India's worst train crash in decades kills at least 288

13 Sept 11:11 Key points summarised by AI

A catastrophic train collision in Balasore, Odisha, resulted in at least 288 deaths, marking India's deadliest rail accident in over two decades.
Preliminary investigations indicate signal failure caused a passenger train to wrongly enter a loop line, striking a parked freight train, leading to its coaches derailing onto an adjacent track where another express train then collided.
Massive rescue operations are underway, with hundreds injured and the death toll expected to climb as bodies remain trapped in mangled coaches.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and met survivors, while authorities announced compensation for the victims and their families.
The tragic incident has renewed scrutiny on the safety of India's extensive but aging railway infrastructure, despite recent modernization initiatives.

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.