Oct 13, 2026, 09:00 AM UTC

French authorities ordered between 400 and 500 high schools to switch to distance learning on Monday after student blockades escalated into violence across several cities. Education Minister Édouard Geffray reported that 24 academic sites suffered severe damage or arson, including an entry fire at Nelson Mandela High School in Nantes. Student organizations called for an "Act II" of protests to demand increased education funding and teacher replacements.

In response, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened an interministerial crisis committee as public transit faced disruptions in Marseille and Strasbourg. Geffray characterized the violence as an "enterprise of destruction of the public education service" ahead of planned inter-union strikes.

Sources: Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le Soir, Libération, RTBF Info.

Portugal's parliament has defeated a motion of censure against the minority coalition government brought by the far-right Chega party. The motion failed after lawmakers from the main opposition Socialist Party (PS) abstained from voting following a three-hour parliamentary debate.

Chega submitted the initiative over controversies surrounding the internal administration minister. During the debate, cabinet officials criticized Chega for introducing a measure bound to fail while targeting PS for its abstention. Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro stated that the public would make a "political judgment" regarding Chega's actions.

Despite the political tension, government representatives reaffirmed that the executive has no preferred partner in parliament and will continue negotiating legislation on a case-by-case basis.

Sources: Diário de Notícias (DN), Expresso, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

Former diplomats and foreign policy experts have criticized US negotiations with Russia, arguing that American envoys fail to grasp Kremlin strategy by treating diplomacy like business transactions. Reports indicate that multi-billion-dollar energy negotiations involving Russian oil giant Lukoil have emerged alongside broader peace discussions. Analysts suggest President Donald Trump's diplomatic efforts are partly driven by domestic challenges, including unfavorable polling and rising fuel costs ahead of upcoming midterm elections. Meanwhile, Moscow ruled out substantive strategic stability talks, with the Russian Foreign Ministry citing American missile defense deployments in Europe as a main barrier to dialogue.

Sources: Ekonomický deník, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy.

Pope Leo is scheduled for admission to Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Monday ahead of surgery to remove a localized lung nodule, Vatican officials announced. The 71-year-old pontiff previously informed pilgrims at St. Peter's Square that doctors detected the nodule at a "very early stage and localized" during a recent medical exam, leading his medical team to recommend surgical intervention.

Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni stated that the procedure will take place early in the week, with the Pope expected to require approximately a week of recovery time.

Sources: Aftenposten, DR, Morgunblaðið, NRK, Vísir.