France imposes curfews in Paris, Lille, and Nice after weekend riots

France imposed curfews in parts of Paris, Lille, and Nice on Monday following a weekend of riots and looting linked to anti-government protests, which left around 2,400 people arrested and nearly 1,000 officers injured. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu ruled out a blanket curfew but did not exclude declaring a state of emergency. The violence, which included clashes with police and damage to nearly 3,000 shops, followed weeks of student demonstrations and has shaken France six months before its presidential election. Lecornu blamed far-left groups for fuelling the unrest, a claim challenged by hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, while the government announced furlough measures for affected businesses. The unrest occurred amid a weak economy and rising public debt, with protests also reported in other European countries. President Emmanuel Macron rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nunez's resignation offer, instructing him to address "intelligence and foresight failings," as mayors of major cities said whole areas had been left without protection.