Our weekly roundup of urban, economic and environmental news from across the globe.
Huge rallies for action on climate change were held in cities around the world this weekend. In London, an estimated 40,000 gathered at Trafalgar Square and the House of Parliament. 30,000 turned out in Melbourne and 5,000 took to the streets of Rio de Janeiro. New York’s rally was the largest, with over 300,000 marchers, including Mayor Bill de Blasio and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
In Hong Kong, an altogether different protest took hold as students began a week-long boycott of classes after China rejected the city’s bid for greater political freedom from Beijing.
And in India, the alleged sexual assault of a female university student sparked unexpectedly large protests in West Bengal.
A century after oil helped the Rockefeller family amass one of the world’s largest fortunes, the heirs to that fortune are getting out of the fossil fuel business and investing in clean energy instead.
Sierra Leone implemented a three-day curfew to try to contain the Ebola outbreak. The government is calling it a success, but health groups are skeptical that it made much difference, and wonder if it may have even worsened the long-term fight against the virus. The Ebola death toll now stands at 2,793.
Nairobi marked the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attack at Westgate Mall, which killed 67.
And finally, forget Paris — at least if you’re a Chinese tourist. The New York Times reports that the City of Light, once seen by many Chinese as the ultimate destination, is driving away the world’s fastest growing tourism market with its rudeness and petty thievery. “Once I realized that the Parisians were indifferent, I made the decision,” said one Chinese tourist. “Try to make the most of this trip, but never come back to Paris again.”
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