France

France Returns Djidji Ayokwe Drum to Côte d'Ivoire: A Step Toward Reconciliation In a significant move toward addressing historical injustices, France has officially returned the Djidji Ayokwe "talking drum" to Côte d'Ivoire. This drum, looted during a colonial military campaign in 1916, symbolizes not only the cultural heritage of the Ebrie tribe but also the broader reconciliation process between France and its former colonies. The three-meter-long drum served as a crucial means of communication for the Ebrie people,…

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called for calm ahead of nationwide rallies planned in memory of Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old far-right activist whose killing last week has jolted France and inflamed already raw political tensions. Authorities are bracing for potential clashes between extremist groups, particularly in Lyon, where a large march is set to proceed under heavy security despite the city’s Green mayor urging the state to ban it. Police expect 2,000 to 3,000 participants and anticipate…

France braces for worsening floods as a man went missing in the Loire River and the country marked a record 35 consecutive days of rain, national forecasters said Wednesday, with Storm Pedro set to drive fresh downpours across the west. Meteo-France, the national weather service, said the streak is the longest series of rainy days since measurements began in 1959, surpassing a previous record set in 2023. The relentless precipitation has saturated soils and swollen rivers across western regions, pushing several waterways to…

Senegal Dismantles Paedophile Network Linking France In a significant crackdown on organized crime, Senegalese authorities have arrested 14 individuals in connection with a criminal network operating between Senegal and France. This group, composed primarily of Senegalese nationals, is accused of engaging in serious offences involving the exploitation of minors. According to police reports, the alleged crimes committed by this network include "organised paedophilia, pimping, rape of minors under 15, sodomy, and…

French prosecutors have charged 10 men in connection with the alleged rape of a five-year-old boy who authorities say was drugged during a “chemsex” gathering in Lille, a case that has jolted France with its severity and rarity. The Lille prosecutor’s office said an investigation opened on Feb. 15, 2025, followed a report of a drug-fueled party the previous night in the northern city. The case has been referred to an investigating judge for alleged acts committed between November 2024 and Feb. 14, 2025, including “rape and…

France tightens safety limit for cereulide toxin in infant formula after global recalls France has lowered the safety threshold for cereulide toxin in infant formula, moving to fortify consumer protections after contamination in a widely used ingredient triggered recalls by major brands across dozens of countries. The agriculture ministry said the new limit is set at 0.014 micrograms of cereulide per kilogram of body mass, reduced from 0.03 micrograms per kilogram. The change follows a European Union meeting on Jan. 28 and…

France’s lower house has approved a bill that would ban social media use by children under 15, a measure championed by President Emmanuel Macron to curb excessive screen time and protect mental health. Lawmakers in the National Assembly passed the text 130–21 after a lengthy session, sending it to the Senate for further scrutiny before it can become law. Macron hailed the vote as a “major step” to protect children and teenagers, reiterating his concern that social platforms can manipulate young users. “The emotions of our…

Algerian Parliament Criminalizes French Colonization Algeria's parliament has passed legislation condemning French colonial rule, marking a significant step in the country's historical narrative. However, lawmakers stopped short of demanding compensation or an official apology from France. The law was unanimously approved by the upper house, the Council of the Nation. 12 articles concerning compensation and apology were reserved for further revision. Legislation was already approved by the lower house on Dec. 24.…

Ireland to vote against EU-Mercosur trade deal as France also vows no amid farmer backlash Ireland will vote against the proposed EU-Mercosur trade agreement at a meeting of European Union ambassadors tomorrow, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris said, aligning Dublin with France’s declared opposition as farmer protests intensify. Martin said progress had been made on safeguards around imported beef from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, but the Government lacked sufficient confidence that Irish and EU…

Britain and France carried out a joint airstrike in Syria targeting an underground facility north of Palmyra that was likely used by the Islamic State group to store weapons, the British Ministry of Defence said. “Royal Air Force aircraft have completed successful strikes against Daesh in a joint operation with France,” the ministry said in a statement, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. “This facility had been occupied by Daesh, most likely to store weapons and explosives. The area around the facility is…