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French Far-Right Leader Marine Le Pen Sentenced in Embezzlement Case
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been convicted of embezzling EU funds to finance her National Rally (RN) party, alongside eight ex-EU lawmakers and 12 aides. A Paris court ruled the group ran an “organized system” from 2004–2016 to divert public money, paying parliamentary assistants for “fictitious work” that solely benefited the party. The…
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Horrific Mass Rape: Justice for Gisèle as Court Sentences 50 Culprits
The court in Avignon, France has sentenced 50 men to time in jail along with Dominique Pelicot, Gisèle’s husband jailed for 20 years after drugging his ex-wife Gisèle and recruiting strangers to rape her for years. The defendants now have 10 days to appeal the judgment. The president of the court, Roger Arata, says all…
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Cyclone Aftermath: Hundreds Feared Dead in Mayotte
Hundreds of people are feared dead in Mayotte after the French Indian Ocean territory was devastated by a powerful cyclone. Entire settlements were flattened when Cyclone Chido brought wind speeds of more than 225km/h (140mph), with the poorest living in makeshift shelters particularly hard hit. Rescue workers, including reinforcements from France, are combing through the…
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France Stops Wearing of ‘Abaya’ in Public Schools
France will no longer condone the use of the loose-fitting, full-length robe commonly used by Muslim females in state-run schools. Education Minister, Gabriel Attal, who made the announcement on national television, said, “It will no longer be possible to wear an abaya at school”. Mr Attal said he would give “clear rules at the national…
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ECOWAS Says Niger Junta’s Transition Plan Unacceptable
The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has rejected the three-year transition plan proposed by Niger Republic’s military junta. It will be recalled that the coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, had at a meeting with ECOWAS delegation, led by General Abadulsalami Abubakar, retd, in Niamey on Saturday, promised the military government would return Niger…
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France Set to Evacuate Nationals from Niger
France will “very soon” start to evacuate its nationals from Niger, where a coup last week has unleashed anti-French protests, Paris’s embassy in Niamey said Tuesday. “In the face of a deteriorating security situation in Niamey, and taking advantage of the relative calm in Niamey, an operation of evacuation by air from Niamey is being…
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France Undertaking Study on Possibility of Human, Rats Cohabiting
Can humans and rats live together? That’s what city leaders in Paris are trying to find out. The French capital, like many metropolises, has a notorious rodent problem. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is forming a committee to study “cohabitation” – to what extent humans and rodents can live together – one of her deputies said…
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Seven Injured in Annecy Knife Attack
Seven people, including six children, have been injured in a mass stabbing in the town of Annecy in the French Alps on Thursday, security sources told AFP. A man armed with a knife attacked a group of children aged around three years old as they played in a park near the lake in the town…
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Sudan: Diplomats, Foreign Nationals Evacuated
A growing list of countries have evacuated diplomats and citizens from Sudan’s capital as fierce fighting continues to rage in Khartoum. The US and UK announced on Sunday they had flown diplomats out of the country. France, Germany, Italy and Spain have also been evacuating diplomats and other nationals. A vicious power struggle between the…
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Pension Protests: King Charles’s Reschedules Visit to France
King Charles III’s state visit to France has been postponed, as the nation faces further protests over pension reforms. France’s Elysée Palace said the decision was taken because of a 10th day of protests planned for Tuesday. The trip to Paris and Bordeaux was due to begin on Sunday, but both cities saw some of…
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Pupil Stabs Teacher to Death in France
A high school student has stabbed a Spanish teacher to death in a school in the French town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. French government spokesperson Olivier Véran confirmed Wednesday’s attack and said the perpetrator was 16 years old. Police attended Saint-Thomas d’Aquin school with the local prosecutor, where the student was arrested. French newspaper Sud Ouest said…
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Mother, Seven Children Die in Fire Incident
A mother and her seven children aged two to 14 died after a fire broke out while they slept in their house in northern France on Monday, police and firefighters said. The raging blaze, the deadliest fire in France in a decade, broke out shortly after midnight in the family home in the town of…
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Adeoyo, Other Hospitals Billed for Upgrade
Oyo State government has signed a twin memorandum of understanding, MOU, with the French government. The twin memorandum of understanding was signed between the Oyo State government and French Authorities, at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s office, Secretariat, Ibadan. The MOU is to improve Healthcare services and reaffirm a common desire to promote the French…
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Buhari Congratulates Macron on Second Term in Office
President Muhammadu Buhari , congratulates his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, for winning his second term in office and making history as the only sitting leader of the country to return in two decades. Buhari’s congratulatory message was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled, ‘President Buhari…
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Joe Biden congratulates Macron, promises economic ties
The United States President Joe Biden has congratulated the newly re-elected President of France, Emmanuel Macron. Report says, Biden congratulated Macron on Monday after a first attempt to call him failed because, the French leader was out celebrating his victory. The White House in a statement noted that, during the call, Biden underscored the close…
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Macron Becomes First French President to be Re-Elected in 20 Years
Emmanuel Macron has beaten far-right candidate Marine Le Pen to win the French presidency, projections show he has taken 58% of the vote to her 42% in a narrower victory than their previous contest in 2017. Mr Macron, 44, will make history by becoming the first French president to be re-elected in 20 years. His…
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French vote as Macron aims to beat far-right Le Pen
France will head to the polls on Sunday to decide whether to give centrist Emmanuel Macron five more years as president or replace him with far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. After a divisive election campaign, Ms Le Pen faces an uphill battle with her 44-year-old opponent polling ahead. In order to win they both need…
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President Macron Faces Far-Right Challenge as France Votes
French voters are casting their ballots in the opening round of a presidential race that could become a cliffhanger.Emmanuel Macron has a fight on his hands from far-right challenger Marine Le Pen, who has been galvanised by a slick election campaign.Forty-nine million people are eligible to decide which two of 12 candidates should take part…
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President Buhari Attends African Finance Summit in Paris
President Muhammadu Buhari today departs Abuja for Paris, France. It is a 4-day official visit to attend the African Finance Summit, presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad wrote on Twitter. The event will focus on reviewing Africa’s economy, following shocks from COVID-19 pandemic. The Summit, to be hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, will draw stakeholders in the…
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Covid Spike: France, Poland Increase Lockdown Measures
France and Poland have reintroduced partial lockdowns as both countries battle a sharp rise in Covid infections in recent weeks. Some 21 million people in 16 areas of France, including the capital Paris, are affected as the country fears a third wave. In Poland, non-essential shops, hotels, cultural and sporting facilities are closed for three…
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France Drugs: PM Castex to Impose On-the-Spot Fines Nationwide
France will introduce on-the-spot fines nationwide for drug users, particularly targeting cannabis, from September. The move comes amid concerns about drug-related violence and was announced by PM Jean Castex on a trip to Nice, which has seen weeks of unrest. The roll-out of fines follows tests in cities such as Rennes and Marseilles. The €200…
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France to Rename Streets After African WW2 Heroes
France’s armed forces ministry has provided local authorities with a guide to 100 Africans who fought for France in World War Two, so that streets and squares may be named after them. France’s reappraisal of its colonial past is fuelled by the global anti-racism protests and Black Lives Matter. There are many Senegalese and North…
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Covid-19: UNESCO Clamors for Improved Access to Information
In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the four Groups of Friends on the Safety of Journalists at UNESCO in Paris, France are calling on all states to protect journalists and media workers’ safety, safeguard a free and independent media and ensure unhindered access to information, both online and offline. According to a statement, by the…
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Breaking: FG Places Travel Ban on Italy, China, UK, US, nine others
The Federal Government on Wednesday placed a travel ban on 13 high-risk Coronavirus countries. The countries are China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, Norway, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Switzerland. The government said the ban would take effect on Saturday, March 21 and would last for four…
