France
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17 Russian trawlers logged mapping undersea cables connecting the US and Europe — over 500 incidents of Russian vessels loitering over critical communications cables reported in under 5 years
The Russians are apparently scouting the exact locations of this critical infrastructure.
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Video. French police union sues French government over recent violence
Video. Stanislas Goudon, a representative from the French national police union Alliance, comments on the recent wave of protests and violence in France from a police perspective, criticising significant government ill-preparedness for the demonstrations.
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Six European destinations included in ‘Best of the World’ selection
National Geographic has curated its list of 25 must-visit places for 2027, with six destinations in Europe making the cut, including the Tricity area in Poland and Vestland in Norway. #EuropeNews
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France on edge as Macron faces backlash, Putin signals peace talks
France prepares for another weekend of protests as Macron faces criticism over his Gulf tour. Meanwhile, Putin signals readiness for Ukraine peace talks after meeting Steve Witkoff, and Hungary detains former central bank governor György Matolcsy over suspected fraud. #EuropeToday
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Israel using US-made electroshock weapons on Palestinian detainees
An American company is still supplying Taser weapons linked to prisoner abuse by Israeli forces
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Two named storms in two days as Austen and Boelo target UK
The Met Office has named a new storm, Boelo, which is set to bring another round of stormy weather to the UK over the weekend.
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Angry lawyers and bewildered defendants: the fallout from fast-tracking French rioting cases
Politicians have called for ruthless sentencing, but lawyers blame the politicians for the poverty, and anger, behind their clients’ looting
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Violent clashes erupt between Spanish police and protesters days after France riots
Violent unrest in Galicia follows major protests and rioting in France and Italy
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Tour de France 2027 UK stages in detail: Where will you stand?
The full route for the 2027 Tour de France is announced in Paris, with street-by-street details of the six stages in the UK revealed.
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EU planned to scrap clock changes. Why are they still happening?
This Sunday the clocks will be turned back again, even though the EU Parliament set abolition in motion at the end of 2019. Why? #EuropeNews
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What is Shamonda virus? Symptoms and origin as first human case confirmed in France
The virus only appeared in Europe for the first time this summer, including on cattle farms
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Trump moans Lindsey Graham respected his sister more than him while stumping for her
Trump’s rally in South Carolina was something of a free-for-all, even with a fight, as protesters kept interrupting the president
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Canadian publisher Boréal ends relationship with novelist Thélyson Orélien over alleged use of AI
Author withdrawn from France’s Prix Goncourt last month has repeatedly denied using artificial intelligence to write novel
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Aichi-Nagoya: Japan is known for world-class events - but the Asian Games were chaotic
Hotel chaos, transport mishaps and diplomatic blunders cast a spotlight on organisers and the firm hired to deliver the games.
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Riots in France: tourism sector fears drop in foreign visitors
Images of the riots in France, broadcast worldwide, are already slowing hotel bookings, and tourism professionals fear ongoing violence will further deter foreign visitors.
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Macron accuses foreign leaders of exploiting French riots for political gain
The comment is an apparent swipe at Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, who both face elections in coming weeks.
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Roger Goodell is comfortable with security for the NFL's Paris game between the Steelers and Saints
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he has a high comfort level in the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers playing the league's first game in France in light of the civil unrest that could include more protests this weekend in Paris and elsewhere around the country
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Video. Greece: Thousands flood Athens streets in education protest
Video. Thousands of protesters marched through Athens on Wednesday 21 October, demanding greater investment in education. Crowds filled the streets of the capital, waving banners, chanting slogans and beating drums as they made their way past the Greek parliament.
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What does French protest slogan ‘Bismillah, c’est les ténèbres’ mean?
The slogan, featuring a mixture of Arabic and French, has appeared on signs across France as young people protest - but it’s origins are murky
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Eurozone debt climbs to 88.8% of GDP as Italy closes in on Greece
Government debt in the eurozone rose to 88.8% of GDP in the second quarter of 2026, with Italy closing in on Greece, the most indebted member state, and France's debt climbing to 119.1% as its borrowing costs topped 5%.
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Thousands of students and teachers march through Greek capital to protest high cost of living
Students and teachers in Athens are marching for affordable student housing and more state investment in education
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Macron hits back at Trump's ‘stupid’ comments about French riots
President Donald Trump has used the violence to rally his political supporters, urging Macron to ‘close your borders and take control before it is too late!’
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Fury of French youth explodes across borders: Bel Trew unpacks the chaos
Battles near the Louvre, graffiti over Place de la République, protests along the Champs-Élysées, and shopkeepers trying to fight off looters and plumes of tear gas. Long-standing fury from youth in France has exploded into these fiery scenes. Rage has spread across borders, with protests erupting in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania. Why is this happening, and what does it mean? The Independent's Chief International Correspondent unpacks the chaos as more protests are planned.
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Iran and Russia exploiting France riots to weaken the West, say researchers
Government, police, and intelligence sources claim foreign agitators helped whip up the violence during Saturday’s widespread protests
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Trump’s special envoy tells Vladimir Putin he is a ‘humanitarian’
Steve Witkoff, the United States’ special envoy, lauded Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” for releasing a “wrongfully detained” American as Moscow continued bombing civilians in Ukraine. “You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian. You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that, I commend you, and I thank you again,” said Witkoff in a clip posted by Russian state media as he met with Putin in St Petersburg. Witkoff is continuing attempts to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (October 20). On Wednesday, Russia released 74-year-old teacher Stephen James Hubbard, who had been held for four years over claims he was a Ukrainian mercenary. Russia has continued its bombing of Ukraine, killing 328 civilians in September alone.
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'Lefty and proud': Spain's Sánchez hits back at Argentina's Milei
Javier Milei has again attacked Pedro Sánchez during a visit to Madrid, where he will meet Isabel Díaz Ayuso. Sánchez replied on X, defending his left-wing stance in a fresh war of words between the two leaders. #EuropeNews
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Foreign actors exploited Europe’s riots, did not start them
There is so far no evidence that foreign powers caused Europe’s riots, only that they exploited them, despite politicians blaming online manipulation for them. Brussels has refused to act, citing a lack of evidence.
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EU Prosecutors raid far-right PfE's offices in €4 million funds scanda
The searches are linked to an probe into the alleged misuse of more than €4 million by the now-defunct Identity and Democracy group, whose debts Patriots for Europe could be forced to repay.
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Video. Latest news bulletin
Video. Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this October 21st, 2026 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.
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I worked in goverment during UK riots – controlling them is a balancing act
While riots in France lead to increasingly dramatic measures, ex-deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara expalins the importance of what governments do during mass unrest. Report by Maja Anushka
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SpaceX lifts mood but hot inflation limits gains
The FTSE 100 index ended up 19.88 points at 10,752.88.
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Mural of World War II hero Donald Rose unveiled on Ilkeston Town Hall
Mr Rose, who fought in North Africa during the war, died in 2025 aged 110
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Macron decries 'stupid comments' by foreign leaders on France protests
Speaking in Doha on Wednesday, Macron called out leaders for instrumentalising unrest in France for their own political gain, following riots which occurred across the country over the weekend. #EuropeNews
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Hyron Andrews: Former Sale second row died of natural causes - autopsy
Former Sale player Hyron Andrews - who was found dead at his new team's hotel base before a Champions Cup match - died of natural causes, an autopsy finds.
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Macron accuses Trump and other foreign leaders of ‘stupid comments’ about France unrest
Leaders criticised for spreading misleading information as France prepares for further protests this weekend
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Only a matter of time until mass casualty event in Channel, border chief warns
Major General Duncan Capps, the Home Office’s border security commander, said there are now almost 3,800 people in French camps waiting to make the Channel crossing
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Police Prepare for Large-Scale Youth Protests
Following the announcement of a day of protests on October 31, Berlin police are preparing for a major operation. Berlin police prepare for large-scale youth protests on October 31.
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Fighter jet crashes and explodes into fireball in France with one dead
Witnesses reportedly heard an explosion and saw a fireball on Tuesday evening
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Diplomatic damage control in Oslo as Kyiv says US intel restored
Good morning. It’s Mared Gwyn, penning this newsletter in the early hours from Brussels. In this edition: The diplomatic push to revive Ukraine peace talks, and how Hungary has surprised diplomats by stalling Kyiv’s accession talks. #EuropeToday
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Stratford International on track to get cross-Channel trains in budget boost
Sadiq Khan says upgrade would unlock station’s potential and allow it to live up to its name and be truly international
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Looted Paris shop owner: ‘10 years of work destroyed’
Originally from Bangladesh, Hassan arrived in France in 2010. After spending years working in hospitality, he managed to save enough to open his own business. In the aftermath of the weekend riots in Paris, his shop has been left completely destroyed. #EuropeNews
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How much is the cost of living in the UK rising? Here’s what the data says
From inflation to wages, The Independent looks at how the standard of living in the UK has changed
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High rent, expensive food: Can the EU help citizens with inflation?
Volatile energy prices have pushed consumer price indices across major EU economies. Now, they nearly double the ECB’s inflation target of 2%. #EuXl
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Champions League: Cesc Fabregas and Como prepare for historic Man Utd tie
Serie A success story Como have gone from Serie A to the Champions League - now they are ready for a historic night against Manchester United.
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More Russians are settling in the EU with each year of war in Ukraine
Eurostat data show 876,600 Russian nationals held valid EU residence permits at the end of 2025, with Germany, Spain and Estonia hosting the largest communities.
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Germany's Merz says EU ready to defend industry against 'unfair' Chinese trade
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed Wednesday that the European Union would defend itself against what he called "unfair" Chinese trade practices that could threaten German industry.
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France to deploy army before weekend protests as Italy tightens powers
France will put soldiers on the streets ahead of more weekend protests, after days of violence and vandalism. Italy is giving police new powers, Albania's protests enter a second week, and Greek students march today. In Oslo, Steve Witkoff meets Zelenskyy before heading to Moscow. #EuropeToday
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French supermarket chain suffers €1.6 billion hit after riots and looting
Carrefour said the direct cost would be in the tens of millions of euros after theft, damage and extra security hires
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Giant tunnel proposed to tackle Windermere sewage discharges
United Utilities, Environment Agency and local campaigners say 12-mile tunnel could take sewage away from England’s largest lake
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Macron blasts ‘unacceptable’ and ‘stupid’ commentary on protests from other leaders – Europe live
Macron says he is frustrated by the ‘visible manipulation of information’ about the events in France
