Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was meeting US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Tuesday in a ​bid to rescue relations that have sunk to new lows as President Donald Trump has courted Moscow and Kyiv has complained about Washington withholding vital defences. FRANCE 24's Gulliver Cragg reports from Kharkiv.

Since the 17th of October over 2,000 people have been placed in police custody in France. Nearly 70% are adults. The trials which have gotten underway help shed light on their profiles, what they did, what's the proof and what penalty they're likely to face. FRANCE 24's Delano D'Souza reports.

Paris police ordered a new curfew for parts of the city for Tuesday overnight, after one the previous night that authorities said resulted in calm being restored following weekend riots and looting. The fresh curfew runs from 2100 GMT Tuesday to 0400 GMT Wednesday and applies to the Republique public square in the city's central east, where many weekend clashes took place, and in the central les Halles district which is full of shops. FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago reports from central Paris.

French police are turning to social media to identify and arrest suspects linked to last weekend’s looting and unrest. Investigators are scrutinising videos posted online alongside footage from thousands of security cameras to track suspects and gather evidence. The crackdown comes as the government vows to hold those responsible for the violence and damage to shops accountable.

At least 153 people have been killed in a drone strike on a market in the disputed Abyei region, where a fire at a nearby fuel depot continued to burn on Tuesday. Local officials blamed Sudan’s military for Monday’s attack, which also left dozens injured. 

French cities that imposed a curfew Monday saw a generally calm night, after October 17 protests devolved into violent riots this past weekend. Despite criticism from citizens, France's government said it is maintaining the measure where necessary on Tuesday night.

Genie Godula is pleased to welcome François Gouyette, former French ambassador to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Against a backdrop of violent unrest at home and escalating conflict in the Middle East, French President Emmanuel Macron's Gulf diplomacy underscores the increasingly blurred boundaries between domestic economic security and international strategic commitments. Ambassador Gouyette argues that the visit serves a dual purpose: alleviating France's energy pressures while reaffirming its longstanding defense partnerships with Gulf monarchies. Insisting that "France has to play its role as a key partner," Gouyette portrays French military assistance as an expression of strategic solidarity rather than direct participation in the war with Iran. 

With US President Donald Trump’s approval rating falling to a record low of 31%, Republicans are facing mounting concerns ahead of November’s midterm elections. Republicans are at risk of losing control of the House of Representatives, but how big could the Democrats’ gains be? FRANCE 24’s International Affairs Editor Kethevane Gorjestani explains.

In this week's edition of France in Focus, our reporters uncork the demanding world of sommellerie. They follow Pascaline Lepeltier's painstaking training as she prepares for the World's Best Sommelier competition. They also explore how the profession is adapting to changing drinking habits, meeting one sommelier who's chosen to go alcohol-free. 

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Tuesday authorities would mobilise a "massive" security presence next weekend, with organisers announcing plans for new protests after riots erupted on the sidelines of nationwide demonstrations. "The deployment for next Saturday will be massive," Lecornu said in parliament, acknowledging that the security operation for the protests last weekend had been "too static and not mobile enough." FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago reports from Place de la République in central Paris.

We take a look at who is responsible for the violence that broke out in France on October 17. We dive into who the casseurs, or lawbreakers, are and how a bill is proposing that they pay for the damage they caused. We also discuss the French government’s mea culpa and the ongoing political blame game, with a budding controversy over whether the vandals were "ultra-left" members or not.

This ​weekend's rioting ​in France highlighted failings in the security ​services' ‌handling of ‌threats posed by looters, said Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin. He promised that rioters would face extremely firm punishment. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Editor Angela Diffley tells us more.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said Tuesday during a session of the National Assembly that authorities would mobilise a "massive" security presence next weekend after organisers announced plans for new protests. Lecornu also accused ultra-left groups of fomenting an "insurrection" leading to the past weekend's riots on the sidelines of nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living and education funding.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has wrapped up talks with US envoys in Norway Tuesday where he was determined to put diplomacy back on a "more constructive path”, Oslo officials said.  Zelensky told a post-meeting press briefing that Ukraine was not losing the war but was “losing people and time”, adding that he was hopeful moving forward because “we have some clear ideas of how to get peace”.

Donald #Trump seizes on unrest in #France to attack immigration and the #Democrats, using the issue as a campaign message ahead of the November 3 US #midterms.

Canada's province of Alberta rejected a plan to hold a binding independence referendum, results showed Tuesday, a win for unity as the country faces worsening ties with the United States. With more than 1.5 million votes counted, 76% supported remaining in Canada, while close to 24% backed beginning a process toward separation, according to unofficial results from Elections Alberta.

French President Emmanuel Macron has secured the delivery of an additional 200,000 tonnes of diesel per month from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the French presidency said on Tuesday. Macron is undertaking a tour of key energy suppliers in the Gulf in an effort to secure oil and diesel and bring down prices in France, after a weekend of violent protests over soaring living costs. FRANCE 24'S Tarek Kaï reports from Doha, Qatar.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced that new targeted curfews would be put in place this Tuesday in France. This comes after measures introduced overnight helped maintain calm following unrest over the weekend.

In Perspective, we spoke to the Norwegian explorer Erling Kagge, the first man to reach the North Pole unassisted by animals or vehicles. He is also the first person ever to reach the North and South Poles and the summit of Mount Everest on foot. His book "The North Pole: The History of an Obsession" has just come out in French translation.