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October 20, 2021

New Caledonia separatists call for referendum boycott

Separatist leaders in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia called Thursday for a boycott of a December independence referendum, urging the government to focus on the Covid crisis. Members of the pro-independence FLNKS group issued the statement a day…

October 20, 2021

US, Europeans condemn NKorea submarine missile launch at UN

The United States, Britain and France confirmed Wednesday to the UN that North Korea has made progress in its weapons programs following the groundbreaking launch of a ballistic missile from a submarine. Speaking to the media one after the other,…

October 20, 2021

Sala crash pilot was not authorised to fly at night, court told

The pilot of the plane that crashed killing Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala had never held a licence to fly at night, a British court was told on Wednesday. David Ibbotson, 59, was killed with the 28-year-old striker, when the single-engined…

October 20, 2021

Mali tasks religion ministry with overseeing jihadist talks

Mali’s interim government has entrusted its religious-affairs ministry with talking to jihadist groups, making public a policy fiercely opposed by former colonial power France. Dame Seck, a member of the religion minister’s cabinet, said on Tuesday that the High Islamic…

October 20, 2021

French teacher convicted of anti-Semitism over vaccine protest sign

A teacher in eastern France received a suspended jail sentence Wednesday for inciting racial hatred after brandishing an anti-Semitic sign at a demonstration over the government’s Covid-19 health pass. Cassandre Fristot, 34, was photographed at the demonstration in the city…

October 20, 2021

Kremlin critic Navalny wins EU’s Sakharov rights award

The European Parliament on Wednesday gave its Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought — the EU’s top human rights award — to jailed Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. The anti-corruption campaigner, who last year survived a poisoning attack he blames…

October 20, 2021

Owner of plane in Sala crash ‘forbade use of pilot’

The owner of a plane that crashed with Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala on board told a UK court on Wednesday she had ordered the operator not to use the pilot. The plane — a single-engined Piper Malibu — came down…

October 20, 2021

French far-right presidential hopeful points gun at journalists

French far-right presidential hopeful Eric Zemmour pointed a sniper’s rifle at journalists at an arms fair on Wednesday, a stunt that reinforced his anti-media populist credentials but that drew condemnation from opponents. Zemmour, who has emerged as a front-runner for…

October 20, 2021

EU lawmakers back plan for sustainable farming

The European Parliament backed Wednesday an ambitious EU push to make farming more sustainable, in a move hailed by environmental activists who also called for binding targets for slashing pesticides. A majority of 452 legislators gave the thumbs up to…