New Estonian law bans tattoo, tanning services for minors

Tallinn [Estonia], December 13: Estonia's parliament passed a new public health law on Wednesday, making it illegal to provide tanning and tattoo services to minors.

Hungary proposes Russia-Ukraine truce: official

Budapest [Hungary], December 13: Hungary has proposed a truce between Russia and Ukraine, according to Minister of the Prime Minister's Office Gergely Gulyas on Thursday.

Macron, Tusk discuss Ukraine, European security, France-Poland ties

Warsaw [Poland], December 13: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk held talks with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday on Ukraine, European security and Poland-France...

Belarusian president approves defense plan for 2026-2030

Belarus [Minsk], December 13: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday approved the country's defense plan for 2026-2030.

Roundup: ECB cuts key interest rates by 25bp

Frankfurt [Germany], December 13: The European Central Bank (ECB) reduced its key interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday at a rate-setting meeting, marking...

94 BiH citizens stranded in Syria: ambassador

Bosnia and Herzegovina [Sarajevo], December 13: There are 94 Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) citizens, including women and children, currently stranded in Syria in various camps,...

Interview: Forgetting history is to risk its repetition, says John Rabe's great-grandson

Germany [Berlin], December 13: Societies that forget or deny their past risk repeating the same mistakes, said Christoph Reinhardt, the great-grandson of John Rabe, a...

Roundup: German economy likely to remain weak in 2025, institutes warn

Germany [Berlin], December 13: Germany's long-awaited economic recovery appears to be slipping further out of reach, with key economic institutes cutting their forecasts for the...

Russia hopes to keep military bases in Syria for anti-terrorism purpose: deputy...

Russia [Moscow], December 13: Russia hopes to keep its military bases in Syria as they are important in the fight against terrorism, Russian Deputy Foreign...

BiH's Livno Cheese added to EU' register of Protected Geographical Indication

Bosnia and Herzegovina [Sarajevo], December 13: The European Commission has officially recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina's "Livno Cheese" (Livanjski sir) as a product of exceptional agricultural...

2024 Imperial Springs Int'l Forum highlights collective actions in addressing global challenges

Spain [Madrid], December 13: The 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum (ISIF) concluded here on Thursday, with attendees from various fields highlighting the importance of collective...

Int'l conference held in London to explore role of AI in shaping...

England [London], December 13: An international conference on online education and massive open online courses (MOOC) opened in London on Thursday, drawing hundreds of educational...

US House passes massive defense policy bill

Washington DC [US], December 13: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a defense policy bill on Wednesday, governing a record $895 billion in annual military...

UN General Assembly demands ceasefire in Gaza

Gaza [Palestine], December 13: The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian...

Chemical weapons use in Syria must be investigated

Damascus [Syria], December 13: The head of the chemical weapons watchdog said he would ask Syria's new leaders to grant investigators access to the country...

Israel kills 36 Palestinians in Gaza

Gaza [Palestine], December 13: Israel killed 13 Palestinians in two airstrikes in Gaza that Gaza medics and Hamas said were part of a force protecting...

Hong Kong ex-democratic lawmaker among seven convicted for rioting

Hong Kong, December 13: A Hong Kong court convicted prominent former pro-democracy lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting for rioting after a white-shirted mob attacked him in July...

Time magazine to name Trump 'Person of the Year'

New York [US], December 12: Donald Trump will ring the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday on the same day he...

Syria's Golani vows to punish those responsible for torture under Assad

Damascus [Syria], December 12: The main commander of the fighters who toppled Bashar al-Assad said that anyone involved in the torture or killing of detainees...

Blinken faces Republican critics of Afghanistan withdrawal

New York [US], December 12: Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan as an ending of the country's longest war...

South Korea police try to raid Yoon's office over martial law

Seoul [South Korea], December 12: South Korean police tried to search President Yoon Suk Yeol's office but have not been able to enter the main...

Vienna Airport welcomes over 30 million passengers for first time since 2019

Vienna [Austria], December 12: Vienna International Airport has announced surpassing 30 million passengers for the first time since 2019, signalling a strong recovery in travel...

UN appeals for $4.07 billion to support Gaza, West Bank

New York [US], December 12: The United Nations launched an urgent humanitarian appeal today, calling for US$4.07 billion to address the most pressing needs of...

2024 hottest year on record: WMO report

Geneva [Switzerland], December 12: The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has projected that 2024 is on course to become the hottest year on record, primarily due...

FAO launches first major global assessment of salt-affected soils in 50 years

Geneva [Switzerland], December 12: The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has released the first major global assessment of salt-affected soils in 50 years.

EU spent €381.4 billion on R&D in 2023

Brussels [Belgium], December 12: In 2023, the EU spent €381.4 billion on research & development (R&D), which is 6.7% more than in the previous year...

Austria drops veto on Bulgaria, Romania fully joining Schengen Travel Zone

Vienna [Austria], December 12: Austria is dropping its veto on Romania and Bulgaria becoming full members of Europe's Schengen free-travel area, the Austrian Interior Ministry...