France rocked by nationwide clashes, blazes and looting
Macron condemns those who 'sought to bring down the Republic' after rioting mars nationwide protests
Japan emperor makes first public new year's appearance since 2020
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Japan emperor makes first public new year's appearance since 2020
20 Sept 06:41Key points summarised by AI
Emperor Naruhito made his first public New Year's greetings since 2020, resuming an annual tradition as Japan and the royal family cautiously return to normalcy after pandemic cancellations.
The event, attended by Empress Masako and other royals, limited well-wishers to 1,500 lottery-chosen attendees to ensure safety, a significant reduction from pre-pandemic gatherings.
Macron condemns those who 'sought to bring down the Republic' after rioting mars nationwide protests
Today 12:56Key points summarised by AI
President Macron condemned widespread rioting and looting during nationwide protests, blaming far-left activists and criminals for the "unrestrained violence" and vowing accountability for those who "sought to bring down the Republic."
Over 2,400 arrests were made as protests against rising living costs and poor school conditions escalated, causing extensive damage to public buildings and businesses in cities like Paris, Limoges (where City Hall burned), Marseille, and Lyon.
The unrest, which organizers hoped would revive the "yellow vest" movement, saw political leaders trade blame, with Macron instructing prefects to protect public buildings and potentially ban future protests to prevent further disorder.