Queen Elizabeth to knight Tony Blair

Tony Blair, the former UK prime minister is to be knighted with the highest possible ranking in the New Year's Honours List, Buckingham Palace announced Friday.
https://ift.tt/32P8mVs

Hong Kong's statues are disappearing, but their symbolism may prove harder to erase

Depicting a heap of screaming faces and contorted torsos, the "Pillar of Shame" was not just a reminder of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre -- it was, for many, an emblem of free speech in Hong Kong.
https://ift.tt/3FMarQj

Biden told Putin there will be a 'heavy price to pay' if Russia invades Ukraine

President Joe Biden will speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, several days after Biden urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to ease an unremitting military crisis on Ukraine's border.
https://ift.tt/3EVBHLj

Biden to speak with Putin today at Russian leader's request

President Joe Biden will hold a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday afternoon "to discuss a range of topics, including upcoming diplomatic engagements with Russia," National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne told CNN.
https://ift.tt/3pBFrNq

Former Afghan President was given 'no more than two minutes' to get ready to flee Kabul

The former President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani said he was given "no more than two minutes" to get ready to flee Kabul in August, during the Taliban's rapid takeover of the country's capital.
https://ift.tt/3mJpz9N

Lebanon's soul has been eviscerated by its financial crisis. Not even children want to play

I'm crouched down in front of a 10-year-old boy sitting hunched over himself in the Beirut office of my charity INARA, the International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance. His dark brown eyes, fringed with impossibly long eyelashes, peer over his facemask.
https://ift.tt/32EBbUB

Hong Kong authorities insist newsroom raids and arrests have 'nothing to do with media work'

Hong Kong authorities are defending the arrests of seven people linked to a pro-democracy publication in the face of growing international condemnation, with the city's leader insisting the police raids had "nothing to do with journalistic or media work."
https://ift.tt/3EyJHBC

As Omicron spreads in India, mass gatherings spark fears of another wave

Doctors in India are bracing for a potential third wave driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant, as cases rise and political leaders hold mass gatherings ahead of key elections.
https://ift.tt/3EDzGmO

Alleged Chinese smugglers publicly shamed for breaching Covid rules

Police in southern China paraded four suspects through the streets for allegedly smuggling people across sealed borders in breach of pandemic control measures -- a controversial act of public shaming that triggered backlash on Chinese social media.
https://ift.tt/31aRO9T

The beautiful hidden valley in the heart of Europe

It's less than an hour's drive from Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana, yet the Vipava Valley hasn't really registered on the tourist radar.
https://ift.tt/3pz1Xqk

Russian court shuts down Memorial Human Rights Center, day after sister group ordered closed

A court in Moscow ordered the closure of the Memorial Human Rights Center on Wednesday, in the latest blow to Russian civil society groups.
https://ift.tt/3FysCce

Hong Kong pop star Denise Ho arrested by national security police

Cantopop star and prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Denise Ho was arrested at her home on Wednesday morning by the city's national security police.
https://ift.tt/33ZoZ13

Save the Children staff confirmed dead in Myanmar Christmas Eve attack

Two Save the Children staff, missing in eastern Myanmar after a deadly attack on civilians allegedly carried out by government soldiers, have been confirmed dead, the non-profit organization said on Tuesday.
https://ift.tt/3FGxLz2

Indonesia says it will turn away Rohingya refugees in stricken boat

Indonesian authorities will help repair a stranded boat packed with more than 100 Rohingya refugees off its coast, but will not allow its passengers to seek refuge in the Southeast Asian country and will turn the vessel away, officials told Reuters on Tuesday.
https://ift.tt/33T4BP5

The cultural moments that defined 2021

Year two of the pandemic was, in many ways, just as challenging and weird as the first.
https://ift.tt/3FxKS5G

Taliban bans women from solo, long-distance road trips in Afghanistan

The Taliban have banned women from taking long-distance road trips in Afghanistan on their own, requiring that a male relative accompany them for any distance beyond 45 miles, according to a Taliban official speaking to CNN.
https://ift.tt/32KHHJ2

Deadly flooding in Brazil kills at least 20 and displaces thousands, leaving Covid-19 vaccines submerged

The death toll from floods and heavy rain, which has blighted the Brazilian state of Bahia since November, rose to 20 after flooding intensified over the weekend, causing two dams to burst and the displacement of an estimated 62,800 people, state officials say.
https://ift.tt/3sFSxLq

Many Latin American countries now have higher vaccination rates than Europe and North America

Many countries in Latin America were hit with soaring Covid-19 death rates early in the pandemic, as coronavirus raged throughout the region. The tide is turning in many Latin American nations today, where vaccination rates are outpacing countries in Europe and North America and helping drive down deaths.
https://ift.tt/3qwTh2P

Iraq's supreme court ratifies contested election results

Iraq's Supreme Court has ratified the results of October's parliamentary election, dealing a blow to Iran-backed factions who have staged protests against the outcome of the vote.
https://ift.tt/3esN56n

Russian court shuts down human rights group Memorial International

Memorial International, a prominent human rights organization, said Tuesday that Russia's Supreme Court has ruled it must cease all its operations, in the latest blow to the country's shrinking civil society.
https://ift.tt/3HgBqnI

Japan and China agree to set up defense hotline amid territorial tensions

The defense ministers of Japan and China on Monday agreed to set up a joint communication hotline by the end of 2022, a news release from Japan's Defense Ministry said, amid tensions between the East Asian neighbors.
https://ift.tt/3pxPJ19

Drugs, violence and racism are creating a 'cocktail of neglect' in Marseille

The southern French port city of Marseille has made headlines in recent months over the deaths of several young people in drug-related shootouts, in what is often referred to as a "settling of scores."
https://ift.tt/3qrMuaQ

Israel announces plan to double Golan Heights population, drawing condemnation from Syria

Israel said on Sunday that it intends to double the population of the contested area of the Golan Heights in the coming years, drawing the ire of the Syrian government.
https://ift.tt/3HjLDzQ

Thousands left homeless and hungry at Christmas as Philippines faces up to climate crisis reality of super typhoon

Usually, Jay Lacia wakes at midnight on Christmas Day to start the festivities -- but this year, all he wished for was enough food to eat.
https://ift.tt/3ExEvOn

1,450 Afghan kids were evacuated to the US without their parents. Some are 'never going to be reunited with family'

An 8-year-old sobs every night after her aunt puts her to bed.
https://ift.tt/3FxSdSN

The pandemic pushed nearly 100 million people in poverty. They're struggling to escape

Dipali Roy couldn't afford to eat.
https://ift.tt/3JkbCsz

English Premier League hit by record 103 Covid-19 cases between Dec 20-26

The English Premier League has reported a record 103 Covid-19 cases in the week leading up to Boxing Day.
https://ift.tt/3Fxxyyf

'Massive tragedy' as heavy floods killed more than a dozen in Brazil

Heavy flooding has left at least a dozen people dead and more than 280 injured in the northeast region of Brazil, officials say. Journalist Stefano Pozzebon reports.
https://ift.tt/3sy9hEs

China's industrial profit growth tumbles as raw material prices fall

Profits at China's industrial firms grew at a much slower pace in November, the statistics bureau said on Monday, pressured by tumbling prices of some raw materials, a faltering property market and weaker consumer demand.
https://ift.tt/3EuMege

China will tighten rules on overseas IPOs, but won't ban them entirely

China is planning to tighten restrictions for Chinese companies that want to list overseas, but the government won't ban them from trading abroad altogether.
https://ift.tt/3JndLnt

Deadly flooding in Brazil displaces thousands

Heavy flooding has left at least 18 people dead and more than 280 injured in the northeast region of Brazil, officials say.
https://ift.tt/3pstBVK

Japan cancels dozens of flights due to snow

More than 100 domestic flights in Japan were grounded on Sunday due to heavy snow in the northern and western parts of the country, Japan's two biggest airlines said.
https://ift.tt/3sv9Pei

Desmond Tutu, anti-apartheid leader and voice of justice, dead at 90

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Anglican cleric whose good humor, inspiring message and conscientious work for civil and human rights made him a revered leader during the struggle to end apartheid in his native South Africa, has died. He was 90.
https://ift.tt/30Zcbqt

As the Taliban swept Kabul, one friend escaped. The other was trapped.

https://ift.tt/3Fz8BST

Pope reflects on relationships in pandemic times

Pope Francis has dedicated a large part of his traditional Christmas message on Saturday to reflect on the pandemic and its impact on relationships.
https://ift.tt/3mx6cRe

At least 16 people dead in Greek shipwreck

At least 16 people died when their boat overturned off the Greek island of Paros in the central Aegean Sea on Friday, in the third maritime disaster involving migrants this week, the country's coastguard said.
https://ift.tt/32Bb1lu

Arrival of Russian Wagner mercenaries in Mali condemned by European governments

Sixteen European governments have issued a statement to "firmly condemn the deployment of mercenary troops" in the west African state of Mali.
https://ift.tt/33Po57b

Japan says it won't send government officials to Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Japan will not send any senior officials or Cabinet ministers to the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, the government said Friday -- but stopped short of calling the decision a diplomatic boycott.
https://ift.tt/3eojaMJ

Qatar's ambitions to become 'the art Mecca of the Middle East'

The Middle East nation of Qatar has announced an ambitious plan to expand its public art program as it prepares to play host to the 2022 Fifa World Cup.
https://ift.tt/32qOOGR

Thailand seizes $30 million of crystal meth hidden in boxing punch bags

Thai authorities have seized crystal methamphetamine with a street value of almost $30 million stuffed inside boxing punch bags bound for Australia, officials said on Thursday.
https://ift.tt/3FpWLKF

Afghanistan's first president wants the world to work with the Taliban

Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai believes it is now time for the international community to work with the Taliban to prevent millions of people from starving to death.
https://ift.tt/3ss4e8n

US intel and satellite images show Saudi Arabia is now building its own ballistic missiles with help of China

• Opinion: France's $19 billion weapons deal is sweet revenge
https://ift.tt/3z1elm4

A Chinese city found a Covid cluster. All 13 million residents are now under lockdown

• How long should you isolate if you're fully vaccinated but have Covid-19?
https://ift.tt/3H6AguH

13 million put into lockdown in Chinese city

On Tuesday, the central Chinese city of Xi'an recorded 52 new Covid-19 cases. By Wednesday, authorities had imposed strict lockdown measures on its estimated 13 million residents. CNN's Selina Wang has more.
https://ift.tt/30S336S

She's nearly 3 but as small as an infant. This is the face of Afghanistan's hunger crisis

Kamila is almost 3 years old, but she weighs just 11 pounds (5 kilograms). Her wrinkled skin sags off her skeletal limbs and stretches around her distended belly.
https://ift.tt/3FCMefz

Tunisia's former President sentenced to prison in absentia, state media reports

A Tunisian court has found former President Moncef Marzouki guilty of "undermining the external security of the State" and sentenced him in absentia to four years in prison, the state news agency TAP reported Wednesday.
https://ift.tt/3pmctB0

Russia aims for January talks with NATO, US on security guarantees

Russia hopes to hold bilateral talks with NATO and the United States in January over security guarantees it is seeking from both, state media RIA Novosti reported Wednesday, citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
https://ift.tt/3Fhnucp

What can we expect from US-China relations in 2022?

2021 saw the elevation of Chinese President Xi Jinping as the country grows stronger and richer but moves further away from western democracies in ideology. CNN's David Culver takes a tour around the city of Beijing and reflects on what 2022 may have in store for the country's relations with the US.
https://ift.tt/3pid0E4

UN calls for investigation into allegations of rape during Sudan protests

The United Nations Human Rights Office said on Tuesday that it had received 13 allegations of rape and gang rape by security forces during protests in Sudan on Sunday, while opposition medics reported a second person killed.
https://ift.tt/3ssDrsO

Myanmar jade mine landslide leaves dozens feared missing

Dozens of people are feared missing after a landslide early on Wednesday at a jade mine in northern Myanmar, according to a civil society group and media reports.
https://ift.tt/3J4hYMF

Court orders Dubai ruler to pay his ex-wife $728M to cover security for the rest of her life

The ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has been ordered to pay his ex-wife Princess Haya bint al-Hussein more than $728 million (£500 million), in one of the largest divorce settlements ever handed down by a UK court.
https://ift.tt/3H2LgJO

UK Supreme Court backs Venezuela's Guaidó, bringing him closer to gold reserves

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó is one step closer to securing control of more than $1 billion dollars in gold reserves stored at the Bank of England, after Britain's Supreme Court unequivocally recognized him as President of Venezuela on Monday evening.
https://ift.tt/3mr92at

Putin says Russia has 'every right' to 'react harshly to unfriendly steps'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country has "every right" to "react harshly to unfriendly steps" as the US and NATO continue to pressure Moscow over its aggression towards Ukraine.
https://ift.tt/3qg72mn

US Special Envoy for Iran warns of 'escalating crisis' if talks fail to revive Iran nuclear deal

The time left to revive the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran is running out and raising the risk of an "escalating crisis," the United States Special Envoy for Iran, Rob Malley, told CNN's Becky Anderson on Tuesday.
https://ift.tt/3peFLSa

Chinese 'live-streaming queen' hit with huge tax evasion penalty

Chinese live-stream shopping influencer Huang Wei, known as Viya, has received a $210 million penalty for tax evasion and has been kicked off social media. It's the largest penalty ever imposed on a live-streamer, according to the Chinese state tabloid Global Times, and a sign of the Chinese government's pressure campaign on internet celebrities.
https://ift.tt/3qjBo7L

English Premier League sees surge in Covid-19 cases with 77% of players double jabbed

The English Premier League has seen a sharp rise in new Covid-19 cases among players as the Omicron variant continues its rapid spread through Britain.
https://ift.tt/3pg0Ifx

Richard Rogers, Pritzker Prize-winning British architect, dies aged 88

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Rogers, whose landmark buildings include the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the 3 World Trade Center tower in New York and London's Millennium Dome, has died aged 88. Rogers "passed away quietly" on Saturday evening, his representative Matthew Freud of Freud Communications confirmed to CNN on Sunday.
https://ift.tt/3J4wNhY

20 astonishing facts about the A380 superjumbo

Beloved by passengers for its spaciousness and comfort, but disliked by airlines because of its running costs, the Airbus A380 has already entered its sunset years, even though it debuted commercially just 14 years ago.
https://ift.tt/3IU5KpP

Analysis: Xi Jinping has been taking on China's capitalists. That will change in 2022

One year ago, Chinese leader Xi Jinping pledged to spend 2021 reining in "disorderly" private businesses that were growing too powerful and taking on too much risk.
https://ift.tt/3q4kAkI

Fearing torture and possible execution, Iranian powerlifter quit team in Norway and ran for his life

Athletes who are good enough to compete in the world championships are among the very best in their field. They dedicate their lives to the pursuit of their craft, they are proud to represent their countries, and they all dream of returning home with medals around their necks.
https://ift.tt/3q4Dbgw

Hong Kong sees record low voter turnout

Hong Kong's first "patriots only" legislative election witnessed a record low turnout on Sunday, reflecting a steep decline in civic and political engagement following Beijing's overhaul of the city's electoral processes.
https://ift.tt/3e7zG3p

Watch: Spider interrupts Australian news conference

A huntsman spider interrupted Queensland's health minister as she held a briefing on the Covid-19 situation across the state.
https://ift.tt/3GMXqpQ

Death toll from Super Typhoon Rai climbs to at least 75 people in the Philippines

The death toll from Super Typhoon Rai has climbed to at least 75 people, local officials reported Saturday, after the storm wreaked havoc across the Philippines late last week.
https://ift.tt/3mla9s3

'We were cheated, framed, and scammed': Five suspected assassins say they're innocent

https://ift.tt/3sfPjhy

Retiring Boomers, not lazy Millennials, are driving the labor shortage

Editor's Note: A version of this story appeared in CNN Business' Nightcap newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free, here.
https://ift.tt/3HaXgcj

The market may be ignoring risk of Omicron shutdowns

Wall Street is getting nervous about what will happen to the economy next year.
https://ift.tt/3IR5Mi2

Opinion: Our device-driven lives depend on tragedy in the Democratic Republic of Congo

November in the Democratic Republic of Congo's southern region means one thing -- the rains are coming. Storms explode with biblical fury across the land, transforming desiccated bush into lush green forests, and clearing the thick haze of grit that has suffocated the mining provinces for months.
https://ift.tt/30AtIVA

Flash floods in northern Iraq kill 12 people

At least 12 people have died in flash floods caused by heavy rains overnight in northern and northeastern Iraq, Erbil mayor Nabz Abdulhamid told CNN Friday.
https://ift.tt/3GSaNVN

The pandemic forced Kim Jong Un into retreat. The world should brace for his resurgence

Ten years ago, the world watched as a young Kim Jong Un solemnly walked beside his father's hearse on a snowy morning in Pyongyang as distraught North Koreans wailed in grief.
https://ift.tt/3ywrrHH

Up to 27 feared dead in building fire in Japan

Up to 27 people are feared dead after a fire broke out in a building in a shopping district in Osaka, Japan, according to the Osaka Fire department.
https://ift.tt/3mc0pAy

As Cuba reopens to the world, many of its own look to leave

Hours before the airline offices open for the day, hundreds of Cubans wait in line, hoping to snag a hard-to-find ticket off the island.
https://ift.tt/30xDHei

Miss World 2021 postponed hours before finale amid Covid-19 outbreak

This year's Miss World competition, scheduled to take place Thursday in Puerto Rico, has been postponed after multiple people linked to the event -- including 23 of the 97 contestants -- tested positive for Covid-19.
https://ift.tt/3p1DhpT

'Extremely rare' 17th-century painting of Black woman with White companion placed under export bar

A 17th-century painting showing a Black woman with her White companion has been placed under a temporary export bar to reduce the risk of the artwork leaving the United Kingdom.
https://ift.tt/3s2ZupP

Bill to clamp down on products from China's Xinjiang passes Congress, will head to Biden

The US Senate passed legislation on Thursday to ban imports from China's Xinjiang region over concerns about forced labor, part of Washington's continued pushback against Beijing's treatment of the country's Uyghur Muslim minority.
https://ift.tt/3yHh4ks

Five children dead and four injured after wind lifts bouncy castle into the air

Five children died and four suffered serious injuries when they fell 32 feet (10 meters) from a bouncy castle lifted into the air by wind at a school event in Australia on Thursday.
https://ift.tt/3EZRYiU

9 reasons to visit Chengdu when China reopens

While China still hasn't announced solid plans to reopen its border to international leisure travelers, there's no harm in starting to dream about your next visit now.
https://ift.tt/3sdQQ7W

Remaining missionaries kidnapped in Haiti released by gang, says justice minister

The remaining 12 hostages kidnapped by an armed gang in Haiti two months ago were released Thursday, according to the country's justice minister.
https://ift.tt/3IXotAT

More Premier League game postponed

Manchester United announced on Thursday that their Premier League home fixture against Brighton, to be played on Saturday, has been postponed due to "the number of players and support staff having to isolate due to Covid-19".
https://ift.tt/3FhqS7j

Bank of England hikes interest rates to tackle prices

The Bank of England is hiking interest rates in an effort to fight surging prices even as the Omicron variant engulfs the United Kingdom and threatens to put the economy into reverse.
https://ift.tt/3p2xUHj

France shuts out UK tourists over Omicron concerns

UK travelers are to be banned from traveling to France for tourism and will instead be required to present a "compelling reason" to enter the country.
https://ift.tt/3yvuobr

Nine killed in Dominican Republic private jet crash

Nine people were killed on Wednesday after a private aircraft crashed while making an emergency landing at Las Americas Airport in the Dominican Republic's capital Santo Domingo, according to the plane's operator.
https://ift.tt/3ysmQpX

France to ban plastic bottles in stadiums to protect players and staff

The sale and carrying of plastic bottles is to be banned in French stadiums from July 2022, the French government announced Thursday in a statement.
https://ift.tt/3E5ml69

Black tech entrepreneurs struggle to find funding in the UK. Now they're looking abroad

Black tech entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom say they have to rely on foreign investors to get their businesses off the ground.
https://ift.tt/3magF4W

Top editor at nationalist Chinese state tabloid retires

The longtime editor of one of China's most outspoken and nationalistic state media outlets says he's stepping down.
https://ift.tt/3F497Ic

Thousands evacuate as the Philippines braces for Super Typhoon Rai

Tens of thousands of people have evacuated their homes in the Philippines as the archipelago braces for Super Typhoon Rai, known locally as Odette, which is expected to pass through the southern and central portions of the country on Thursday afternoon.
https://ift.tt/3sb2v7w

Bali only received 45 international tourists in 2021 despite reopening

Destinations around the world have faced significant tourist reductions amid the coronavirus pandemic. But few have taken a harder hit than Bali, the Indonesian island long beloved of global travelers.
https://ift.tt/30AIyM0

Family finds deadly snake in Christmas tree

The venomous boomslang was first spotted by the Wild family's cats and stayed there for two hours until a professional catcher removed it.
https://ift.tt/3IR73px

German police conduct raids in Saxony over 'anti-vaxxer murder plot'

German police searched several locations in the eastern state of Saxony on Wednesday as part of an investigation into what they said was a plot to murder the state's prime minister, Michael Kretschmer, by anti-vaccination activists.
https://ift.tt/3s7xhOp

Philippines' Duterte quits senate race in new election twist

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday withdrew his bid to become a senator, the same day his preferred successor quit the presidential race, adding to uncertainty about the mercurial leader's political future and the scope of his influence.
https://ift.tt/328Zx8E

Dissident journalist jailed in Vietnam for 9 years for 'anti-state' acts

A court in Vietnam jailed a journalist and prominent dissident for nine years on Tuesday for anti-state activities, her lawyers and state media said, in a case that attracted the attention of international human rights groups.
https://ift.tt/3s7YS2a

Surprise! Holiday packages are moving on time

Here's a rare piece of holiday cheer in a year of screwed up supply chains: Shipments and deliveries are actually moving fairly well.
https://ift.tt/3GKHaFO

He killed some of Coke's most beloved brands. And he'd do it all over again

Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey, a 25-year veteran of the company, has been hearing it from disgruntled niche beverage fans.
https://ift.tt/3pQpz8E

These companies dominated 2021

Oil prices began 2021 just under $50 a barrel. They are now trading just north of $70 and in October reached $85 -— a seven-year high. So it should come as no surprise that energy stocks are among the market's biggest winners this year.
https://ift.tt/3oOjGtp

These 5 stocks are driving the market

Despite anxiety about inflation and the Omicron variant, the stock market is on track for another banner year. That's in large part thanks to stellar gains from just a handful of stocks.
https://ift.tt/3GFH0Qc

Jobs have never been so secure. Bosses have stopped firing people

If you have a job today, chances have never been better that you can keep it as long as you want.
https://ift.tt/3ync5Fd

Miss Universe 2021 crowned

Harnaaz Sandhu of India was crowned Miss Universe 2021 on Sunday, marking the end of a controversial pageant hosted this year in southern Israel.
https://ift.tt/3GA5r1i

How dead chickens keep airplanes safe

Birds may be the undisputed masters of the air, but they've been at the losing end of airborne collisions since the dawn of aviation in 1905, when pioneer pilot Orville Wright reported the first bird strike.
https://ift.tt/3DwI86E

House lawmakers push Biden administration to do more to deter Russian aggression against Ukraine

US lawmakers who have just returned from a trip to Ukraine are urging the Biden administration to take proactive steps to prevent further Russian aggression toward the country and to be prepared to place "extreme sanctions" on Moscow if it moves militarily against its neighbor.
https://ift.tt/3dRpdch

At least 62 dead after gas tanker explodes in Haiti's second largest city

At least 62 people have been killed and dozens left injured after a tanker transporting gasoline exploded in Cap-Haitien, Haiti's second largest city on Monday, authorities said.
https://ift.tt/3ETEZ2c

Malta to become first country in Europe to legalize cannabis for recreational use

Malta is set to become the first European Union country to legalize cannabis for recreational use.
https://ift.tt/3m72ltT

UAE suspends multi-billion dollar weapons deal in sign of growing frustration with US-China showdown

The United Arab Emirates has suspended a multi-billion dollar deal to buy US-made F-35 fighter jets, in a sign of Abu Dhabi's growing frustration with Washington's attempts to limit Chinese technology sales to the oil-rich Gulf state.
https://ift.tt/30oWzvY

UN sounds alarm over extrajudicial killings in the Taliban's Afghanistan

The United Nations (UN) said Tuesday that it was alarmed by continuing reports of extrajudicial killings across Afghanistan, including hangings, beheadings and public displays of corpses.
https://ift.tt/3oR29AQ

Belarusian opposition figure sentenced to 18 years at high-security penal colony

Siarhei Tsikhanouski, the husband of Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison at a high-security penal colony, Belarusian state media BelTA reported on Tuesday.
https://ift.tt/3p1Yalb

Poems written by a computer light up the UK Pavilion at Expo Dubai

"In time, we will put our eyes to this light and see that these people are the peers of nature. And forgivingly, when they appear we will lift up our song and sing, and say we cannot praise too much of any single thing." It may read like poetry, but these lines weren't composed by a poet -- they were written by an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm.
https://ift.tt/3oUlOzY

7.6 magnitude earthquake hits off coast of Indonesia

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia on Tuesday, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
https://ift.tt/3GHWKCg

Chinese social media giant Weibo fined by regulator for publishing illegal information

Chinese social media platform Weibo Corp has been slapped with a 3 million yuan ($470,000) fine by China's internet regulator for repeatedly publishing illegal information.
https://ift.tt/3oSi41R

Militant attack in India's Srinagar kills three police officers, injures 11

A militant attack in Indian Kashmir left three police officers dead and 11 others injured, according to local police.
https://ift.tt/3EVBVCG

Ghana airport will fine airlines if they bring unvaccinated passengers to the country

The operator of Ghana's main international airport will fine airlines $3,500 for every passenger they fly in who is not vaccinated against COVID-19 or who tests positive for the coronavirus upon arrival, it said on December 13.
https://ift.tt/3EVobYz

Champions League draw redone after error

Paris Saint-Germain will play Real Madrid in a star-studded Champions League last 16 tie after fixtures were re-drawn following a technical error.
https://ift.tt/3Gz7qCU

Meet CNN's Hero of the Year

• Hear Shirley Raines' emotional remarks after big win • Photos: 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'
https://ift.tt/3oO95yH

Inside 2021's 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'

See highlights from the 2021 red carpet and ceremony honoring CNN's Top 10 Heroes and CNN's Hero of the Year.
https://ift.tt/3GGgrKr

Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai and 7 others sentenced to prison over banned Tiananmen vigil

A Hong Kong court has sentenced media tycoon Jimmy Lai and seven other pro-democracy figures to up to 14 months behind bars for participating in an unauthorized assembly last year to commemorate the Tiananmen Square crackdown.
https://ift.tt/3m1NTU6

Walking from your bed to home office now counts as commuting in Germany

A man who slipped down the stairs and broke his back while walking from his bed to home office can file a claim on his employer's insurance after a court in Germany ruled that he was commuting at the time.
https://ift.tt/3DCO91K

China's currency is having an even better year than the US dollar. Here's why

China is grappling with a slowing economy, yet its currency has rarely been stronger. The yuan is also outperforming the US dollar this year even as the Fed prepares to hike interest rates. So what gives?
https://ift.tt/3lPrM2Q

Parents of the social media generation are not OK

Last September, just a few weeks into the school year, Sabine Polak got a call from the guidance counselor. Her 14-year-old daughter was struggling with depression and had contemplated suicide.
https://ift.tt/3rKjOMr

Telescope in Chile captures an image of one of the largest planets ever found

• 'I wanna go back': Michael Strahan after traveling to the edge of space
https://ift.tt/3EYHsIA

New Caledonia rejects independence in final vote amid referendum boycott

The French territory of New Caledonia voted against independence in a referendum on Sunday, provisional results showed, amid a big drop in turnout due to a boycott of the vote by the independence movement.
https://ift.tt/3pTCd6G

South African President tests positive for Covid-19 with mild symptoms

• World's top tourist destination on 'very high' travel risk list
https://ift.tt/3oMgq1w

Hong Kong has kept out Covid, but exhausted and depressed pilots are paying the price

Before the pandemic, Hong Kong was an aviation hub attracting pilots from around the world.
https://ift.tt/31KIRnX

Crypto heists are only getting bigger. Here's what you should know

Over the summer, an anonymous hacker stole roughly $600 million in cryptocurrency from Poly Network, a decentralized finance network many outside the crypto world had likely never heard of. Then the hacker gave it back.
https://ift.tt/3lYF2lY

Breathe easy with 0% APR until 2023

https://ift.tt/3kBO6M3

People fleeing economic wreckage in the Middle East say they'd do it 100 times over

Four-year-old Azhi hobbles across a makeshift migrant center on the Polish-Belarusian border. Grabbing his mother's hand for support, he carefully tucks his legs under piles of donated blankets.
https://ift.tt/3ISDcNs

What happened after a bishop told kids Santa doesn't exist

The bishop of Noto in Sicily stunned schoolchildren last week when he dropped a bombshell during an arts festival -- telling them Father Christmas wasn't real.
https://ift.tt/3IIIESM

Mary, Queen of Scots used 'spiral locking' technique to preserve secrecy of last letter before execution

Mary, Queen of Scots used a "spiral locking" technique to seal the last letter she wrote before her execution, indicating that she wanted the contents to remain secret, according to research published in the Electronic British Library Journal.
https://ift.tt/3rYEWP4

Trump accuses Netanyahu of disloyalty for congratulating Biden: 'F**k him'

Former President Donald Trump railed against his one-time close ally Benjamin Netanyahu in a new interview series, saying he felt betrayed by the then-prime minister of Israel's call to Joe Biden congratulating him on winning the presidency.
https://ift.tt/3dEiX7D

Hamas ammunition warehouse explodes causing casualties in southern Lebanon

A Hamas warehouse filled with ammunition at a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon exploded on Friday, causing casualties, according to Lebanon state-run NNA news.
https://ift.tt/3EMVAof

CNN Heroes celebrates 15 years of inspiring the world

For 15 years, CNN Heroes has been honoring everyday people changing the world. Since 2007, we have recognized more than 350 Heroes from all 50 states and more than 110 countries. While their missions are diverse, they all are dedicated to helping others. The impact of their work is staggering.
https://ift.tt/3EM9kzQ

Tigrayan forces summarily executed dozens of civilians in Ethiopia's Amhara region, HRW says

Tigrayan forces summarily executed dozens of civilians in two towns they controlled in Ethiopia's northern Amhara region between August 31 and September 9, 2021, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday.
https://ift.tt/3EIKQYg

US authorities win their latest bid to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

US authorities have won their bid to overturn a British judge's ruling that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should not be extradited to face charges in the United States, on the basis of assurances given about his treatment there.
https://ift.tt/31JrX9e

Evergrande can't pay its debts. China is scrambling to contain the fallout

Evergrande has defaulted on its debt. Now Beijing is intervening to prevent a disorderly collapse of the indebted real estate group that could wreak havoc on the world's second biggest economy.
https://ift.tt/3ybhlvu

Dozens killed in Mexico road accident as truck carrying more than 100 migrants crashes

At least 54 people were killed and more than 100 injured when a truck overturned in southern Mexico on Thursday, with most of the victims believed to be migrants from Central America, according to local authorities.
https://ift.tt/3pGiAit

Nicaragua ends relations with Taiwan

Nicaragua's government has broken off diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
https://ift.tt/3pKtzYo

Uyghur tribunal rules that China 'committed genocide' against the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities

A London-based independent tribunal has ruled that China committed genocide against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in its western Xinjiang region, accusing China's senior leadership including President Xi Jinping of "primary responsibility" for acts perpetrated against Muslim minority groups.
https://ift.tt/3EIcep2

They sailed into a hurricane, now these unmanned Saildrones are seeking data on our carbon uptake

Six unmanned Saildrones are heading out on a six-month voyage to face some of Earth's most hostile ocean conditions, in hopes of improving climate change and weather forecast computer models.
https://ift.tt/3dAsVa9

GameStop's losses are widening. It's still up more than 800% this year

For once, investors are treating GameStop like a normal stock.
https://ift.tt/3ygZ5B1

EU wants millions of gig economy workers to get paid leave and a minimum wage

As many as four million European gig economy workers could become employees if new draft EU legislation becomes law.
https://ift.tt/3dEPrOY

Glimmers of hope emerge in the supply chain nightmare

Epic port congestion is easing. Shipping prices are falling from sky-high levels. Deliveries are speeding up a bit. There are growing signs that the supply chain mess is finally starting to get cleaned up.
https://ift.tt/3yi3eEY

Boris and Carrie Johnson announce birth of baby daughter

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson have announced the birth of a "healthy baby girl," according to the UK's Press Association. The baby was born on Thursday morning at a London hospital.
https://ift.tt/31KoZB9

How to practice religion could be a big question for some space tourists

For centuries, a setting sun has signaled the end of fasting rituals on holidays such as Ramadan and Yom Kippur, a cue to tuck into a delicious meal after a full day of deprivation. But what if the sun's clockwork were to suddenly change, as it does for astronauts riding aboard the International Space Station, which whips around the Earth at 17,000 miles per hour, giving passengers 16 sunrises and sunsets each day?
https://ift.tt/3z9LkTr

Olaf Scholz appointed as Germany's new chancellor, replacing Angela Merkel after 16 years

Olaf Scholz has been sworn in as Germany's new Chancellor on Wednesday, bringing to an end Angela Merkel's four terms at the helm of Europe's largest economy.
https://ift.tt/3pEnhJO

Germany records highest number of daily Covid-19 deaths since February

Germany recorded its highest number of daily deaths from Covid-19 since February on Wednesday, as it struggles to bring a fourth wave of the pandemic under control.
https://ift.tt/3rJJGrB

Why millions of German residents can't vote

Editor's note: This story is part of CNN's commitment to covering issues around identity, including race, gender, sexuality, religion, class and caste.
https://ift.tt/3lKOsS9

Japanese billionaire soars into space

Yusaku Maezawa, a Japanese billionaire, soared into outer space aboard a Russian-built Soyuz capsule and rocket Wednesday morning, kicking off the first self-funded tourism mission to the International Space Station in a decade.
https://ift.tt/3rO64jF

Scottish oysters were on the rocks. Now a whiskey distillery is throwing them a lifeline

Professor William Sanderson, or Bill as he likes to be known, wades into the shallows of the Dornoch Firth as the sun breaks over the ragged skyline of the Scottish Highlands, turning the waters gold. Something in the water catches his eye and he stoops to pick it up. "This is a European native oyster," he explains. "They used to be very abundant in this site thousands of years ago right up to the 1800s."
https://ift.tt/3lFRtTF

American productivity fell by the largest amount since 1960

US labor market productivity tanked in the third quarter. Paychecks grew and the number of hours worked jumped, but workers' output increased only at a moderate pace.
https://ift.tt/3dpaIMK

Elon Musk doubles down on ending 'subsidies' as competitors now reap more benefits

Elon Musk has described electric cars as critical to fighting climate change, which he's said he believes could cause more displacement and destruction than all the wars in history combined. So you might think he'd support the federal government funding electric vehicle charging stations.
https://ift.tt/3EO5uX3

Bitcoin's self-proclaimed inventor wins trial over stash worth $54 billion

A computer scientist who has claimed to be the inventor of bitcoin largely prevailed on Monday in a Florida jury trial over whether the estate of a former business partner deserved half of a bitcoin cache worth about $54 billion.
https://ift.tt/3EBJDlm

Australia joins US in diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Australia will join the United States in a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Wednesday.
https://ift.tt/3rK1djv

Malaysia court upholds guilty verdict for former PM Najib's 1MDB conviction

A Malaysian court on Wednesday upheld former Prime Minister Najib Razak's guilty verdict on corruption charges over a multi-billion dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), dealing a blow to his hopes of a political comeback.
https://ift.tt/3IuTM5J

Chile's Congress votes to legalize same-sex marriage

Chile's Congress voted on Tuesday to approve a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, clearing the way for it to become law.
https://ift.tt/3GrvZ50

'Biblical' flooding in South Sudan displaces hundreds of thousands

The climate crisis has triggered 'biblical' flooding in South Sudan displacing hundreds of thousands of residents. CNN's Clarissa Ward reports.
https://ift.tt/3ItRR19

2022 is when investors will finally return to value stocks. Really

Stop us if you've heard this before: Market strategists are predicting that 2022 will finally be the year when investors choose value stocks -— like banking, oil, consumer, industrial and healthcare companies — over Big Techs, such as Apple, Amazon and Facebook owner Meta.
https://ift.tt/3pu3PPH

Should retailers like Kohl's and Macy's break themselves up?

For years, the future of the department store has been in doubt, as shoppers abandon malls and instead opt to scoop up dresses, appliances and accessories online. But some investors believe they've found a clever way for these once-mighty brands to move forward.
https://ift.tt/31xVjr3

Federal regulators are investigating the Trump SPAC deal

The shell company that is facilitating former President Donald Trump's return to Wall Street disclosed Monday that federal regulators are investigating the deal.
https://ift.tt/3GmYosT

Ukraine's defense minister warns there will be a 'bloody massacre' if Russia invades

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has told CNN there will be a "really bloody massacre" if Russia decides to invade Ukraine, and warned that "Russian guys also will come back in the coffins," amid heightened alarm about troop movements on the nations' border.
https://ift.tt/3xZJLZo

Kenyan police officer kills six in shooting rampage, police say

A Kenyan police officer shot dead five people in a rampage through the capital Nairobi on Tuesday and then shot and killed himself, the police Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said.
https://ift.tt/3lGR1oh

India signs trade and arms deals with Russia during Putin's visit to New Delhi

Russia and India signed a flurry of trade and arms deals during President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, including one that will see India produce more than 600,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles.
https://ift.tt/3y4I3pB

Suspected car-ramming attack by Palestinian teen highlights rising tensions, amid questions over Israeli police actions

A 15-year old Palestinian boy suspected of deliberately ramming his car into an Israeli army checkpoint, injuring a security guard, has been shot dead, according to Israel's Defense Ministry. The security guard was taken to hospital where he was undergoing surgery. His condition is described as stable.
https://ift.tt/3pwOsWX

3 more hostages released in Haiti, aid group says

Three more members of a group of 17 hostages kidnapped in Haiti in October were released Sunday night, according to a statement from the US-based Christian Aid Ministries.
https://ift.tt/3Exud1r

Soccer club's uniform features a QR code

It's a football uniform with a difference -- it has a QR code which, when scanned, will direct users to a web page to learn more about the issues of sportswashing and alleged human rights abuses that surround the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
https://ift.tt/3EwrXaD

Aung San Suu Kyi faces two years in jail after her sentence is halved

Myanmar's deposed civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, faces two years in jail after her sentence was halved by the country's military, state media MRTV reported on Monday.
https://ift.tt/3xVCKca

Goldman Sachs cuts US GDP growth forecast for 2022 over Omicron fears

Goldman Sachs on Saturday cut its outlook for U.S. economic growth to 3.8% for 2022, citing risks and uncertainty around the emergence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
https://ift.tt/2ZXMW7s

They bought a cheap house in Italy. Here's what they learned

Buying a cheap property in Italy is an attractive prospect for many travelers, particularly with the ever-growing number of towns offering up homes for next to nothing through regeneration schemes.
https://ift.tt/3Dh1E6X

All you need to know about the latest Omicron travel restrictions

Well. It was good while it lasted, eh?
https://ift.tt/3rI8Pmq

ITF 'does not want to punish a billion people' by suspending China tournaments in Peng Shuai row

The governing body of tennis, the International Tennis Foundation (ITF), has not suspended tournaments in China because it "does not want to punish a billion people," its president said Sunday.
https://ift.tt/31Fbumg

US reluctance to lift sanctions main hurdle to reviving 2015 pact, Iran official says

The reluctance of the United States to lift all sanctions on Iran is the main challenge to reviving a 2015 nuclear pact, a senior Iranian official said on Sunday, as Western powers questioned Tehran's determination to salvage the agreement.
https://ift.tt/3DmlEoU

Volcano rescue workers dig through thick layers of hot ash in Indonesia after Mount Semeru erupts

Rescue workers in Indonesia continued to dig through thick layers of hot ash and debris Monday to find survivors of a volcanic eruption that left more than a dozen people dead and thousands displaced in the country's East Java province, even as the volcano continued to erupt ash.
https://ift.tt/3IolSzt

Canada is having difficulty following through with strict vaccine mandates

Canada's tight labor market is forcing many companies to offer regular Covid-19 testing over vaccine mandates, while others are reversing previously announced inoculation requirements even as Omicron variant cases rise.
https://ift.tt/3ooSlh6

Stolen yogini goddess statue, once on sale at Sotheby's, to be returned to India

A stolen yogini statue, which was once on sale at Sotheby's auction house in London, will be returned to the High Commission of India to be repatriated.
https://ift.tt/3dpBSTw

World's second tallest building tops out in Malaysia

The spire of a soaring 118-story skyscraper has topped out at over 2,227 feet above Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur.
https://ift.tt/2ZOMF6C

Britain needs a 'booster for growth' as tax hikes threaten investment

Britain's economy needs much more investment. Business says it's unlikely to get it any time soon.
https://ift.tt/3EsYmPw

UN and US condemn Myanmar military after protest reportedly turns deadly

At least five people were killed in Myanmar when a vehicle plowed into anti-junta protesters this weekend, according to local media. The attack took place in a Yangon township, news outlet Myanmar Now reported Sunday, citing protesters and eyewitnesses.
https://ift.tt/3xWuNTQ

See Indonesia's Semeru volcano erupt

Indonesia's Mount Semeru volcano in East Java Province has erupted. Authorities say thousands have been displaced due to the smoke and ash.
https://ift.tt/3plbMXi

Top Space Force official: China is developing space capabilities at 'twice the rate' of US

Gen. David Thompson, vice chief of space operations for the US Space Force, said Saturday China is developing its space capabilities at "twice the rate" of the US.
https://ift.tt/3InpXUI

A museum sits between North and South Korea. The curator wears a bulletproof vest

Art has always had the power to be dangerous. But a newly opened art museum is taking that to another level.
https://ift.tt/3DtD3fk

US and other countries 'deeply concerned by reports of summary killings' in Afghanistan

More than 20 countries, including the United States, issued a joint statement Saturday expressing deep concern over allegations of extra-judicial killings and disappearances of former member of former security forces in Afghanistan.
https://ift.tt/3djf5sr

Banning US oil exports would be a 'gift to OPEC and Putin,' Big Oil CEO says

President Joe Biden has already launched the biggest intervention into energy markets in a decade. Big Oil is nervous he's not nearly done yet.
https://ift.tt/3dg20jV

Europe unveils its $340 billion answer to China's Belt and Road initiative

The European Union has unveiled its €300 billion ($340 billion) alternative to China's Belt and Road initiative — an investment program the bloc claims will create "links, not dependencies."
https://ift.tt/31kp1zJ

We know who is attacking us and we know how to get even, says Israel's cyber defense chief

On a nondescript office park in the desert town of Be'er Sheva, a "war room" filled with screens showing various maps, rolling information, and graphics inform around a dozen or so staffers, manning computers at the central heart of Israel's civilian cyber defense system.
https://ift.tt/31xLatS

Militants kill at least 31 in central Mali, say local authorities

Militants killed at least 31 people in central Mali on Friday when they fired on a bus ferrying people to a local market, local authorities said -- the latest deadly attack in a region racked by violent insurgency.
https://ift.tt/3rwn4Lj

US, European allies sound a pessimistic note as Iran nuclear talks break in Vienna

US and European officials sounded a pessimistic note Friday as the latest round of talks to revive the Iran nuclear deal concluded, saying that Tehran's maximalist demands and push to unwind previously agreed upon points are leaving them disappointed and concerned.
https://ift.tt/3rvg0P3

US officials say humanitarian effort in Syria is another means to counter ISIS

United States special operations forces in northeastern Syria have been quietly visiting local villages to help provide medical care to communities which have seen little health care in the wake of years of war.
https://ift.tt/3pocKSH

Taliban decree on women's rights, which made no mention of school or work, dismissed by Afghan women and experts

The Taliban released a so-called "decree on women's rights" on Friday that failed to mention access to education or work and was immediately panned by Afghan women and experts, who said it was proof that the militant group was uninterested in upholding basic freedoms for millions of Afghan women who have largely been constrained to their homes in recent months.
https://ift.tt/3EnIiyu

Pakistan PM calls mob killing 'day of shame' for the country

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has called a violent mob killing of a Sri Lankan national on Friday "a day of shame for Pakistan."
https://ift.tt/3xPy0oq

'It is torture': Canada's lower house passes passes bill banning conversion therapy

CNN's Bianca Nobilo speaks with Marci Ien, Canada's Minister for Women and Gender Equality, after lawmakers in the country's House of Commons unanimously passed a bill banning conversion therapy practices.
https://ift.tt/31r7TIn

9-year-old Afghan girl who was sold into marriage rescued after CNN report

Last month, CNN reported that Parwana and several other underage girls were being sold by their fathers so other members of their families could eat. After an international outcry as a result of CNN's story, Parwana was returned to her family due to the backlash from the community against the buyer. CNN's Anna Coren has the update.
https://ift.tt/3lvdK6v

Didi's delisting could spell the end for Chinese stocks on Wall Street

The era of big Chinese companies heading to the United States to raise money may have just come to an end.
https://ift.tt/32MsiYQ

Grab plunges 21% in biggest Wall Street debut by a Southeast Asian company

The Southeast Asian unicorn Grab had a rough first day on Wall Street.
https://ift.tt/31j08V3

Facebook sold ads comparing vaccine to Holocaust

Facebook has sold ads promoting anti-vaccine messages, comparing the US government's response to Covid-19 to Nazi Germany, casting doubt on the result of the 2020 election, and even pushing political violence.
https://ift.tt/31tj4Qs

Colombia seizes hundreds of tarantulas and insects bound for Germany

Hundreds of wild spiders and insects were seized by Colombian authorities on Thursday as they foiled an alleged attempt to smuggle the bugs to Europe, officials said.
https://ift.tt/3xR9P8R

The rescue of Parwana: 9-year-old child bride is taken to safety in Afghanistan

Driving through a snow-capped mountain pass, the young mother huddles together with her six children in the backseat of a car after leaving their makeshift camp in northwestern Afghanistan.
https://ift.tt/3EmEAVL

Sword-wielding man dressed as a ninja shot by French police

A man dressed like a ninja was shot by French police after he attempted to attack two officers with a sword in the western city of Cherbourg on Thursday, authorities said.
https://ift.tt/3G8wsZt

Archbishop allegedly involved in 'intimate relationship' with woman resigns

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Michel Aupetit from the position of Archbishop of Paris following reports that Aupetit had a consensual "intimate relationship" with a woman.
https://ift.tt/3pkXo1x

Abuse directed at London Hanukkah party bus investigated as a hate crime, police say

London Metropolitan Police are investigating a video that appeared to show a group of men spitting at group of Jewish people celebrating Hanukkah earlier this week.
https://ift.tt/3ltAMux

OPEC and Russia will pump more oil in January despite price plunge

Saudi Arabia, Russia and other leading oil producers have decided to stick with plans to increase supply in January despite a recent plunge in prices driven by fears of a new glut.
https://ift.tt/3IgudW0

A battle is brewing at the WTO. Here's why it matters for a global Covid-19 response

For the past year, member nations of the World Trade Organization have been deadlocked over a proposal made by India and South Africa to temporarily suspend intellectual property rights to boost production of Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics for low-income nations.
https://ift.tt/3dbFZ5t

US imposes new sanctions on Belarus

The United States imposed a wide new tranche of sanctions on Belarus in response to the migrant crisis on the border with Poland and ongoing human rights violations by the Lukashenko regime.
https://ift.tt/3Dh3sNp

Sexual violence and abortion restrictions in Paraguay are fueling an epidemic of childhood pregnancy: Amnesty

An epidemic of childhood pregnancy in Paraguay is being fueled by widespread sexual abuse and restrictive abortion laws, according to a new Amnesty International report.
https://ift.tt/3ppCMoW

Suspected Chinese hackers breach more US defense and tech firms

A suspected Chinese hacking campaign has breached four more US defense and technology companies in the last month, and hundreds more US organizations are running the type of vulnerable software that the attackers have exploited, according to research shared with CNN.
https://ift.tt/3G5xrtt

Blinken and Lavrov meet amid tensions over Russia's intentions in Ukraine

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met Thursday in Stockholm, Sweden, amid growing concern among Western powers that Russia is seeking to destabilize Ukraine.
https://ift.tt/3xNKYDd

This city was named the world's most expensive for the first time ever

All over the world, it's been a tough year on wallets.
https://ift.tt/3D0W4p7

Peng Shuai 'reconfirms' she is safe and well in second call with IOC, says Olympic organization

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) held a second call with Peng Shuai on Wednesday and said that the Chinese tennis star "reconfirmed" that she was safe and well given the "difficult situation" she is in, the sporting organization said on Thursday.
https://ift.tt/3IdmHer

Uber partners with Meta to launch ride-booking via WhatsApp in India

Uber wants to make booking a ride in India as easy as sending a WhatsApp message.
https://ift.tt/3EbZnLE

India formally repeals controversial farm laws after year of protests

India has formally repealed three contentious farm laws that sparked more than a year of protests, nearly two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi was pushed into a rare policy reversal that saw the legislation withdrawn.
https://ift.tt/3xROpIT

US and South Korea to develop new war plan to address North Korean military advancements

The US and South Korea will develop a new operational war plan to address the threat from North Korea, senior defense officials said Tuesday, as the Pentagon shifts its focus to the Indo-Pacific region following its recently completed global force posture review.
https://ift.tt/3lrxQOR

Harris condemns Russian test of anti-satellite weapon at Biden administration's first space council meeting

Leaders from all corners of the US government condemned Russia's recent test of an anti-satellite weapon on Wednesday at the inaugural meeting of the National Space Council under the Biden administration, calling for accelerating the development of rules and norms in space.
https://ift.tt/3xHotQ0

WTA announces suspension of tournaments in China amid concern for Peng Shuai

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) chairman and CEO Steve Simon has announced an immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong.
https://ift.tt/31nLVWF

Four injured as old aircraft bomb explodes near Munich train station

An explosion has occurred near a busy train station in the German city of Munich, police said Wednesday.
https://ift.tt/3E7GzND

4 golfers test positive ahead of South African Open

Four golfers scheduled to play in the South African Open have been forced to withdraw after testing positive for Covid-19, the tournament announced on Thursday.
https://ift.tt/3rpg5DR

Ethiopia says it recaptured UN World Heritage site

Ethiopian government forces and their regional allies have recaptured the town of Lalibela -- a United Nations World Heritage Site -- from Tigrayan forces, the prime minister's office said on Wednesday.
https://ift.tt/31b8E8F

Here's how Omicron could make the supply chain mess worse

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is concerned the Omicron coronavirus variant will exacerbate pressure on the already stressed-out global supply chain.
https://ift.tt/3od1rxo

Biden should quickly revisit Omicron travel ban, says this CEO

Roger Dow, CEO of the US Travel Association, is questioning the logic of President Joe Biden's travel restrictions, imposed on South Africa and seven neighboring countries following the emergence of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
https://ift.tt/3DdfuHt

Analysis: China's birthrate just hit another record low. But the worst is yet to come

China's birthrate in 2020 has hit another record low -- and there's no indication things are about to pick up anytime soon.
https://ift.tt/3G67gmf

'Unanimous conclusion' that Peng Shuai is 'fine,' says IOC member Dick Pound

Long-time International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound has said that the "unanimous conclusion" by those on a call with Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai is that she is "fine."
https://ift.tt/3d9cSA0

Nigeria on high alert as it confirms three cases of Omicron variant

Africa's most populous nation is on high alert as three people in the country have the newly identified coronavirus variant Omicron, a statement from The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed.
https://ift.tt/2ZJNNsg

Former Japan PM tells China, 'a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency'

Japan and the United States could not stand by if China attacked Taiwan, and Beijing needs to understand this, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday.
https://ift.tt/3xF4Rw1