FRANCE: An investigation has been launched into a drone flight over the Atlantic coast base of France’s nuclear-armed submarines, authorities said today.

French media reported today that several drones were detected on Thursday night over the Ile Longue base in Brittany, but military authorities wouldn’t detail their number or type.

Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin confirmed that troops at the base intercepted an overflight, without detailing whether they fired shots, used electronic jamming or other means against the aerial intruders. It wasn’t clear who was responsible.

IRELAND: Ireland’s premier has described his country’s withdrawal from the Eurovision Song Contest as an “act of solidarity” with the “journalists who were killed in breach of international humanitarian law during the war in Gaza.”

Ireland is among a number of countries who pulled out of the contest after the European Broadcasting Union agreed to allow Israel to participate amid the conflict in Gaza.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he “fully understands” the decision taken by national broadcaster RTE to withdraw.

BURKINA FASO: The revolutionary junta has adopted a Bill to restore the death penalty, targeting offences such as treason, terrorism and espionage, the authorities have said.

“The adoption of this Bill is part of reforms … to have a justice that responds to the deep aspirations of our people,” Minister of Justice Edasso Rodrigue Bayala said in a Facebook post late on Thursday.

The death penalty was abolished in the country in 2018.

INDIA: The aviation watchdog temporarily rolled back restrictions on airline crew working hours today, days after the previous order disrupted operations at major Indian airports as the country’s biggest airline, IndiGo, scrambled to restore normal services.

The new regulations mandated longer rest periods and limited night flying hours for crew and pilots to address concerns about fatigue and safety. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation said today that the suspension of the new rules would go into effect immediately.