Russian drones hit SOCAR oil depot in Ukraine's Odesa region
A Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region has damaged an oil depot belonging to Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR, and left fo...
France has initiated its formal withdrawal process from Senegal by transferring control of two military facilities to the Senegalese government, according to a statement from the French Embassy in Senegal.
The handover, which took place in the Maréchal and Saint-Exupéry districts near Hann Park, marks a significant step in Paris’s efforts to reduce its military presence in West Africa.
Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had ordered the departure of all foreign troops from the country late last year, a move reflecting the new government’s hard-line stance against the lingering legacy of colonial influence. “The French side handed over to the Senegalese side the facilities and housing in the Maréchal and Saint-Exupéry districts on Friday, March 7, 2025,” the embassy said in its statement, noting that these districts had been ready for return since the summer of 2024.
In recent months, Paris has been working closely with Dakar, establishing a joint commission last month to coordinate the withdrawal process. The move comes amid broader regional trends, as several African nations—including Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso—have also taken steps to reduce or expel French military forces.
The French army recently announced the dismissal of 162 Senegalese personnel who worked on its military bases, underscoring the deepening recalibration of France’s role on the continent. Paris has stated its intention to sharply reduce its military footprint in Africa, maintaining a notable presence only in Djibouti, while offering defense training or targeted support based on individual country needs.
This development is part of an ongoing reassessment of foreign military engagement in Africa, as governments in the region push back against what they view as an overbearing colonial legacy and call for greater national sovereignty over security affairs.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
Chinese automaker Chery has denied an industry-ministry audit that disqualified more than $53 million in state incentives for thousands of its electric and hybrid vehicles, insisting it followed official guidance and committed no fraud.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated in an interview published on Friday that he has no intention of seeking another term in office and dismissed claims that he is preparing his son to take over leadership.
China’s President Xi Jinping told Russian leader Vladimir Putin that Beijing will continue promoting peace talks on Ukraine, regardless of how the situation unfolds.
Drone attacks continue to haunt communities around Kyiv. Overnight, Russian forces launched another wave of drones at the Kyiv region, hitting the Bucha district. Fires broke out and several homes were damaged. Local authorities say three women, aged 16, 56, and 80, were injured.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday that a pause in the conflict in Ukraine may be approaching, following a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is working urgently to mend strained ties with Mexico, after relations collapsed late last year when Canadian officials indicated a preference for pursuing a U.S. trade deal without Mexico.
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