A couple in Paris has caught attention online after being filmed calmly enjoying drinks at a cafe while fires burned nearby and protests rocked the French capital. The unusual scene, captured close to the iconic Arc de Triomphe, showed the pair sitting at an outdoor table and chatting as flames from a burning bin lit up the background. The contrast between their relaxed behaviour and the unrest around them made the video go viral.
In response to the unrest, France announced partial curfews in Paris and four other northern cities on Monday. In Paris, a partial ban on protests was announced on Monday. The measures came as protesters blocked the entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris and authorities tried to control the situation.
Around 2,400 to 2,500 arrests were reported over the weekend, including 855 in Paris alone.
Rising fuel prices have also added to public anger. The rise in global fuel prices has been linked to disruptions in energy supplies caused by the Iran-US war, which stopped the flow of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global energy supplies. President Emmanuel Macron linked the rising cost of living and fuel prices to the conflict in West Asia.
The protests began with students demanding better learning conditions, including improvements to overcrowded classrooms and opposition to the government’s plan to cut more than 4,000 teaching posts in its 2026 budget. French government data showed that petrol and diesel prices increased by 36 per cent in September compared with the same month last year. Overall inflation in France reached 3.1 per cent in September, its highest level since January 2024.
