Yemen’s separatists regain control of Aden
AFP, Aden
Yemen’s separatists have regained full control of the interim capital Aden following clashes with government forces who withdrew from the southern port city, security officials from both sides said Thursday.
“The Security Belt force completely controls the city of Aden along with its entrances,” Haitham Nezar, a spokesman for the pro-independence Southern Transitional Council, told AFP.
Duterte in China to discuss sea disputes with Xi
AP, Beijing
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was in Beijing on Thursday for a meeting with counterpart Xi Jinping in which the Southeast Asian leader is expected to discuss a ruling on the disputed South China Sea.
The 2016 Hague arbitration mostly invalidated China’s claim to virtually the entire South China Sea and found that it violated the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The row over the waters – a major global shipping route thought to be rich in oil and gas reserves – has for years marred China’s relationship with the Philippines and other neighboring countries with territorial claims over the disputed area, where Beijing has transformed a string of disputed reefs into missile-protected island bases.
Far-right party eyes big gains in German state elections
AP, Bautzen, Germany
As the sun sets over the medieval towers of Bautzen, crowds flock to the market square. Most are old, white men. A few wave German flags as they gather for a rally with leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany party.
Supporters of the party, which hopes to make big gains Sunday in two state elections, are quick to blame Chancellor Angela Merkel and her center-right Christian Democratic Union for their region’s woes.
Air India to stop using single-use plastic on flights
AFP, Mumbai
Debt-ridden Air India said Thursday it will stop using single-use plastic and replace packaging with eco-friendly paper and wooden cutlery, as the government ramps up its “clean India” mission.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech in mid-August said eradicating single-use plastics was a key goal and called on people to take the “first big step” on October 2, the birthday of independence hero Mahatma Gandhi.
The national flag carrier said water bottles with 200ml capacity would be immediately replaced by larger 1,500ml containers.
Single-use plastics such as cutlery and pouches will then be removed from flights in two stages from October 2 and replaced by paper or wooden versions.
“In the first phase it will implement it in all flights of Air India Express and Alliance Air flights,” the airline’s spokesman Dhananjay Kumar told AFP.
