BBC Global News

Violent protests in France for the third weekend in a row

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The French interior ministry says that more than 500 people were arrested during riots across the country. Paving stones and petrol bombs were thrown at the police after trouble broke out following mainly peaceful demonstrations about falling living standards. Also: anti-government protests have broken out again in Albania where water canon was used to try to disperse protestors. Emotions run high in Ukraine where people evacuated from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky were reunited with friends and family they haven't seen for more than four years. Andy Burnham goes further than any previous British prime minister by saying he is "open" to calls for the UK to formally apologise for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, but he rules out financial reparations. Wikipedia's co-founder, Jimmy Wales, speaks to the BBC on the 25th anniversary of the free online encyclopaedia. And the medieval knights on electric bikes jousting in a park in London after footage of their first showdown attracted millions of views online.

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Photo 1: Protesters kick back tear gas canisters, during a demonstration against the cost of living and rising fuel prices, in Paris, France, October 31, 2026.
Credit: REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

Photo 2: A protester holds a firework during a demonstration over the cost of living and rising fuel prices, in Paris, France, October 31, 2026.
Credit: REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
1 Nov 12AM English United Kingdom News
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