Food Riots in France Spread
Unrest in France continued into its second week, spreading across the nation down to ReDS-quarantined regions in the south. Triggered initially by a farmer strike over price supports, the violence -- now dubbed the Bread Riots by the French press -- expanded to include attacks on markets and agri-business headquarters.
Experts insist that France has more than enough food to both feed its entire population and support a healthy export market, but the global fears about food availability -- along with a series of scandals last year, undermining perceived government legitimacy -- have led to broad public fears of imminent famine. Government officials from both the ruling and opposition parties condemned the farmer strike, but have pled with the rioters to stop the violence.
As of today, 73 people have died in the riots.