Oct 18, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC

French authorities ordered between 400 and 500 high schools to switch to remote learning following escalating student protests and severe property damage across the country. Education Minister Édouard Geffray stated that 24 educational institutions were vandalized or burned, condemning what he described as an "entreprise de destruction du service public de l'éducation."

The unrest included an arson attack that destroyed the entrance of Nelson Mandela High School in Nantes, alongside public transit disruptions in Marseille and Strasbourg. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened an emergency interministerial crisis meeting at the Ministry of the Interior as officials noted a shift toward urban violence. Meanwhile, student groups and teaching unions continue to demand additional funding and staff replacements ahead of scheduled nationwide strikes.

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

Russian strikes targeting key infrastructure in Kyiv have triggered emergency blackouts across five districts and disrupted municipal water supplies. In response to the escalating attacks, the Kyiv City State Administration urged residents to prepare personal emergency supplies, including food, water, and backup power equipment, while insulating homes.

The disruptions have sharpened criticism of the capital's winter readiness. Serhiy Sukhomlyn, former head of the State Restoration Agency, warned that current preparations leave the city reliant on "a warm winter and the inaccuracy of Russian strikes." Additionally, investigative reports highlighted significant delays by local and national authorities in procuring backup power systems for municipal water utilities, cautioning that full energy resilience measures may not be completed until March 2027.

Sources: Liga net, NV, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда.

European Union member states have resolved a diplomatic deadlock, agreeing to extend sanctions against nearly 3,000 Russian individuals and entities. The extension was briefly delayed as France, Slovakia, and Luxembourg pushed to remove specific figures to avoid the automatic expiration of the entire sanctions framework.

Under the final compromise, member states agreed to lift restrictions on steel magnate Alisher Usmanov and banker Mikhail Fridman. Concurrently, EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg approved a major new economic sanctions package targeting Moscow's war economy. The approval reinforces European support for Kyiv following recent diplomatic friction between Ukraine and the United States.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace proposal backed by US President Donald Trump, stating that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is completely disarmed. In televised remarks to his cabinet, Netanyahu emphasized that the military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces."

The decision underscores a public rift between Washington and Jerusalem, following Trump's earlier announcements of diplomatic progress. Hamas had previously accepted the framework late last month. Despite the political fallout and domestic pressures on Netanyahu ahead of Israel's national election on October 27, military operations in Gaza have slowed under American diplomatic pressure.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian, The Herald

Pope Leo XIV is recovering at Rome's Gemelli Hospital following surgery to remove a nodule from his right lung. Medical staff reported that his post-operative recovery is proceeding regularly, with the pontiff resuming light activities, including concelebrating Mass and conducting limited administrative meetings.

Doctors indicate he could be discharged within five to seven days, with potential release before Sunday if improvements continue. All public audiences remain suspended through October 20. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin noted that church officials are confident, though acknowledging the news came unexpectedly and that future papal duties may require adjustment.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, Il Sole 24 Ore, La Repubblica.