Student protests in France, mutual bombings in Ukraine, and a lawsuit by Andrew Mountbatten

France is preparing for a day of nationwide action today (Tuesday), as student protests over school conditions and learning environments enter their second week.

Student representatives called for marches across the country. In Paris, a demonstration is scheduled for 2 p.m. local time (12:00 GMT) in Place de la République.

Protests are also scheduled to be held in major cities, including Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Rennes, Rennes and Strasbourg, according to what the German News Agency reported.

Several major education unions supported the protests, while some also called for a strike, which could expand the scope of the movement beyond students.

The protests sometimes turned violent, as video clips showed young men pushing, kicking, and beating police officers.

The accident of a 15-year-old student, who lost one of his hands after reportedly picking up a projectile that later exploded in the city of Lens in northern France, caused widespread shock on Monday.

The police are said to have thrown the projectile into a group of protesting students. The General Inspectorate of Police and the riot control unit concerned are investigating the incident. According to a French broadcaster, the projectile was a non-lethal stun grenade.

The incident may fuel protests that are already witnessing serious violence. These developments come against the backdrop of previous accusations of violence against the police, which intensified condemnation of the methods used against young demonstrators.

On Sunday evening, Prime Minister Sebastian Lecorno called on ministries to make tangible improvements in schools across the country and to listen to the legitimate concerns of students. However, 589 schools witnessed new protests yesterday, Monday.

Mykhailo Semykin, the acting governor of the Ukrainian region of Zaporizhya, said via the Telegram application on Tuesday that Russia bombed a bridge over the Dnipro River in the region, halting traffic and wounding two people, according to what was reported by Reuters news agency.

In turn, Sergei Sobyanin, mayor of the Russian capital, said via Telegram on Tuesday that Ukraine launched 650 drones towards the Moscow region overnight, adding that 105 drones were shot down near the city.

Ukrainian officials said that Russian bombs targeted a residential area in the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine on Monday, killing six, wounding about 60 others, and causing severe damage to residential buildings.

Moscow denies targeting civilian infrastructure, but in recent weeks it has intensified its bloody bombing of Ukrainian cities and towns. Russian attacks on major infrastructure in Kiev, including bridges, paralyzed traffic in the capital in recent days.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of Britain's King Charles, has sued Thames Valley Police to challenge warrants relating to his arrest on suspicion of offenses while in public office, over his alleged sending of government documents to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The British Judicial Office, which is part of the non-political civil service, said on Monday that a hearing would be held on Thursday, after the former prince submitted a request to invalidate the search warrants issued as part of his arrest procedures last February.

The Judicial Office provided only limited information about the reasons for challenging the warrants. Legal experts said that accepting the appeal, even if it is based on procedural or technical reasons, may not stop the broader investigation into the former prince’s behavior.

Andrew is the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth and the younger brother of King Charles of Britain. He denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and said he regretted their friendship. His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.

He was arrested on suspicion of leaking secret government documents to the late Epstein, who was found guilty of sex crimes, during the period in which the prince served as the British Special Representative for Trade between 2001 and 2011. The police did not bring any official charges against him, and the investigation is still ongoing.

The arrest of Mountbatten-Windsor and the anger over his relationship with Epstein put the British royal family facing one of its worst crises in 90 years.

A palace source said Andrew had been told he should not use money provided by his brother the king from private sources to fund his legal challenge.

Thames Valley Police, which carried out the arrest, confirmed they were taking legal action in relation to warrants they had obtained, but declined to comment further.

The judicial office said Thursday's hearing, which will be held behind closed doors, relates to a police effort to restrict access to court documents, without providing further details.

The former prince was forced to give up all his official royal duties in 2019 due to his ties to Epstein, and then his older brother stripped him of his titles and honors last October.