Paris is significantly expanding its district cooling network, Fraîcheur de Paris, to combat intensifying heatwaves and the urban heat island effect. The system uses chilled water from the Seine to cool thousands of buildings, aiming to triple its size by 2042 and offer a more energy-efficient alternative to individual air conditioning units.
Portuguese President António José Seguro vetoed a bill that would ban ideological, partisan, or associative flags on public buildings. The proposal, approved by center-right and far-right parties, now returns to parliament.
South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will implement a Green Remodeling support program to enhance energy performance and climate disaster resilience in aging public buildings. 318 buildings were selected for the program.
Battered school indoor shoes, reportedly worn by graduating schoolgirls, have appeared in online shops in Japan, sparking fierce criticism over the fetishisation of young women. Removing outdoor shoes before entering homes, schools, companies and other public buildings is a deeply rooted custom in the country, tied to cleanliness and respect for shared spaces. Known as uwabaki, Japan’s traditional indoor shoes are typically white and shaped like ballet flats. At schools, from kindergarten...
