Limoges town hall burns in French protests, Trump endorses Netanyahu, gas prices, Hurricane Trudy, ALCS Game 5
France's historic Limoges town hall is largely destroyed after cost-of-living protests, President Trump endorses Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel's Oct. 27 election, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ties lower gas prices to the end of the Iran conflict, Hurricane Trudy lashes Mexico's Pacific coast, and the Rays and Guardians play ALCS Game 5.
More than half a million people joined cost-of-living protests across France on Saturday, mostly peacefully, according to official figures reported by Euronews and Fox News (citing AFP). In Limoges, the regional prefecture says masked rioters broke into the 140-year-old town hall around 6 p.m. and set it on fire; its spire collapsed overnight and the prefecture describes the building as largely destroyed. Hundreds of people were arrested nationwide; reported totals differ. President Emmanuel Macron said there is no place for violence and that those who looted or vandalized will be prosecuted and punished. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez blamed rioters he said were instigated by the far left.
The French government saysPresident Macron said there is "no place for violence" and those responsible "will be prosecuted and punished"; Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez blamed groups of rioters he said were "very clearly instigated by the far left."
Political rivals sayFar-right leader Marine Le Pen said "legitimate social demands" had been "taken hostage by the far left"; far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon wrote that "those who share our struggle have no place in looting and vandalism."
President Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party on Sunday, nine days before Israel's Oct. 27 election, calling him "a Great Warrior Prime Minister." Axios reports it is the first time a U.S. president has explicitly and publicly endorsed a candidate in an Israeli election. Trump wrote that with anyone other than Netanyahu, the U.S. would have to handle Iran itself. Netanyahu thanked him. Most polls show Netanyahu's coalition short of the 61 seats needed to govern.
President Trump saysNetanyahu "did not wilt" under pressure and Israel needs "a person they can count on"; he wrote that with "the wrong Leader," the U.S. would have to deal with Iran itself.
Netanyahu saysHe thanked Trump for "the tremendous support," adding "Together, we will complete the mission."
Netanyahu's rivals sayOpposition figure Gadi Eisenkot said he respects the president and appreciates his help for Israel, but "the only ones who will decide are the citizens of Israel"; some rivals had urged Trump to stay neutral.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told NBC's "Meet the Press" that higher prices reflect an energy shock and that "we will get to the other side of the Iran conflict and those prices will come down," but said the timing would "depend on what happens with the Iran conflict." AAA's national average was about $4.30 a gallon Sunday, compared with about $2.98 when the Iran war began, and inflation reached 3.7% in September.
The administration saysBessent called it an energy shock tied to the Iran conflict, said core inflation had fallen for four straight months before September and that food prices are below the Fed's target.
Critics sayOn NBC, moderator Kristen Welker noted gas prices have risen 44% since the war began and inflation was 3% when Trump took office; Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) called the Iran conflict a "war of choice."
Hurricane Trudy, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, brought heavy rain and strong winds to Mexico's Pacific coast on Sunday while tracking offshore, parallel to the coast. The U.S. National Hurricane Center forecast 4 to 8 inches of rain, with isolated totals around 12 inches, in Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco, raising the risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides. Rapid weakening is forecast to begin by Sunday night.
The Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians play Game 5 of the American League Championship Series in Cleveland on Sunday evening with the series tied 2-2. The winner of the series will face the Milwaukee Brewers, who swept the Los Angeles Dodgers to reach their first World Series since 1982. Game 1 of the World Series is Friday, Oct. 23, in Milwaukee on Fox.
