Torrential rain battered eastern Spain on Monday, killing at least four people in recent days as floodwaters swept away cars, submerged roads and stranded residents. Emergency crews carried out more than 400 rescues in Valencia, where rainfall reached 700 litres per square metre in 24 hours in some areas.

As thousands of French shop owners are reeling from the weekend's violence and looting, listings of apparently stolen items have been popping up online. The government has asked major second-hand marketplaces such as Vinted, eBay and Amazon to crack down on suspicious adverts. 

In the wake of the weekend violence in France, political camps have been trading blame for the "chaos". The riots have played into the hands of the far-right National Rally, which has been quick to capitalise on the anger and fears over law and order. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Dr David Lees, Reader in French Studies at the University of Warwick, says that far-right candidate Marine Le Pen "is trying to use these events as a vehicle for pushing her popularity ahead of the elections next year".

In the wake of the weekend violence in France, political camps have been trading blame for the "chaos". The riots have played into the hands of the far-right National Rally, which has been quick to capitalise on the anger and fears over law and order. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Dr David Lees, Reader in French Studies at the University of Warwick, says that far-right candidate Marine Le Pen "is trying to use these events as a vehicle for pushing her popularity ahead of the elections next year".

François Picard is pleased to welcome art crime detective Arthur Brand. "In the old days they stole a painting, but a painting is unique; you cannot cut it in two," explains Brand, "In the last 10 years they have been targeting more and more objects made of gold, silver". He examines the transformation of international art theft, warning that increasingly sophisticated criminal opportunism is shifting attention from irreplaceable paintings towards precious metals and gemstones that can be dismantled, melted down or dispersed.

AI-generated photos falsely claiming to show an elderly couple being “stripped and robbed” during unrest in France have racked up millions of views. Amplified by far-right accounts, the images fuelled inflammatory claims about Muslims, Jews and the riots. The FRANCE 24 Observers traced one image to an AI photo montage published by a pro-Israel account. The images were created using OpenAI tools, and the alleged assault remains unverified, with no official reports confirming the attack.

France reeled Monday after a weekend of nationwide unrest sparked by mass protests against the rising cost of living and in support of high school students’ demands over education funding. In the violent clashes that erupted, law enforcement officers and protesters were wounded, public buildings were set ablaze and businesses were looted, raising significant questions about the French police's approach to public order. 

In the wake of the weekend's violence, the political camps have been trading blame for the “chaos”. The riots have played into the hands of the far-right National Rally, which has been quick to capitalise on the anger and fears over law and order. FRANCE 24's Emerald Maxwell takes a look.

Ukrainian ⁠Foreign Minister ​Andrii Sybiha said on ​Monday that a summit between Russia, China ​and the ‌US would ⁠encourage President Vladimir Putin ‌to prolong the war. The ​Wall Street Journal reported that Putin had proposed a ​summit next month ​with US ​President Donald Trump and Chinese President ​Xi Jinping to negotiate an end to the war on terms ⁠that would favour Moscow. FRANCE 24's Monte Francis reports.

France announced partial curfews in Paris and other cities on Monday after weekend demonstrations over soaring prices degenerated into some of the worst street violence in recent years. Images of riots and looting in France over the weekend have been seen across the world and are worrying the country's tourism industry. Could the violence put off foreign tourists from visiting? FRANCE 24's Selina Sykes reports.

Speed limits on a US military grade satellite system are hindering Ukrainian forces' ability to coordinate drone strikes against Russian forces, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday. Zelensky said frontline units had reported that the Starshield equipment "stops functioning at speeds of 130-160 kilometres (80-100 miles) per hour in various sectors of the front". Separately, a Ukrainian army brigade has announced the rescue of a wounded soldier from the front line using an aerial drone, describing the evacuation as the first of its kind. The brigade published a video showing the drone lowering itself to the ground, before a man in combat gear fastens himself to a winch onboard and is lifted upwards. FRANCE 24's Gulliver Cragg reports from Ukraine.

Following a weekend of #violence and #looting, the French government has announced localised #curfews, financial support for affected businesses and a tougher judicial response, while keeping the option of a state of emergency on the table.

Five men with alleged connections to the major criminal group DZ Mafia are accused of murdering, in 2020, the elder brother of anti-drug activist Amine Kessaci – now deputy mayor of Aix-en-Provence. The trial, set to begin on Monday, highlights the threat posed by mafia-style drug trafficking networks in the region. FRANCE 24’s Delano D’Souza reports.

Ukraine has evacuated a wounded soldier from the front line using an aerial drone in what a Ukrainian army brigade has described as a world-first operation. The successful mission highlights the growing role of unmanned technology in battlefield evacuations as drones continue to shape the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

France's central government asked some local authorities to impose curfews and faced pressure over security failings on Monday after a weekend of riots and looting borne out of nationwide anti-government protests. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu did not rule out declaring state of emergency but said it was more appropriate for now to apply partial and localised curfews, without providing details of which cities would be affected.

At least 2,400 people were arrested in France during protests over the weekend, some simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, others on suspicion of theft and looting. In an official address, French President Emmanuel Macron warned that “those who looted will have to pay for the damage”. But who exactly are these rioters?

Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Andrew Smith, Lecturer in Liberal Arts at Queen Mary University of London. France's escalating social unrest has exposed a troubling disconnect between legitimate popular grievances and the government's increasingly security-focused response. Smith argues that the violence accompanying otherwise largely peaceful demonstrations reveals serious failures of policing, while President Emmanuel Macron's response offers "very little of substance." Drawing parallels with France's historic protest movements, Smith identifies a "convergence of causes" rooted in economic insecurity, educational inequalities and political paralysis. He warns that a repressive response risks deepening the crisis, calling instead for a renewed commitment to "participatory social democracy."

Four soldiers were killed and dozens injured in a fire at a military base in Alberta province, one of the worst peacetime tragedies to hit Canada's armed forces on home soil, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Monday accused the "ultra-left movement" of seeking to "orchestrate deep unrest across the country" in the runup to next year's presidential election. FRANCE 24 International Affairs Editor Angela Diffley looks back at Lecornu's remarks in the wake of the violent protests that shook the country over the weekend.