On October 18, French media continued to focus on the S&P downgrade of France's sovereign credit rating from AA- to A+, with the Economy Minister acknowledging the seriousness. This downgrade, linked to political instability and public finances, dominated early reports. Concurrently, the Cédric Jubillar murder trial, including his 30-year conviction and subsequent appeal, remained a prominent story. By the early afternoon, news emerged of Nicolas Sarkozy's imminent incarceration in La Santé prison, following his conviction in the Libyan case, attracting significant attention. Later in the day, Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement to seek re-election in Israel and ongoing reports of anti-Trump "No Kings" protests in the US also gained traction.