Today's News: 3 June 2016

The River Seine in Paris is at its highest level for more than 30 years, with floods forcing closed parts of the metro systems and major landmarks. The Louvre and Orsay museums were closed while staff moved artworks to safety as flood levels climbed above 6m (18ft). The Seine is set to reach as high as 6.5m and unlikely to recede over the weekend. At least 15 people have died across central Europe as heavy rainfall caused flooding from France to Ukraine. Tens of thousands of people have been forced from their homes.

View of the flooded river-side of the Seine in Paris near to the Eiffel Tower.

A boy who went missing in remote forest populated by bears in Japan on Saturday has been found alive and well after 6 days. Seven-year-old, Yamato Tanooka, was left alone by his parents as punishment. He was found in a military training base near Shikabe in Hokkaido, just a few kilometres from where he was left. There were rescue operations and search teams out to find him, but chances of finding him alive were fading. His parents initially said he had got lost, but eventually admitted briefly abandoning him for being naughty. His father has apologised to his son and rescuers, saying "we went too far". Police have said the parents could face charges for negligence. The case has gripped Japan, sparking discussions about acceptable levels of discipline for children.

Japanese Boy, Yamata Tanooka, is found after going missing in woods.

A baby panda was born in Belgium’s Pairi Diaza zoo yesterday. Its mother Hao Hao was inseminated just 3 months ago. The zoo director, Eric Domb, said: “The chances of survival are only one out of two in the first 3 months.” For that reason it is yet to be named. The tiny 171g, pink male cub was tenderly cared for, washed and cradled by his mother – and carried around in her month. The zoo said: “Less than 2,000 pandas can be found in the wild, making every birth a true miracle.”

Hao Hao carries her cub in her mouth at her home in a Belgium zoo.

Gabrielle Flinn, Conservation Officer for Buglife
Trust.

Fife conservation project is taking a stand against an alarming decline in the world’s bumblebee population. A £86,000 Fife Buzzing Project led by Buglife and Fife council is being funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It aims to create 12 hectares of native wildflower meadow at 16 sites including Tayside and Kirkcaldy. Gabrielle Flinn, 26, is a conservation officer with the trust Buglife. She said: “Not many people realise just how important bumblebees are. They are beautiful little creatures. But they also do an essential job that a lot of people take for granted. Without them we have ecological chaos.” It has been estimated that Britain has lost 97% of its flower-rich grasslands since the 1930’s. The human race should be extremely worried warn conservationists.

After the occasion Amber took a photo of their ringed hands.

A couple asked wedding guests to stay off their phones during their wedding celebrations in Stone Ridge, New York. Marley Jay and his wedding photographer wife, Amber, wanted an unplugged wedding in today’s phone and social media-mad age.  Marley said: “She’s been recommending that clients go unplugged for years.” Lizzie Post, great-great granddaughter of a US etiquette expert, said: “Today everyone is kind of watching your entire moment through a little 5in screen. We are not really in the moment. We’re recording the moment.”

Dundee Band The Sinderins play 'modern atmospheric folk mixed with pop
with carefully crafted pop'.

Dundee band Sinderins will play at Westfest this Sunday. Also in the line-up for the city’s biggest festival are the legendary Zimbabwean band, The Bhundu Boys, Rise Kagona and the Jit Jive Band from Edinburgh. Many more special mystery guests will be joining in the celebrations at Magdalen Green.

More than 15,000 visitors will flock to the Scottish Highland Games this summer. The games are a celebration of Scotland’s culture and heritage - featuring piping, highland dancing, and a range of athletics events.

Scottish Actor Ewan McGregor was spotted in his hometown of Crieff. The star has recently been in Edinburgh filming the follow-up to Trainspotting. He was seen at the local community country market with his parents. A Crieff resident, Isabel Simpson, who had a stall at the market said: “Everyone was so excited. He’s a local lad, educated at Morrison’s Academy. He never forgets Crieff. He was interested in all of the stalls and took time to talk to everyone.”