Paris, France | AFP | A Rwandan man accused of transporting militiamen to the scene of a massacre during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda will face trial in France for “complicity” in crimes against humanity. Rwandan authorities have accused Claude Muhayimana of involvement in the killing of thousands of people …
Read More »France to take in refugees rescued from Libya by UN
Paris, France | AFP | France will be the first to welcome African refugees evacuated from Libya to NIger by the United Nations refugee agency, French officials announced Monday. After experiencing appalling living conditions at camps in the north African country, the refugees were taken to Niger on November 11 by …
Read More »Netanyahu to meet France’s Macron on Lebanon crisis
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris in early December for talks expected to include developments in Lebanon, Netanyahu’s office said on Sunday. In a phone call on Sunday, “President Macron updated Prime Minister Netanyahu with the measures he …
Read More »Tintin and Snowy drawing sells for 500,000 euros
Paris, France | AFP | A colour drawing of Tintin and his faithful canine companion Snowy sold at a Paris auction on Saturday for more than half a million euros. The India ink and watercolour image, which went under the hammer for 505,000 euros ($595,000), shows the intrepid pair in …
Read More »France says ‘go ahead’ to African security initiatives
Dakar, Senegal | AFP | France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday encouraged African nations calling for greater autonomy over their security to “go for it”, following the launch of a regional anti-jihad force in the Sahel. France currently has its own a 4,000-strong counter-terror force named Barkhane tackling jihadists …
Read More »Largest diamond ever auctioned to go under hammer in Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The largest diamond ever offered at auction is set to go under the hammer in Geneva Tuesday evening, with bids expected to top $25 million. The “sensational” 163.41-carat flawless diamond, suspended from an emerald and diamond necklace called The Art of Grisogono, will be one of …
Read More »Kagame, Senegal’s Sall urge support for new African security doctrine
Dakar, Senegal | AFP | African leaders on Monday used a regional forum to call for extra support as the continent moves to assure its own security after years of Western interventions. The annual Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security this year brings together the presidents of Mali, Rwanda …
Read More »Six months on, Macron unpopular but in control
Paris, France | AFP | In his first six months in power, French President Emmanuel Macron has chalked up one reform after another in a whirlwind that has nevertheless seen his poll numbers plummet. The former investment banker’s stunning rise cast aside France’s traditional left and right, creating a solid centrist …
Read More »Shakira cancels first week of concerts of her world tour
Paris, France | AFP | Pop star Shakira was forced to cancel the first swathe of concerts of her world tour Friday because of a problem with her vocal cords, the tour’s promoters said. The Colombian singer postponed two concerts this weekend in Paris and a Belgian date on Sunday …
Read More »Syria not invited to Paris climate talks despite joining accord
Paris, France | AFP | Despite signing up to the Paris climate accord Syria has not been invited to a summit on the pact in the French capital in December, the French foreign ministry said Wednesday. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad joins US President Donald Trump in being omitted from the list …
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