France curfews after riots, NIH women's health order, chip stocks rebound
France orders local curfews after weekend riots, Trump creates a women's health division at NIH, chip stocks bounce back, early voting opens in Texas and four more states, and the Rays are one win from the World Series.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu told regional prefects to impose "very limited" and "localized" curfews to curb rioting and looting after a weekend of violent protests against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. Curfews were announced for parts of Paris and for cities including Lyon, Nice and Lille. More than 2,300 people were arrested over the weekend. President Emmanuel Macron refused Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez's offer to resign. Lecornu said a state of emergency could be declared if necessary.
The government saysThe curfews are meant to stop further rioting and looting; Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez blamed "hordes of troublemakers and looters" and "far-left activists" and admitted police "lost control" in some cities on Saturday.
Critics and protesters sayMayors of France's largest cities demanded answers over what they called a lack of preparation; protesters say they are marching over the cost of living, faltering public services and overcrowded, underfunded schools.
President Trump signed an executive order Monday creating a Women's Health Division within the National Institutes of Health, to be set up within 90 days, and a White House Women's Health Task Force co-chaired by chief of staff Susie Wiles and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. First lady Melania Trump backed the plan. The order sets no specific funding amounts; HHS will pay the task force's administrative costs.
The White House saysPresident Trump said "many diseases and conditions that disproportionately affect women remain chronically understudied"; Melania Trump called it "a transformative moment for women in America."
Critics sayThe National Women's Law Center called the unfunded order "blatant hypocrisy" given Medicaid cuts in the 2025 tax and spending law; other critics question how effective it can be, given federal workforce cuts, including NIH layoffs.
Chip and AI-linked stocks bounced back Monday after a sharp selloff. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index had dropped more than 11% the previous week, Reuters reports, after a hot inflation reading raised bets on rate hikes. The Nasdaq closed up about 1.1%, the S&P 500 rose about 0.4% and the Dow slipped slightly. Memory makers including Micron, Western Digital and Sandisk were among the gainers.
In-person early voting for the Nov. 3 midterm elections began Monday in Texas, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado and Connecticut. In Texas, early voting runs through Oct. 30, the deadline to apply for a mail ballot is Oct. 23, and voters must bring a driver's license or another approved photo ID. Texas races on the ballot include U.S. Senate and governor.
The Tampa Bay Rays lead the Cleveland Guardians 3-2 in the American League Championship Series and host Game 6 Monday night at Tropicana Field, with first pitch at 8:08 p.m. Eastern (7:08 p.m. Central) on TBS. Freddy Peralta starts for Tampa Bay; Cleveland plans a bullpen game. The Milwaukee Brewers, who swept the Dodgers, await the winner in the World Series.
