Protests over the cost of living and the housing crisis are taking place in Portugal as demonstrations spread across Europe. On Saturday, major cost-of-living protests in France turned violent, with protesters clashing with riot police.

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Widespread protests are taking place across France over concerns about the cost of living.

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Marseille’s town hall was breached as France prepared for nationwide protests over the cost of living. On October 17, demonstrators in Paris scuffled with police at a rally against rising living costs, joining students’ grievances.

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French authorities detained dozens on Saturday as nationwide protests over the cost of living began. The demonstrations are expected to offer a key gauge of the social climate ahead of elections to choose a successor to President Emmanuel Macron.

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Protests that began at a high school in mid-September have spread to thousands of schools across France, drawing in teachers, unions and university students. Some “yellow vest” activists are urging supporters to join Saturday’s demonstrations. The unrest reflects wider grievances; authorities call it among the most violent in decades, while critics fault the government response and fear further clashes.

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France is increasing security measures ahead of nationwide protests on 17 October over the cost-of-living crisis, amid concerns about potential clashes. Student groups are also set to join the demonstrations.

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Doctors have deemed Pope Leo XIV fit for discharge after surgery on his right lung. He is due to leave Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic on Saturday and return to the Vatican.

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Pope Leo XIV is due to leave Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Saturday, four days after surgery to remove a cancerous growth from the lower lobe of his right lung. Doctors reported steady improvement, and the Vatican says he plans to give the Angelus prayer and blessing in St Peter’s Square on Sunday.

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The Holy See said Pope Leo XIV would leave Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Saturday and return to the Vatican. He had surgery to remove a cancerous nodule from his right lung, and blood tests and a chest X-ray showed he was well enough to be discharged.

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The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV will leave a Rome hospital on Saturday, where he has been recovering after lung cancer surgery. Doctors deemed him fit to be discharged.

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The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV will leave the hospital Saturday after surgery to remove a cancerous nodule from his right lung. He is expected to appear Sunday to lead prayer.

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The Vatican said Pope Leo is expected to be discharged on Saturday afternoon after blood tests and chest imaging showed he was fit to return home following lung cancer surgery.

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White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia was pushed out Friday, less than a week after taking the high-profile post. A series of blunders had added to the distractions facing President Donald Trump.

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Beijing has invited Katie Zacharia, now ousted as White House press secretary, to visit China more often after she said in a recent interview that the country lacked “proper toilets.”

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With weeks left before the US midterm elections, polls suggest the contest could go against Donald Trump and Republicans. Katie Zacharia was replaced after only five days as White House press secretary, following a widely criticized briefing, halting media appearances and questions about her legal credentials. The White House is also facing a series of controversies as strains emerge within the Republican Party.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he fears the US move is just the start of a broader easing of restrictions on Russia.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on supporters Saturday to speak up for new U.S. sanctions on Russia. Hours earlier, President Donald Trump signed an executive order pausing a sweeping package of restrictions targeting the Russian economy.

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Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 17 that Donald Trump was wrong to further block sanctions on Russia, arguing the move would please Vladimir Putin rather than stop him. Trump had issued a broad waiver under the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act the previous day. Zelensky said he hopes Trump will help end the war, but warned Washington may further ease sanctions on Moscow.

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Analysts say Russia stands to benefit most from the US sanctions waiver. Trump signed an executive order suspending newly passed Russia-related sanctions, saying the move serves the US national interest. European countries have criticised his embrace of Russian energy, even as EU members continue importing Russian gas.

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Russia on Saturday called US President Donald Trump’s decision to waive new sanctions against it “historic.” Ukraine fears Trump is siding with Moscow amid Europe’s worst conflict since World War II.

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Trump signed the Graham Bill, which targeted Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, into law in September. He waived broad new sanctions and tariffs under the act, citing national interest.

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A representative for actor Selma Blair responded after she was alleged to have had an altercation with flight attendants aboard a Delta flight, saying she did not intend to harm anyone.

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Students, trade unionists and Yellow Vest activists are taking to the streets across France over high prices and inequality. More than 600 demonstrations are planned, and authorities fear the rallies could turn violent.

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TASS calculations show that 22 vessels reported attacks in the Strait of Hormuz from October 1 to 13, exceeding the previous record for all of March 2026. The incidents left 15 sailors wounded, two missing and one vessel sunk.

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Donald Trump said Friday he had not asked for Starshield services to Ukraine to be reduced. Elon Musk had insisted that any limits on the SpaceX-operated communications system would ultimately have required the US president’s say-so.

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Police and school officials say the 16-year-old who killed three children and a teacher at an Oregon elementary school had previously attended its special-needs program.

Oregonschool shootingpolice investigation

At least three people, including a driver, a father and a teacher, tried to stop a 16-year-old gunman who attacked an Oregon elementary school this week.

Oregonschool shootingintervention

A former pupil killed three children and a teacher at a school in Bend, Oregon, and injured another child and teacher. Police said a teacher tackled the gunman, who was then shot dead by a parent of two pupils. They praised three people whose actions helped stop further killings.

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Ulanqab in Inner Mongolia is using abundant wind and solar resources to expand its computing industry. It had signed 109 computing-center projects by August 2026, while industry revenue reached 5.68 billion yuan from January to August, up 40.3% year on year. During a visit, Xi Jinping urged development of green computing while stressing ecological conservation.

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