Paris’s iconic 1.9-km artery of theatre, cafes and power parades
Yayoi Kusama has died at 97, her studio has announced. The Japanese artist has become globally famous for polka dots, Infinity Nets and Infinity Mirror Rooms, and she has continued to paint into her final days. Her work has drawn huge museum audiences and influenced generations of artists across pop, minimalism and performance art.
Pope Leo XIV has opened a four-day visit to France focused on defending the value of human life and meeting abuse survivors. The trip has prompted protests and fresh criticism: survivors and campaigners say the church has not provided timely justice and want transparent trials, while French reparations bodies have awarded hundreds of victims compensation.
Pope Leo XIV has completed the second day of a four‑day visit to France, drawing hundreds of thousands to an outdoor Mass on the Champs‑Élysées and meeting pilgrims in Lourdes. He has met President Emmanuel Macron, warned about AI and is scheduled to meet abuse survivors in Lourdes and migrants in Paris.
France has held a third consecutive weekend of large protests over education and the cost of living, drawing roughly 320,000 people on 31 October according to the interior ministry. Marches in Paris, Lyon and Toulouse have been largely peaceful but have turned violent at their edges, with masked rioters setting fires, hurling projectiles and prompting police to use tear gas, water cannon and stun grenades.
Protests across France have expanded nationwide as thousands rally against high living costs, inequality and perceived cuts to public services. Demonstrations began in Paris suburbs and have spread to cities including Marseille, with clashes reported and arrests continuing as authorities warn of possible violence.
France endures its worst unrest in years as protests against living costs and public services turn violent across cities. Authorities report hundreds of shops damaged, dozens of arrests, and dozens injured. The government is racing to coordinate a response ahead of a key budget vote, with questions over policing, curfews, and recovery for affected businesses.
The pedestrianisation of Oxford Street is now underway, with a large stretch of the renowned shopping thoroughfare closed to traffic. City officials say the move will reframe London’s centre as a greener, more walkable destination, while delivering public spaces and new transport arrangements. Delivery windows and emergency access remain intact as work advances.
France faces a new wave of protests as thousands gather amid soaring living costs. Interior Minister Nuñez has deployed up to 70,000 police nationwide to secure city centers, with museums closing and stores boarded up. Protests are planned in Paris, Marseille and other cities.