Eighteen migrants rescued during English Channel crossings
PARIS — French and British maritime authorities have rescued 18 migrants in two small boats from the English Channel as they tried to get to Britain, the latest of several recent cases.
The French Maritime Prefecture said that its vessels intercepted nine migrants before dawn Tuesday and took them to the port of Dunkirk.
A statement said that minutes later a second alert went out for a boat in trouble, carrying nine migrants, off the coast of Dover. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution recovered them.
The migrants’ nationalities weren’t disclosed.
Last week, French maritime authorities said 18 migrants were rescued, 11 picked up by the French from a boat in distress, and seven intercepted by British authorities.
UN: No sign of emissions peak in sight, action must be taken
BERLIN — The United Nations environment office is warning that the gap is widening between current greenhouse gas emissions and the levels needed to stop catastrophic global warming.
In a report released Tuesday in Paris, the agency said global emissions of heat-trapping gas such as carbon dioxide “show no signs of peaking.” It said in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) this century, emissions need to drop 55 per cent by 2030 compared to 2017 levels.
The report urges countries to put forward more ambitious national targets for cutting greenhouse gases. It suggests carbon pricing to deter heavy polluters. It also suggests backing innovation and helping low-income households to boost emissions reductions and ensure they’re socially acceptable.
Judge defers action on request to unseal Assange charges
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A federal judge has deferred action on whether to unseal an apparent criminal complaint against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
Free-press advocates asked U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema on Tuesday to unseal the complaint after prosecutors in an unrelated case inadvertently mentioned charges against Assange.
Prosecutors oppose the motion. They argue the public has no right to know whether a person is charged until there’s an arrest. The government also emphasized that the mistaken reference to charges isn’t proof Assange is actually charged.
The Associated Press and other outlets have reported that Assange is indeed facing unspecified charges under seal.
Historical society sorry for insensitive Christmas greeting
BOSTON — A neighbourhood historical society in Boston is apologizing for an awkwardly worded holiday greeting card that some people interpreted as insensitive.
The Dorchester Historical Society in a postcard promotion for its annual Christmas open house featured the phrase “We’re dreaming of a white Dorchester” along with a picture of a building inside a snowglobe. The image drew rebukes on social media and the organization quickly issued an apology via Twitter.