'Maybe there's hope': Indonesian rescuers race against time to save students trapped under rubble of collapsed school

'Maybe there's hope': Indonesian rescuers race against time to save students trapped under rubble of collapsed school

By Johan Purnomo and Stanley Widianto SIDOARJO, Indonesia (Reuters) -Rescuers were racing against time on Thursday to extricate some 60 teenagers trapped under the remains of an Islamic boarding school that collapsed earlier this week due to foundation failure, disaster authorities said. The Al Khoziny school, located in the East Java town of Sidoarjo some 480 miles east from the capital Jakarta, collapsed when its foundations could not support ongoing construction work on the upper floors, cratering upon dozens of students who were praying and trapping them under rubble. Abdul Muhari, spokesperson with the disaster mitigation agency, said in a statement on Thursday that 59 people remained trapped under the rubble, based on the school's list of absence and missing person reports filed by families. Rescuers are still assessing on Thursday whether there are signs of life by calling out the names of the victims, having found no such signs late on Wednesday, search and rescue agency official Nanang Sigit told Reuters. He added that the assessment will be used to determine further evacuation efforts. In signature orange uniform, rescuers crawled through narrow tunnels to find students trapped under rubble, according to photos distributed by the country's search and rescue agency. Late on Wednesday, Yudhi Bramantyo, operations director at the agency, said the total death toll from the collapse had reached six, although the country's disaster mitigation agency said on Thursday it was still at five. "We can't let our minds wander. Maybe there is still hope for our little brothers," Bramantyo said. An excavator and a crane were on-site to help rescuers shift the debris, but disaster officials ruled out their use for fear it could set off a wider collapse. Al Khoziny is an Islamic school known locally as a pesantren. Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, has a total of about 42,000 pesantren, serving 7 million students, according to data from the country's religious affairs ministry. (Reporting by Johan Purnomo in Sidoarjo and Stanley Widianto in Jakarta; Editing by David Stanway)

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October 02, 2025

'Maybe there's hope': Indonesian rescuers race against time to save students trapped under rubble of collapsed school

'Maybe there's hope': Indonesian rescuers race against time to save students trapped under rubble of collapsed school By Johan P...

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In Iowa, a sleepy city is moved to protest for a beloved superintendent detained by ICE

In Iowa, a sleepy city is moved to protest for a beloved superintendent detained by ICE

DES MOINES, Iowa — On Tuesday, hundreds of students walked out of middle and high schools across the city to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement'sdetention of Ian Andre Roberts, the now-former superintendent of Iowa's largest school district. In the afternoon, several dozen students gathered at the State Capitol, calling for Roberts' release from the Sioux City jail where he's being held, and holding signs reading "Radical Empathy," a tagline he frequently used. "I don't think anyone really cares about the fact he's illegal," said Gabriel Doyle Scar, 17, who helped organize the protest. "We're just sad about the fact that an extremely nice man that supported us heavily and really strongly is now taken away from us." During rush hour that night, roughly 20 people displayed a banner from a bridge over the interstate that cuts across the center of the city reading "Free Dr. Roberts," as dozens of cars and large trucks honked in support as they passed underneath. Roberts had been the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools when ICE arrested him early Friday, accusing him of being in the country without authorization.ICE has saidhe tried to evade arrest and was found with a loaded gun in his district-issued car, a hunting knife and $3,000 in cash. At a news conference earlier this week, his lawyer, Alfredo Parrish, didn't discuss those allegations. Through Parrish, Roberts submitted a letter of resignation Tuesday, writing that he didn't want to be a distraction while hetried to stophis deportation. But neither his resignation nor the unanswered questions about his case have quelled the protests in Des Moines, the left-leaning capital of a Republican-led state. Instead, Roberts' arrest has sparked a moment of mass mobilization in a sleepy city where protests are relatively rare. "It's very unusual," Dave Peterson, a political science professor at Iowa State University, said of the daily protests, adding that for many, Roberts' detainment was the first major moment in which the recent wave of ICE arrests truly hit home. "This is a moment where people can express support for somebody who they value, somebody who's an important part of the community, and be protesting against what ICE is doing more broadly," he said. Makhani Scearcy, 20, a college student standing with classmates outside the capitol Tuesday, made a similar point. "Definitely people truly love Dr. Roberts," she said, "but he's just one puzzle piece of just how insane things have been." Republicans in Iowahave called forinvestigations of the district's hiring practices. U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, a Republican whose district includes Des Moines, said he is seeking further information from the Department of Homeland Security about the case, and hereleased a redacted excerptof the May 2024 removal order for Roberts signed by a judge. "Many of us in the community knew Dr. Roberts and trusted him, which makes it hurt even more that he spent so long providing us false information," Nunnsaid this weekon KCCI-TV of Des Moines. Yet, in interviews with two dozen parents, colleagues and students this week, many expressed strong support for him, even as new questions about his background havetrickled out. "We were told by the current administration that they were going to get rid of people that didn't belong here; that's not what they're doing," said Justin Peters, a high school baseball coach in the district. "They're getting rid of high-class people that are part of our community." Roberts, a former Olympian from Guyana, worked his way up in leadership for school districts across the country, from Washington, D.C., to California. After Des Moines hired him in 2023, he became a fixture at community events, nearly always dressed in flashy suitswith sneakers, and the first person of color to lead the state's most diverse district. He was arrested hours before he was scheduled to participate in a "fun run" with second graders in his district. School district staff members at the protests recalled Roberts' coming to read to children for hours, visiting classrooms, helping students with scavenger hunts and marching in parades with them. "My kindergartner knows his superintendent," said Amber Graeber, a Des Moines parent and teacher. "I don't think very many kids can say that." On Friday evening, more than 400 people packed into Corinthians Baptist Church on the edge of downtown Des Moines, spilling into the hallway and the kitchen. On Sunday, the Rev. Jonathan Whitfield, the church's senior pastor, addressed the situation during his service, defending Roberts as someone who "left a legacy of goodness" in every education job he had. Roughly 100 protesters held another demonstration outside the federal building Monday afternoon. It was the day the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked his license and legal authority to serve as superintendent. ICE said in a statement that Roberts arrived on a student visa in 1999, but according to Coppin State University in Baltimore, he graduated from there in 1998 andcompeted in NCAA track competitionseven earlier. Roberts "was a standout scholar and athlete during his undergraduate studies," Coppin State President Anthony L. Jenkins said in a statement. Roberts has saidhe attended six other universitiesin some capacity: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgetown University, Morgan State University, St. John's University, Harvard's Graduate School of Education and Trident University International, an online school. St. John's confirmed heearned a master's degreein social studies from the institution in 2000. Morgan State said he attended as a graduate student for five years but didn't earn a degree from it. And MIT said it had no record of Roberts' having attended. The others didn't respond to requests for comment. According to the school district, Roberts had provided a résumé to the search firm that recruited him falsely stating that he had earned a doctorate from Morgan State, but the firm had him correct it before it submitted it to the Des Moines School Board. The district said it was aware he didn't finish his doctorate at Morgan State. "The Des Moines School Board is also a victim of deception by Dr. Roberts, one on a growing list that includes our students and teachers, our parents and community, our elected officials and Iowa's Board of Educational Examiners, and others," Jackie Norris, the school board chair, said in a statement Wednesday. Roberts had indicated on his I-9 form that he was a citizen when he was hired two years ago, and he provided a driver's license and a Social Security card as proof, district officials said. The district has said it was unaware that Roberts received a final order of removal last year, and it said DHS provided a copy Monday afternoon. Parrish, Roberts' attorney, declined to say Tuesday when Roberts first came to the United States and under what status or what his legal clearance to work in the country was when he was hired by Des Moines Public Schools. He couldn't be reached for further comment. Parrish provided reporters with a copy of a letter to Roberts from Jackeline Gonzalez, a Texas-based immigration attorney, dated March 27, 2025, that stated his immigration case had "reached a successful resolution." In response to an email, Gonzalez said she was unable to provide information. Whatever happens next, Roberts' arrest has shaken up the city, said Mike Draper, founder and owner of Raygun, a popular local clothing chain known for political and Midwest-themed apparel. He began selling shirts reading "Free Dr Roberts" and "ICE Abducted Our School's Superintendent," and he plans to donate proceeds toward Roberts' legal defense. "It takes a lot to get a protest going in Des Moines," Draper said. "So when I saw how many people were down there and how loud everything was and how fired up people were, it kind of blew my mind."

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October 02, 2025

In Iowa, a sleepy city is moved to protest for a beloved superintendent detained by ICE

In Iowa, a sleepy city is moved to protest for a beloved superintendent detained by ICE DES MOINES, Iowa — On Tuesday, hundreds of students ...

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French police detain 2 crew members of oil tanker linked to Russia's shadow fleet

French police detain 2 crew members of oil tanker linked to Russia's shadow fleet

PARIS (AP) — A French prosecutor said police have detained two crew members ofan oil tanker immobilizedoff the country's Atlantic coast which President Emmanuel Macron linked to Russia. Macron has alleged that that the tanker belongs toRussia's so-called shadow fleetof aging tankers of uncertain ownership and safety practices that are avoiding Western sanctions over Moscow'swar in Ukraine. Stéphane Kellenberger, prosecutor of the western port city of Brest, said Thursday that the crew members presenting themselves as the ship's captain and chief mate have been in custody since at least Wednesday. A preliminary investigation was opened into the crew's "refusal to cooperate" and "failure to justify the nationality of the vessel" after the Atlantic Maritime Prefect alerted justice authorities Monday, Kellenberger said. The tanker, which was sailing last week off the coast of Denmark, was cited by European naval experts as possibly being involved indrone flights over the country. French naval forces forcibly boarded the ship a few days ago at the request of prosecutors who suspected wrongdoing, a military official said Wednesday. The ship was ordered to stay in place pending further investigation, according to the official, who was not authorized to be publicly named discussing an ongoing investigation. The ship left the Russian oil terminal in Primorsk near St. Petersburg on Sept. 20, sailed off the coast of Denmark and has stayed off the coast of the French western port of Saint-Nazaire since Sunday, according to the Marine Traffic monitoring website. "There were some very serious wrongdoings made by this crew," Macron said Wednesday on the sidelines ofa European Union leaders summitin Copenhagen, Denmark. He added this "highlights" the existence of Russia's "notorious shadow fleet." The tanker known as "Pushpa" or "Boracay," whose name has changed several times, was sailing under the flag of Benin and appears on a list of ships targeted by EU sanctions against Russia. The shadow fleet is made up of used, aging tankers that were often bought by nontransparent entities with addresses in non-sanctioning countries and were sailing under flags from non-sanctioning countries. Their role is to help Russia's oil exporters elude the price cap imposed by Ukraine's allies.

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October 02, 2025

French police detain 2 crew members of oil tanker linked to Russia's shadow fleet

French police detain 2 crew members of oil tanker linked to Russia's shadow fleet PARIS (AP) — A French prosecutor said police have deta...

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Shein plans first permanent stores in France, sparking backlash

Shein plans first permanent stores in France, sparking backlash

(Reuters) -Online fast-fashion retailer Shein will open its first permanent stores in France in November under an agreement with department store owner Société des Grands Magasins (SGM), a move that sparked criticism from French retailers. The "shop-in-shops" in the BHV department store in central Paris and Galeries Lafayette department stores in five provincial cities, mark a new step for Shein which has up to now only hosted temporary pop-up shops around the world mainly aimed at marketing. SGM president Frédéric Merlin said the launch would attract a younger clientele to its department stores, adding that the same customer might buy a Shein item and a designer handbag on the same day. RETAILERS CRITICISE DEPARTMENT STORE DEAL WITH SHEIN Shein, which sells 12-euro dresses and 20-euro jeans, faces pressure from other retailers, politicians and regulators in France, where lawmakers have backed a draft law regulating fast fashion that would, if implemented, ban Shein from advertising. "In front of the Paris City Hall, they are creating the new Shein megastore, which – after destroying dozens of French brands – aims to flood our market even more massively with disposable products," Yann Rivoallan, head of fashion retail association Fédération Francaise du Pret-a-Porter, said in a statement. French retailers were already struggling to compete with Zara and H&M when Shein launched, drawing cash-strapped consumers in with its permanent discounts and addictive app. Several French fast-fashion retailers such as Jennyfer and NafNaf went into insolvency proceedings earlier this year. Shein's first store, on the sixth floor of the BHV, will open in early November, with later openings planned in Galeries Lafayette department stores in Dijon, Grenoble, Reims, Limoges, and Angers. (Reporting by Inti Landauro and Helen Reid, Editing by Louise Heavens)

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October 02, 2025

Shein plans first permanent stores in France, sparking backlash

Shein plans first permanent stores in France, sparking backlash (Reuters) -Online fast-fashion retailer Shein will open its first permanent ...

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Global Activists, Celebrities, Politicians Pay Tribute to Jane Goodall

Global Activists, Celebrities, Politicians Pay Tribute to Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall appears as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in April 2023. Credit - Randy Holmes—ABC/Getty Images From the forests of Tanzania to the streets of Hollywood, tributes have poured in for Jane Goodall, after the global conservation icon died on Wednesday morning at age 91. Goodall passed away peacefully in her sleep from natural causes, the Jane Goodall Instituteconfirmedin a statement. Known for her integral research work on chimpanzees in the 1960s, Goodall revolutionized the science of primates and transformed humans' understanding of their closest biological relatives. The British primatologist is also remembered for being avocal environmental activist, doing the groundwork until her final days. In a TIME interview in 2021, Goodallsaid: "I'm about to leave the world and leave it behind me with all the mess, whereas young people have to grow up into it. That's why they need every bit of help they can." Read More:Jane Goodall's Message of Hope Lives On Goodall's work has earned her recognition across the globe: she was awarded the U.S.'s Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honor, earlier this year and was appointed by the United Nations in 2002 to bea Messenger of Peace—becoming one of a handful of such honorees worldwide. Former President Joe Biden, who conferred the Medal of Freedom on Goodall,postedon X that he and former First Lady Jill Biden were "deeply saddened" over her passing, lauding how her "activism, vision, and message of hope mobilized a global movement to protect the planet." "Jane taught us that when we search for humanity in the natural world around us, we discover it within ourselves," the former U.S. President said. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for Goodall's "lifelong environmental protection efforts and her strong support for the [United Nations]." In hisInstagram tribute, Guterres said: "She is leaving an extraordinary legacy for humanity and our planet." Goodall's death has reverberated particularly in the communities she was prominent in, such as those focused on animal and environmental conservation efforts. Ingrid Newkirk, who founded the animal welfare advocacy group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA),celebratedGoodall's "long and fine life" and remembered her as "a gifted scientist and trailblazer who forever changed the way we view our fellow animals." Newkirk remembered how Goodall helped PETA in severalcampaigns, including stoppingUPS from shipping animal trophiesandcalling for the closureof marine theme park SeaWorld. "She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy, and we encourage everyone to follow in her animal-respecting footsteps," Newkirk said. "Jane Goodall's legacy will be forever celebrated," Tierra Curry, co-director of the Center for Biological Diversity's endangered species initiative,said in a statement. "She died with a hammer in her hands, spreading good in the world, having inspired millions of people to take action on behalf of all that is wild and beautiful. She overcame obstacles, broke gender barriers, and made a career in conservation seem within reach for women and girls around the world. She was an amazing force for nature, and now we need to carry her mantle on." Kitty Block, president and CEO of Humane World for Animals,said in a statementthat Goodall "made history by inspiring generations of people to love animals and to care deeply about their welfare." Block added: "Goodall's influence on the animal protection community is immeasurable, and her work on behalf of primates and all animals will never be forgotten." Audrey Azoulay, director general of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),posted on Xthat Goodall "was able to convey the lessons of her research to everyone, especially young people." Azoulay added: "Her chimpanzee greetings at @UNESCO last year—she who so strongly supported our work for the biosphere—will echo for years to come." Several billionaires also honored Goodall for her work. Melinda French Gates, a noted philanthropist,remembered Goodall on Xas "an extraordinarily powerful advocate, inspiring young people all over the world to stay curious, compassionate, and committed to building a brighter future for people, animals, and the environment. What a force she was." Tim Cook, CEO of Apple,described Goodall on Xas "a groundbreaking scientist and leader who taught us all so much about the beauty and wonder of our world." Former New York Mayor Mike Bloombergposted on Xthat it "was an honor to have [Goodall] alongside us just last week"—referring to her Septemberparticipation in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum—"to share with leaders a message that is more urgent than ever." Goodall's attendance at the event was one of the last things she did before her passing. Maria Shriver, a journalist, philanthropist, and former First Lady of California whoawarded Goodall the Minerva Awardin 2009 to recognize her extraordinary contributions to society,posted a tributeto Goodall on Instagram after her passing: "I admired her, learned from her, and was so honored to get to spend time with her over the years. She stayed at her mission and on her mission. She changed the world and the lives of everyone she impacted. The world lost one of its best today, and I lost somone[sic] I adored." José Andrés, the Spanish-American restaurateur who founded global food relief charity World Central Kitchen, alsotook to Instagramto pay tribute to Goodall, calling her "the wisest and most compassionate person I've ever met." Andrés said that Goodall wrote to him just this weekend about what she could do to alleviate the suffering in conflict-stricken areas like Gaza and Ukraine. "She could make anybody feel hopeful about the future, no matter the hardships of the present," Andrés said. "She was my hero, my inspiration. I will miss her every single day." Goodall's work also inspired Hollywood stars. Fellow U.N. Messenger of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio, in alengthy Instagram tribute to Goodall, honored the late conservationist and her dedication to environmental causes. DiCaprio and Goodall collaborated on projects like theupcoming filmHowl, which they both served as executive producers for. "Today we have lost a true hero for the planet, an inspiration to millions, and a dear friend," DiCaprio said. "For decades, Jane traveled the world with tireless energy, awakening generations to the wonder of the natural world. She spoke directly to the next generation, instilling hope, responsibility, and the belief that every individual can make a difference. She inspired millions to care, to act, and to hope. She never stopped." DiCaprio extended his deepest condolences to Goodall's family and urged others to support the Jane Goodall Institute and other conservation groups to prolong her legacy. "My last message to Jane was simple: 'You are my hero.' Now, we all must carry the torch for her in protecting our one shared home." Another U.N. Messenger of Peace, actor Michael Douglas, offered a brief but heartfelt tribute. "RIP to my fellow UN Messenger of Peace, Dr. Jane Goodall," Douglasposted on Instagram. "Her legacy will forever be remembered for her unwavering dedication to our planet. My deepest condolences to the Goodall family." Comedian Ellen DeGeneresposted on Instagrama segment of her former showEllenin which she interviewed then-85-year-old Goodall in 2019. "Thank you Jane for all the good you've done," DeGeneres said. "You broke barriers for women all over the world." Jon Stewart, who alsopreviously had Goodall as a guestwhen he still hostedThe Daily Showmore than a decade ago,wrote on X: "Jane Goodall was just the best…damn." Jane Fonda, an actor and outspoken activist,posted on Instagramthat her "heart breaks" over the news of Goodall's passing. Fonda hadinterviewed Goodall forInterview Magazinein 2016. The two exchanged perspectives on activism, environmental challenges, and personal philosophy. "I loved her very much," Fonda said on Instagram. "I think the best way we can honor her life is to treat the earth and all its beings like our family, with love and respect." Mia Farrow, another actor-activist,called Goodall"a magnificent inspiration." In October 2024, actress and comedian Julia Louis-Dreyfusfeatured Goodallas the premiere guest for the third season of her podcast "Wiser Than Me." When Goodall passed, Dreyfusposted on Instagramthat Goodall "was a force for what is true and what is good. I am so blessed and so grateful to have crossed paths with this wise giant." Prince Harry, who was reportedlyexceptionally close to Goodall, issued a joint statement with his wife, Meghan Markle, after news of Goodall's death. "Dr. Jane Goodall DBE was a visionary humanitarian, scientist, friend to the planet, and friend to us," the royal couple said in a statementobtained byPeoplemagazine. "Her commitment to changing lives extends beyond what the world saw, and also to what we personally felt…. She held our son, Archie, when he was first born, and showered love and care to those who were privileged to know her. She will be deeply missed." Besides Biden, other former U.S. Presidents also honored Goodall. Barack Obamapaid tributeto her on X, saying that she "had a remarkable ability to inspire us to connect with the natural wonders of our world," and he lauded how her work on primates and conservation "opened doors for generations of women in science." Obama added: "Michelle and I are thinking of all those who loved and admired her." Former President Bill Clintonpostedthat Goodall, who worked with the Clinton Foundation as recently as last year, "not only taught us about the world around us, but about ourselves and our responsibility to protect the planet. The best tribute we can pay her is to redouble our efforts to defend the environment, so that all life on Earth can truly share the future." Former Secretary of State Hillary Clintonposted her own statementon Instagram alongside a picture with Goodall. "For over 60 years, Jane Goodall was a force for research about our precious planet—and climate change action to protect it—while breaking glass ceilings along the way," Clinton said. "I'll so miss her courage and commitment to help expand what we know about our world and preserve it for the generations to come." Sen. Cory Booker (D, N.J.), a longtime climate justice advocate whoappeared on Goodall's podcast "Hopecast"in 2022,postedon X: "Thank you Jane Goodall for a lasting legacy of conservation, service to all of us, and for always being brave." California Gov. Gavin Newsom, also a Democrat,paid tribute to Goodallin a joint statement with his partner Jennifer, calling Goodall a "global legend," a "towering inspiration," and a "cherished friend." They added: "Jane's curiosity, strength, and kindness changed the world, and inspired countless people and bridged countries and cultures in pursuit of a better future." Under Newsom, California's Climate Action Corpscommitted to planting 90,000 treesand native plants across the state to honor Goodall's 90th birthday last year. Across the border, Canada's politicians also eulogized Goodall. Prime Minister Mark CarneycalledGoodall a "tireless guardian of nature" whose advocacy "inspired generations," while his predecessor Justin Trudeaupostedthat he was "heartbroken" to hear of Goodall's passing and said that "her wisdom and compassion will live on in every act of conservation." And from Tanzania, the East African country where Goodall's groundbreaking research on chimpanzees began, President Samia Suluhu called Goodall a "friend" of the country. "Dr. Goodall's pioneering work at Gombe National Park transformed wildlife conservation, and placed our country at the heart of global efforts to protect chimpanzees and nature," Suluhuposted on X. "Her legacy will live on." Contact usatletters@time.com.

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October 02, 2025

Global Activists, Celebrities, Politicians Pay Tribute to Jane Goodall

Global Activists, Celebrities, Politicians Pay Tribute to Jane Goodall Jane Goodall appears as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in April 2023....

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Shein enters bricks-and-mortar retail in France, sparking backlash

Shein enters bricks-and-mortar retail in France, sparking backlash

(Reuters) -Online fast-fashion retailer Shein plans to open its first bricks-and-mortar shops in France in November under an agreement with department store owner Société des Grands Magasins, a move that sparked criticism from French retailers. The stores in the BHV department store in central Paris and Galeries Lafayette department stores in five other French cities mark a new step for Shein, which has up to now only hosted temporary marketing-driven pop-ups around the world. SGM president Frédéric Merlin said the launch would attract a younger clientele, adding that a customer might buy a Shein item and a designer handbag on the same day. Galeries Lafayette, which sold the stores operated by SGM under its name through a franchise agreement, said it opposed the move, which would violate the franchise agreement, and plans to stop it from happening. "Galeries Lafayette profoundly disagrees with this decision with regards to the positioning and practices of this ultra fast fashion brand that is in contradiction with its offer and values," the group said in a statement. RETAILERS CRITICISE DEPARTMENT STORE DEAL WITH SHEIN Shein, which sells 12-euro dresses and 20-euro jeans, faces pressure from other retailers, politicians and regulators in France, where lawmakers have backed a draft law regulating fast fashion that would, if implemented, ban Shein from advertising. "In front of the Paris City Hall, they are creating the new Shein megastore, which – after destroying dozens of French brands – aims to flood our market even more massively with disposable products," Yann Rivoallan, head of fashion retail association Fédération Francaise du Pret-a-Porter, said in a statement. French retailers were already struggling to compete with Zara and H&M when Shein launched, drawing cost-conscious consumers in with its discounts. Several French fast-fashion retailers such as Jennyfer and NafNaf went into insolvency proceedings earlier this year. SHEIN'S BRICKS-AND-MORTAR LAUNCH BRINGS CHALLENGES Shein sells clothes and accessories at rock-bottom prices thanks to its business model of sending parcels direct from factories in China to shoppers around the world, benefiting from customs rules giving low-value e-commerce parcels an exemption from duties. Shein executives have said its success is due to its online-only business model, meaning it has little unsold inventory, unlike bricks-and-mortar retailers. Setting up physical stores is a big departure from that model, requiring the company to maintain inventory in stores, which will add to running costs. It comes as Shein adapts to changes in its biggest market, the U.S., where its "de minimis" duty exemption for low-value parcels is ending. The European Union is planning to do the same. Shein's first store, on the sixth floor of the BHV, will open in early November, with later openings planned in Galeries Lafayette department stores in Dijon, Grenoble, Reims, Limoges, and Angers. Executive Chairman Donald Tang has said in interviews that Shein is especially popular in provincial and rural areas where he says customers have fewer options for fashionable clothes. (Reporting by Inti Landauro, Helen Reid and Mimosa Spencer, Editing by Louise Heavens and Jane Merriman)

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October 02, 2025

Shein enters bricks-and-mortar retail in France, sparking backlash

Shein enters bricks-and-mortar retail in France, sparking backlash (Reuters) -Online fast-fashion retailer Shein plans to open its first bri...

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Zelenskyy warns Russian drones endanger safety at Chernobyl and at Europe's biggest nuclear plant

Zelenskyy warns Russian drones endanger safety at Chernobyl and at Europe's biggest nuclear plant

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia's sustainedbombardment of Ukraine's power gridis deepening concerns about the safety of the country's nuclear facilities after a drone knocked out power for more than three hours to the site of the1986 Chernobyl nuclear disasterand as Europe's biggest atomic power plantremains disconnected from the grid, officials said. Both Chernobyl and the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant are not working but they require a constant power supply to run crucial cooling systems for spent fuel rods in order to avoid a potential nuclear incident. A blackout could also blind the radiation monitoring systems, installed to boost security at Chernobyl and operated by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. "Russia is deliberately creating the threat of radiation incidents," Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Wednesday, criticizing the U.N. watchdog and its chief Rafael Mariano Grossi for what he described as weak responses to the danger. "Every day of Russia's war, every strike on our energy facilities, including those connected to nuclear safety, is a global threat," he said. "Weak and half-measures will not work. Strong action is needed." Thewar that followed Russia's all-out invasionof its neighbor more than three years ago appears no closer to ending, despite months ofU.S.-led peace efforts. Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address that Russian launched over 20 Shahed drones against energy infrastructure in Slavutych, the city whose power supply services Chernobyl, the site of the world's worst nuclear accident. A wave of drones overwhelmed defenses and caused a blackout, he said, affecting the sarcophagus that prevents radioactive dust from escaping the destroyed fourth reactor and storage housing more than 3,000 tons of spent fuel. He did not provide details of how it was affected. "The Russians could not have been unaware that a strike on Slavutych would have such consequences for Chernobyl," Zelenskyy said. Last February, adrone armed with a warheadhit Chernobyl's protective outer shell, briefly starting a fire. Radiation levels there did not increase, officials said. Meanwhile, the Zaporizhzhia plant, which is one of the 10 biggest nuclear facilities in the world, has beendisconnected from the grid for over a week. Zaporizhzhia has repeatedly been caught in the crossfire during the war. Zelenskyy blamed Russian artillery for cutting the power line to the plant, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was Ukrainian shelling. The facility is using emergency diesel generators to run cooling systems for its six shutdown reactors and spent fuel. The IAEA says the plant is not in immediate danger but wants it swiftly reconnected to the grid. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said Russia's occupation of Zaporizhzhia has "significantly degraded" the security of the plant. It claimed Wednesday that Moscow wants to integrate the plant into the Russian grid — a move that will "exacerbate security risks, degrade Ukraine's future power generation capacity, and serve as a tool that Russia can use to legitimize its occupation of Ukraine." ___ Hatton reported from Lisbon, Portugal. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine athttps://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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October 02, 2025

Zelenskyy warns Russian drones endanger safety at Chernobyl and at Europe's biggest nuclear plant

Zelenskyy warns Russian drones endanger safety at Chernobyl and at Europe's biggest nuclear plant KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia's sust...

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