Briefly

UNITED NATIONS

General Assembly's 78th session opens

The 78th session of the UN General Assembly was declared open on Tuesday by new General Assembly President Dennis Francis. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in his opening remarks read on his behalf by his deputy, Amina Mohammed, warned of a world of deep challenge and division that is testing the United Nations. The 77th UNGA officially concluded after Francis, permanent representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, took the gavel from Csaba Korosi, a senior diplomat from Hungary. After the conclusion of the closing plenary meeting of the 77th session, a ceremony of "Changing of Flags" took place.

FRANCE

Schools refuse girls wearing religious robe

French schools sent dozens of girls home for refusing to remove their abayas on the first day of the school year, a minister said on Tuesday. Defying a ban on the Muslim robe, nearly 300 girls showed up on Monday morning wearing abayas, Education Minister Gabriel Attal told the BFM broadcaster. Most agreed to change out of the robe, but 67 refused and were sent home, he said. The government announced last month it was banning the abaya in schools. President Emmanuel Macron said late on Monday that there was a "minority" in France who "hijack a religion and challenge the republic and secularism", leading to the "worst consequences".

ITALY

Venice to begin trial on ticketing system

Venice will start a trial on a long-debated ticketing system from spring next year, officials said on Tuesday, with day-trippers charged 5 euros ($5.30) to enter the city's historic center in an attempt to cut tourist numbers. The council executive backed the move just weeks after UN cultural agency UNESCO recommended Venice be added to its list of world heritage sites in danger, in part because of the impact of mass tourism. The plan, which has long been mooted, must still be approved by the wider city council, which meets on Tuesday. Many details are still unclear, notably on how many tickets will be available.

Xinhua - Agencies