Bankrupt Sri Lanka seeks urgent help to feed children

23 Sept 05:04 Key points summarised by AI

Sri Lanka has issued an urgent appeal for assistance to combat rapidly spreading malnutrition among children, a direct result of its severe economic crisis.
The Ministry for Women and Child Affairs is seeking private donations to feed potentially hundreds of thousands of children, as the bankrupt state can no longer sustain welfare programs.
Over 90% of the population now depends on government handouts, with the number of malnourished children increasing significantly due to rampant inflation and critical shortages of food and essentials.
The nation, which defaulted on its $51 billion foreign debt, faces daily power cuts, long queues for fuel, and severe shortages, prompting UNICEF to also appeal for funding to support affected children.

Macron condemns those who 'sought to bring down the Republic' after rioting mars nationwide protests

Today 12:56 Key points summarised by AI

President Macron condemned widespread rioting and looting during nationwide protests, blaming far-left activists and criminals for the "unrestrained violence" and vowing accountability for those who "sought to bring down the Republic."
Over 2,400 arrests were made as protests against rising living costs and poor school conditions escalated, causing extensive damage to public buildings and businesses in cities like Paris, Limoges (where City Hall burned), Marseille, and Lyon.
The unrest, which organizers hoped would revive the "yellow vest" movement, saw political leaders trade blame, with Macron instructing prefects to protect public buildings and potentially ban future protests to prevent further disorder.