Paris (AFP) – Frederic Jiguet, ornithologist at the Museum of Natural History, has been capturing crows since 2015 using his cage installed in the heart of the Jardin des Plantes to study their movements and survival. He hopes to change the relation between mankind and the birds, classified as pests throughout France.
Kiew (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the country’s allies are “dragging out” the supply of long-range weapons, vital in the ongoing fight against Russia’s invasion. Speaking in Kyiv alongside new NATO chief Mark Rutte, Zelensky adds that events in the Middle East have shown that “it is possible to protect people’s lives thanks to the unity of allies.”
Puerto San Julian (Argentina) (Argentina) (AFP) – Hundreds of tourists, photographers and astronomy enthusiasts on the tip of South America watch a rare “ring of fire” solar eclipse in Argentina’s Patagonia. The spectacle occurs when the sun momentarily almost disappears as the moon crosses its path.
(AFP) – Bottlenose dolphins ‘smile’ at each other during play, researchers in Italy have found. A study in the journal iScience says dolphins communicate with their playmates with an ‘open mouth’ facial expression, similar to humans smiling.
Caracas (AFP) – The Yuletide streetlights are up in Venezuela’s capital Caracas, and storefronts glitter with decorations after the festive season officially started on October 1 under a decree issued by strongman President Nicolas Maduro.
Paris (AFP) – Frederic Jiguet, ornithologist at the Museum of Natural History, has been capturing ravens since 2015 using his cage installed in the heart of the Jardin des Plantes to study their movements and survival. He hopes to change the relation between mankind and the birds, classified as pests throughout France.
New York (AFP) – More than 100 people, including dozens of children, have now spoken out to say they were victims of rape, sexual assault and sexual exploitation at the hands of US rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs and are to sue the star. The latest legal action will heap further pressure on the man who once bestrode American pop culture, now sitting in jail on criminal charges.
Binga (Zimbabwe) (AFP) – In a controversial decision, Zimbabwe is set to cull 200 elephants as it faces an unprecedented drought that has led to food shortages. The move will also allow the country to tackle a ballooning population of the animals, says the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. The elephants will be hunted in areas where they have clashed with humans, including Hwange, home of Zimbabwe’s largest natural reserve.
Moscow (AFP) – The Russian foreign ministry says Moscow is “extremely concerned” by the latest escalation in the Middle East after Iran fired what it said were 200 missiles on Israel and sending civilians rushing into shelters. The ministry’s spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, also accuses the United States of bearing “a significant share of responsibility for the degradation of the situation”.
Tel Nof Airbase (Israel) (AFP) – “Iran launched approximately 200 missiles at the state of Israel yesterday,” says Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi, updating an earlier figure of 180 reported by the military. “We will respond, we know how to locate important targets, we know how to strike with precision and power,” he adds.
Dhaka (AFP) – Artisans in Bangladesh’s capital of Dhaka are busy making idols for the upcoming Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival for Hindus in Bangladesh and India. Hindus are a minority in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, still shaken by a mass uprising ousting former PM Sheikh Hasina in early August this year.
Tel Aviv (AFP) – Israel has vowed to make Iran “pay” after Tehran fired a barrage of missiles at the country — most of which were intercepted by Israeli air defences or by allied air forces.
