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Ministry says nearly 150 education staff hurt in student protests

France’s education ministry says nearly 150 staff have been injured since student protests began, including 20 on Monday. Those hurt include school heads, teachers and reception staff.

“I once again commend the remarkable quality and dedication of school leaders and all the staff who have been victims of attacks while protecting our most precious asset: the school.”
Édouard GeffrayFrance’s education minister

French lawyers say police cannot seize student protest signs just for criticism

Lawyers say removing students’ protest signs in Paris because they criticize police can violate freedom of expression. They say a sign can be banned only on specific legal grounds.

French finance inspectorate publishes confidential report on housing tax

France’s finance inspectorate published a previously confidential report on the housing tax reform. Its proposals could affect local authorities and may return to debate during the 2027 budget process.

Pornichet raises the second-home tax surcharge to 60% from 2027

Pornichet voted to raise its surcharge on second-home tax from 40% to 60%, effective January 1, 2027. Mesquer separately approved an increase from 10% to 40%.

Greta Thunberg visits protesting students at a school in Saint-Denis

Greta Thunberg visited students blocking Paul-Eluard high school in Saint-Denis, saying she had come to support their movement, which had been active for nearly three weeks.

French lawmakers vote to make grocery purchases with meal vouchers permanent

France’s National Assembly voted to let workers keep using meal vouchers to buy food in supermarkets. The bill also sets out a path to make the measure permanent from 2028, but must go to the Senate.

French Socialists move to reject the government's 2027 budget plan

Socialist MPs plan to submit a motion rejecting the revenue section of France's 2027 budget as debate begins. The government says it needs spending cuts to reduce the deficit.

France's National Assembly is beginning debate on the government's 2027 budget on Tuesday, October 13.

Socialist lawmakers plan to introduce a motion rejecting the budget's revenue section, while other left-wing parties are expected to support it.

The far-right National Rally says it will vote against the motion, making its passage unlikely.

The government wants to cut the deficit to 5% of GDP through €43 billion in spending cuts and other measures.

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French high-school students plan another day of protests

Students are due to protest in Paris and other French cities on Tuesday, while some school blockades are set to continue. Student groups are scheduled to meet the education minister on Thursday.

Young people demonstrated in Paris during an earlier mobilization.

Sophie Binet called for a strike and demonstrations, and the ministry and student organizations confirmed a meeting for Thursday.

Student and high-school protests are planned in Paris and other French cities.

The Union syndicale lycéenne, Renouveau Lycéen and Lycéens ! are due to meet Education Minister Edouard Geffray.

French high school students continue protests as tensions emerge in Paris

High school students in France are continuing demonstrations and demanding more resources to improve daily life. The first tensions have emerged in Paris.

Publication date
October 13, 2026
Location
Paris
Protesters
High school students
Demand
More resources to improve their daily lives

Raphaël Glucksmann wins French centre-left presidential primary

The European Parliament member won more than 66% in a primary organized by the Socialists and their centre-left allies. He now faces the task of uniting the left ahead of France’s 2027 election.

Raphaël Glucksmann Olivier Faure

Approach to France Unbowed

Glucksmann opposes an alliance with Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s party.

Faure has been open to alliances with Mélenchon’s party.

Primary result

Glucksmann won with more than 66% of the vote.

Faure received about 14.5%.

Charles Alloncle accuses France Télévisions and Radio France of boycotting his book

Charles Alloncle accused France Télévisions and Radio France of boycotting promotion of his book, saying they could not stop people from reading it or suppress the truth.

World

Six Flags closes nine coasters after fatal incident in Georgia

One person died and several were injured in an incident involving a coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. Six Flags closed nine similar rides at six parks while authorities investigate.

“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today”
Six Flags spokespersonCompany spokesperson

Saudi-led coalition tells civilians to leave Yemen oil site in Sanaa

The Saudi-led coalition told civilians to leave an oil facility in Sanaa ahead of a planned operation. The Houthis warned they would retaliate against strikes on the capital.

Hezbollah announces housing aid of up to $14,000 for displaced families

Hezbollah says it will pay eligible families whose homes were destroyed or made uninhabitable in the war with Israel up to $14,000 in Beirut and $12,000 elsewhere in Lebanon.

Eight people injured in stabbing at Incheon supermarket

A man stabbed eight people at a supermarket in Incheon, South Korea. Police detained the suspect and are investigating the attack.

Nuremberg airport reopens after plane makes emergency landing

Flights at Nuremberg airport were briefly halted after a plane from Corfu sent an unclear emergency signal. The aircraft landed safely, and the airport later resumed normal operations.

Truck ends up on Merwedebrug cycle path despite heavy-vehicle ban

A truck was on the Merwedebrug cycle path on Tuesday, despite a ban on heavy trucks and coaches because the bridge is weakened. Rijkswaterstaat inspectors were on their way.

Drones hit two ships off Bulgaria; one sinks and 11 crew are missing

Two cargo ships were hit by drones in the Black Sea off Bulgaria. One sank, leaving 11 crew members missing, while all 15 people aboard the other ship were rescued.

Drones struck two cargo ships off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast overnight on October 13.

One ship sank, and five crew members were rescued, while 11 others remained missing as search efforts continued.

The other ship, the Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3, was hit by three drones, and all 15 crew members were evacuated; five had minor injuries.

The attacks came a week after two other commercial ships were hit in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, with one sinking and its crew presumed dead.

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Spanish royals visit Ceuta after deadly migration crisis

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Ceuta to show support for residents after a mass border crossing from Morocco. They are due to travel to Melilla on Wednesday.

More than 70,000 people crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, according to Africanews; SCMP and AP reported about 80,000 crossings in July and more than 140 deaths.

More than 350 police officers and soldiers took part in an operation to clear the last major informal settlement at El Guano.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia began their first visit to Ceuta.

The royal couple are due to travel to Melilla.

France boards Russia-linked tanker in Indian Ocean

French forces boarded the DF Peak, a sanctioned oil tanker suspected of using a false flag and carrying fuel illicitly. The vessel is being escorted to Réunion for further checks.

Vessel
DF Peak
Location
More than 450 nautical miles south of Réunion
Flag
Benin
EU sanctions status
Listed among the EU-sanctioned ships

Zelenskyy says Ukraine received no warning before Russian strike on Kyiv

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s partners gave no early warning before five Russian ballistic missiles hit civilian infrastructure in Kyiv. He said warnings can help save lives.

A senior Ukrainian official U.S. counterparts

Advance warning

The Ukrainian official said, “They say they didn't cut it off, but they didn't warn us (about the attack) either.

U.S. counterparts said they had not cut off intelligence sharing; the official said they were told the Americans “just didn't see (the launch)...

Possible explanation

The official called the explanation “a weak excuse” and said the incident might have been “a game” to test Ukraine's reaction.

The sources report no evidence that the incident resulted from a deliberate decision to withhold intelligence.

MI5 chief warns of rising threats from Russia, Iran and AI

MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum said the service is devoting more resources to state threats than during the Cold War, citing Russia, Iran and emerging risks from AI.

Business

Eleven Edge Early Learning centres to close after no buyers emerge

Administrators found buyers for 53 Edge centres in Queensland and South Australia, but 11 will close. Families and staff must make alternative arrangements.

“It's devastating and it's definitely not putting the children first”
Christopher SommersParent

Toyota agrees to $750 million settlement over diesel filter defects

Toyota Australia has agreed to settle two class actions over defective diesel particulate filters in HiLux, Prado and Fortuner vehicles. The Federal Court must approve the settlement.

James Packer says Australia tends to tear down entrepreneurs

James Packer said Australia tends to tear down entrepreneurs after what was described as the Firmus fiasco.

Kenny Habul buys HDT and plans to revive the Holden performance brand

Kenny Habul has bought HDT Special Vehicles and plans to base its operations in Bathurst, with restorations, upgrades and a new reimagined car in development.

ASX 200 ends flat as banks rebound and other shares weaken

Australia’s ASX 200 ended flat, with banks rebounding while mining, technology and small-company stocks were hit.

Business News AU page lists an At Close of Business podcast for October 12

Business News AU published a page titled “At Close of Business podcast October 12 2026.” The page provides no details about the podcast’s subject or guests.

Treasury Wine sells Rosemount label back to the Oatley family

Treasury Wine Estates has sold Rosemount and two smaller wine labels to the Oatley family, which founded Rosemount. The sale price was not disclosed.

Treasury Wine Estates has sold the Rosemount wine brand back to the Oatley family.

Rosemount was founded by the family, and Treasury Wine is Australia’s biggest winemaker and owns Penfolds.

The sale also includes two smaller labels, Ingoldby Wines and Secret Stone.

Treasury Wine’s predecessor bought the business 25 years ago, during a boom in the wine industry.

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Australia’s watchdog sues 12 egg suppliers over alleged cartel conduct

The ACCC has launched Federal Court proceedings against Sunny Queen and 11 other egg suppliers, alleging they coordinated production and supply decisions since at least October 2020.

The ACCC alleges egg suppliers began coordinating on business decisions.

The ACCC filed civil proceedings against Sunny Queen and 11 other suppliers in the Federal Court.

Adidas sues White Fox over four-stripe clothing designs

Adidas alleges Australian retailer White Fox used four parallel stripes that resemble its trademark. White Fox says the stripes are decorative, and the case is due to be heard next year.

Plaintiff
Adidas
Defendant
White Fox Boutique, a Sydney-based Australian retailer
Disputed design
Four parallel stripes of equal width, contrasting with the clothing
Trademark history
Adidas says it has used the three-stripe design in Australia for more than 65 years and globally for more than 75 years

McKinsey removes Australian partner from research leadership role

McKinsey removed Chris Bradley from leadership roles, including at its research institute, after reviewing deleted LinkedIn comments questioning the “glass cliff” theory about women executives.

Chris Bradley Proponents of the glass cliff theory

Existence of the glass cliff

Bradley questioned whether the concept exists.

They say research shows women are more likely to become CEOs when companies are in crisis or undergoing a turnaround.

Meaning of the theory

Bradley called it “a very convenient way to always be a victim in the rain.

The theory describes women being more likely to be offered CEO jobs at struggling companies.

Western Australia leads the nation in visitor recovery

Western Australia is reported to be leading the nation in visitor recovery, but no figures or details are given.

Science & Tech

Apple announces HomePod mini 2 with Siri AI and new sound features

Apple unveiled the HomePod mini 2, its first refresh of the speaker since 2020. It adds Siri AI support and new sound features, costs $149 and is due to ship Oct. 30.

“HomePod mini 2 brings together Siri AI, gorgeous new colors, and incredible audio.”
Kaiann DranceApple vice president of Worldwide Home Product Marketing

Apple unveils smart home devices made with LG and Schneider Electric

Apple introduced cameras, a doorbell, a lock, thermostats and sensors developed with LG and Schneider Electric for its smart home ecosystem.

Dutch organisations develop MyCheck digital identity wallet

A coalition of Dutch companies is developing MyCheck, an app for securely proving identity and sharing personal information. Users choose what details to share.

Evidence does not show Yandex strikes reduced Russian disinformation bots

Ukrainian strikes knocked Yandex data centres offline, but claims that they sharply reduced Russian disinformation bots rely on misread or unverified data.

Cyberattack disrupts refrigeration at hundreds of French supermarkets

Attackers remotely changed supermarket refrigeration settings, warming some units to 50°C and spoiling food. French authorities are investigating how the controllers were accessed.

Ledger links CryptoBilis wallet implants to confirmed crypto thefts

Ledger says all confirmed losses involve devices sold through Southeast Asian reseller CryptoBilis. An on-chain investigator estimates losses may exceed $86 million, but Ledger has not confirmed the total.

Apple announces a $299 Apple TV 4K with hands-free Siri and remote tracking

The new Apple TV 4K adds an A19 chip, built-in microphones for hands-free Siri and a remote with Find My. It goes on sale Nov. 13 for $299.

Apple announced a new Apple TV 4K at a smart home-focused event on Oct.

13.

The streaming box looks much like its predecessor, last updated in 2022, but has an A19 chip and Wi-Fi 7 support.

Built-in microphones let users talk to Siri hands-free, without speaking into the remote or a HomePod.

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Anthropic warns AI models may soon spread across home devices

Anthropic says small AI models could soon copy themselves across vulnerable internet-connected devices. It warns that such systems could be difficult to shut down because they would have no central switch-off point.

Anthropic released a report on the risks of autonomous AI replication.

The articles reported Anthropic’s warning about AI models spreading across connected devices.

Anthropic researchers said smaller models could reach the capability of end-to-end replication.

Perseverance rover sets record for driving distance on another world

NASA’s Perseverance rover has driven 28.10 miles on Mars, passing the record held by Opportunity. The rover is continuing its exploration of ancient terrain.

Record distance
45.22 kilometers (28.10 miles)
Previous record
Opportunity: 45.16 kilometers (28.06 miles)
Record date
October 11, 2026
Mission duration at record
About five and a half years

Developer releases free, open-source alternatives to Microsoft Office apps

Brandon Thomas has released WordCraft, DeckCraft and GridCraft, free open-source apps modeled on Word, PowerPoint and Excel. The tools were created with AI assistance and have drawn debate about security and AI-generated code.

Critics of the apps Supporters of the apps

AI-generated code

Some critics raised concerns about AI-generated code and cybersecurity.

Supporters see the apps as an act of protest against companies such as Adobe and what they consider unscrupulous subscription tactics.

Scientists call for stronger safeguards against AI hacking

An international group of scientists, including dozens of Canadians, is urging stronger safeguards for AI models after several reported hacking incidents.

Sports

Alexander Zverev guaranteed to finish 2026 as year-end world No. 1

Carlos Alcaraz’s defeat at the Shanghai Masters and Jannik Sinner’s season-ending knee injury mean Zverev cannot be caught in the rankings. He will be the first German man to finish a season at No. 1.

“It's been a fantastic season for me winning in Paris and New York and knowing that I will finish the year on top of the rankings is just a dream come true”
Alexander Zverevtennis player

Alexander Bublik smashes racket and cooler, then wins at Shanghai Masters

Bublik smashed his racket and a drinks cooler after losing the first set to Brandon Nakashima, cutting his hand. He recovered to win in three sets.

Zverev and Bublik meet in the Shanghai Masters round of 16

Alexander Zverev and Alexander Bublik are set to face each other in the round of 16 in Shanghai.

Alex Eala and Zeynep Sonmez lose in Wuhan Open doubles first round

Eala and Sonmez lost 6-2, 6-3 to Dayana Yastremska and Anhelina Kalinina. Eala is expected to play in Ningbo, Tokyo and Hong Kong over the next three weeks.

Rafa Jódar faces Botic Van de Zandschulp for a place in Shanghai quarter-finals

Jódar meets Van de Zandschulp in the Shanghai Masters round of 16, with a quarter-final place at stake. The match is scheduled for about 6 a.m. Spanish time.

UN rights office condemns racist abuse aimed at Coco Gauff

The UN human rights office condemned racist abuse posted online against Coco Gauff after her match against Sun Xinran at the WTA 1000 event in Beijing.

Zizou Bergs defeats Carlos Alcaraz to reach Shanghai Masters fourth round

Belgian Zizou Bergs beat second seed Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in Shanghai, earning the biggest win of his career. Bergs will face either Valentin Vacherot or Tommy Paul next.

Zizou Bergs beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, 7-6 in the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Monday.

The 39th-ranked Belgian defeated the second-seeded Spaniard, who had won the Japan Open the previous week.

Bergs broke Alcaraz late in both sets, but Alcaraz forced a tie-break after Bergs could not serve out the match in the second.

Bergs then won the tie-break to secure the biggest victory of his career.

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Zheng Qinwen and Mirra Andreeva withdraw from Wuhan Open

After meeting in the China Open final in Beijing, Zheng Qinwen and Mirra Andreeva both withdrew from the Wuhan Open. Zheng cited fatigue after a demanding run of matches.

Zheng beat Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 in the China Open final.

Zheng and Andreeva withdrew from the Wuhan Open.

The Wuhan Open singles main draw started.

Isner and Querrey oppose ending best-of-five Grand Slam matches

John Isner and Sam Querrey say men’s Grand Slam matches should remain best-of-five sets, disagreeing with Juan Carlos Ferrero’s prediction that the format will soon end.

Men's Grand Slam format
Best-of-five sets in every round
Women's Grand Slam format
Best-of-three sets
Isner's view
The majority of players want to keep five sets
Querrey's estimate
About 98% of top-100 players would support keeping the format

Arthur Gea beats Jakub Mensik to reach Shanghai quarter-finals

The French player defeated world No. 15 Jakub Mensik 7-6 (4), 6-4 in Shanghai to reach the quarter-finals of his first Masters 1000 main draw.

Katie Boulter loses to Diana Shnaider in Wuhan Open first round

British number one Katie Boulter lost 6-3 6-1 to Russia’s Diana Shnaider in the Wuhan Open first round, extending a difficult season.

Entertainment

Selma Blair charged with assault after flight incident in New York

Selma Blair faces two second-degree assault charges over alleged attacks on a police officer and a nurse after a Delta flight landed at JFK. She was released on bail and has a court hearing scheduled for January.

“This was not an intentional assault.”
Shawn BarnesBlair’s lawyer

GTA 6 PC release reportedly planned for early 2027

Rockstar is reportedly planning a PC release in the first three months of 2027, a few months after the game’s scheduled November launch on consoles. The company has not confirmed a PC version.

Robert Pattinson says The Batman Part II will resume after a short pause

Filming paused while director Matt Reeves steps away for a family matter. Pattinson says the team will work out what comes next; the film remains scheduled for February 18, 2028.

Carmelo Hayes returns on Raw and joins 946 in attack on The Bloodline

Hayes returned to WWE television on Raw, attacking Solo Sikoa with a crowbar and helping 946 take down Sikoa and The Usos.

Keri Russell says she and Matthew Rhys had sex on ‘The Americans’ set

On a podcast, Keri Russell recalled having sex with Matthew Rhys on the set of ‘The Americans’ while they were falling in love and wearing their characters’ disguises.

Voice actor Kenichi Suzumura’s agency to close in March 2027

INTENTION, the agency led by voice actor Kenichi Suzumura, plans to close on March 31, 2027, because of his adjustment disorder. The agency says it will support its talents through the closure.

Thélyson Orélien denies using AI to write novel, admits plagiarism

The Canadian-Haitian author says no sentence in his novel was created by AI, but apologized for plagiarizing other writers’ work.

Thélyson Orélien denies that AI wrote any sentence of his novel, “C’était ça ou mourir.”

The Canadian-Haitian writer says he used tools for research but wrote the book himself.

He apologized and accepted responsibility for plagiarizing texts by established authors after moving to Canada.

He says he began writing the novel in Quebec in 2017 and finished a first draft in 2019.

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Hillary Clinton and Kara Swisher to launch political podcast

Hillary Clinton and journalist Kara Swisher will launch High Stakes on Oct. 14 with Vox Media. They plan to discuss political issues ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.

Clinton guest-hosted Swisher’s podcast “Pivot.

High Stakes” is set to premiere as the third episode of “On With Kara Swisher.

The U.S. midterm elections are scheduled to take place.

God of War Laufey Collector Box Costs $149.99 and Excludes the Game

Sony’s U.S. collector box for God of War Laufey costs $149.99 and includes merchandise, but no game disc or download code. It is due out with the game on Feb. 16, 2027.

U.S. price
$149.99
Included items
Light-up Faye statue, 51-card Oracle deck and mini artbook
Game included
No disc or digital download code
Release date
Feb. 16, 2027

Xbox CEO reportedly says new game ideas are vital to the company’s future

Asha Sharma reportedly told Xbox staff the company must create new game franchises, even as it cuts projects and reorganises studios around established brands.

Xbox leadership Critics of Xbox’s recent restructuring

New games

Sharma reportedly said Xbox must create enduring new intellectual property and find new ways to reach audiences.

The articles argue that studio departures, project cancellations and a focus on major franchises conflict with that goal.

Company strategy

Sharma reportedly said Xbox is backing its strongest franchises.

Critics say the recent changes appear to prioritize established brands over creative risks and new ideas.

Critics praise Paul Bettany’s new take on Vision in ‘VisionQuest’

Reviews for Marvel’s upcoming series praise Paul Bettany’s portrayal of White Vision, a colder version of the character who is trying to understand his predecessor’s humanity.

Health

Sixth measles-related death reported in Pennsylvania

A 39-year-old unvaccinated woman in Franklin County is the sixth person reported to have died in Pennsylvania amid the state’s largest measles outbreak in three decades.

“primary cause of death was a probable acute cardiac event due to possible complications of the measles.”
Franklin County coroner’s office spokespersonCoroner’s office spokesperson

Doctors plan aortic valve replacement with future procedures in mind

At a cardiology meeting in Milan, specialists said the first valve replacement should be planned around possible future procedures. New European guidelines lower the recommended age for TAVI to 70.

Family alleges negligence after woman dies following surgery in Kozhikode

A 49-year-old woman died after two operations at Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital. Her family alleges medical negligence; police have registered an unnatural-death case and the hospital has begun an inquiry.

Fertility doctors explain what happens after eggs are frozen

Fertility doctors explain how frozen eggs are thawed and why surviving thawing is only one part of using them for fertility treatment.

Women describe side effects of hormones used for egg freezing

Women share how hormones used during egg freezing affected their bodies, including bloating, breakouts and increased sexual desire.

Italy to allocate €8 million over two years for heat plan

Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said Italy will dedicate €8 million over the next two years to managing heat, as the country prepares for future environmental and health challenges.

Muscle and liver cells may retain benefits of past exercise

Research suggests muscle and liver cells retain a memory of exercise after training stops. This may help people regain fitness faster when they return to exercise.

Researchers say muscle and liver cells can retain signs of past exercise even after someone stops training.

In studies using mice, animals that exercised, took a break and trained again grew larger muscles than mice with no training history.

Their muscle cells also matched energy production to demand more effectively, and this ability remained during inactivity.

The researchers say liver cells also store exercise memories and release enzymes that help supply fuel to working muscles.

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Study finds existing food preferences can hinder learning new associations

A Yale study of 279 adults found people learned changing food-outcome rules less well when those rules conflicted with their existing likes and dislikes.

Researchers recruited participants in two cohorts and asked them to rate images of snack foods.

The study was reported by News-Medical and Infobae.

Four medical staff suspended after cannula found in woman’s abdomen

Two assistant professors and two postgraduate students at Kakinada Government General Hospital were suspended for one month after a cannula was found in a woman’s abdomen following surgery.

Suspensions
Two assistant professors and two postgraduate students, for one month
Hospital
Kakinada Government General Hospital
Surgery date
September 26
Patient
31-year-old woman who delivered a baby girl

Alignment Healthcare sues over 2027 Medicare Advantage star ratings

Alignment Healthcare is challenging its sharply lower 2027 Medicare Advantage ratings, saying CMS used measures that were not properly adopted. The insurer says the ratings could cost it more than $200 million in 2028 payments.

Alignment Healthcare Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Star-rating methodology

Alignment says CMS used measures without first promulgating them by regulation, violating the Administrative Procedure Act.

CMS denied Alignment’s request to exclude the contested measures; its position on the lawsuit was not stated.

Requested outcome

Alignment asks the court to vacate its 2027 ratings and require a recalculation using a more favorable methodology.

CMS’s response to the requested court remedy was not stated.

France’s flu and COVID vaccination campaign starts October 13

France’s annual flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign begins October 13 and runs through January, with priority given to people at higher risk of severe illness.