Plus: Bedbugs in Paris, and how a simple town planning concept got linked to conspiracy theories
| | | | | | | Hello. We have a report today on the 10-year anniversary of the Lampedusa shipwreck - one of my Eritrean colleagues met with survivors during an emotional ceremony. Also, as a French person in London, I’ve been asked multiple times today about the bedbug panic in Paris - which you might have seen on social media. Thankfully, our correspondent Hugh Schofield has all the answers if you’re planning a trip to France. |
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| | | | Get up to speed | | • | The US House has been taking part in a historic debate on whether to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Sam Cabral and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher have the very latest from Capitol Hill. | | • | A 14-year-old boy has been arrested after two people were killed in a shooting at Bangkok’s Siam Paragon mall. The Thai shopping centre is also one of the most-visited places in Asia. | | • | An uptick in bedbug sightings in Paris is sending the city into an itchy panic ahead of next summer’s Olympic Games. But “a lot of the problem is being exaggerated,” France’s leading bedbug expert tells our correspondent Hugh Schofield. |
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| | AT THE SCENE | Lampedusa, Italy | | Sirens sound for shipwreck victims | | | | Some make the pilgrimage every year to Lampedusa remember their friends and relatives Credit: BBC | | Today is the 10-year anniversary of the Lampedusa shipwreck, where 368 migrants died as they were trying to reach Europe from Libya. Most of them came from Eritrea, a repressive one-party state in the Horn of Africa. | | | | Teklemariam Bekit, BBC Tigrinya |
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| An emotional memorial has been held in Lampedusa for 368 migrants who perished at sea exactly a decade ago after their ship caught fire. The Lampedusa Coastguard organised a special trip to the disaster site for the relatives and survivors. Horns and sirens from its vessels sounded out in memory of the victims. The day began with a solemn candlelit vigil at 03:00 to mark the exact time the ship, which had been carrying more than 500 migrants, began to sink.
"The bodies of our friends never received a proper burial; their families have been in a perpetual state of mourning, unable to conduct customary funeral rites," Eritrean Solomon Assefa, one of the 150 survivors, told the BBC. "That is why we make this pilgrimage to Lampedusa every year, offering prayers." Amanuel Mekonnen said he had made the trip to try and find some peace by remembering his brother, sister-in-law and niece who were lost in the accident. Italians who had helped in rescue efforts and students were amongst those who joined the tearful commemoration. |
| | | | • | The 'hotspot': Thousands of migrants are still arriving on the shores of Lampedusa, a small Italian island just 150km (90 miles) from the coast of North Africa. The BBC visited the centre holding people arriving by boat. |
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| | Questions Answered | | How ‘15-minute cities’ got caught in conspiracy theories | | | | Many conspiracy theories claim “15-minute cities” are designed to control the population and trap them in their homes. Credit: Getty Images/BBC |
| | The urban planning idea of 15-minute cities has enjoyed some popularity lately, as city councils around the world are taking inspiration from the concept. But it has also been under attack and, in some cases, caught up in conspiracy theories. | | | | What are 15-minute cities? | | The idea is for everyone to live within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from all basic services - be it schools, clinics, or parks. The ultimate goal is to reduce traffic and carbon emissions. Several councils in the UK have incorporated the concept into their policy plans. But critics argue that cars remain central to many people's livelihoods and it is still virtually impossible for many to access alternative forms of transport. | | Why is the concept debated now? | | On Monday, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: "What we shouldn't tolerate is the idea that local councils can decide how often you go to the shops and that they ration who uses the roads and when, and they police it all with CCTV." However, this is not an accurate characterisation of the concept. | | So, where are these claims coming from? | | Online conspiracy theories have blossomed around the topic - many claim the schemes are designed to control the population and trap them in their homes. Telegram channels devoted to spreading conspiracy theories around Covid-19, or the war in Ukraine, have frequently spread false claims around the concept. However, no council is planning to stop people from travelling beyond the 15-minute radius; “15-minute cities” do not give councils special powers to restrict people's freedom of movement… and do not stop people from using other forms of transport. | | | | |
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| | The big picture | | The same-sex couples struggling in Japan | | | | Same-sex couples in Japan say the lack of legal recognition makes life harder for them every day. |
| | Japan is the only G7 country not to fully recognise same-sex couples, or offer them clear legal protection, leaving the country's LGBTQ+ community feeling vulnerable and nearly invisible. Despite some progress, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has struggled to pass reforms in the face of opposition from traditionally minded political leadership. Same-sex families and couples tell their story to our Tokyo correspondent Shaimaa Khalil. | | | | |
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| | | | For your downtime | | A tale of bravery | | The Danish fishing town that stood up to Nazis. | | |
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| | | | And finally... in England | | I’m sure a few of you, enthralled by the joy of learning, are looking for a master’s degree to study. But could it be magic? The University of Exeter will be offering an MA in Magic and Occult Science, starting in September 2024. This program is no Hogwarts, though. Students will read on the history and impact of witchcraft and magic around the world on society and science, the university says. |
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| | | | | | Future Planet | | Explore the wonders of our amazing planet. | | |
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| | | What would be really magical is you telling me and the team what you think of this newsletter. We read everything, even when we don’t have the time to reply. If you got this email from a friend, here’s a link to subscribe to this newsletter.
Also, you can add newsbriefing@email.bbc.com to your contacts list and, if you're on Gmail, pop the email into your “Primary” tab for uninterrupted service. Thanks for reading! |
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