Author: Charlot Renaud

Synopsis Today, armed conflicts rage across the globe, from Ukraine to Gaza, Lebanon to Sudan, Libya and Afghanistan-Pakistan border, destabilising nations, regions, and even the global order. Terrorist attacks and state responses create ripple effects – they don’t just shape battlefields but redefine states, fragment societies and radicalise communities. Introduction Global terrorism will remain a persistent and pervasive threat to the stability and peace of the world. The Islamic State, Al Qaeda, and Iran-sponsored Shiite and Sunni militia has exacerbated widespread instability across the world. Superpower rivalry and geopolitical competition has polarised and fragmented the community of nations and, in…

Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of France’s far-right National Rally party, has died aged 96. The former paratrooper, who led the party from 1972 to 2011 when it was called the National Front, had been in a care facility for several weeks and died at midday on Tuesday “surrounded by his loved ones”, his family said in a statement. Le Pen faced charges last year along with his daughter Marine Le Pen over allegations they and other figures in their National Rally party embezzled money from the European parliament with fake jobs. Jean-Marie Le Pen was excused from attending court for health…

Rich in a variety of energy resources from oil and gas to renewable energy, North Africa is accelerating the development of energy projects to address rising demand, boost European exports and drive sustainable economic growth. Recent developments highlight the feasibility for large-scale investments in the region while showcasing its potential to become a major energy hub. Egypt Advances Largest Wind Facility Egypt is accelerating renewable energy development with the rollout of its 10 GW Suez Wind Power Project: the country’s largest wind power facility. The project secured $170 million in funding from the African Development Bank in December 2024. Developed by clean energy firm…

Wars are fought in many ways. In trenches, behind the wheel of tank, at the trigger of an artillery piece, in the rear supporting the troops. But the war in the Ukraine also fights with guile and disguise, deceit, surprise and humor. No intelligence, cold warriors, or secrecy but the unmistaken conviction of bringing the fight to the Russian regime. The team is led by a quirky former academic, a housewife, a gifted arty-farty guy, an editor, some journalists and a few volunteers. There is a cat-lady, a Thor of thunder, a bunch of nerds working out the quirks, and…

A man has been arrested in Paris after jumping off the Eiffel Tower with a parachute and landing in a nearby stadium. The man, an experienced climber, entered the tower’s perimeter shortly after 5am (4am BST) on Thursday, well before its official opening. He was quickly detected by guards, according to the site’s operator, Sete, but managed to get to the top before anybody could stop him, carrying the parachute in a backpack. Once he got near the top of the tower, which is 330 metres tall, he jumped and landed nearby, where he was arrested for endangering the lives of others,…

Over the past 24 hours, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had partial success on the Southern Front, namely near Orekhovo in the direction of Verbovoye, as well as on the Vremievsky ledge in the vicinity of Pleasant and Harvest . This was announced by the speaker of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andrey Kovalev. The Russian Federation here tried unsuccessfully to counterattack near Staromayorsky. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are also consolidated on the achieved lines south of Bakhmut and hold back the Russian offensive in the Kupyansk and Liman directions. The Russians counterattacked in the vicinity of…

There will be 10,000 torchbearers to carry the Olympic flame as it passes through some 60 French departments ahead of the 2024 Games, Paris Olympic organisers announced on Tuesday.  After the flame is lit in the traditional ceremony in Olympia, Greece, it will arrive by sea in Marseille aboard the three-master Belem on May 8. From there it will travel across France on its way to the Olympic opening ceremony in the capital on July 26. There has been speculation that the Olympic flame will be placed on the Eiffel Tower, but the president of the organising committee, Tony Estanguet, told a press conference the…

A coalition of French environmental charities on Thursday accused the French state of negligence in regulating the use of pesticides, in a landmark legal case. The five organisations allege the French state is indirectly responsible for the sharp decline in insect, bird and other animal populations which an increasing body of scientific research shows is linked to pesticide use and intensive farming. In a first court hearing at the Paris administrative court, the NGOs received an initial boost, with the public rapporteur suggesting judges confirm several faults on the part of the state, The rapporteur suggested ordering the government “to put an end to all the shortcomings that…

Chaos broke out on the streets of Paris today, as French protests rioted over Emmanuel Macron’s plans to reform the country’s state pension. Police were pelted with projectiles, ride-sharing bicycles were torched and bus stops smashed up as a union-led march got underway from the central Place de la Republique. Macron is facing a sustained period of civil unrest with intense anger felt among French workers at legislation to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64. As many as a million people are thought to have taken to the streets in Paris and other cities across France in anger.…

On its sprawling 800km frontline, Russia is preparing for a decisive battle. As the sloppy winter mud begins to dry, Russia is preparing for a decisive battle across its front, which is three lines deep in places. Kyiv wants to seize the initiative and beat back the invader after an underwhelming Russian offensive achieved limited results last year. But Moscow has learned from past failures and is once again counting on a long, grinding war it believes it can win. Russia’s fortifications extend from Kherson in the south all the way to northeastern Ukraine, a stretch of some 800 km.…