Tens of thousands rallied across France on Saturday over high prices and declining public services, and clashes erupted in several cities. The South China Morning Post reports 272 arrests by mid-afternoon; authorities had recorded 140 protests involving 32,800 people outside Paris by midday. RTÉ reports protesters set a tourism office ablaze in Lyon. The Guardian says police fired tear gas in Paris and protesters entered Marseille’s town hall, while officials blamed violence on the ultra-left; The Times of Israel reports police used tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades after protesters shot fireworks at officers, broke into the town hall and set buildings on fire. This follows weeks of student protests that began in September at high schools in Paris’s poor northern suburbs, The Straits Times reported.
The Guardian reports that Sonay Kartal beat Jelena Ostapenko 7-6 (9), 7-6 (5) at the Wuhan Open on Saturday, saving six set points to reach the first WTA 1000 final of her career. The 24-year-old, playing her second tour-level event since returning from six months out with injury, is set to rise into the top 50 next week and become British No 1; The Guardian says she is the lowest-ranked player to reach a WTA 1000 final since the format began in 2009. This follows her quarter-final win over Elina Svitolina, which took her into the Wuhan semi-finals.
Chelsea beat Everton as Pedro Neto scored twice, handing Everton their first defeat of the season and moving Chelsea up to fourth. Emi Martínez suffered a head injury and was stretchered off after seven minutes of treatment. Chelsea also recorded their first Premier League clean sheet since January, The Guardian reports.
Pope Leo left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital four days after surgery for lung cancer and returned to the Vatican, RTÉ reports; Sky News says the Vatican announced his discharge. Al Jazeera reports that doctors say he can resume normal activities with full independence and that he is due to appear publicly on Sunday; the BBC says he will give the Angelus prayer and blessing in St Peter’s Square, while the Sydney Morning Herald says he walked out unaided and is expected to lead weekly prayers there at midday. The Sydney Morning Herald says his medical team has not disclosed the tumour’s size or whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes; The New York Times reports that he was treated for lung cancer at Gemelli Hospital. This follows reports that he was walking and eating after surgery to remove a cancerous lung tumour and that doctors described his recovery as normal.
Rescuers in Indonesia have saved dozens of orangutans from wildfires, NPR reports. The critically endangered animals face threats to their lives and habitats during the deadly wildfire season.
The No Kings coalition is shifting this weekend's nationwide demonstrations toward encouraging early voting ahead of the US midterm elections. The New York Times says organizers hope the events will promote early voting, while The Guardian reports more than 3,000 events are planned for Saturday across all 50 states and Washington, DC. NPR reports that organizers describe Saturday's events as a nonpartisan effort to get people to the polls.
Pope Leo XIV left Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Saturday and returned to the Vatican, four days after surgery to remove part of his right lung for a cancerous nodule or tumour. Doctors said blood tests and chest imaging showed he was fit for discharge; The Hindu reports the surgery confirmed adenocarcinoma. The South China Morning Post and NBC News report he was expected to lead prayers with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, while The Times of Israel says he would deliver the traditional noon blessing from a window overlooking the square. This follows reports that he had recovered well and resumed work in hospital.
Pope Leo XIV left hospital on Saturday, four days after lung cancer surgery, and is expected to lead prayers from his Vatican apartment for pilgrims in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, The Straits Times reports. Earlier Vatican-released photos showed him celebrating Mass at Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Friday; France 24 says doctors described his recovery as progressing normally and said further tests would show whether the cancer had spread. The Vatican said he was showing steady improvement, while CBS News reports he began resuming his duties on Friday; RTÉ reports he held a phone call with Putin during his recovery. The Straits Times also said preparations continued normally for his planned November trip to three South American countries. This follows reports that he had resumed working from hospital after surgery to remove a cancerous lung nodule.
Elon Musk and his America PAC told a judge Thursday that they had agreed to settle two proposed class actions, subject to court approval, in federal court in Austin, Texas. The lawsuits allege that they defrauded residents of closely contested states before the 2024 US election by promising a lottery-style giveaway of $1 million per day to petition signatories.
The Guardian reports that attorneys for Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar asked the US Department of Justice to return property federal agents removed from her home during a search days earlier and to preserve any recordings of the search. The lawyers argued the search and seizure were “neither justified nor lawful,” according to a letter the Associated Press reported on Friday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called President Donald Trump’s decision to put new U.S. sanctions on Russia on hold “unfortunate” and urged support for the sanctions, ABC News reports. CBC says Trump signed an executive order pausing a sweeping package of restrictions targeting the Russian economy. Deutsche Welle reports that Zelenskyy said Russia was trying to cut electricity and heating to civilians ahead of winter, while POLITICO reports he warned of a Ukraine-wide blackout. RFI reports that Zelensky said the U.S. move rewards Russian President Vladimir Putin.
President Donald Trump defended the Russia diesel deal, saying Russia had agreed to supply diesel to global markets, while his administration temporarily lifted U.S. sanctions on Russian fuel, The Hindu reports. Hindustan Times reports that U.S. politicians criticized the waiver after a deal with Vladimir Putin under which Russia would supply diesel in exchange for sanctions relief. This follows reports that a dozen U.S. senators, including six Republicans, urged Trump to reverse the deal.
The Hindu reports that students have blocked entrances to hundreds of high schools since late September over poor classroom conditions, with riot police deployed and occasional violent clashes. It says France is bracing for fresh demonstrations as President Emmanuel Macron calls for “respect.” RTÉ reports that schools closed as students staged another day of protests around the country, while CBC reports clashes with riot police amid weekslong education protests.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard navy has again declared the Strait of Hormuz closed after a supertanker caught fire after hitting a mine, according to Middle East Eye, citing Iran’s official IRNA news agency. Al Jazeera reports that the IRGC said the tanker was carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude and taking an unauthorised route; Hindustan Times says it was carrying 2 million barrels and reports that it exploded. Middle East Eye also reports that at least two other tankers have been hit off Saudi Arabia’s coast since the previous day, according to the UKMTO.
On the 29th day of French student protests, a tourism building in Lyon was set ablaze and police deployed tear gas during nationwide rallies over declining public services, ABC reports. This follows earlier reports of violent protests across France, including police use of tear gas and batons and a fire at a Lyon tourist office.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged support for new US sanctions on Russia after President Donald Trump put them on hold. Zelenskyy called the pause unfortunate and said it would encourage Russia to continue its assault; Trump told Congress the pause was in the national interest but gave no further details.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine’s use of SpaceX’s satellite system remains partly restricted, limiting military drone operations, Axios reports. This contradicts President Donald Trump’s Friday statement that the White House did not disrupt the system and that it was working without restrictions; Ukrainian officials say they are still unsure whether the limits stem from Washington or SpaceX. Fast Company reported that Starshield restrictions disrupted missions and affected drones, while some units said connectivity had returned to normal by Thursday. This follows earlier reports about a Starshield restriction and Ukraine’s reliance on the service.
Tens of thousands took part in nationwide protests in France on Saturday, which quickly turned violent, France 24 reported. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse unsanctioned marches, and protesters briefly forced their way into town halls in Lille and Marseille before police removed them, according to France 24. The Straits Times reported that a tourist office in Lyon was set on fire amid protests over rising costs. Earlier reports said students, trade unionists and Yellow Vest activists were expected to demonstrate against high prices and poor conditions in schools; France 24 also cited concerns about the country's fraying social model. The Straits Times said the protests followed weeks of student demonstrations, which began in September at high schools in Paris's poor northern suburbs. France 24 reported that an online movement against rising fuel prices gained momentum, with former Yellow Vest figures set to join and some drawing parallels with the 2018 cost-of-living protests.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said his presidential term would end in 2030, describing the question of his departure as settled and saying Egypt’s constitution would not be changed. Middle East Eye’s later report says he made the remarks at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy, while Africanews reports that he said he would leave office when his term expires.
Thousands protested in Paris and other French cities against the rising cost of living, Al Jazeera reports. CBS News says police used tear gas at Place de la République in Paris to push back people in hoods and masks throwing fireworks and other objects at officers; the BBC reports clashes there after weeks of student demonstrations. This follows reports that French students had taken to the streets around the country over poor conditions and that schools were closed, according to RTÉ.
