French prime minister Sébastien Lecornu said targeted curfews in Paris and other cities “have contributed to calm overnight” on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Authorities used helicopters to monitor key areas after recent unrest. Officials may start more curfews if needed today to keep streets safe across the country for everyone.
Key events
Macron secures additional diesel deliveries from the Gulf in bid to lower prices at home
Meanwhile, president Emmanuel Macron has secured the delivery of an additional 200,000 tonnes of diesel per month from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain during a tour of the Gulf, the French presidency said.
With the addition of deliveries from Saudi Arabia, France has commitments for 295,000 tonnes per month, representing just over 10 percent of its consumption, the presidency added.
Macron is undertaking a tour of key energy suppliers in the Gulf in an effort to secure oil and diesel supplies and bring down prices in France, after a weekend of violent protests sparked by soaring living costs.
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40-year-old man arrested in relation to Limoges town hall fire
A 40-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of being involved in the arson attack that ravaged Limoges town hall over the weekend, French media reported.
The man is reportedly a “far-left activist” with a prior record that saw him placed on the security services’ watchlist, according to Le Figaro.
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Morning opening: French PM says targeted curfews 'have contributed to calm overnight'
Jakub Krupa
French prime minister Sébastien Lecornu said that targeted curfews introduced in parts of Paris and other major cities “have contributed to calm overnight,” as he suggested more curfews could be introduced if needed today.
In a particular symbol of stepped up security measures, a helicopter flew over the French capital’s Place de la Republique, one of the epicentres of the unrest, sweeping a powerful searchlight across the square, AFP said.
While some restrictions, such as those in Paris, initially applied only for the night from Monday to Tuesday, others, particularly in Bordeaux and Nice, were set to remain in force for several days, the agency noted.
Meanwhile, Italy’s government decided to dispatch 500 army troops to Milan after two days of unrest in the city, with shops in the city centre affected by riots and looting.
I will keep an eye on the latest from both France and Italy.
Elsewhere, the European parliament in Strasbourg will debate EU-UK relations this morning, and Nato’s Mark Rutte will host the Turkish foreign minister for talks. Lithuania’s president Gitanas Nausėda is in Poland to discuss regional security.
I will bring you all the key news from across Europe here.
It’s Tuesday, 20 October 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.