European protests over living costs spread from Italy to Belgium

Social unrest is spreading across several European countries, including Italy and Belgium, driven by rising living costs and inspired partly by ongoing protests in France. Clashes erupted in Milan on October 17, with riot police deployed against masked individuals targeting luxury shops. In Milan, protesters demonstrated against the cost of living, resulting in numerous injuries and over 50 arrests. Italian students had previously taken to the streets, openly citing French mobilization as inspiration, while Belgian youths held unauthorized protests in Brussels on October 17 against rising education costs. Recent European demonstrations have been marked by violence, prompting authorities in Liège, Belgium, to ban gatherings of more than three people. A student called the measure a "gross attack on liberty" resembling an "authoritarian regime," though the city deemed the temporary ban effective.