BRUSSELS (AP) — Police and protesters clashed in Brussels on Friday as tens of thousands of people rallied in the Belgian capital against rising living costs and budget-tightening measures introduced by the government.
Dozens of protesters, many of them young, dressed in black and wearing masks, threw rocks and firecrackers at police at the central Brussels railway station, before setting several fires, one to a pile of city bikes and electric scooters.
Riot police responded with tear gas, water cannons and baton charges, pushing the protesters from area. Traffic and public transport across the city were disrupted.
Police said that those “who caused the problems of public order are not linked" to the anti-austerity rally, which they said drew around 30,000 people.
The clashes came after a week of tensions in the city of Liege, where authorities placed a ban on public gatherings as students clashed with police and vandalized shops. More than 200 people were arrested in Liege and dozens of police injured.
Union movements had hoped to draw tens of thousands of people to Brussels as the Belgian government struggles to finalize a budget for next year. Belgium is mired in public debt, like its neighbor France and also Italy.
Union leaders said the rioters had nothing to do with their rally. Union members and their supporters were dressed colorfully, clad in red or green, and their march through the Brussels city center passed off peacefully.
“I work, but I cannot make ends meet,” said Marie Gobert, a single mother and social worker who came from the city of Namur with one of her daughters for the march.
She told The Associated Press that schools costs have just gone up along with the price of public transport and train tickets. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this anxious about all the measures making my daily life difficult," she said.
Traffic and public transport across the city were disrupted on Friday.
“You can feel the social tension, you can feel anger starting to simmer everywhere,” Gobert said. “The education system is being dismantled and when young people want to speak out no one listens to them.”
Demonstrators take part in a national protest organized by Belgian trade unions against the government's proposed budget measures in Brussels, Belgium, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Demonstrators take part in a national protest organized by Belgian trade unions against the government's proposed budget measures in Brussels, Belgium, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Demonstrators take part in a national protest organized by Belgian trade unions against the government's proposed budget measures in Brussels, Belgium, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
LEAWOOD, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 9, 2026--
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AMC), the largest theatrical exhibitor in the United States and in the world, today announced the launch of AMC Movie Trivia Game Show, the Company's first-ever mobile game. Developed in partnership with Hoyt Games and renowned puzzle creator David L. Hoyt, AMC Movie Trivia Game Show gives movie fans a fun way to test their knowledge of everything from classic Hollywood favorites to today's biggest blockbuster films.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261009264971/en/
Available as a free download through the Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore beginning today, AMC Movie Trivia Game Show features four new movie-themed puzzles every day, along with thousands of additional movie trivia challenges available within the app. Players solve each puzzle by determining a single “solve word,” testing their knowledge of movie history, iconic characters, memorable quotes, franchises, filmmakers, and more. This unique “solve word” puzzle logic, invented by David L. Hoyt, puts a whole new spin on movie trivia.
AMC Movie Trivia Game Show also integrates with AMC Stubs, providing exclusive in-game bonuses and puzzle-solving benefits for members of AMC's loyalty program.
"Movie fans love putting their film knowledge to the test, and AMC Movie Trivia Game Show gives them a thrilling new way to do that every day," said Ellen Copaken, SVP, Business Development, AMC. "As AMC's first mobile gaming experience, this app reflects our continued focus on finding new ways to connect and engage with moviegoers beyond the auditorium while creating additional value for AMC Stubs members."
AMC Movie Trivia Game Show was created in collaboration with Hoyt Games and David L. Hoyt, whose newspaper, digital and mobile games are played by millions of people every day. Hoyt is the author of Jumble, the world's most widely played daily word puzzle, as well as the inventor and author of USA TODAY Word Roundup and USA TODAY Up & Down Words. He also created See & Solve Trivia Game Show and founded the David L. Hoyt Education Foundation, which promotes play-based and collaborative learning.
“I really love movies, so teaming up with AMC Theatres to create what I believe is the best movie trivia game of all time is a dream come true,” said David L. Hoyt. “Our unique “solve word” logic lets us do something really different—create puzzles that are fun to solve while helping players discover fascinating things about movies and Hollywood they never knew before. I absolutely love that!”
ABOUT AMC ENTERTAINMENT HOLDINGS, INC.
AMC is the largest movie exhibition company in the United States, the largest in Europe and the largest throughout the world with approximately 850 theatres and 9,600 screens across the globe. AMC has propelled innovation in the exhibition industry by: deploying its signature power-recliner seats; delivering enhanced food and beverage choices; generating greater guest engagement through its loyalty and subscription programs, website, and mobile apps; offering premium large format experiences and playing a wide variety of content including the latest Hollywood releases and independent programming. For more information, visit amctheatres.com.
AMC's first-ever mobile game offers daily movie trivia, as well as exclusive in-game benefits for AMC Stubs members. Available now as a free download through the Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore.
