Oct 18, 2026, 09:30 AM UTC

French authorities ordered between 400 and 500 high schools to switch to remote learning following days of student blockades and severe property damage across the country.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray confirmed that 24 educational institutions suffered severe vandalism or arson, including an attack that destroyed the entrance of Nelson Mandela High School in Nantes. Disruptions also impacted public transport networks in Marseille and Strasbourg, where a bus driver was assaulted.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened an interministerial crisis meeting as government officials described the unrest as shifting toward "violences urbaines." Student organizations and education unions continue to demand additional funding and teacher replacements ahead of planned nationwide strikes.

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

Former French presidential candidate Ségolène Royal has secured the required endorsements to participate in the upcoming left-wing primary for the 2027 presidential election. Royal stated she has "kept many friendships within the PS" to qualify for the two-round contest scheduled for October 9–10 and October 16–17.

Royal joins six other declared candidates, including Socialist Party First Secretary Olivier Faure, who confirmed his candidacy for the joint primary organized alongside Place Publique. Meanwhile, French Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel announced he will run an independent campaign outside the primary system.

Despite earlier commitments to refrain from attacking rivals, Royal faced scrutiny for labeling rival candidate Raphaël Glucksmann the "media darling."

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération.

Hungarian Transport and Investment Minister Dávid Vitézy confirmed that a private equity fund associated with businessman Lőrinc Mészáros has reimbursed 2.27 billion forints to the state. The repayment comes amid an official review of a 64.5 billion forint acquisition involving three electronic toll system companies finalized during the tenure of former minister János Lázár.

Building on the asset recovery, state auditors are broadening their scrutiny to encompass legacy procurement contracts with IT entrepreneur Gábor Emőri. Emőri spent 12 years developing and operating core components of Hungary’s national electronic toll network. Ministry officials are currently examining whether additional public funds can be reclaimed from historical toll system agreements.

Sources: 444, HVG, Telex

The White House is confronting heightened scrutiny following rapid staff turnover and revelations regarding high-dollar fundraising efforts. On Friday, Press Secretary Katie Zacharia was dismissed after five days in office, making her the shortest-tenured press secretary in US history and the sixth person to hold the role during Donald Trump's presidency.

Simultaneously, leaked fundraising spreadsheets obtained by media outlets indicate that major contributors to a $330 million White House ballroom project gained close access to administration officials. The disclosures have reignited debates over political access and internal instability within the executive branch. Potential successors for the press secretary role are currently under consideration as the administration manages the fallout from both developments.

Sources: Helsingin Sanomat, Iltalehti

Firefighters in southern France have contained major wildfires across the Aude department, including blazes near Montséret and Puilaurens. The Montséret fire, which burned 100 hectares, triggered brief confinement orders for neighboring residents before emergency crews stabilized the perimeter. Meanwhile, the 225-hectare blaze in Puilaurens remains active in inaccessible terrain but is no longer expanding.

Nationwide, conditions are gradually stabilizing. The wildfire in the Var region has been fully extinguished, although local authorities have barred public access to seven forest massifs due to severe lingering fire risks. In Gironde, the massive wildfire is now contained, and Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a scheduled visit on 17 August to launch regional restoration initiatives. Official estimates show wildfires have destroyed more than 115,000 hectares across France this year.

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