Xi Jinping marks second Mid-Autumn Festival in US during state visit

Xi Jinping marks second Mid-Autumn Festival in US during state visit

SCMP •

Chinese President Xi Jinping has not only made history as the first Chinese leader to undertake two formal state visits to the United States, he is also the only Chinese leader to be spending two Mid-Autumn Festivals on American soil. Xi offered festive greetings during his toast at Thursday’s state banquet. “As I speak, my compatriots in China are celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival – a cherished occ...

Italy to ban burkas in schools, with 30% cap on pupils with poor Italian

Italy to ban burkas in schools, with 30% cap on pupils with poor Italian

SCMP •

Italy has passed a decree banning face coverings in all schools and capping the proportion of newly arrived foreign pupils with insufficient Italian at 30 per cent per class from the next school year, the government in Rome said on Friday. The government said the 30 per cent quota applies in primary school to children who do not hold Italian citizenship, were not born in Italy and have not attende...

Ethiopia: what's driving the renewed violence in Tigray?

Ethiopia: what's driving the renewed violence in Tigray?

France 24 •

Tigray's rebel authorities say they are now in a "full-blown war" with the Ethiopian government, as fighting spreads into the neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions. Ethiopia's federal army says 272 rebels were killed and 260 wounded in the north, while FRANCE 24 spoke to Jervin Naidoo, Political Analyst at Oxford Economics Africa, to assess the seriousness of the escalation and explain what is driv...

Senegal: power cuts return as Dakar swelters in the heat

Senegal: power cuts return as Dakar swelters in the heat

France 24 •

After years of largely stabilising its electricity supply, Senegal is once again facing power cuts, with outages returning to Dakar in September. The blackouts are fuelling frustration among residents as the capital endures a spell of intense heat.

Ethiopia: Tigray rebels claim "full-blown war"

Ethiopia: Tigray rebels claim "full-blown war"

France 24 •

The Tigray People's Liberation Front says it is in a "full-blown war" with Ethiopia's federal government after seizing key airports and launching attacks into the neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions. The escalation comes days after the TPLF joined six other armed groups in a new alliance against the government, raising fears of a return to the devastating 2020-2022 conflict that killed at least 6...

Ethiopia: renewed Tigray fighting raises fears of return to civil war

Ethiopia: renewed Tigray fighting raises fears of return to civil war

France 24 •

Fears are mounting that Ethiopia could be sliding back towards civil war as fighting intensifies in the north, with the army saying it killed 272 TPLF fighters in Amhara while the rebels describe the conflict as a "full-blown war." The escalation comes after the TPLF joined a new alliance with six other armed groups. FRANCE 24's Tom Canetti has the latest from the ground.

Daniel Thomas pleads not guilty after alleged dinghy slashing in Channel

Daniel Thomas pleads not guilty after alleged dinghy slashing in Channel

The Guardian •

Thomas appeared at Basingstoke magistrates court on Friday after being charged with criminal damageThe far-right activist Daniel Thomas has pleaded not guilty to criminal damage after he allegedly slashed a boat in the Channel with an emergency responder on board.The 37-year-old, of no fixed address, appeared at Basingstoke magistrates court on Friday after being charged on Thursday night. He also...

France: Pope Leo XIV begins Paris diplomacy at the Élysée

France: Pope Leo XIV begins Paris diplomacy at the Élysée

France 24 •

Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Paris, and was welcomed at the Élysée Palace by French president Emmanuel Macron. They are having closed-door talks on international geopolitics, artificial intelligence and peace. The pontiff is then set to deliver a speech at the Élysée Palace. FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago has more.

Dog rescuers vow to microchip after charges, decry punishing ‘those trying to help’

Dog rescuers vow to microchip after charges, decry punishing ‘those trying to help’

SCMP •

Hong Kong animal welfare activists say they will forge ahead with microchipping stray dogs despite the heightened legal risk after authorities charged an advocate who engaged in the practice during an investigation into the death of a cyclist. The advocates argued that charging dog rescuers was counterproductive and renewed their calls to implement a comprehensive “trap, neuter, release” programme...

Dog rescuers vow to microchip after arrest, decry punishing ‘those trying to help’

Dog rescuers vow to microchip after arrest, decry punishing ‘those trying to help’

SCMP •

Hong Kong animal welfare activists say they will forge ahead with microchipping stray dogs despite the heightened legal risk after authorities charged an advocate who engaged in the practice during an investigation into the death of a cyclist. The advocates argued that charging dog rescuers was counterproductive and renewed their calls to implement a comprehensive “trap, neuter, release” programme...

Belgian quarry uses solar panels and sheep in a project to produce clean power

Belgian quarry uses solar panels and sheep in a project to produce clean power

Times of India •

A quarry in Florennes, Wallonia, is implementing an agrivoltaic project that integrates solar panels with sheep farming. This project installs 3,240 photovoltaic panels over 3.3 hectares, allowing sheep to graze underneath. It will generate 2.33 GWh of electricity annually, with some used by the quarry and surplus supplied to the public grid. The initiative aims to reduce the quarry's carbon footp...

Pope Leo warns against AI creating ‘paradise of machines’ in first visit to France – Europe live

Pope Leo warns against AI creating ‘paradise of machines’ in first visit to France – Europe live

The Guardian •

The pope is set to deliver a landmark speech on AI development and discuss Europe’s futureLater today, Pope Leo will go to the Élysée Palace for (another) formal welcome and a meeting with authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps, before visiting Unesco and delivering a speech on AI in mid-afternoon.He is then expected to go on a stroll through the streets of Paris, before going to the ...

‘Your body fights to stay cool’: workers toil in record heat as federal rule frozen

‘Your body fights to stay cool’: workers toil in record heat as federal rule frozen

The Guardian •

Trump officials and Republicans are rolling back protections against heat-related illnesses and deathsWhen it’s 90F on a hot summer day, Esther Minton wears a long-sleeved shirt to work.“Working outside, you don’t have cover. There’s nowhere for you to really go if you’re on a roof or if you’re on the side of a building,” said Minton, a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 28 in New York ...

‘We don’t have time for more promises’: the Croatian town that took on an illegal waste dump

‘We don’t have time for more promises’: the Croatian town that took on an illegal waste dump

The Guardian •

After years of illegal mass flytipping in Gospić, fed-up residents decided to take matters into their own hands“Gospić is our home,” Željka Šikić shouted to a crowd of 40,000 people outside the Croatian parliament earlier this month. The slogan is the name of a campaign she helped to set up to protest against the illegal dumping of waste in Gospić, a town in the mountainous Lika region of central ...

‘I feel betrayed’: the Croatians living near an illegal waste dump who took matters into their own hands

‘I feel betrayed’: the Croatians living near an illegal waste dump who took matters into their own hands

The Guardian •

After years of illegal mass flytipping in Gospić, fed-up residents decided to take matters into their own hands“Gospić is our home,” Željka Šikić shouted to a crowd of 40,000 people outside the Croatian parliament earlier this month. The slogan is the name of a campaign she helped to set up to protest against the illegal dumping of waste in Gospić, a town in the mountainous Lika region of central ...

I feel betrayed’: the Croatians living near an illegal waste dump who took matters into their own hands

I feel betrayed’: the Croatians living near an illegal waste dump who took matters into their own hands

The Guardian •

After years of illegal mass flytipping in Gospić, fed-up residents decided to take matters into their own hands“Gospić is our home,” Željka Šikić shouted to a crowd of 40,000 people outside the Croatian parliament earlier this month. The slogan is the name of a campaign she helped to set up to protest against the illegal dumping of waste in Gospić, a town in the mountainous Lika region of central ...

Britain’s low-paid urged to sign up to savings scheme offering cash bonus

Britain’s low-paid urged to sign up to savings scheme offering cash bonus

The Guardian •

Government-backed help to save is aimed at working people on universal credit and pays 50p for every £1 saved over four yearsAmid claims that millions are missing out, the UK government is encouraging low earners to sign up to a savings scheme that offers free cash.Help to save is a government-backed savings account that lets people earn a bonus of 50p for every £1 they save over four years. Conti...

How the illegal dumping of toxic waste in a Croatian town sparked national calls for clean-up

How the illegal dumping of toxic waste in a Croatian town sparked national calls for clean-up

The Guardian •

After years of illegal mass flytipping in Gospić, fed-up residents decided to take matters into their own hands“Gospić is our home,” Željka Šikić shouted to a crowd of 40,000 people outside the Croatian parliament earlier this month. The slogan is the name of a campaign she helped to set up to protest against the illegal dumping of waste in Gospić, a town in the mountainous Lika region of central ...