French police have arrested hundreds of people as protests led by left-wing forces under the label “Block Everything” were launched across the country.
More than 200 people were reported to have been arrested in the morning hours as demonstrators set fire to rubbish bins and blocked highways, spurred by frustration with President Emmanuel Macron’s government amid a national political crisis.
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The 80,000 police deployed across the nation responded with bouts of tear gas and detainments.
The demonstrations – part of a grassroots movement called “Bloquons Tout” or “Block Everything” – sought to use work strikes, blockades and other acts of defiance to express long-simmering anger over the government and its austerity measures.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau reported that a bus was set on fire in the western city of Rennes and that damage to a power line had blocked trains in the southwest. However, the protests initially appeared more tame than previous bouts of unrest against Macron’s leadership.
The plan to “block everything” emerged after former Prime Minister Francois Bayrou lost a confidence vote on Monday and Macron named close ally, Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, to replace him.
He is France’s fifth premier in less than two years, and the fourth in 12 months.
Macron saw Bayrou ousted as prime minister on Monday [File: AP Photo]
Florent, a protester in Lyon, told the AFP news agency that Macron’s decision to appoint his close ally to the top job “is a slap in the face”.
“We are tired of his successive governments; we need change,” he said.
The Block Everything movement, which has gone viral on social media, has been fuelled by increased dismay over budget-tightening policies that Bayrou championed, as well as broader concerns with poverty and inequality, which have risen sharply in recent years, according to France’s statistics bureau.
Armed soldiers have been patrolling the streets of Kathmandu, ordering people to remain in their homes, following a wave of deadly protests in Nepal’s capital.
The Nepali army checked vehicles and people on Wednesday amid an indefinite curfew, imposed in a bid to “normalise” the capital after mass unrest saw demonstrators set fire to several government buildings and force Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.
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The protests, triggered by a social media ban, have escalated since Monday, when security forces killed 19 demonstrators and injured hundreds. Tens of thousands filled Kathmandu’s streets on Monday and Tuesday as the protests expanded to target corruption and unemployment in the country’s most violent tumult in decades.
“We are trying to normalise the situation first,” army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet told the Reuters news agency. “We are committed to protect the life and property of people.”
The army’s emergence from the barracks after Oli’s resignation seemed to do little to ease the uproar across the capital.
Late into Tuesday evening, demonstrators blocked roads and stormed the parliament, presidential house and central secretariat, while videos showed protesters beating Nepali Congress party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, the foreign minister.
Prompted initially by a now-rescinded government plan to block most popular social media platforms, protesters were galvanised by the deaths on Monday and widespread frustrations with alleged corruption and joblessness.
Pabit Tandukar, 22, was among those shot by live ammunition. “We were there for a peaceful protest. They were initially firing tear gas at us, and we were pushing back. Suddenly, I was shot,” Tandukar told Al Jazeera.
Demonstrators react as smoke rises from the parliament complex in Kathmandu [Adnan Abidi/Reuters]
While so-called “nepo kids” — the children of top politicians and government officials — show off lives of luxury on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, most common people have been struggling with an unemployment rate of nearly 11 percent, according to the World Bank. Millions have migrated abroad to Malaysia, the Middle East and South Korea to find jobs.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak was the first to resign on Monday, followed by Agriculture Minister Ramnath Adhikari and then Oli on Tuesday. President Ram Chandra Poudel, the ceremonial head of state, moved to appoint Oli to lead a caretaker government — though his location was unclear — and appealed to protesters to “focus on resolving the crisis without further bloodshed or destruction”.
Meanwhile, army helicopters ferried ministers to safe locations.
The protests have led to concern across South Asia over regional stability, with governments having been unseated in recent youth-led uprisings in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Neighbouring China weighed in on the unrest on Wednesday. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman told journalists that Chinese citizens in Nepal should “pay close attention to safety” and that Beijing hopes Kathmandu “can properly handle domestic issues and quickly restore social order and national stability”.
For a second night in a row, members of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) say their ships have come under attack while docked in Tunisia.
Late on Tuesday, the Alma, a British-flagged vessel, was hit while moored off the port of Sidi Bou Said, sparking a fire that was later contained. Nobody was injured.
The remnants of the projectile used in Tuesday night’s attack on the Sumud Flotilla [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]
The incident follows Monday night’s strike on the flotilla’s main ship, the Family Boat, which also caught fire after being hit by a suspected drone in the same port.
The Family Boat – a 23-metre (76ft) Portuguese-flagged vessel carrying the flotilla’s steering committee – had six people on board.
Video from a nearby ship, verified by Al Jazeera, appeared to show an incendiary device falling onto the vessel before an explosion. Passenger Miguel Duarte told Middle East Eye he saw a drone hovering overhead just before the blast.
The Tunisian National Guard dismissed claims of an attack as “completely unfounded”, attributing the Family Boat fire to a discarded cigarette. The GSF, however, accused Israel, saying the strike damaged the ship’s main deck and storage areas, though passengers managed to extinguish the blaze. All crew and activists were reported safe.
Where is the Global Sumud Flotilla now?
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), a coalition of more than 50 boats seeking to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza, set sail on August 31, 2025, and arrived at Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said port on September 7. It plans to continue its journey towards Gaza on Wednesday.
The flotilla is carrying humanitarian aid and supplies, and its organisers say the mission is intended to draw international attention to the ongoing blockade.
Which countries do the flotilla delegates come from?
According to the Global Sumud Flotilla, delegations from 44 countries have committed to sail to Gaza as part of the largest maritime mission to break Israel’s illegal siege.
According to the group, participants are unaffiliated with any government or political party.
Flotillas trying to break Israel’s siege of Gaza
Several flotilla vessels have attempted to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza in the past.
In 2008, two boats from the Free Gaza Movement successfully reached Gaza, marking the first break of Israel’s naval blockade. The movement, founded in 2006 by activists during Israel’s war on Lebanon, went on to launch 31 boats between 2008 and 2016, five of which reached Gaza, despite heavy Israeli restrictions.
Since 2010, all flotillas attempting to break the Gaza blockade have been intercepted or attacked by Israel in international waters.
The map below shows the approximate locations where prominent flotillas were stopped, some encountering deadly Israeli forces.
2010 – Gaza Freedom Flotilla
In 2010, Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara in international waters. The assault killed 10 activists and injured dozens, leading to global outrage. The ship was carrying humanitarian aid and more than 600 passengers.
The Mavi Marmara was owned and run by the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, or IHH, a Turkish NGO. The incident severely strained Israel-Turkiye relations and drew widespread condemnation for violating international law.
In 2013, Israel apologised for “operational mistakes” in the raid. A compensation deal is still being negotiated between the two countries. Israeli soldiers and officials who took part in the attack are being tried in absentia in Turkiye for war crimes.
2011 – Freedom Flotilla II
Freedom Flotilla II was launched in 2011 as a follow-up to the 2010 mission. Organised by a coalition of international activists and NGOs, it aimed to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid. The flotilla involved more than 300 participants from around the world and was set to sail on 10 vessels.
However, intense diplomatic pressure from Israel, coupled with reported sabotage of ships and restrictions by host countries like Greece, prevented most boats from departing.
Only the Dignite-Al Karama came close to reaching Gaza. The 17-passenger French vessel initially declared an Egyptian port as its destination upon leaving Greek waters, but activists later announced they were heading for Gaza. Israeli naval commandos intercepted the boat and towed it to Ashdod. The activists were detained for questioning and later deported.
2015 – Freedom Flotilla III
Freedom Flotilla III was launched in 2015 as the third major attempt by international activists to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. Organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the mission included several vessels, with the Swedish-flagged Marianne of Gothenburg leading the effort.
On June 29, 2015, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Marianne about 100 nautical miles (185km) off the Gaza coast, in international waters. Commandos boarded the ship and diverted it to Ashdod. The activists on board were detained and later deported, with some crew members released after six days.
Activists on board Thales of Miletus, a boat from the third Gaza Freedom Flotilla, sailing in the Mediterranean back to Greece after departing from the Israeli port of Ashdod, where the flotilla was forced to land by Israeli forces [File: Getty Images]
2018 – Just Future for Palestine
The Just Future for Palestine Flotilla – also known as the 2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla – was part of a continued effort by the FFC to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. The campaign included two main vessels, Al Awda (The Return) and Freedom, along with two support yachts, Mairead and Falestine.
On July 29 and August 3, 2018, both Al Awda and Freedom were intercepted and seized by the Israeli navy in international waters. All on board were arrested, with some reporting being Tasered, assaulted, or beaten by Israeli forces.
Most participants were held in detention before being deported to their respective countries.
2025 – Break the Siege ‘Conscience’
While preparing to sail to Gaza on May 2, the Conscience was struck twice by armed drones, just 14 nautical miles (26km) off the coast of Malta. The attack triggered a fire and caused a significant breach in the hull, forcing the 30 Turkish and Azeri activists on board into a desperate effort to bale out water and keep the ship afloat.
Four people sustained minor injuries in the assault, including burns and lacerations.
2025 – Madleen
Despite the attack on the Conscience, the Madleen departed Sicily on June 1, carrying food and medicine. On July 7, the boat was intercepted by Israeli naval forces 100 nautical miles (185km) off Gaza in international waters. Twelve crew members were detained, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, MEP Rima Hassan, and Al Jazeera journalist Omar Faiad. The ship was towed to Ashdod, 30km (19 miles) north of Gaza, where the activists were held before being deported.
2025 – Handala
On July 27, 2025, the activist vessel Handala – named after the iconic Palestinian cartoon figure symbolising resistance – was seized by Israeli naval forces in international waters, approximately 50 nautical miles (90km) from Gaza.
On board were 19 unarmed activists and journalists from various countries, including two French members of parliament and two Al Jazeera reporters. The FFC condemned the action as a violent interception in violation of international maritime law, emphasising the non-military nature of their mission and the intended aid delivery.
Azmatullah Omarzai hammered a 20-ball fifty as Afghanistan thrashed Hong Kong by 94 runs in the opening match of the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi.
Afghanistan elected to bat first and posted 188-6, with opener Sediqullah Atal playing the anchor role with an unbeaten 73 on Tuesday.
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His fifth-wicket partnership of 82 with Omarzai, who hit 53 off 21 balls, including two fours and five sixes, proved key for Afghanistan in the Group B fixture.
Afghanistan’s bowlers then combined to keep Hong Kong down to 94-9.
Temperatures early on touched 40C (104F), but it was the humidity in the evening that tested the fitness of the players, who took regular drinks breaks.
Hong Kong bowlers delivered two early blows to Afghanistan, but Atal stood firm to put on 51 runs with veteran Mohammad Nabi, who scored 33, as the two counter-attacked.
Off-spinner Kinchit Shah broke the stand to dismiss Nabi, but Atal raised the run-rate with Omarzai, who hit his first T20I fifty – the fastest by an Afghan batter – with three sixes and a four before his departure.
Hong Kong, whose fielders dropped five catches, were never in the chase after they slipped to 22-4 inside five overs, including two run-outs.
Afghanistan were playing less than 48 hours after their loss to Pakistan in the final of a tri-series in Sharjah on Sunday.
Their next Asia Cup fixture is against Bangladesh on September 16.
Tournament favourites India begin their campaign in Group A on Wednesday when they face hosts United Arab Emirates in Dubai.
India and Pakistan meet on September 14 in the most-awaited match of the Twenty20 tournament, which serves as a build-up for next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan, third from right, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Hong Kong’s Zeeshan Ali [Fadel Senna/AFP]
United States President Donald Trump has urged the European Union to slap 100 percent tariffs on China and India as part of his efforts to pressure Russia to end its war in Ukraine, US and British media have reported.
Trump made the call after dialling into a meeting of US and EU officials in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, according to the reports.
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The Financial Times, which first reported the news, said Trump indicated he was prepared to impose steeper tariffs on China and India, two major buyers of Russian oil, if European nations did as well.
“We’re ready to go, ready to go right now, but we’re only going to do this if our European partners step up with us,” the Times quoted an unnamed US official as saying.
Trump’s proposal was confirmed by multiple outlets, including Reuters, Bloomberg and CNBC.
Trump last month raised the tariff rate on Indian imports to 50 percent, citing the South Asian giant’s continuing purchases of Russian oil.
On Tuesday, Trump said in a social media post that Washington and New Delhi were continuing negotiations on trade barriers and that he looked forward to speaking to his “very good friend” Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, in the coming weeks.
“I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries!” Trump said on Truth Social.
Responding to Trump on Wednesday, Modi said he was confident the talks would “pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership”.
“I am also looking forward to speaking with President Trump,” Modi said on X.
“We will work together to secure a brighter, more prosperous future for both our people.”
Trump has yet to target China, which is in the midst of negotiating a trade deal with Washington, over its oil purchases specifically.
Trump, who pledged to bring a swift end to the war in Ukraine during his election campaign, has expressed growing frustration at the difficulty of reaching a peace deal amid Russia’s escalating attacks on Ukrainian cities.
