FRANCE
Methane emissions rising
Record fossil fuel production kept planet-heating methane emissions near historic highs last year, the International Energy Agency said yesterday, warning of a surge in massive leaks from oil and gas facilities. Slashing emissions of methane — second only to carbon dioxide for its contribution to global warming — is essential to meeting international targets on climate change and one of the fastest ways to curb temperature rise. The agency warned that countries are considerably underestimating their energy sector methane pollution, estimating that emissions are about 80 percent higher than the total reported by governments to the UN.
HONG KONG
Buddha gems auction halted
Sotheby’s yesterday postponed an auction of gems with ties to early Buddhism after opposition from India, which said the jewels were the country’s religious and cultural heritage. The Piprahwa gems dated back to about 200 BC and were unearthed in 1898 by Englishman William Claxton Peppe in northern India, the auction house said. The Indian Ministry of Culture on Monday issued a legal notice calling the jewels “inalienable religious and cultural heritage of India and the global Buddhist community” and said the sale violated Indian and international law.
UNITED STATES
Smokey Robinson sued
Four anonymous housekeepers on Tuesday sued legendary Motown singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson for US$50 million, alleging that he sexually assaulted them for years while his wife covered up the abuse and contributed to a hostile work environment. Representatives for Robinson did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the accusations could not be independently verified. The plaintiffs, who sued under Jane Doe pseudonyms to protect their privacy, accused Robinson, 85, of sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment and gender violence at Robinson’s home in Los Angeles, starting as early as 2007 and continuing until last year.
COLOMBIA
Bogota eyes China deal
President Gustavo Petro on Tuesday said he intends to sign an accord to join Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative during an upcoming China trip, a move sure to damage already frayed relations with Washington. The leftist leader said he would sign a “letter of intent” to join the pact when he meets his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping (習近平) face-to-face in the coming days. Until now Colombia had been one of the US’ closest and most steadfast trade and security partners in Latin America. However, following tension between Petro and US President Donald Trump, the Colombian president said the country needed to steer trade toward China.
UNITED STATES
Child buys 70,000 lollipops
A Kentucky woman was in a sticky mess when she found stacks of boxes containing lollipops on her front doorstep, after her eight-year-old son ordered about 70,000 Dum-Dum suckers, while playing on her cellphone. Holly LaFavers said she tried stopping the Amazon order, but it was too late. Amazon had already delivered 22 cases to her home. “He told me that he wanted to have a carnival, and he was ordering the Dum-Dums as prizes for his carnival,” LaFavers said. “Again, he was being friendly, he was being kind to his friends.” The surprise got worse after a quick check of her bank account. She owed about US$4,000 for the order. “When I saw what the number was, I just about fainted,” LaFavers said.
BACKLASH: The National Party quit its decades-long partnership with the Liberal Party after their election loss to center-left Labor, which won a historic third term Australia’s National Party has split from its conservative coalition partner of more than 60 years, the Liberal Party, citing policy differences over renewable energy and after a resounding loss at a national election this month. “Its time to have a break,” Nationals leader David Littleproud told reporters yesterday. The split shows the pressure on Australia’s conservative parties after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor party won a historic second term in the May 3 election, powered by a voter backlash against US President Donald Trump’s policies. Under the long-standing partnership in state and federal politics, the Liberal and National coalition had shared power
CONTROVERSY: During the performance of Israel’s entrant Yuval Raphael’s song ‘New Day Will Rise,’ loud whistles were heard and two people tried to get on stage Austria’s JJ yesterday won the Eurovision Song Contest, with his operatic song Wasted Love triumphing at the world’s biggest live music television event. After votes from national juries around Europe and viewers from across the continent and beyond, JJ gave Austria its first victory since bearded drag performer Conchita Wurst’s 2014 triumph. After the nail-biting drama as the votes were revealed running into yesterday morning, Austria finished with 436 points, ahead of Israel — whose participation drew protests — on 357 and Estonia on 356. “Thank you to you, Europe, for making my dreams come true,” 24-year-old countertenor JJ, whose
NO EXCUSES: Marcos said his administration was acting on voters’ demands, but an academic said the move was emotionally motivated after a poor midterm showing Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr yesterday sought the resignation of all his Cabinet secretaries, in a move seen as an attempt to reset the political agenda and assert his authority over the second half of his single six-year term. The order came after the president’s allies failed to win a majority of Senate seats contested in the 12 polls on Monday last week, leaving Marcos facing a divided political and legislative landscape that could thwart his attempts to have an ally succeed him in 2028. “He’s talking to the people, trying to salvage whatever political capital he has left. I think it’s
A documentary whose main subject, 25-year-old photojournalist Fatima Hassouna, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza weeks before it premiered at Cannes stunned viewers into silence at the festival on Thursday. As the cinema lights came back on, filmmaker Sepideh Farsi held up an image of the young Palestinian woman killed with younger siblings on April 16, and encouraged the audience to stand up and clap to pay tribute. “To kill a child, to kill a photographer is unacceptable,” Farsi said. “There are still children to save. It must be done fast,” the exiled Iranian filmmaker added. With Israel
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