France schools protests: more than 6,100 arrested since start of demonstrations

FRANCE24 October 8, 2026
France schools protests: more than 6,100 arrested since start of demonstrations
France schools protests: more than 6,100 arrested since start of demonstrations
After more than two weeks of high school protests across France, police have arrested a total of 6,100 individuals, the majority of whom are minors who, until now, had no previous criminal record. So, what has happend to these students, and what lies ahead for them? FRANCE 24's Caitlin Brown has more.

France 24

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France schools protests: more than 6,100 arrested since start of demonstrations
France schools protests: more than 6,100 arrested since start of demonstrations

After more than two weeks of high school protests across France, police have arrested a total of 6,100 individuals, the majority of whom are minors who, until now, had no previous criminal record. So, what has happend to these students, and what lies ahead for them? FRANCE 24's Caitlin Brown has more.

FRANCE24 October 8, 2026
Evicted pensioner who sparked Spain housing protests dies: tenant union
Evicted pensioner who sparked Spain housing protests dies: tenant union

Maricarmen ​Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction sparked housing ​protests in Spain, has died, Madrid's tenants' union said on Wednesday. Abascal's eviction sparked a series of ​protests ‌across Spain in the past couple ⁠of weeks, including activists camping on one of Madrid's main ‌squares, and calls for tackling a ⁠mounting housing crisis. FRANCE 24's Sarah Morris reports from Madrid.

FRANCE24 October 8, 2026
'It's still unclear whether Netanyahu will pay for what happened during his time in office'
'It's still unclear whether Netanyahu will pay for what happened during his time in office'

As Israel marks the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks, questions linger about the warnings Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received about them. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Ayala Panievsky, Lecturer at City University of London and author of The New Censorship, explains that the allegations in the run-up to the elections "are very damaging for Netanyahu but there are some factors mitigating the risk for him", including a fragmented opposition as well as the control of major media.

FRANCE24 October 8, 2026
White House promotes 'Trump TV' with an AI-altered photo
White House promotes 'Trump TV' with an AI-altered photo

The White House has promoted “Trump TV” using an AI-altered photo of passengers apparently watching the president’s new streaming channel. But the image was originally posted online in February 2023, showing passengers watching the NFL Super Bowl, with one watching the film “Hitch”. The original photo was modified using AI to make it appear the passengers were watching Trump TV. The post did not disclose that the image had been altered. Vedika Bahl explains in Truth or Fake.

Vedika BAHL October 8, 2026
Evicted pensioner Maricarmen Abascal, heart of Spain's housing protests, dies
Evicted pensioner Maricarmen Abascal, heart of Spain's housing protests, dies

Maricarmen ​Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction sparked housing ​protests in Spain, has died, Madrid's tenants' union said on Wednesday. Massive protests following Abascal's eviction spiralled into a political crisis, eventually leading Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call a snap election.

FRANCE 24 October 8, 2026
Trump says 'we don't think' Russian plague is bio-weapon
Trump says 'we don't think' Russian plague is bio-weapon

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the death of a Russian plague laboratory worker did not appear to be linked to a biological weapon. "We don't think so. We're going to find out soon enough, but we don't think so," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if a "bio-weapon" was involved. Russia warned earlier against "false" information as reports emerged of a second suspected case. The US and UN have urged Russia to be more transparent. FRANCE 24's Fraser Jackson reports from Washington.

FRANCE24 October 8, 2026
'Resilience' of Israelis as they mourn the loss of loved ones and 'the sense that we can be safe'
'Resilience' of Israelis as they mourn the loss of loved ones and 'the sense that we can be safe'

Angela Diffley is pleased to welcome Dr. Danny Brom, Founding Director of METIV, the Israel Psychotrauma Center in Jerusalem. According to Dr. Brom, as Israelis and Jewish people around the world continue to mourn the largest loss of Jewish life on a single day since the Holocaust, their fundamental sense of collective security has also been shattered. What strikes him, however, is the resilience that exists alongside the grieving. How can individuals, communities and society rebuild a sense of safety without allowing fear to dictate the future? Yet, as Dr. Brom observes, “the war is still going on,” while political leaders speak of pursuing “the ultimate victory, which no one really knows what that is.”

FRANCE24 October 7, 2026
France summons Iranian ambassador over 'disinformation' on student protests
France summons Iranian ambassador over 'disinformation' on student protests

The French foreign ministry on Wednesday summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest against a "disinformation campaign conducted by the Iranian authorities" over the student protests that have rocked France. The move came a day after Tehran summoned the French ambassador over the treatment of protesters in France.

FRANCE 24 October 7, 2026
France suspends the use of stun grenades after student protester loses hand
France suspends the use of stun grenades after student protester loses hand

The French ​government said Wednesday it would suspend the use of stun grenades in its attempts to manage the student protests now roiling the country after a 15-year-old boy had his hand blown off during a clash with riot police.

FRANCE 24 October 7, 2026
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