New York City Council passes ban on solitary confinement in jails
The New York City Council voted on Wednesday to ban the use of solitary confinement in city jails, with sponsors of the bill arguing that the practice is cruel and ...
Shipping industry in the dark over US-led Red Sea navy force
Shipping companies remain in the dark over a new international navy coalition being assembled by the United States to combat attacks in the Red Sea, with many vessels continuing to ...
Cuba’s Christmas not so merry this year as economic crisis grinds on
Cuban craft vendor Melani Ramos says she is feeling pretty down ahead of the holidays this year, as shelves that are bare and friends and family lost to a record-breaking ...
Russia splashes $12 billion to keep aviation sector in the air
Russia has handed out more than $12 billion in state subsidies and loans to keep its aviation sector afloat since Western sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine cut off supplies ...
Polish president denounces Tusk’s state media overhaul as ‘anarchy’
The new Polish government led by Donald Tusk is implementing reforms of state media that amount to “anarchy”, the president said on Thursday, amid rising tensions between the head of ...
First protests in Argentina as groups react to Milei austerity plan
Thousands of people took to the streets of Buenos Aires to protest against the government’s economic shock measures, in the first real test for Argentina‘s new libertarian president, ...
Ukraine to produce a million FPV drones next year -minister
Kyiv plans to produce a million FPV (first-person-view) drones, widely in demand on the front line, and more than 11,000 medium- and long-range attack drones next year, Ukraine’s minister for ...
Venezuela frees dozens, including Americans, in prisoner swap
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government is freeing at least 20 opposition-linked prisoners and 10 Americans in exchange for the U.S release of a Maduro ally, two senior U.S. officials ...
Toyota recalling 1.12 million vehicles over potential air bag issue
Toyota Motor 7203.T said on Wednesday it will recall 1.12 million vehicles worldwide because a short circuit in a sensor could cause air bags not to deploy as designed.
The recall ...
Hamas leader visits Egypt amid intensive talks on new ceasefire
The leader of Hamas paid his first visit to Egypt for more than a month on Wednesday, a rare personal intervention in diplomacy amid what a source described as intensive ...
AI cannot be patent ‘inventor’, UK Supreme Court rules in landmark case
A US computer scientist on Wednesday lost his bid to register patents over inventions created by his artificial intelligence system in a landmark case in Britain about whether AI can ...
Brazil’s Dani Alves to go trial in February in sexual assault case
Former Barcelona and Brazil defender Dani Alves’ trial in Spain on charges of sexual assault has been set for February 5-7, the top court in Catalonia said on Wednesday.
Alves ...
Dublin to take legal action over UK’s Northern Ireland amnesty law
Ireland said on Wednesday it would mount a legal challenge against Britain over a new law giving conditional amnesties to former soldiers and militants involved in decades of violence in ...
Russian billionaire Abramovich loses legal challenge against EU sanctions
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich on Wednesday lost a legal challenge to overturn sanctions imposed on him by the European Union in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, after ...
At least 66% of jobs lost in Gaza, more losses possible
At least 66% of jobs have been lost in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted in October, the International Labour (ILO) said on Wednesday, warning that employment losses could continue to ...
Greece advises vessels to avoid Yemeni waters after Red Sea attacks
Greece has advised commercial vessels sailing in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to avoid Yemeni waters, keep only the necessary crew on the bridge and follow alerts ...
France’s Macron faces cracks in his government over migration law
French President Emmanuel Macron faced cracks within his ruling alliance on Wednesday after parliament passed a toughened immigration bill, leaving him needing to find ways to appease left-leaning members.
The ...
Big UK inflation drop bolsters bets on Bank of England cuts next year
British inflation plunged in November to its lowest rate in over two years, prompting investors to pile further into bets that the Bank of England will cut interest rates next ...
EU agrees new rules on hosting migrants, seeks to cut numbers
The European Union reached agreement on Wednesday on new rules designed to share out the cost and work of hosting migrants more evenly and to limit the numbers of people ...
In a world first, Bern considers legalizing the recreational use of cocaine
Switzerland’s capital is examining a pilot scheme to allow the sale of cocaine for recreational use – a radical approach to the war on drugs that is not thought to ...
Holiday travel peaks in Europe despite security warnings
Travel within Europe in the busy holiday season is exceeding 2022 levels, despite security warnings from authorities around Europe as consumers remain determined to enjoy holidays, prolonging the post-pandemic travel boom.
...
Chinese rescuers brave freezing cold to find earthquake survivors
Braving sub-zero conditions, thousands of rescuers faced an uphill task on Wednesday finding and treating survivors of a strong earthquake that rocked a remote area in China’s northwestern Gansu ...
Israel battles Hamas on streets of Gaza city as UN delays vote again
Israeli troops and Hamas militants fought fierce gun battles on the streets of Gaza’s second-biggest city on Wednesday as the United Nations delayed a vote on a bid to ...
Landmark decision, Trump disqualified from primary ballot by Colorado Supreme Court
Former President Donald Trump is disqualified from serving as U.S. president and cannot appear on the primary ballot in Colorado because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on ...