France protests: Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France, Belgium, Italy and Portugal on Saturday to protest against rising living costs, low wages and deteriorating public services, with demonstrations turning violent in several cities. In France alone, an estimated 550,000 people participated in demonstrations over school conditions, rising fuel prices and the cost of living.
The protests in France have also drawn attention to the role of social media in bringing protesters together. Weeks before the demonstrations, an anonymous TikTok account reportedly posted a video calling for people to take to the streets on October 17. The video quickly gained traction online, turning a date into a rallying point for people frustrated with the country's economic conditions, reports French newspaper Le Monde.
