France bans mobile phones in schools

Nearly 90 percent of French adolescents aged between 12 and 17 have a mobile phone, and supporters hope the ban will help limit the spread of violent and pornographic content among children. (AFP)
Updated 03 September 2018
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France bans mobile phones in schools

PARIS (AP) — French children who are going back to school Monday after summer vacation will have to do so without their mobile phones.
The government passed a law banning phone use in all primary and middle schools for the entire day, including during breaks —with exceptions in cases of emergency and for disabled children.
Pupils are requested to shut down their mobiles or put them in a locker.
High schools can also voluntarily implement the measure. Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said it aims to help children focus on lessons, better socialize and reduce social media use. The ban is also designed to fight online bullying, and prevent thefts and violence in school.
The law allows teachers to confiscate phones until the end of the day in cases of non-compliance.


Greta Thunberg released from custody after arrest at UK pro-Palestinian protest

Updated 7 sec ago
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Greta Thunberg released from custody after arrest at UK pro-Palestinian protest

LONDON: Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was released from custody after being arrested ​on Tuesday in London at a pro-Palestinian protest, police said.
UK-based campaign group Prisoners for Palestine said Thunberg was earlier arrested under the Terrorism Act for holding a sign that said “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide.” The British government has proscribed Palestine Action as ‌a terrorist ‌group.
City of London Police said ‌Thunberg ⁠had ​been ‌bailed until March.
Police said earlier two other people had been arrested for throwing red paint at a building. A spokesperson said 22-year-old woman later attended the scene and was arrested for displaying a placard in support of a proscribed organization.
Prisoners for ⁠Palestine, which supports some detained activists who have gone on ‌hunger strike, said the building ‍had been targeted because it ‍was used by an insurance firm which they ‍said provided services to the British arm of Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems.
The insurance company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Thunberg, 22, became ​prominent after staging weekly climate protests in front of the Swedish parliament in ⁠2018.
Last year, she was cleared of a public order offense in Britain as a judge ruled police had no power to arrest her and others at a protest in London the year before.
She was detained along with 478 people and expelled by Israel in October after joining an activist convoy of vessels, the Global Sumud Flotilla, that attempted to reach Gaza with aid supplies. ‌Israel has consistently denied genocide allegations.