World
The latest world news and analysis from JournalArta Global.
Retailers France Italy Tally Protest Losses Before Holidays
Retailers in France and Italy curtailed hours or shut stores during a second round of protests, while businesses assessed lost sales and security costs ahead of the holiday season. French retailers also faced repair bills from damage during the Oct. 17 marches. Authorities deployed 70,000 police officers and gendarmes, while crowd estimates differed sharply between the CGT and the Interior Ministry.
South-west braces flooding stretch as storms threaten region
The south-west US faced another round of heavy showers and thunderstorms after days of rain triggered evacuations, water rescues and extensive damage across the Four Corners. A flood watch covered much of the region, while officials said floodwaters were receding but left mud, sewage contamination and power outages. New Mexico officials reported hundreds of rescues between Farmington and Bloomfield; no deaths had been reported in San Juan County.
Hungary’s government faces Brussels over rule-of-law reforms
Hungary’s new prime minister, Péter Magyar, has a two-thirds parliamentary majority, but EU funding decisions have not ended Brussels’ scrutiny. The Council lifted financial measures that had blocked access to €4.2 billion in cohesion funding and EU research and education programmes, while a separate Article 7 procedure remains active. Further EU conditions also apply to approximately €3.5 billion in cohesion funding.
Death Notices Funeral Announcements: Hull tributes online
The Hull Daily Mail has published a selection of local death notices and funeral announcements, including tributes to Raymond William Callis and details of memorial arrangements. The newspaper says notices also appear on funeral-notices.co.uk, where friends and families can share memories, photographs and donations. Some notices specify a private cremation or no service, while others include funeral arrangements and requests for charitable donations.
Andy Burnham Seeks Honest EU Debate on Free Movement
Andy Burnham said he would welcome an evidence-based discussion about restoring free movement between the UK and the European Union. He outlined options including EU membership or the single market, while ruling out recommending British entry to the euro or Schengen. Any fundamental change, he said, would need a mandate at a general election due by 2029. The issue is expected to feature in his meeting with EU chiefs in Brussels.
Spain Election Tests Fragile Support for Von der Leyen in Europe
European Parliament Vice-President Javi López and France 24 correspondent Dave Keating discussed Spain’s approaching general election and its implications for Europe with Agenda Pública’s Marc López Plana. Their conversation covered Pedro Sánchez’s influence, the fragile majority supporting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and tensions over migration, the Green Deal and cooperation with the radical right.
Burnham Calls for Evidence-Based Debate on Free Movement
Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Britain should have an evidence-based discussion about a possible return to free movement with the European Union. The idea sits alongside other options for closer ties with Brussels, though Labour’s 2024 manifesto ruled out free movement, single-market membership and a customs union. Burnham is due to meet EU chiefs in Brussels in November, while political opponents have condemned his remarks.
Some regions still climbing as Australian house prices fall
Australia’s housing market recorded its steepest quarterly fall, while regional prices continued to rise in Victoria, the Northern Territory and South Australia. Regional South Australia led the gains, but an agent there reported a sharp drop in buyer enquiries. An economist said regional markets often turn later than capital cities and expected prices to fall further before rising again over the long term.
Rioters France Rip Streets as Anger Spreads Across Europe
Violent protests in France have drawn attention to anger over living costs, public services and a sense of powerlessness among young people. Reporting from The Age frames the unrest as more than a dispute over immigration, while other accounts describe largely peaceful demonstrations turning violent and identify grievances ranging from fuel prices to schools and housing.
UK standby rules could make smart TVs take longer to switch on
The UK government is consulting on new standby and off-mode rules for smart household devices, including televisions. The proposals would cap how much power products use while idle, with the government saying the change could reduce wasted electricity and household bills. But smart TVs may take longer to restart, and ministers say aligning the standards with EU rules would help manufacturers serve both markets under the same requirements.
Ukraine’s Starlink Satellite Speeds Return to Normal
Ukraine’s government said Starlink and its military version, Starshield, were operating at pre-restriction speeds after more than a week of disruption. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the restored connection mattered for frontline logistics and defense against jet-powered Shahed drones. The cause of the slowdown remains unclear, with conflicting accounts about who ordered the limits.
France Deploys 70,000 Security Personnel for Protests
France deployed about 70,000 police and security personnel as protests over school conditions and the cost of living spread nationwide. Authorities reported nearly 1,000 arrests on Saturday, while restrictions on demonstrations and closures in Paris drew criticism. The marches followed deadly clashes and widespread damage during protests the previous weekend.
Clashes break between police and protesters in Paris
Police and protesters clashed in Paris after demonstrations over living costs and education remained largely peaceful earlier Saturday. France’s Interior Ministry said about 410,000 people joined protests nationwide, while union organizers estimated around 800,000. Authorities reported 135 arrests and seized weapons. In Paris, police used batons and tear gas, and the prosecutor’s office said 64 people were arrested.
EU Lifts Sanctions on Russian Sable Fur Imports Unanimously
The European Union has lifted its sanctions on Russian sable fur imports, with all 27 member states supporting the decision unanimously. The measure reverses restrictions imposed in April. The official document says industries in several European countries depend on the specialized product, for which Russia is the sole supplier. Ecologist Zhora Kavanosyan criticized the decision against the backdrop of concerns about fur farming’s environmental effects.
France Braces for Mass Protests as Arrests Reach 135
Tens of thousands joined demonstrations across France as police made 135 arrests, the interior minister said. Authorities imposed curfews, closures and protest bans in several cities after last weekend’s riots and looting. In Paris, a permitted rally drew demonstrators calling on President Emmanuel Macron to respond to their demands, while police said the city was calm.
Fallen Trees Disrupt Greater Anglia Services After Strong Winds
Fallen trees and strong winds disrupted rail services and caused power cuts in parts of eastern England. Greater Anglia cancelled several routes and warned passengers against travel on some lines until Sunday. UK Power Networks said most of about 2,500 properties affected near Bury St Edmunds had regained electricity overnight, while Network Rail teams responded to a tree on the line near Stansted Mountfitchet.
France’s EU funding debate puts pressure on Paris
France’s contribution to the European budget has become part of a tense debate over its draft 2027 budget, as EU governments negotiate the bloc’s 2028–2034 spending plan. A proposed cut would reduce the European Commission’s seven-year budget plan by 8 per cent. The dispute links France’s domestic fiscal pressures with decisions that will shape EU spending priorities.
Being 70% bigger mean major changes for Baldock
Plans for up to 3,200 homes east of Baldock have received outline planning permission, with construction expected to take at least 15 years. Developers say the scheme will bring jobs and facilities, while residents and village representatives warn about traffic, parking and pressure on nearby communities.
Network Rail Begins Nine-Day Hastings Line Closure for Track Work
A nine-day rail closure has begun between Tonbridge and Wadhurst, with buses replacing some trains and the disruption extending to Battle on the final day. Network Rail is renewing worn track in Grove Hill Tunnel and carrying out work at other sites. Some services remain unaffected, while passengers can use specified alternative routes and are advised to allow extra travel time.
France prepares day protest with 70,000 police deployed
France is preparing for nationwide protests Saturday, a week after severe unrest left shops looted and buildings burned. The interior ministry says 70,000 police officers will be deployed, while restrictions on demonstrations vary by city. Museums in Paris will close, and a Paris Saint-Germain match has been moved as authorities brace for further disruption.
Ruins of Limoges city hall expose France’s protest divide
The fire-damaged city hall in Limoges has become a defining image of protests over living costs and school conditions. Mayor Guillaume Guérin blames the French hard left, while young demonstrators argue that poverty and the pressures of daily life matter more. Two men have been arrested, and authorities have imposed overnight curfews and limits on gatherings in the city.
Prince William Reveals Once Dreamed of DJ and Police Work
Prince William said on The Graham Norton Show that he once considered becoming a policeman and later wanted to work as a DJ under the name “DJ Xara”. His appearance also focused on the Earthshot Prize, the environmental initiative he founded, and its upcoming awards ceremony in Mumbai.
Ken Griffin warns Paris riots show risks of socialism
Citadel CEO Ken Griffin said the unrest in Paris and other French cities should prompt young Americans to reconsider socialist policies. At a panel hosted by Citadel Securities, he compared Paris with Chicago in 2021 and 2022 and criticized Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Griffin also cited the riots as evidence that France’s social safety net has not prevented turmoil.
France braces another weekend as protests test security
French authorities plan to deploy about 70,000 police officers across the country as protests are expected to return this weekend. A Paris demonstration called by a student union and joined by a major trade union has been authorized, while President Emmanuel Macron banned non-trade union protests on Saturday. Museums, the opera and metro stations will also close.