ADVERTISEMENT

       Crime in the French capital has fallen in recent months, but remains "structurally high", according to the prefect of police in Paris, Laurent Nu？ez.

       Speaking in the Journal of Sunday, Nu？ez noted that criminality in Paris and the surrounding suburbs had dropped over the last six months, though he added the situation was still not "positive".

       Burglaries and incidents of domestic violence actually rose during the same period.

       Nu？ez, who was appointed in July 2022, reported that property damage fell by 2% in the suburbs and 5% in the centre of the city, while violent thefts in Paris's surroundings dropped by 20% and 25% in the centre.

       He attributed these falls to his deployment of more officers to high-crime areas and busier parts of the capital, such as metro stations or tourist hot spots.

       ‘Paris syndrome’: These are the most underwhelming cities in the world, according to tourists

       However, the perfect said that a "structurally high level of crime in the Paris region did not allow us to speak of a generally positive situation."

       Break-ins were a particular "black spot", increasing by 5.3% in the area of Paris beyond the notorious circular motorway and 8.8% in the centre.

       Other concerns such as domestic violence and violent crime continue to rise, added the prefect.

       According to Secretary of State Christophe Castaner, police in the French capital had "slowed down the rise" of crime under his tenure.

       "We were at [an increase of] +30% when I arrived", he said.

       ADVERTISEMENT

       Russia has launched a new wave of significant attacks on Ukraine, hitting energy infrastructure and killing at least a dozen people in a missile strike on a nine-storey building in the city of Dnipro.

       The Ukrainian President called for more help from the international community.

       "Is it possible to stop the Russian terror? Yes, it is. Can it be done in any other way than on the battlefield in Ukraine?" said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

       "Unfortunately, no... What is needed for this? The weapons that our partners have in their warehouses and that our warriors are waiting for."

       In the north-eastern Kharkiv region, the Governor said two Russian missiles hit critical infrastructure.

       No casualties have been reported, but emergency power cuts in the city and surrounding areas were possible, the official said.

       Much of Ukraine is now under an emergency blackout after missiles hit power infrastructure in several cities.

       ADVERTISEMENT

       At least 68 people were killed on Sunday when a passenger aircraft crashed in Pokhara, a resort town in central Nepal, an official said.

       European passengers were also aboard the plane, which carried 72 people.

       It crashed while trying to land at a newly opened airport, causing the country's deadliest aviation accident in over three decades.

       Scores of rescuers and locals scoured the crash site near Pokhara International Airport for bodies throughout Sunday, said Tek Bahadur, a senior administrative officer in the Kaski district.

       The plane was carrying 68 passengers and four crew members, the Kathmandu Post newspaper reported, quoting a spokesperson for Yeti Airlines.

       On board were five Indian nationals, four Russians, two Koreans, an Australian, an Argentinian, an Irishman and a Frenchman, reported Sudrashan Bardaula of Yeti Airlines.

       One witness said they saw the plane spinning violently in the air as it attempted to land.

       Wreckage was spread across a wide area after the impact, with debris on the edge of a cliff and in the ravine below.

       Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the plane was flying from the capital, Kathmandu, to Pokhara and he urged security personnel and the general public to help with the rescue efforts.

       Meet the Nepali teenagers raising awareness of human trafficking

       Local resident Bishnu Tiwari, who rushed to the crash site to help search search for bodies, said the rescue efforts were hampered because of thick smoke and a raging fire that engulfed the aircraft.

       “The flames were so hot that we couldn’t go near the wreckage. I heard a man crying for help, but because of the flames and smoke we couldn’t help him,” Tiwari said.

       It was not immediately clear what caused the accident.

       Some bodies, burned beyond recognition, were carried by firefighters to hospitals, where grief-stricken relatives had assembled.

       At Kathmandu airport, where the flight began, family members appeared distraught as they were escorted in and at times exchanged heated words with officials as they waited for information.

       Pokhara, located 200 km west of Kathmandu, is the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit, a popular hiking trail in the Himalayas.

       Images and videos shared on Twitter showed plumes of smoke billowing from the crash site as rescue workers and crowds of people gathered around the wreckage of the aircraft. Nepalese soldiers were also involved in the rescue efforts at the crash site.