Europe
WorldThe latest on Europe from our World desk.
Italy tightens security as students and unions protest
Italy increased security as tens of thousands of students and union members marched in dozens of cities over living costs, education spending and wars in the Middle East. Police guarded major landmarks in Rome and Milan, while the protests also renewed calls to keep ports from transporting military supplies. The demonstrations followed recent clashes in Milan and came as the government discussed its 2027 budget.
Richardson Convicted of Murdering Cyclist After 1.3-Mile Drive
Simon Richardson was convicted of murdering cyclist Michael Mullins after driving on with Mullins trapped beneath his car in Greater Manchester. The court heard Richardson later tried to free him on a farm track, then drove away after Mullins was released. Richardson was also convicted of dangerous driving following a police pursuit and is due to be sentenced on Monday.
France Italy Europe Swept by Cost-of-Living Protests
Protests over living costs, housing and public services have spread across France, Italy and other European countries. France plans to deploy about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes for demonstrations on October 31, while unions have announced further strikes in November.
Southport survivor says medical-record access violated her
Yoga teacher Leanne Lucas says she feels violated after two more NHS staff came under investigation over alleged access to Southport victims’ medical records. Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital said a retrospective audit identified the cases, and both staff members were suspended as a precaution while the investigation continues.
Europe Keeps Tightening Sanctions as US Weighs Russia Deal
The European Union is preparing a 22nd sanctions package targeting networks that supply Russia’s armed forces, while Washington considers economic incentives to encourage talks on Ukraine. The differing approaches raise questions about how effectively restrictions can work when the governments imposing them disagree over when they should be lifted.
France Bans Halloween Gatherings as 70,000 Officers Deploy Nationwide
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will deploy this weekend. Authorities will ban Halloween gatherings that urge a revolution and bar protests from city centers, after weeks of unrest over living costs and police violence.
Russell Brand Says Friends Distanced Themselves After Allegations
Russell Brand told a jury at Southwark Crown Court that friends had distanced themselves after allegations of historical sex offences came to light. The comedian and actor denies three rape counts, three sexual assault counts and an attempted indecent assault involving six women. His testimony included an acknowledgment that he had allowed fame to facilitate sexual access, which he said was wrong.
Ukraine Plans Carpathian Strategy Bid for EU Budget Funding in 2027
Ukraine wants to bring a draft macro-regional strategy for the Carpathians to European institutions in the first half of 2027. Minister Vitalii Bezgin says the aim is to win a place in the EU's 2028 budget period and funding for joint transport projects among eight countries.
Thousands March in Castel Volturno Against Planned Migrant Detention Center
Thousands of demonstrators marched through Castel Volturno in southern Italy on October 24, 2026, against a planned migrant detention and repatriation centre. Cardinal Domenico Battaglia and Campania regional president Roberto Fico joined the peaceful march, which came amid wider protests across Italian cities.
Teacher Strike at Paris Suburb High School Spreads Across France
A teachers' strike at a Paris-area high school in September grew into nationwide protests. Over 1,000 schools have been affected, riots broke out on October 17, and a strike is planned for November 5 as France heads toward its April 2027 presidential election.
France Protests Expand as Inflation and Service Strains Fuel Anger
Protests in France that began with student anger have drawn in people frustrated by fuel costs, inflation and falling real wages. The unrest is unfolding amid pressure to cut public spending, a state deficit forecast to reach 5.4 percent of GDP in 2026 and economic strains across Europe. The French government has made initial overtures to students, while the wider causes of discontent remain central to the debate.
Europe’s Made in Europe Label Excludes Morocco and Turkey
A Franco-German agreement limits the proposed “Made in Europe” label to the EU’s 27 member states, the United Kingdom and Norway, leaving out Morocco and Turkey. France accepted a relaxation of the proposed 2035 emissions cut for new cars in return. The definition now sits at the center of debate over European industry, electric vehicles and the bloc’s ties with southern partners.
Europe Went Leading Iran Diplomacy, Then Lost Influence
Europe helped shape the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and backed a strategy of wider engagement. A 2016 European Parliament report won 456 votes, but its author argues that EU-Iran relations have since deteriorated, leaving Europe with diminished diplomatic influence and a marginal role in regional security crises.
Eurobarometer: Clear Labels Lower Doubts on New Foods
A European Commission survey of more than 26,000 people in all 27 EU member states finds Europeans wary of foods made with fermentation and cell cultivation. Price, labeling and how well informed people feel largely decide whether they would buy, the Special Eurobarometer shows.
Ceasefire Extended Across Kherson Region to Enable Aid to Oleshky
A truce intended to bring food and medicine to Russian-occupied Oleshky has been extended across the wider Kherson region. Officials say shelling has stopped and no breaches have been reported. Aid deliveries and a planned evacuation are next, while thousands of residents remain without basic supplies and face dangerous routes out of the city.
European leaders welcome Serbia vote, back EU path
European leaders welcomed the Student List’s victory in Serbia’s parliamentary election and pledged support for reforms tied to the country’s European Union path. Preliminary results gave the student-backed list 52.54% of the vote, against 39.29% for the list led by Aleksandar Vucic, with more than 96% of polling stations processed. The result followed nearly two years of student-led protests.
France Protests Highlight Strain on Public Finances and Services
Hundreds of thousands marched across France on Saturday over underfunded schools, rising living costs and pressure on public services. The protests have also sharpened debate about the country’s public finances, with economists warning that demands for better services are colliding with France’s strained budget. A separate report from Paris described clashes and tear gas during an earlier demonstration, while most marchers there joined peacefully.
France Italy Belgium Facing Protest Anger as Strike Looms
Protests in France drew 410,000 people on Saturday, while a union coalition has called a general strike for Nov. 5. The unrest comes as President Emmanuel Macron’s government faces a parliamentary fight over a proposed 2027 austerity package. Reports describe parallel unrest in Italy and Belgium, but provide no further details about demonstrations in those countries.
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.
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.
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.
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.