France bans Paris protests and imposes curfews after weekend riots

The French government has imposed a protest ban and strict curfews in Paris, targeting key landmarks and shopping areas, following the country's worst street unrest in years. The measures aim to prevent further violence after masked youths clashed with police and looted shops over the weekend. President Emmanuel Macron implied that foreign leaders, including Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, exploited the riots for political gain during their election campaigns. The government admitted it "lost control" during the violence, which overshadowed Sunday's cost-of-living protests and came amid student demonstrations that closed many schools. Fresh protests are planned for Saturday, and the CGT union has called for strikes next month. Over 2,500 people were detained, with 174 jailed, while financial markets remain rattled by fiscal concerns and Moody's is expected to downgrade France's debt rating.