France reports calmer night after curfews in Paris, Bordeaux, Nice, and Lyon

France reported a calmer night after overnight curfews were imposed in Paris, Bordeaux, Nice, and Lyon to curb rioting and looting linked to ongoing protests, with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu crediting the measures for the reduced violence. More than 2,500 people have been arrested during the unrest, which began in September as a student-led movement over education reforms but has since widened to address rising living costs. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 60,000 security forces were deployed, though he acknowledged authorities lost control in some cities, and noted dozens of judicial investigations are ongoing. The protests occur ahead of France's April 2027 presidential election, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen and left-wing candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon among prominent contenders. Similar demonstrations over education and living costs have also erupted across Europe, including in Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Albania, with Milan shops boarding up and Lisbon protesters camping in a central square.