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The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalizes rule banning inclusion of medical debt on credit reports

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Americans’ unpaid medical bills will no longer appear on credit reports, where they can block people from mortgages, car loans, or small business loans, according to a final rule announced by the Biden administration. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule will remove $49 billion in medical debt from the credit reports of more than 15 million Americans, which means lenders will no longer be able to take that into consideration when deciding to issue a loan. The change is estimated to raise the credit scores by an average of 20 points.

Indonesian children smiling

Indonesia launches free meals program to feed millions of children and pregnant women

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The Free Nutritious Meal program delivers on a campaign promise by President Prabowo Subianto, who was elected last year to lead the nation of more than 282 million people and Southeast Asia’s largest economy. It aims to fight the stunting of growth that afflicts 21.5% of Indonesian children younger than 5 and help raise income for the nation’s farmers. The government’s target is to reach an initial 19.5 million schoolchildren and pregnant women in 2025 with a budget of $4.3 billion USD, and more than 80 million people at a cost of $28 billion USD by 2029.

Basking shark

South Australia bans fishing of many sharks and rays in its waters

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The state of South Australia has banned fishing of several endangered or critically endangered sharks and rays in its waters.
The state government said the new rules prohibit both recreational and commercial fishing of critically endangered species such as the whitefin swellshark, oceanic whitetip shark, gray nurse shark, and green sawfish; as well as endangered ones like the greeneye spurdog, southern dogfish, and basking shark. Additionally, fishing of all stingarees in the genus Urolophus and skates in the genera Dipturus and Dentiraja are banned.

Facility releasing air pollution|google

China has reduced sulphur dioxide emissions by more than two-thirds in the last 15 years

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China has dramatically reduced local air pollution levels — particularly in its biggest cities — in the last decade. One rapidly declining pollutant is sulphur dioxide (SO2), which generates smog, causes ecologically-damaging acid rain, and is associated with higher rates of lung cancer and other respiratory issues. China has been able to make remarkable gains in curbing S02 emissions by putting emissions limits on coal plants and introducing desulphurization technologies that remove SO2 from smokestacks.

Prison cell, for article on federal private prisons

Zimbabwe abolishes the death penalty

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Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has approved a law that abolishes the death penalty in the southern African state with immediate effect. Mnangagwa’s move comes after Zimbabwe’s parliament voted earlier in December to scrap the death penalty. Zimbabwe last carried out an execution by hanging in 2005, but its courts continued to hand down the death sentence for serious crimes like murder.

Power plant polluting

New York to fine fossil fuel companies $75 billion under new climate law

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New York state will fine fossil fuel companies a total of $75 billion over the next 25 years to pay for damage caused to the climate under a bill Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law at the end of 2024.
New York state will fine fossil fuel companies $75 billion over the next 25 years to pay for damage caused to the climate. The new law is intended to shift some of the recovery and adaptation costs of climate change from individual taxpayers to oil, gas, and coal companies. The money raised will be spent on mitigating the impacts of climate change, including adapting roads, transit, water and sewage systems, buildings and other infrastructure. Fossil fuel companies will be fined based on the amount of greenhouse gases they emitted between 2000 and 2018.

International court rules against El Salvador in key abortion rights case

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The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has ruled that El Salvador violated the human rights of a woman who was denied an abortion despite her high-risk pregnancy in 2013. The court has ordered the Central American country to adopt “all necessary regulatory measures” so that doctors are authorized to terminate “pregnancies that pose a risk to the woman’s life and health.” The country has one of the world’s most restrictive anti-abortion laws: the procedure is prohibited under all circumstances, and women can even be charged with aggravated homicide, carrying sentences of 30 to 50 years in prison.

Aerial view of river

250 miles of New Mexico’s rivers get toughest safeguards against pollution

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In a unanimous decision, New Mexico’s Water Quality Control Commission has voted to protect 250 miles of stream and river segments with the state’s highest water quality safeguards. This historic decision recognizes stretches of the Rio Grande, Rio Chama, Cimarron, Pecos, and Jemez rivers as Outstanding National Resource Waters, ensuring that these lifelines remain uncontaminated by pollution. The 10-0 vote shields these critical ecosystems from degradation caused by pollutants, heavy metals, temperature changes, and other environmental threats.

child and autumn leaves

Tokyo to make daycare free for all preschool children

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The world’s most populous city plans to make daycare free for all preschool children starting in September, the city governor has announced. The move aims to reduce the financial burden on families by expanding a policy of free daycare for second-born and subsequent children to first-borns as well. While many developed countries are struggling with low birth rates, the problem is particularly acute in Japan where the population has been declining for years.

Quebec city

Quebec passes bill that bans gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035

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The ban, which is part of the province’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, will take place in two phases. First, as of Jan. 31, 2034, it will be prohibited to advertise the sale of a light combustion vehicle of the 2035 model year or later, whether it’s a new or used vehicle, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. Then, beginning Dec. 31, 2035, selling and leasing new light combustion vehicles of 2034 model year and earlier will be banned.