Israel tightens rules against Palestinians

JERUSALEM • The Israeli Parliament has approved a tough new law to keep out Palestinian workers, as part of measures to quell a five-month wave of violence.

The workers themselves are already subject to arrest and imprisonment, and the new legislation passed on Monday strikes at Israelis who employ them and those who transport them.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Mexico City issues air pollution warning

MEXICO CITY • Mexico City's government has ordered traffic restrictions and recommended people stay indoors due to serious air pollution, issuing its second-highest alert warning for ozone levels for the first time in 13 years.

Residents were also advised to refrain from vigorous exercise in the open and curb sporting activities, said a city statement on Monday.

REUTERS

Pegida chief in court over hate speech

BERLIN • The founder of a xenophobic group in Germany has been summoned to court on hate speech charges for describing refugees as "cattle" and "scum", a court in Dresden has said.

Lutz Bachmann, 43, was charged with inciting hatred in October for a series of posts on the Facebook page of Pegida, which stands for "Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident".

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE