left-wing protesters

Groups of right-wing men have taken to the streets of Milan, saying they are defending shopkeepers from looters and rioters. Counter-protesters described as left-wing activists also turned up, and scuffles broke out between the two sides. The confrontations add to tensions in the city amid ongoing unrest, with footage of the clashes spreading widely on social media.

A French left-wing woman who joined the student protests says she was pushed aside after objecting to participants looting stores. She reportedly shouted that looting was not the cause, but fellow demonstrators, described as second and third-generation migrants, told her to be quiet and said they had urgent shopping to do. The account has drawn wide attention, fuelling debate over whether criminal opportunism is overshadowing legitimate protest movements in France.

Spain is facing mounting political turmoil, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez under pressure to resign amid widespread protests following the October 12th national parade. In Madrid's Puerta del Sol, demonstrators carrying Spanish flags attempted to approach a left-wing camp occupying the square, leading to confrontations between the two groups. Observers describe the country as being in deep political crisis, with tensions between rival camps spilling into the streets.

Spain is described as being in political crisis, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez under pressure to resign and protests reported across the country following the October 12th parade. In Madrid's Puerta del Sol, demonstrators carrying Spanish flags attempted to approach a far-left camp occupying the square, underlining the deep polarisation in Spanish politics.

Eric Ciotti, the UDR mayor of Nice, said the national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office must take up cases of violence on the fringes of demonstrations in France. His comments drew sharp criticism from the left, which accused the Nice mayor of stirring up hatred following his speech. The exchange has sharpened tensions between Ciotti and left-wing figures over how to handle protest-related unrest.

Colombia's president, a close ally of Donald Trump, has ordered the removal of art exhibits from public institutions that he considers communist or left-wing in nature. The purges of cultural displays have triggered protests from artists, museum workers and critics who view the move as censorship and political interference in the country's cultural institutions. Coverage across US and regional outlets is drawing attention to growing tensions between the government and the arts community.

Milan's historic Duomo is at the centre of a heated debate after clashes near the Gothic cathedral, with critics on the right accusing left-wing protesters of turning the landmark into a 'war zone' under the cover of peaceful demonstrations. Supporters of the protests dispute that framing, and similar tensions have been reported in France and Albania.

Alliances across Germany are calling on people to demonstrate nationwide on Saturday against the country's tougher deportation policy. Protesters criticise plans to build dedicated 'repatriation terminals' at airports, which they describe as part of an increasingly harsh approach to asylum. The left-wing daily taz reports on the mobilisation and the growing resistance to the government's migration course.

French lawmaker Thomas Portes is being quoted and shared for a pointed remark, 'the truncheon is the strength of the weak,' made in connection with recent demonstrations. Supporters frame the comment as a denunciation of police violence and state repression at high school and student protests, and pair it with broader accusations of corruption, fraud, embezzlement of public funds and calls for justice. The phrase is circulating among French-speaking users debating the government's handling of street movements.