Record setting heat wave in France
Thousands of schools were closed, outdoor events canceled and volunteers were visiting the elderly at home as France and other nations battle a record-setting heat wave baking much of Europe.
Several countries have reported record temperatures this week, and France hit its all-time heat record Friday- 45.9 C (114.6 F) in the small southern town of Gallargues-le-Montueux, according to French media.
Several people have died around the continent in incidents that authorities are linking to the weather. A major wildfire raged Friday in Spain, sparked when a pile of chicken dung spontaneously combusted in the heat.
Annual 'Wine Battle' celebrated in Spain
People take part in a wine battle, in the small village of Haro, northern Spain
The town of Haro staged the annual 'Wine Battle' in Spain’s Rioja wine-growing region on Saturday, June 29. Organizers say the aim is to “cover your neighbor in wine as quickly and completely as you can.”
After an early morning Mass is held, participants throw wine over each other while music plays until the 70,000 liters (18,500 gallons) of free wine run out. Among the rules for those taking part- they must wear white, with a red sash; they may use wine-filled water pistols, garden sprayers or buckets; and at no point during the battle can they stop laughing and singing.
Uighur leader urges G20 pressure to end China ‘genocide’
Uyghur human rights activist Rebiya Kadeer, center, stands behind protesters wearing masks in the colors of the East Turkestan flag during a rally against the Chinese government on the last day of the G-20 summit Saturday, June 29, 2019, in Osaka, Japan.
An exiled advocate for China’s ethnic Uighur minority yesterday urged world leaders gathered in Japan for the G20 summit to confront Chinese President Xi Jinping over the “genocide” of her Muslim people.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Osaka meeting, Rebiya Kadeer said strong world pressure was essential to free an estimated one million people, mostly ethnic Uighurs, held in internment camps in western China.
Chinese officials describe the camps as voluntary “vocational education centres” where Turkic-speaking Uighurs receive job training.
But rights groups and former inmates describe them as “concentration camps” where Uighurs and other minorities are being forcefully assimilated into China majority ethnic Han society.
Italian police arrest migrant-rescue ship captain after docking
The Sea-Watch 3 rescue ship leaves after migrants disembarked at the port in Lampedusa, Italy June 29, 2019.
Italian police arrested on Saturday the German captain of a migrant-rescue ship at the centre of a standoff with the Italian government after she docked at the port of Lampedusa.
The Dutch-flagged Sea-Watch 3, operated by German charity Sea-Watch, has been at sea for more than two weeks with 40 rescued Africans on board.
After waiting in international waters for an invitation from Italy or an EU state to accept the ship, captain Carola Rackete decided this week to sail for the southern Italian island of Lampedusa but was blocked by Italian government vessels.
China agrees to restart U.S. trade talks as Trump says “back on track”
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with China's President Xi Jinping at the start of their bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019.
The United States and China have agreed to restart trade talks and Washington will not level new tariffs on Chinese exports, China's official Xinhua news agency said on Saturday, as U.S. President Donald Trump said the talks were “back on track”.
Saturday's high-stakes meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was being closely watched in hopes that it would ease tension rather than plunge the world's two biggest economies into a deeper trade war.
The dispute has already cost companies in both countries billions of dollars, disrupted global manufacturing and supply lines, and roiled markets.
Pride and protest: Stonewall rally to look back and ahead
People hold signs during the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., June 28, 2019.
Activists from around the world will rally in New York's Greenwich Village on Friday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the birth of the LGBTQ movement and decry a wave of Trump administration policies they view as a setback for their cause.
The anniversary marks the moment on June 28, 1969, when patrons of a Greenwich Village gay bar called the Stonewall Inn rose up in defiance of police harassment. The unrest triggered a national and global movement for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other queer people.
Chile beat Colombia in shootout to reach Copa semi-finals
Copa America Brazil 2019: Quarter Final match between Colombia and Chile at the Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 28, 2019
Reigning champions Chile advanced to the semi-finals of the Copa America on Friday after beating Colombia 5-4 in a penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw at the Corinthians arena. Alexis Sanchez got the winning kick for Chile after William Tesillo missed Colombias last attempt.
Chile, who won both the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals on penalties, had two goals chalked off after video assistant referee reviews. Chile will face either Uruguay or Peru in Wednesdays semi-final in Porto Alegre. The other semi is between hosts Brazil and Argentina.
(With inputs from Agencies)
