Cement company Lafarge found guilty in Syria terrorism financing case

A French court has found cement company Lafarge guilty of financing armed groups during the Syrian war. The ruling concludes a long-running investigation into the company's activities in Syria between 2011 and 2015. Lafarge was accused of paying millions of dollars to groups, including the Islamic State, to keep its cement plant operating in the region despite the escalating conflict. The payments were allegedly made to ensure the safety of employees and maintain business operations. This is a landmark case, as it marks one of the first times a corporation has been convicted of such charges related to terrorism financing.