Overwhelmed

MELBOURNE: Prince Harry embraces a fan during a public walk in Melbourne on Thursday.  Thousands of royal fans  waited in the rain to get a glimpse of Prince Harry and his pregnant wife Meghan, with some overwhelmed by the experience. AFP

British police tell websites to patrol sex trafficking

London: The British police on Thursday challenged web companies to better patrol the online sex trade after announcing dozens of arrests and the rescue of at least 90 suspected slaves in a crackdown. From Britain and the US to the Philippines and India, people are being trafficked online in ever greater numbers, mainly via social media and advertising sites, campaigners say. Thousands of adverts for sexual services are posted online every month in Britain-where it is legal to buy and sell sex but soliciting is banned. Reuters

Myanmar Buddhist temple now a nirvana for snakes

Yangon: Crossing a bridge to the middle of a lake in Myanmar's Yangon region, pilgrims arrive at a temple to pin their hopes on the pythons slinking across the temple's floors and draped across windows. "People come here because they believe their prayers will be fulfilled when they ask for something," said Sandar Thiri, a nun residing at the Baungdawgyoke pagoda-dubbed the "snake temple". "The rule is people can only ask for one thing, not many," she said. "Don't be greedy." With snakes curled up next to meditating monks, image is reminiscent of a story in Buddhist mythology when Buddha sat under a tree to meditate. AFP

London’s black cabs soon on Paris streets

London: London's black cabs will be seen on the streets of Paris next year as the company that makes them begins selling its wares in the City of Light. London Electric Vehicle Co., which makes plug-in electric taxis that look like traditional black cabs, has put about 600 vehicles on the streets of London and has already expanded to Amsterdam, Berlin, Hamburg and Oslo. The move into Paris comes as Mayor Anne Hidalgo aggressively works to improve air quality in the city. CEO Chris Gubbey says London Electric Vehicle wants to provide “new options” for drivers  given the pollution in French cities. AP