The UK government is introducing a law allowing police to run facial recognition searches on a database of fifty million driving licence holders. This change, part of a new criminal justice bill, will enable the police to match images from sources like CCTV and social media with driving licence records. Privacy campaigners warn that this effectively places all UK drivers in a 'permanent police lineup' without clear limits or independent oversight. There are concerns about the lack of public debate and consultation on this significant expansion of police powers. The technology's potential for false identifications, particularly among black and Asian faces, adds to the controversy. The change also raises questions about the legitimacy and proportionality of such widespread surveillance. The Home Office maintains that Clause 21 in the bill merely clarifies police use of DVLA records but does not grant automatic access for facial recognition. However, the move comes as part of broader efforts to integrate various databases into a single system for easier image-matching.
Iceland: volcano finally erupts
21 Dec 2023
On 18 December a volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland finally erupted, spewing glowing orange jets of lava surrounded by billowing clouds of red smoke. The population of Grindavík, a small fishing town nearby, had been evacuated in November after a series of small earthquakes. The government said the eruption did not present a threat to life; there were no disruptions to flights to and from Iceland, as this type of eruption does not usually produce much ash. Icelandic police have warned tourists to ‘think four times’ before attempting to get close to the eruption, after they had to rescue an exhausted hiker by helicopter. Iceland’s president, Guðni Jóhannesson, said: ‘Our priorities remain to protect lives and infrastructure. We wait to see what the forces of nature have in store. We are prepared and remain vigilant.’ The meteorological office said on 20 December that the power, seismicity and deformation of the eruption had decreased.
On 20 December, a major drone attack by Russia was stopped by Ukraine, whose air force claimed to have shot down 34 out of 35 of the Iranian devices. The drones were sent over in several waves over a seven-hour period. The attack comes amid claims by Ukraine that Russian troops are suffering from an outbreak of so-called ‘mouse fever’. The disease causes people to bleed from their eyes, vomit several times a day, and experience extreme temperatures and headaches. Volodymyr Zelensky was boosted by news that Germany will provide 88.5 million euros to help strengthen his country’s energy infrastructure in the face of Russian attacks. He has been asked by the military for an extra 500,000 troops to join the million or so already in uniform. Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to increase the number of Russian troops by 170,000, to a total of 1.32 million. See
There are signs which suggest a potential pause in the Israel-Hamas conflict, although a full ceasefire remains uncertain. Hamas, which has consistently said that it will only free more Israeli hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire, is engaged in talks in Cairo, led by its leader Ismail Haniyeh. Both Egypt and Qatar are involved in mediating these discussions. Although Israel's goal is to dismantle Hamas completely, it has reportedly presented a plan to secure the release of around forty hostages, focusing on women, elderly individuals, and those in urgent need of medical care. In return, they could exchange Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails with more serious convictions than those released in previous deals. Benjamin Netanyahu emphasised the importance of retrieving the hostages, revealing that Mossad has been actively promoting a new release deal through diplomatic channels. These developments come alongside the news that over 20,000 Palestinians have now been killed in the conflict: see
On 20 December, amid widespread delays and logistical complications, polling stations opened in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Because of the delays, it was decided to extend the voting for a second day. The election is a significant moment for the nation. Over 40 million are expected to vote, including Congolese nationals living in some other countries: they will elect not only the president, but also 484 national assembly members, 715 members of provincial assemblies, and 311 municipal council members - a total of more than 1,500, from a pool of over 100,000 candidates. Several opposition candidates have expressed serious concerns about the chaotic process and possible fraud. Félix Tshisekedi, the incumbent president, is seen as likely to be re-elected, given that the opposition has remained fractured. If re-elected, he has threatened to declare war on Rwanda: see The DRC has grappled with years of conflict and political instability, making this election a crucial step towards achieving stability and democracy.
USA: two possible setbacks for Trump
21 Dec 2023
In New York, Donald Trump's efforts to dismiss the fraud case against him have been met with scepticism from judge Arthur Engoron. Trump is facing allegations of financial fraud related to his business practices. The judge has questioned the credibility of his arguments, particularly his claims that the charges are politically motivated. He also poured scorn on Eli Bartov, an expert witness who ‘doggedly’ defended apparent misstatements in Trump’s financial documents. Bartov had admitted receiving over $875,000 from the defence team, and the judge commented, ‘For a million or so dollars, some experts will say whatever you want them to say’. In a separate development, the Colorado supreme court has voted to bar Trump from the state primary ballot in March 2024, due to his involvement in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The ruling, which will probably be appealed to the federal supreme court, could have significant implications for the 2024 race.
Argentina: 13 dead after intense storm
21 Dec 2023
An intense storm in Argentina left at least 13 people dead and others injured in the southwestern port city of Bahía Blanca. Winds reached up to 140 kilometres (87 miles) per hour in the city on 16 December, and by the next day at least 300 people had been evacuated. The city council said that the situation caused by the storm was a catastrophe, reporting multiple injuries, some extremely serious. The mayor declared three days of mourning, saying: ‘I want to reaffirm our solidarity with the families and loved ones of the 13 deceased people.’ He reminded citizens of the importance of keeping safe by staying home, adding: ‘We are still in an emergency situation, with electrical risk and risk of falling trees and structures.’ The city’s emergency teams received over 100,000 calls about downed trees, power lines and signs, among other damage. President Javier Milei said that his cabinet is working with provincial and municipal authorities to help the victims and respond to the damage.
Japan: notable increase in attacks by bears
21 Dec 2023
In Japan, a huge surge in bear attacks has been linked to climate change. Already in 2023 there have been 212 attacks, compared to 158 in 2022; six people have died. Rising temperatures and diminishing food sources in the bears' natural habitats have pushed them into human-populated areas. Experts say this alarming trend highlights the profound impact of climate change on wildlife behaviour and ecosystems. According to local authorities, the number of bear-related incidents, including attacks and sightings, has reached an unprecedented high. Climate change has disrupted their hibernation patterns and reduced their natural food supply, forcing them to search for sustenance in unfamiliar territories. The environment minister has pledged to help affected communities, saying: ‘We are considering providing emergency assistance to local communities in response to their needs, such as surveying and capturing bears living in the vicinity of human settlements’.