MANILA, Philippines — France saw some of the worst unrest in years as huge protests occurred across the country over the cost of living and underfunded public services. Nationwide demonstrations had erupted into riots on October 17, with a town hall torched, shops pillaged, and buildings covered in graffiti as violent groups clashed with police in cities across the country.
On October 18, French President Emmanuel Macron appealed for calm. “Looking at these images, we have all asked ourselves: What was going through their minds? How can French people do this to France?”
“Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it, nothing excuses it. Tonight, we all feel anger and shame.” Macron said in a televised address to the nation.
The unrest has been attributed to far-left groups, while the government faces criticism for underestimating public anger over living costs and declining services, leading to heightened tensions ahead of upcoming presidential elections.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo returned to St. Peter’s Square on October 21, waving to pilgrims and blessing babies from his open-air popemobile as he held his first general audience at the Vatican since undergoing lung cancer surgery eight days ago. The 71-year-old pontiff stood in the back of the vehicle as it drove through the square, waving, smiling and stopping to talk to pilgrims
Catch more stories in these photos from the week that was:
Demonstrators overturn a car during a students’ protest in Brussels, Belgium, on October 17, 2026. PHOTO BY YVES HERMAN/REUTERS
A demonstrator wearing a mask depicting US President Donald Trump stands among inflatable effigies of public figures during a ‘No Kings’ protest in Los Angeles, California, on October 17, 2026, part of a nationwide day of action aimed at encouraging early voting ahead of the US midterm elections. PHOTO BY DANIEL COLE/REUTERS
Stuff toys adorn a makeshift memorial at Drake Park in Bend, Oregon, on October 17, 2026, in the aftermath of a shooting at the Silver Rail Elementary School. PHOTO BY DAVID RYDER/REUTERS
People walk past the damaged window of a McDonald’s in Paris, France, October 18, 2026, a day after clashes during a national day of demonstrations against the cost of living and rising fuel prices. PHOTO BY BENOIT TESSIER/REUTERS
People take part in a rally in support of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s re-election bid ahead of the October 25 presidential runoff in Brasilia, Brazil, on October 18, 2026. PHOTO BY ADRIANO MACHADO/REUTERS
Demonstrators vandalise the door of the government palace during a protest over poor water quality as residents have been reporting foul-smelling, sediment-filled tap water in Guadalajara, Mexico, on October 18, 2026. STRINGER PHOTO VIA REUTERS
Tourists wearing Korean traditional costume Hanbok react as they make their way through strong winds at Gyeongbok palace in Seoul, South Korea, on October 18, 2026. YONHAP NEWS AGENCY VIA REUTERS
Gigi Hadid gestures as she walks the runway during the Victoria’s Secret fashion show at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California, on October 18, 2026. PHOTO BY MARIO ANZUONI/REUTERS
Students from St Andrews take part in a foam fight, as part of ‘Raisin Monday’ in the Lower College Lawn, at St Andrews in Scotland, Britain, on October 19, 2026. PHOTO BY LESLEY MARTIN/REUTERS
Police officers evacuate a resident from the frontline rural settlement Komyshuvakha, in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, on October 19, 2026. STRINGER PHOTO VIA REUTERS
Tributes and flowers lie outside the electoral office of independent Australian lawmaker Helen Haines in Wangaratta, Australia, on October 20, 2026, who was deliberately struck by a car outside her office on October 19. PHOTO BY JAMES ROSS/AAP IMAGE VIA REUTERS
Protesters react amid water sprayed from a water cannon, after trying to block police advance, during an anti-government protest by students in Tirana, Albania, on October 20, 2026. PHOTO BY LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/REUTERS
Pope Leo waves to the crowd as he travels in the popemobile, after holding his first weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, on October 21, 2026 since cancer surgery. PHOTO BY YARA NARDI/REUTERS
Hindu women dance after smearing ‘sindoor,’ or vermillion powder, on their faces during celebrations marking the final day of the Durga Puja festival at Dhakeshwari National Temple in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on October 21, 2026. PHOTO BY MOHAMMAD PONIR HOSSAIN/REUTERS
76ers forward LeBron James (23) and Tyrese Maxey celebrate after a score against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 22, 2026. PHOTO BY BILL STREICHER/IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS
A person takes a picture of the sculpture ‘Eros II’ by artist Lorenzo Quinn, son of the late actor Anthony Quinn, during his solo exhibition ‘Hi Human’ at Teldil Art Gallery in Rome, Italy, on October 22, 2026. PHOTO BY YARA NARDI/REUTERS
A person casts their vote at the polling station inside the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee in Davidson County during early voting in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 22, 2026. PHOTO BY SETH HERALD/REUTERS
Supporters of the electoral list ‘Student List – Students Win’ attend a final campaign rally at Slavija Square in Belgrade, Serbia, on October 22, 2026. PHOTO BY MARKO DJURICA/REUTERS
Pedestrians walk along a street in Keelung, Taiwan, on October 23, 2026, as Typhoon Champi approaches the country. PHOTO BY ANN WANG/REUTERS
Nine years after her son, Aldrin Castillo, was shot dead on a street in Tondo, Manila on October 6, 2017, Nanette Castillo recounts her experience during the 5th Public Truth-Telling Session of the Philippine Truth Commission at Adamson University on October 23, 2026. PHOTO BY RAPPLER
—with reports from reuters/Rappler.com