Laurent Nuñez

French president Emmanuel Macron has refused interior minister Laurent Nuñez's offer to resign after a weekend of riots that left public buildings burned, hundreds of shops destroyed and looted, and at least 2,400 people arrested across the country. In a televised address, Macron condemned "unbridled violence," while unrest spread to Italy and Ukraine's president accused Washington of being "in denial" about Russia's war.

French police fired teargas and water cannons on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of demonstrators joined nationwide protests against rising living costs and high school students' grievances, with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez's office reporting a growing number of violent incidents including assaults on officers, looting and damage to public buildings. At least 272 people were arrested across the country.