09/04/2026

THURSDAY | APR 9, 2026

8

France emissions cuts dips again

o Setbacks in public policies blamed

Efforts to focus attention on tackling climate change are being overshadowed by wars, a global energy crisis and growing economic turmoil. France’s data echoes a slowdown in neighbouring Germany, where emissions fell just 0.1% last year, the Agora Energiewende expert group said last month. Emissions in the United States rose 2.4% last year, according to the Rhodium Group think tank, spurred by its demand for heating and electricity for the AI boom. – AFP

reduce the energy intensity of politically sensitive or costly sectors such as transport and refineries. Emissions from energy generation rose slightly in 2025, breaking a downward trend observed since 2022, while only small cuts were made in transport. Anne Bringault, director of programmes at the Climate Action Network alliance of environment groups, blamed “setbacks in public policies for ecological transition” for the slowdown in progress in addressing emissions.

meet France’s 2030 climate targets. France in December updated its pathway for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. To stay on track, greenhouse gas emissions need to fall 4% on average every year until 2030. After France slashed its output by 3.9% in 2022 and 6.8% in 2023, the rate slowed sharply to 1.8% in 2024. The final 2025 reduction was revised slightly from Citepa’s provisional estimate of 1.6% in January. Like other industrialised economies, France has struggled to

make good on their promise to reduce planet-warming emissions, even as global average temperatures hover at near record highs. France’s emissions declined 1.5% from the previous year, said Citepa, a non-profit organisation tasked by France’s Ecology Ministry with tallying the country’s greenhouse gas inventory. “The downward trend in emissions is continuing, albeit at a slower pace,” Citepa said in a statement, but added that the reduction “remains insufficient” to

PARIS: France’s cuts to greenhouse gas emissions slowed for a second straight year and remain well below what is needed to meet its climate goals, according to government commissioned data published yesterday. The slowdown comes as other major economies also struggle to

Greece to impose teen social media ban ATHENS: Greece will ban access to social media for children under the age of 15 from Jan 1 next year, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said yesterday, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive design of online platforms. In a video message addressed to young people, Mitsotakis said children spending long hours in front of screens does not allow their minds to rest and face growing pressure from constant comparison and online comments. Mitsotakis also said he had spoken with many parents who reported that their children do not sleep well, become anxious easily and spend long hours on their phones. An opinion poll published in February showed about 80% of those surveyed approved of a ban. The Greek government has already outlawed mobile phones in schools and set up parental control platforms to limit screen time for teenagers. “Greece will be among the first countries to take such an initiative. However, I am certain that it will not be the last. Our goal is to push the European Union in this direction as well,” Mitsotakis said. Slovenia, Britain, Austria and Spain have also said they are working on similar bans after Australia became the first country in the world to block access to children under 16 last year. – Reuters Cyberbullying of top diver under probe HONG KONG: Chinese swimming authorities said yesterday they have launched an investigation into cyberbullying of diving star Quan Hongchan, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, and reported the matter to police. Quan, who won her first gold at Tokyo 2020 at the age of 14 and two more at the next Games in Paris 2024, has given several interviews in which she talked about toxic online commentary over her weight and the immense pressure she has felt to diet even though she was already eating very little. Now 19, Quan told Chinese magazine Renwu this year that she seriously considered retiring after the Paris Olympics before deciding she wanted to keep going. China’s Swimming Management Centre said yesterday that cyberbullying, malicious attacks and false information targeting Quan and other divers have appeared online. The centre said it strongly condemned malicious acts that harm the physical and mental health of athletes, and would improve systems for the “care and protection of athletes” and would do its best to maintain a healthy public opinion environment for sports. The Global Times in an editorial criticised an “unhealthy fan culture” in which admiration turns into criticism and even hostility. – Reuters

FURRY WELCOME ... A giant interactive cat art installation greets arrivals at Hong Kong International Airport. – AFPPIC

Australian war hero to remain in jail SYDNEY: Australia’s most decorated living soldier will remain behind bars after his legal team did not seek bail following his arrest over alleged war crimes. A bail review hearing was instead scheduled for April 17 at a courthouse in Sydney.

either shot by the accused or his subordinates acting on his orders and in his presence. The charges follow a joint investigation between the police and the Office of the Special Investigator, set up to examine allegations of criminal misconduct by members of Australia’s defence force, which began in 2021. Roberts-Smith has consistently denied allegations of wrongdoing during his service, many of which were first reported by Nine Entertainment newspapers in a series of articles starting in 2018. He unsuccessfully challenged the accusations in court in what became the most expensive defamation trial in Australian history, and was found on the balance of probabilities to have been involved in the murder of four Afghan civilians. – Reuters

Roberts-Smith, a veteran of the elite Special Air Services Regiment, was hailed as a national hero for his actions during six tours in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2012. He was awarded several top military honours, including the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration for members of the armed forces of Britain and the Commonwealth. The Australian Federal Police said they would allege that his victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their deaths and were detained, unarmed and under the control of Australian forces when they were killed. Police would also allege the victims were

Police on Tuesday arrested and charged Ben Roberts-Smith, 47, with five counts of war crimes in connection with the murder of five civilians in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of life in jail. He was refused bail by police and taken to the Silverwater Correctional Complex in Sydney’s west, where he stayed overnight. Roberts-Smith did not appear via video link at an online bail court hearing yesterday, local media reported. His lawyer, Jordan Portokalli, told the court he would not be applying for bail and sought an in-person hearing for later in the day.