World News by Wild Rose

As student protests converge with broader public discontent over the rising cost of living in France, Genie Godula is joined by Sébastien Vieille, national secretary of the SNALC teachers’ union. He offers an assessment of a movement confronting political uncertainty, deteriorating school infrastructure and mounting fiscal constraints. Speaking from Montbéliard in eastern France, Vieille questions whether alliances with larger protest movements, including the Yellow Vests, will strengthen students’ demands or ultimately make them "less visible". 

Far-right leader and presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said on Wednesday that France could no longer afford to fund Ukraine, citing the country's high deficit and weak economic growth.

Some high schools in France remained closed on Wednesday, a day after tens of thousands of people joined rallies across the country to support protesting students. On Saturday, national demonstrations against the spiralling cost of living are to take place, and unions and student groups see the two protest currents fusing together.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that France's student protesters are being "exploited" by political forces months ahead of the country's presidential elections. Hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon participated in a Paris demonstration while hard-right frontrunner Marine Le Pen voiced support for police deployed to protests.

Niger on Tuesday condemned the expulsion of two of its security agents from France, calling it a “serious and unacceptable act of ingratitude.”

Student protesters in France have told the BBC's James Waterhouse that they will continue to take action until change has been made. The protests have now entered their fourth week.

Tens of thousands of people rallied across France on Tuesday in support of protesting high school students, with unions putting turnout at 480,000, as anger over school conditions and alleged police violence fuels a growing movement challenging President Emmanuel Macron’s government ahead of planned cost-of-living demonstrations on Saturday.

As protests nationwide protests rage, activists warn proposed law could lead to more impunity.

French presidential candidate Raphael Glucksmann declared Monday that the "battle begins" as he launched a bid to unite a fragmented left ahead of next year's election. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Damien Lecomte, Political Scientist and Researcher at Paris Pantheon Sorbonne University, explains that Glucksmann has to be careful not to be seen as "the new Macron, because that is not a winning card".

French presidential candidate Raphaël Glucksmann said Monday that the "battle begins" to revive the country's divided left ahead of the 2027 election. The EU lawmaker was elected Sunday as the centre-left candidate with more than 66 percent of the vote.

Officials say a staff member disarmed the suspect, who hid a hunting shotgun in a guitar case, before police arrived.

With just six months to go to presidential polls in France, a coalition of centre left parties have chosen their candidate… It's EU lawmaker, Raphael Glucksmann. The 46 year old tells voters he stands for a break with Macronism, a break with the far left of candidate Jean Luc Melenchon and that he's the candidate who can defeat the far right… though opinion polls suggest that in a second round run off he would not beat far right candidate Marine Le Pen.

In France, a primary organised by the opposition Socialists and their centre-left allies held this Sunday has resulted in a clear winner. He is Raphaël Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament and founder of the “Place Publique” party. He emerges now, at age 46, as a major figure in the election campaign for the French Presidency. That election will be held in April. Story by Nicholas Rushworth.

France's far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella deleted data from a former activist Facebook account as soon as allegations surfaced that he wrote anti-Semitic comments in his youth, French investigative weekly Le Canard enchaîné said Friday, piling pressure on the top ally of presidential frontrunner Marine Le Pen.

Education minister Edouard Geffray makes the offer after another day of sometimes violent demonstrations by high-school students.

French teenagers blockaded several high schools and took to the streets in cities across the country on Thursday in the latest wave of protests over conditions in schools. With demonstrations showing no sign of slowing down, around half of the French population reportedly supports the movement.

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, October 9: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announces that the military execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be "livestreamed". But first: we look at reactions in Italy after the country's parliament passes a controversial electoral reform that critics say serves to benefit Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Plus, ".fart" and ".trump" are among the new domain name applications, as revealed by the US non-profit organisation ICANN.

Students who have been protesting classroom conditions in France for days are "not looking like they are willing to back down", says France 24 reporter Claire Paccalin, despite promises by the French prime minister to bring in measures to address their grievances.

#France: high school students continue to protest Thursday in the face of what they say is the government’s failure to respond to their demands.  Follow the fourth day of protests on FRANCE 24 

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said in a televised address Wednesday evening that the country could not be "indifferent" to the concerns of protesting high school students, acknowledging that the "anger of young people does not come from nowhere". He denied that security forces have "orders to confront" the young people, and promised the government would present a plan to respond to the crisis at the end of October. But what measures could the French government introduce and will it be enough to calm the protests? France 24’s Rochelle Ferguson Bouyahi takes a look.

Dozens of people have been injured in the protests, including students, teachers, and police officers.

French teenagers blockaded some high schools and marched through cities on Thursday after the government promised to address their grievances about teacher shortages and dilapidated school buildings but gave no specific details. The protest movement, now into its third week, has exposed deep tensions in France between popular demands for investments in deteriorating public services and a cash-strapped ‌government under pressure from bond markets to reduce its debt and deficit. It has also led to...

France is bracing for another day of high school protests after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said his policy response would only come at the end of the month.

Students' blockades and marches spring from real grievances – and from France's habit of settling policy on the street.

French high school and university students were called out to protest again on Thursday, two days after a large turnout demanding more funding, as the government made a series of conciliatory gestures aimed at ending the crisis. Follow our liveblog for all the latest developments. 

France has suspended the use of stun grenades by police at student-led demonstrations, the interior minister said Wednesday, as allegations of police brutality mounted after days of sometimes violent demonstrations across the country. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across France on Tuesday demanding better conditions in high schools. FRANCE 24's Monte Francis reports.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has tried to calm both student protesters and jittery bond markets. In an address to the nation, Lecornu stressed that the education ministry had not seen any cuts in last week's budget proposal, but insisted the government must cut its public deficit to 5%. There are growing concerns about France's spending and debt, with the IMF urging the country to "get your house in order." Lecornu also confirmed the release of 10 million barrels of diesel fuel. 

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.

Staff shortages, rats in the corridors, and a university admissions system that feels like a lottery: As protests sweep France, high school students have drawn up a list of demands to deal with these and other issues. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has promised a government response by the end of October, but whether he can quell the unrest remains to be seen.

France has suspended police use of stun grenades at high school demonstrations, the interior minister announced, amid growing allegations of police brutality after two weeks of protests marked by frequent violent clashes that have left hundreds injured.France has suspended police use of stun grenades at high school demonstrations, the interior minister announced, amid growing allegations of police brutality after two weeks of protests marked by frequent violent clashes that have left hundreds injured.