Author: News Desk

The United Arab Emirates promised the US it will not arm Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, said US lawmakers on Thursday, as the civil war in the country continues to foster one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, placing millions on the verge of famine. UAE tells US it is 'not now' transferring arms to Sudan paramilitaries

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  As the moon rises over Avignon’s city walls, the night before the verdicts are announced, it is just high enough to illuminate the banner a small group of feminist activists has put up in a cloak-and-dagger operation. The banner reads: “Thank you, Gisele.” The next morning, it is the first thing the lawyers, journalists, family members, and the 51 men accused of raping Gisele Pelicot see as they enter the court building. It is still dark at 07 a.m., but already there is a long line of people waiting outside. Over the past four months, France and the whole world…

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In a decisive move to enhance transparency and accountability within the European Union, the European Parliament has elected Teresa Anjinho as the new European Ombudsman for the 2025-2029 term. Anjinho, a distinguished Portuguese lawyer and former Deputy Ombudsman of Portugal, succeeds Emily O’Reilly, who has held the position since 2013. A Competitive Selection Process The election, held during the December plenary session in Strasbourg, followed a rigorous selection process. The Committee on Petitions (PETI) conducted public hearings on December 3, 2024, where six candidates presented their visions for the Ombudsman‘s role. The candidates included: Teresa Anjinho (Portugal): Former Deputy Portuguese…

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A raft of new peers are set to be announced, with numbers expected to be boosted on Labour’s benches in the House of Lords.Partygate investigator and Sir Keir’s ex-chief of staff Sue Gray is reportedly among the Labour figures set to be elevated to the Lords this week.The Sun newspaper reported that Ms Gray could be among 30 new Labour peers appointed.She came to prominence in 2022 with the report into Downing Street parties, and then became Sir Keir’s chief of staff in opposition before following him into Number 10.She quit the role in October after a series of internal…

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The Wisconsin 15-year-old who shot and killed a teacher and a fellow pupil was in her first term at the school but seemed to be settling in, a school official said.Abundant Life Christian School (ACLS) student Rubi Patricia Vergara, 14, of Madison, and teacher Erin West, 42, of DeForest, were killed on Monday.Two other pupils who were shot remained in hospital on Thursday in a critical condition.Families of the victims remembered them as people of faith who had deep connections within the Christian school.Barbara Wiers, the school’s director for elementary and communications, said the attack lasted eight minutes and the…

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New French Prime Minister François Bayrou on Thursday, December 19, said he hoped to name a government to lead the country out of its political quagmire at the weekend or by Christmas at the latest. The country was plunged into fresh chaos earlier this month after the far right and left wing joined forces to eject Bayrou’s predecessor Michel Barnier from office, making his the shortest stint as prime minister in the Fifth Republic’s history. Veteran former justice minister Bayrou’s cabinet picks will have to negotiate the divided parliament that brought down Barnier, whose time in office foundered on his…

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On Monday, December 16, at 9:55 am, the very first direct Paris-Berlin high-speed train departed from the Gare de l’Est station in the French capital for the German metropolis’ main station. It was a historic moment. A German white and red ICE train, the product of a partnership between the French SNCF national rail service and Germany’s Deutsche Bahn (DB) departed. Two hours later, another ICE train left Berlin for Paris, setting up a daily direct rail round trip between the two capitals. The service may seem modest. Although SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou and resigning Transport Minister François Durovray attended…

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The Government and the PSOE also express their satisfaction with the votes of the last plenary session of the courseThe final super plenary session of this period of sessions has ended up providing a bit of satisfaction for the two very different blocks that coexist in Congress. The PP and Junts have mutually voted for two amendments on different issues and this reality has made it easy for the popular leaders to appear almost exultant. The PP has thus supported an amendment by Junts, which has passed with 178 votes in favor compared to 171 against, to provide tax aid…

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