Fresh clashes rock France as protesters march on

Today 15:08 Key points summarised by AI

Widespread clashes erupted across France as protesters marched against the cost of living, prompting a firm security backlash from President Macron's government.
Authorities deployed 70,000 security personnel, leading to nearly 1,000 arrests and two serious injuries amid an "extremely elevated level of violence" from "ultra-left" extremists.
Despite government claims of a more "positive" outcome than the previous week, riot police fired tear gas in multiple cities, sparking widespread anger over perceived assaults on the right to protest.
The unrest, which included clashes between far-right and "ultra-left" militants, highlights a febrile political atmosphere six months before presidential elections.

China-funded Confucius Institutes deemed US national security threat: Hegseth

Yesterday 08:48 Key points summarised by AI

The US Department of Defense officially designated China-funded Confucius Institutes as a threat to national security, citing their role as Chinese Communist Party propaganda tools.
Despite previous shutdowns, these organizations reappeared under new names across 30 universities, aiming to steal intellectual property and influence American students, but have since been dismantled by the Defense Department.