Blog Verité

Divisions between countries have stalled negotiations on the world’s first treaty to tackle plastic pollution, after a terse week of talks in South Korea’s Busan. Here are some of the sticking points that led to a decision early Monday to

Five rugby players formerly with French side Grenoble go on trial on Monday, accused of raping a student in a hotel in 2017, or failing to prevent the alleged sexual assault. The trial, held in the southwestern French city of

The incumbent center-right parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael looked set Monday to retain power in Ireland as vote counting in the European Union member’s general election continued, with coalition talks looming. With 153 of 174 seats in the lower

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te discussed “China’s military threats” toward the island in a call with former U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday, drawing a fresh barrage of criticism from Beijing. Pelosi’s long-standing support for Taiwan has infuriated China, which

Syrian and Russian jets step up strikes on rebels after opposition seizes much of Aleppo  CNN Who are the rebels who have seized control of Aleppo, Syria?  NPR Middle East conflict live updates: Syrian government counterattacks as rebels push forward  NBC News Live

Lawler says he has no reservations about Kash Patel for FBI chief  The Hill The latest on Trump’s presidential transition  CNN Trump FBI pick Kash Patel should take these concrete steps to restore trust: former special agent  Fox News A Constitutional Crisis Greater

Belgium becomes first country to give sex workers robust labor rights and protections  NPR Belgium’s sex workers win maternity pay and pension rights in world first  The Guardian A new Belgium law gives sex workers contracts, benefits and safety protection  The Associated Press

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Monday described as “very worrisome” the presence of a Russian attack submarine off the country’s coast in the disputed South China Sea. The UFA 490 submarine was spotted 148 kilometers (92 miles) west of Cape

Japanese atomic bomb survivors’ group Nihon Hidankyo said Monday a 30-strong delegation will collect its Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo after a crowd-funding campaign to pay their travel costs. Those going to the December 10 ceremony will include group co-chair

Plus, Oxford’s word of the year is …