Manuel Valls

Bombs exploded Tuesday at the Brussels airport and in the city’s subway, killing at least 31 people and wounding dozens, as a European capital was again locked down amid heightened security threats. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

With existing infrastructure at the heart of the project, leaders of the Paris bid for the 2024 Olympics are promising limited spending and long-lasting benefits if the French capital is chosen to host the games.

French voters are casting ballots Sunday for regional leaders in an unusually tense security climate, expected to favor conservative and far right candidates and strike a new blow against the governing Socialists.

As most Francophone African countries celebrate their 55 years of independence this year, this may be a good time to reassess relations between them and France.