French shipping giant CMA-CGM resumed some transit through the Red Sea, days after Danish group Maersk announced it would return as a US-led naval coalition is now policing the maritime route against Yemeni rebel attacks. The attacks prompted shipping companies to reroute vessels around the southern tip of Africa earlier this month -- a longer and more expensive trip than the Red Sea route that links up with the Suez Canal. The US launched a multinational task force last week to counter the Huthi missile and drone attacks along the route.

SEE HOW MUCH GLOBAL TRADE FOLLOWS RED SEA ROUTE

The New York Times sued ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and Microsoft in a US court on Wednesday, alleging that the companies' powerful AI models used its articles for training without permission. Through their AI chatbots, the companies "seek to free-ride on The Times' massive investment in its journalism by using it to build substitutive products without permission or payment," the lawsuit said. NYT chose a more confrontational approach to the sudden rise of AI chatbots, in contrast to other media groups that have entered content deals with OpenAI.

WILL THE NYT'S LAWSUIT HOLD UP AGAINST TECH GIANTS?

As the deadliest year this century for forest fires comes to a close, attention is turning to how to prevent such infernos happening again. In 2023 forest fires destroyed nearly 400 million hectares (988 million acres) of land around the world, killed more than 250 people and emitted 6.5 billion tonnes of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Records tumbled on the North American continent this year as well.

CLIMATE CHANGE FORCES FOCUS ON PREVENTION EFFORTS

The longest-running public service ad campaign involves this character.

Wednesday's answer: Japanese automaker Toyota has ranked No. 1 in worldwide sales for three consecutive years (2020-22 -- 2023 pending).