Belgian Student Protests Turn Violent in Liège

Violent clashes broke out during student protests in Belgium, with police reporting injuries and property damage. In Liège, dozens were arrested and 18 officers were lightly injured during a demonstration of about 1,000 people. Protesters threw paving stones and barriers, damaged bus stops, and allegedly set fires in trash bins, prompting police to use tear gas and water cannons. The demonstrations, now in their third day, target government austerity measures in French-speaking Belgium. Similar protests are occurring in France, where unrest began in September at an understaffed Paris suburban school. Students demand more teachers, shorter school days, smaller classes, and better facilities, with anger strongest in disadvantaged areas.