Macron defiant as anger smoulders over French pension reform

Paris, March 21 (AFP/APP): French President Emmanuel Macron appeared defiant on Tuesday after his government narrowly survived no-confidence votes, telling allies he would stand by his beleaguered prime minister. Ignoring calls from opponents, Macron said there would be no government reshuffle, no fresh parliamentary elections […]

Freed Sahel hostage arrives back in France: AFP

VélizyVillacoublay, France, March 21 (AFP/APP): French journalist Olivier Dubois made an emotional return home on Tuesday following nearly two years in captivity in the Sahel, AFP reporters saw. Family members and President Emmanuel Macron hugged the 48-year-old on the tarmac of Villacoublay air base outside […]

Tear gas, arrests as Kenya opposition stages protests

Nairobi, March 20 (AFP/APP): Kenyan riot police fired tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators and veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga’s convoy on Monday, as clashes flared during anti-government protests over the spiralling cost of living. Running battles erupted between stone-throwing protesters and police in […]

Moroccan villagers keep communal store tradition alive

Aīt Kine, Morocco, March 20 (AFP/APP): Surrounded by olive and palm trees in a Moroccan mountain village, a centuries-old collective granary preserves the ancient practices of the Amazigh culture. “The traditions are vanishing, but not here,” said proud village elder Hossine Oubrahim, in Ait Kine […]

Palestinian PM blasts ‘racism’ of Israeli minister

Ramallah, Palestinian Territories, March 20 (AFP/APP): Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Monday blasted as “inflammatory” remarks made by far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that Palestinians do not exist. “There are no Palestinians, because there are no Palestinian people,” Smotrich said Sunday, quoting French-Israeli […]

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