International News
France Police Arrest Hundreds In Fifth Night Of Riots
The French government announced on Sunday that additional arrests had been made during a fifth consecutive night of riots triggered by the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old by the police.
As tensions escalated, law enforcement authorities dispatched extra personnel to cities across the country that had become hotspots for unrest.
The demonstrators, primarily consisting of underage individuals, have set cars on fire, caused damage to infrastructure, and engaged in confrontations with the police, expressing their deep-seated anger following the officer’s point-blank shooting of Nahel M. during an attempt to escape a traffic stop on Tuesday.
The incident, which was captured on video and widely shared on social media, has intensified public outrage over police violence targeting minority communities, revealing the significant racial tensions prevalent in France.
In the aftermath of Nahel’s funeral in his hometown near Paris, the interior ministry reported that the police had conducted 719 arrests overnight, although this number is still considered a preliminary count. It follows a previous night where approximately 1,300 arrests were made.
According to official reports, a total of 45 police officers or gendarmes sustained injuries during the unrest.
Additionally, there were 577 vehicles set ablaze, 74 buildings deliberately ignited, and 871 fires intentionally started in streets and other public areas.
Although the nationwide figures indicated a general decrease in tensions throughout the country, law enforcement authorities still documented several incidents that occurred during the period.
The mayor of a town located south of Paris reported that rioters had deliberately crashed a car into his residence, resulting in injuries to his wife and one of his children. Furthermore, the assailants set a fire at the scene.
“Last night the horror and disgrace reached a new level,” said the mayor, Vincent Jeanbrun, while prosecutors said they were investigating the incident for attempted murder.
A considerable force of 45,000 police officers was deployed throughout France, mirroring the previous night’s deployment. Additional backup was sent to the areas that had experienced riots in the preceding days, such as Lyon, Grenoble, and Marseille.
Within this total number, 7,000 officers were concentrated in Paris and its surrounding suburbs, with particular attention paid to securing the iconic tourist destination, the Champs Elysees avenue in central Paris, as there were calls on social media to bring the unrest to the heart of the capital.
The significant presence of law enforcement personnel proved instrumental in maintaining control over the situation, according to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
“A calmer night thanks to the resolute action of the security forces,” he tweeted early Sunday.
In Marseille, a city that has witnessed severe clashes and looting during the recent unrest, police took action to disperse groups of youths on Saturday evening along Canebiere, the main avenue in the city center, as reported by AFP journalists.
In response to the escalating situation, several towns have declared overnight curfews to curb the violence and maintain public safety.
The ongoing protests have become a new crisis for President Emmanuel Macron, who had been striving to proceed with his second term after successfully navigating through months of protests that erupted in January, primarily concerning the proposed increase in the pensions age.
The gravity of the situation was further highlighted when President Macron made the decision to postpone his state visit to Germany, originally scheduled to begin on Sunday, in order to address the domestic issues arising from the unrest.
A South Korean Air Force fighter jet accidentally released eight bombs outside a designated training range during a joint military exercise on Thursday, injuring several civilians and damaging buildings, officials said.
The Air Force confirmed that a KF-16 aircraft had mistakenly dropped eight MK-82 general-purpose bombs in Pocheon, a city located about 25 kilometers (16 miles) south of the heavily fortified border with North Korea.
The incident occurred around 10:00 am local time (0100 GMT) during a joint live-fire exercise involving the South Korean Air Force and Army.
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“We deeply regret the unintended release of the bombs, which resulted in civilian casualties, and wish those injured a swift recovery,” the Air Force said in a statement.
Officials have launched an accident response committee to investigate the incident and promised compensation for damages.
According to South Korea’s National Fire Agency, the misfired bombs struck a village, leading to injuries and displacement among residents.
Four people were seriously wounded, while three others suffered minor injuries
The explosion also caused damage to a church building and sections of two homes.
Local residents described the moment of impact as a terrifying experience. A villager, identified only by the surname Park, told Yonhap News Agency that he was watching television when the explosion occurred.
“I suddenly heard an enormous explosion, like a thunderclap, and the whole house shook. When I went outside, everything was in chaos,” Park said.
Even a senior center located about a kilometer away felt the impact of the blast. The director of the center, surnamed Yu, recounted the panic among the elderly residents.
“A sudden explosion shook the building. The windows shattered, and one of our teachers was injured and taken to the hospital,” Yu said. “Fortunately, none of the seniors were hurt, but they were so frightened that we sent them all home.”
The accident occurred as South Korea and the United States conducted joint live-fire drills in the area. The two allies are preparing for their large-scale annual military exercise, “Freedom Shield,” set to begin later this month.
The Korean Peninsula remains in a state of war since the 1950-1953 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.
The United States maintains tens of thousands of troops in South Korea as part of its defense commitment against potential threats from North Korea.
This is not the first time South Korea has experienced a military mishap. In 2022, a South Korean Hyunmu-2 ballistic missile crashed into a military golf course during a test, though it did not explode and no injuries were reported.
Authorities have assured the public that a thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the accidental bomb release and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Pope Francis is experiencing clinical improvements following a severe case of pneumonia, but concerns about his overall health persist, according to Vatican sources.
The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for the past two weeks, with medical updates indicating gradual progress.
A Vatican source confirmed on Friday that “the criticality has passed, for the moment,” though they cautioned that his condition “remains complex” and that his prognosis remains “reserved.”
The pope was admitted to the hospital on February 14 after experiencing breathing difficulties.
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His condition worsened over the weekend, developing into pneumonia in both lungs, raising global concern about his health.
However, in recent days, the Vatican has released a series of more optimistic updates.
On Monday, the Vatican reported a “slight improvement,” followed by confirmation on Tuesday that his condition was “critical but stable.”
By Wednesday, another “slight improvement” was noted, and Thursday’s update stated that “the clinical conditions of the Holy Father are confirmed to be improving today also.”
Despite this progress, the Vatican has not yet lifted its “reserved” prognosis, meaning doctors remain cautious about predicting his recovery.
Officials have warned that Francis’s advanced age and chronic respiratory condition mean a full recovery will take time.
“Given the complexity of the clinical picture, further days of clinical stability are necessary to resolve the prognosis,” the Vatican stated on Thursday.
Despite his health struggles, Pope Francis has continued to work from his hospital suite on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital. Vatican sources say he has been resting, praying, and doing breathing exercises to aid his recovery.
This hospitalization is the fourth of his nearly 12-year papacy and his longest stay to date.
Over the years, he has undergone surgeries for a hernia and colon issues, while knee and hip pain have required him to use a wheelchair.
As the pope battles health challenges, speculation about a possible resignation has reemerged.
Vatican expert Marco Politi suggested that if Francis recovers, he may complete the Jubilee Year celebrations before considering his future.
“If the pope survives, many imagine that he will want to finish the Jubilee year, but that afterwards, when he is 89, he will face the question of whether or not to resign,” Politi told AFP.
Francis has previously stated that he is open to following the example of Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned in 2013 due to health concerns.
However, before his hospitalization, Francis repeatedly emphasized that it was not yet time for him to step down—and that it may never be.
For now, the Vatican and the global Catholic community remain hopeful that the pontiff’s condition will continue to improve in the days ahead.
An explosion has hit the Russian consulate in Marseille, France after three projectiles were thrown over its perimeter wall, triggering a major emergency response.
Firefighters battled a blaze inside the diplomatic building as security forces moved to secure the area.
The Russian Consul General confirmed on Monday that the blast originated inside the consulate, leading to an immediate lockdown of the premises.
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By 9:30 a.m., around 30 emergency workers were engaged in firefighting and rescue operations.
The incident coincides with the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and comes as French President Emmanuel Macron travels to Washington, D.C., for urgent talks with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the ongoing war.
Russia’s state-run news agency TASS reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry described the explosion as having the characteristics of a “terrorist attack” and has urged French authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
Photos and videos from the scene show thick smoke billowing from the consulate as emergency services work to contain the situation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has also demanded a full inquiry from French officials as security measures in the area are reinforced.
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