following a spike in oil prices and a deepening fiscal crisis in France.

Thursday's planned demonstrations are outlawed in parts of Paris, Lyon, Lille and Grenoble.

The disease, which usually affects cattle, has been identified in a patient who died in early October.

The US president has turned his attention to France, but his comments appear to have been dismissed by Macron.

Qatari and French leaders stress need to restore freedom of navigation in Strait of Hormuz.

Research carried out by the Alliance4Europe NGO suggests that pro-Russian networks manipulated information online in an effort to exacerbate anger in France ahead of last weekend's massive protests and subsequent unrest. After analysing more than half a million posts across various social media platforms, the group says it was able to track the campaign back to the start of September. FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks with Omri Preiss, Managing Director at the Alliance4Europe.

Research carried out by the Alliance4Europe NGO suggests that pro-Russian networks manipulated information online in an effort to exacerbate anger in France ahead of last weekend's massive protests and subsequent unrest. After analysing more than half a million posts across various social media platforms, the group says it was able to track the campaign back to the start of September. FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks with Omri Preiss, Managing Director at the Alliance4Europe.

French bond yields have topped 5%, their highest level since 2002, after widespread protests and violence over the weekend. It's a sign that investors are losing confidence in France's finances, as the government grapples with budget and debt problems. Also in the show - chipmaker Nvidia says it's invested $10 billion in European tech firms to boost the 'AI economy,' and the UK approves a controversial natural gas field as PM Andy Burnham faces pressure over energy costs. 

Donald Trump and his inner circle are using unrest in France to push unsubstantiated claims blaming the riots on immigration, even showing French protest footage at midterm rallies. But there is no evidence linking immigration to the unrest, and it's prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to accuse world leaders of making “stupid comments” at France’s expense. Trump’s focus comes as Republicans face mounting pressure ahead of the midterms and his approval rating hits a reported record low.

Marine Le Pen is set to officially launch her presidential campaign this weekend at the National Rally two-day party congress in Orléans. The latest Ifop poll, carried out in the wake of the mass protests and riots in France, suggests the far right leader would win the first round of the presidential election by a wide margin, and far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon emerged as her most likely opponent in the runoff. FRANCE 24's Emerald Maxwell reports.

French President Emmanuel Macron made a surprise stop in Riyadh to meet Saudi Crown Prince during his ongoing Gulf tour.

The CGT, one of France's largest unions, wants the 5 November strike to spread after Wednesday's talks with the prime minister. The post Top French Union Urges Wider Strikes appeared first on The Rio Times.

⁠French President Emmanuel ​Macron landed in Riyadh on Wednseday, ‌adding an ⁠unscheduled stop to his ‌ongoing tour of the Gulf ⁠region. The president's office said the visit aimed to demonstrate “France's solidarity” ​with Saudi Arabia in ‌the face of attacks launched by the ‌Houthis against its territory. Details by FRANCE 24 international affairs editor Douglas Herbert.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned comments by "foreign leaders" on the violent protests in France on October 17. He has now arrived in Saudi Arabia as part of his Gulf tour.