Snakes on a plane from Bangkok bound for India, again

14 Sept 02:41 Key points summarised by AI

Indian customs officers in Mumbai intercepted a passenger from Thailand with 16 live snakes, marking the third wildlife smuggling attempt this month on the Bangkok-India route.
The seized reptiles, largely non-venomous and including species like garter snakes and Kenyan sand boas, are commonly sought after in the exotic pet trade.
This incident follows two other recent seizures from Thailand: one involving dozens of venomous vipers and another with 100 creatures including lizards and possums.
Wildlife trade monitor TRAFFIC highlights a "very troubling" surge in exotic pet trafficking, noting over 7,000 animals seized on the Thailand-India air route in the last 3.5 years.

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.