World News by Wild Rose

Saturday’s demonstrations across France were largely peaceful, easing fears of a repeat of the violence seen last weekend. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets to demand action on the rising cost of living and more funding for public services, with students, workers and retirees marching side by side. Many say their anger shows no sign of fading. The government put turnout at 410,000 nationwide, while the CGT union estimated the figure was almost twice as high. Here’s Jack Pownall with more.

Hundreds of thousands marched across France on Saturday protesting the rising cost of living and a lack of government resources for essential services like schools. While demonstrations in Paris started peacefully they ended with a heavy security response, with almost 1,000 arrested across the country. France 24 International Affairs Editor Oliver Farry shares further details.

Authorities deploy 70,000 officers to combat violence. Nearly 1,000 arrests made.

Hundreds of thousands marched across France Saturday protesting the rising cost of living. While demonstrations in Paris started peacefully, they ended with a heavy government security response following escalation. Other cities saw clashes that also contributed to the near-1,000 arrested across the country, meanwhile other countries in Europe rallied over issues with some overlap. "The marches went well" said Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.

France is “certain” that its push with Germany for a tougher EU China policy propelled Beijing to moderate its hybrid car exports, despite warnings from the Chinese capital that the pressure did not work. “I’m certain that it played a role, and it’s very important that the German and French engine, which is very essential to the future of Europe, starts again – and I think that’s going to be the case,” French Trade Minister Nicolas Forissier said as he arrived at a ministerial meeting in Dublin...

French bond yields have topped 5%, their highest level since 2002, after widespread protests and violence over the weekend. It's a sign that investors are losing confidence in France's finances, as the government grapples with budget and debt problems. Also in the show - chipmaker Nvidia says it's invested $10 billion in European tech firms to boost the 'AI economy,' and the UK approves a controversial natural gas field as PM Andy Burnham faces pressure over energy costs. 

Genie Godula is pleased to welcome François Gouyette, former French ambassador to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Against a backdrop of violent unrest at home and escalating conflict in the Middle East, French President Emmanuel Macron's Gulf diplomacy underscores the increasingly blurred boundaries between domestic economic security and international strategic commitments. Ambassador Gouyette argues that the visit serves a dual purpose: alleviating France's energy pressures while reaffirming its longstanding defense partnerships with Gulf monarchies. Insisting that "France has to play its role as a key partner," Gouyette portrays French military assistance as an expression of strategic solidarity rather than direct participation in the war with Iran. 

French President Emmanuel Macron has secured the delivery of an additional 200,000 tonnes of diesel per month from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the French presidency said on Tuesday. Macron is undertaking a tour of key energy suppliers in the Gulf in an effort to secure oil and diesel and bring down prices in France, after a weekend of violent protests over soaring living costs. FRANCE 24'S Tarek Kaï reports from Doha, Qatar.

Giada Giani, European Economist at Citi, on French budget concerns following a period of violent unrest. "The bond market in France will remain in a very fragile situation until the Spring of 2027." Giani speaks with Bloomberg's Guy Johnson and Anna Edwards on "The Opening Trade." (Source: Bloomberg)

Shop owners in France are counting the cost of the weekend's riots as the government works on new measures to help them recover from widespread looting. Also in this edition: Germany welcomes new investments from Nvidia into its tech scene, and energy prices continue to climb after new Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia.

The largest shareholder in Rubis SCA said the company’s proposal to grant 12.7 million new shares to its general partners was “too generous” and he would probably vote against the plan if it isn’t changed.

Charles Pellegrin is pleased to welcome Nicolas Vercken, Director of Advocacy for Oxfam France. France’s tax inequality is under scrutiny and Oxfam is challenging the state over its constitutional obligations. “It’s not so much about how much the percentage of tax and the burden of our tax system, it’s who you tax and for what,” explains Vercken. As France confronts mounting fiscal pressures and contentious budget negotiations, Oxfam France is challenging the constitutional foundations of the country's tax system, arguing that successive fiscal reforms have disproportionately benefited the wealthiest while exacerbating economic inequality. Their legal initiative seeks to establish whether the French state has failed in its constitutional obligations, potentially placing fiscal inequality under judicial scrutiny for years to come.

The shock from turmoil in French debt has yet to show up in the country’s market for short-term funding, signaling a broad credit crisis is off the cards for now.

The exposure of France’s banking sector to the nation’s public debt remains limited and doesn’t pose stability risks even as yields on government bonds surge, the country’s top financial watchdog said Tuesday.

TotalEnergies SE will continue to bear down on pump prices in France through the current oil crisis, as it participates in a government-led release of strategic diesel reserves to further ease consumer costs, Chief Executive Officer Patrick Pouyanne said.