Protests over living costs spread from France to Belgium and Italy

Violent protests over rising living costs and public services spread from France into Belgium and Italy on Saturday, with police using water cannons and tear gas as demonstrators clashed, looted shops, and set property on fire. In France, one demonstrator died, more than 500 police officers were injured, and nearly 1,800 arrests were made, according to the interior minister. Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin condemned the violence in Brussels as an organised attempt to destabilise society, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised "hooligans" after clashes in Milan led to detentions and property damage. The unrest began last month over school conditions and teacher shortages, expanding into a wider movement against inequality and spending cuts. French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to prosecute those responsible for violence, as authorities assessed damage from demonstrations that drew over 550,000 people nationwide.