Protests, a Ukraine Rescue, and Trump's Plans for Congress

Young people across Europe are marching in the streets to protest problems like rising costs, poor schools, and government corruption. In Germany, protests turned violent when looters smashed store windows in the city of Frankfurt. Police clashed with demonstrators as firecrackers were thrown and officers pushed crowds back with batons. Similar scenes have played out in France, where a third weekend of protests brought people into the streets, some even wearing Halloween costumes.

The protests in Germany were organized by a group called 'Gen Z Takes Charge.' Gen Z is the name for people born in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This group says it opposes being forced to join the military and wants more money spent on education. Protests driven by similar concerns have also taken place in Serbia, Italy, and Albania, with young people angry about the cost of living, corruption, and the poor condition of their schools.

Young protesters say their leaders are simply not listening to them. Chiara, a 21-year-old student in Milan, Italy, said her generation has had its ability to dream about the future stolen away. In Albania, 19-year-old Xyke Kurti said most young people cannot picture staying in their own country. In France, 17-year-old Bilal is protesting against conditions at his school, which he says lacks teachers and is overrun with rats.

In southern Ukraine, a rare rescue operation brought starving residents out of the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky. Supply routes to the town had been cut off by fighting and military drones, and food deliveries had reportedly stopped months ago. Hundreds of people were left without enough to eat. One family told reporters that three people had been surviving for weeks on just one shared cup of rice or buckwheat per day.

The evacuation was made possible by a six-day local ceasefire, the longest pause in fighting since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. The agreement was reached with help from U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and the Pope. To reach safety, residents had to travel a long and winding route — by bus through Crimea to Russia, then by plane to Belarus, and finally into Ukraine. Many evacuees were elderly, and some had to be carried on stretchers or in wheelchairs.

Reporter Olena Harmash, covering the story from Kyiv, said the ceasefire had held without any violations, which she described as unusual for this war. Some Ukrainian officials said the operation could become a model for broader steps toward peace. However, Russian officials said this was a special case and could not easily be used as a guide for wider peace talks. Still, the successful rescue gave many people hope that more progress might be possible.

In the United States, Democrats are hoping to win control of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections. If they succeed, they could investigate President Trump, block new laws, and challenge his spending plans. But Trump would still hold significant power on his own. His White House has spent months quietly figuring out what the president can do without Congress, including new tariffs, stricter visa rules, and actions to lower housing costs.

Finally, Chinese beauty brands are preparing to enter the global market. Proya Cosmetics, China's largest beauty company by sales, is arriving in U.S. stores this month. Brand executives say the worldwide excitement about Chinese technology and electric cars has given them confidence that Chinese beauty products will also be welcomed. Reuters reporter Casey Hall noted that these brands' customers tend to follow social media trends rather than political news, which may make the path to global success a little smoother.