According to preliminary estimates, not all of the oil products leaked from the tankers

Taipei will receive another 42 US tanks in 2025 and the last batch of 28 combat vehicles in 2026

The ship’s crew successfully practiced all the assigned missions as part of the Russian Navy’s standing Mediterranean taskforce, the Fleet’s press office reported

Lin Jian stressed that Beijing's position on military relations between Washington and Taipei, as well as the sale of American arms to the island, is unequivocal and clear

According to Vadim Pristayko, the Ukrainian authorities were «seeking the opportunity to relocate funds as well as addressing the issue of governing the country»

During a Rajya Sabha session, opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge engaged in a lighthearted exchange with BJP MPs while discussing the Jana Sangha's historical stance on the Constitution. He criticized Prime Minister Modi's economic policies and questioned his contributions to strengthening democracy, highlighting the importance of past social welfare programs for the poor.

[ISS] Next year's G20 Summit could be an opportunity for leaders to address AI concerns regarding transparency, accountability and human oversight.

[allAfrica]

[allAfrica] Tropical Cyclone Chido made landfall around 6am on Sunday, December 15, on the coast of Mozambique as a category 4 cyclone, about 35-40km south of Pemba city in Cabo Delgado Province, located in the northern region. The cyclone remained an intense tropical storm, characterized by destructive winds reaching 260km per hour, heavy rainfall of 250mm within 24 hours, and extremely dangerous sea conditions that posed a significant risk of coastal submersion.

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain passed away at 73 in the US on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the loss, praising Hussain's revolutionary impact on Indian classical music and his ability to connect diverse genres. Hussain's illustrious career included collaborations with renowned musicians across the globe, leaving a lasting legacy on the world music scene.

A Prime Minister's Museum member has appealed to Rahul Gandhi to retrieve letters written by Jawaharlal Nehru, including correspondence with Lady Mountbatten and Jayaprakash Narayan, allegedly removed on Sonia Gandhi's orders in 2008. The museum member, Rizwan Kadri, previously contacted Sonia Gandhi without response.

On December 14, the parliament impeached Yoon Suk Yeol, but the final decision on the impeachment has to be made by the Constitutional Court

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Crisis Management Center announced the evacuation of some personnel from Russian foreign missions in Damascus but clarified that the embassy continues its operations

Denis Pushilin noted that Russian troops had also advanced in the Krasny Liman area

Artur Plombirus was conscripted from prison, where he was serving a sentence under Article 186 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code (robbery)

According to CPJ Director Jodie Ginsberg, Al Jazeera «is one of the only international news organizations with staff still in Gaza»

Her Tiffany wedding ring, two diamond rings and a bracelet are gone. A Singaporean woman is distraught after losing jewellery worth $30,000 during a holiday in Thailand. Her husband, Stomp contributor Jonny, said a hotel bellboy was involved in the incident. The couple had stayed at the JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok from Oct 27 to Nov 2. «Our relaxing holiday quickly turned into a nightmare.» said the Stomp contributor. While checking out, his wife, who was in a rush, forgot to put on her jewellery and left it in the bathroom. She realised it 30 minutes later and they immediately informed the hotel. «However, roughly 30 minutes later, we were told that the jewellery could not be found,» recounted the husband. «This was already concerning, but what happened next left us absolutely shocked. »The duty manager, who had spoken with us earlier, made an unsettling comment. She described my diamond rings as 'white', which was peculiar because we had never shared the characteristics of the rings with her. It seemed almost as though she was describing them as if she had seen them before.

Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam and Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng will issue letters of demand to Bloomberg over a recent libellous article regarding their property transactions. In social media posts on Monday (Dec 16), the two ministers said that they have taken legal advice and will be issuing letters of demand to the media company. «We will be taking similar action against others who have also published libellous statements about those transactions,» they added. «We take a serious view of the allegations.» On Dec 12, Bloomberg published an article titled «Singapore mansion deals are increasingly shrouded in secrecy» and mentioned the transactions of good class bungalows related to the two ministers.

Khalid Baqa (pictured), who previously spent four years behind bars for preparing Jihadi propaganda, wants more than £1,000 from the pub in Buckinghamshire.

Oscar Pistorius and his new girlfriend are said to have connected over tragedy in their lives as mystery still surrounds a devastating drowning at her brother's bachelor party.

The former prime minister, who won the 2019 election on a promise to 'get Brexit done', accused Sir Keir Starmer of preparing to betray that vote.

The Malawi government has been urged to prioritize transparency and accountability throughout the 2025 General Elections process to prevent suspicions of electoral malpractice, says Rev. Baxton Maulidi, the economic justice and accountability champion for the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) in Malawi. Rev. Maulidi’s call comes in the wake of allegations by Leader of […] The post AACC Accountability Champion Urges Government to Ensure Transparency in 2025 Elections appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Malawi is at risk of losing K19 billion in European Union (EU) funding due to delays caused by the government in facilitating district councils to open foreign currency-denominated accounts with commercial banks. The funds are meant for projects under the Greening and Growing Malawi-Ulimi ndi Chilengedwe m’Malawi (Uchi) project, which aims to boost smallholder farmers […] The post Malawi about to lose K19bn funding due to Govt’s bureaucratic delays appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) has expressed disappointment with the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the plane crash that killed Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others, stating that the report did not reveal anything new. CHRR executive director Michael Kaiyatsa argued that the inquiry merely confirmed information already known by […] The post CHRR comments on Chilima Inquiry: “there is nothing new in the report that Malawians didn’t know about.” appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others should not be swept under the rug as a mere accident. The damning facts emerging from the inquiry clearly point to a catastrophic failure of duty by government authorities who, despite being fully aware of the bad weather conditions, authorized […] The post Justice for Chilima: Arrest, prosecute officials who, despite bad weather, authorised that plane! appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The recent findings from the Commission of Inquiry into the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others have raised several troubling questions about the professionalism and accountability of those involved in the aftermath of the crash. Two major issues have come to the forefront: the disappearance of approximately […] The post Analysis: K5m lost, pictures taken and circulated carelessly, who is being held accountable for these unprofessional acts? appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

China and Seychelles have cemented their «strategic partnership» by signing agreements to launch major social housing projects on the main island of Mahe, a development set to bolster ties between the two nations. The accords were signed on December 13, at the Seychelles’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters at Maison Queau de Quinssy. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, and the Chinese Ambassador to Seychelles, Lin Nan, formalised the agreement on behalf of their respective governments. The project will see the construction of 136 social housing units, funded through a Chinese grant, in the districts of Anse Royale and Anse Boileau, with work expected to commence in March 2026. The initiative stems from discussions during Seychelles' participation in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing in September this year, attended by Seychelles’ President Ramkalawan, who made the announcement of the funding for the social housing upon his return. Established in 2000, FOCAC serves as a platform for partnership between China and 53 African nations. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ambassador Lin Nan underscored China's commitment to supporting Seychelles’ development priorities. “The signing of the exchange letter is one of the most important preliminary steps for the implementation of the project, in line with China’s Foreign Aid policy,” she said. The Minister for Lands and Housing, Billy Rangasamy, revealed that the Seychelles Infrastructure Agency (SIA) would collaborate with Chinese experts to ensure the homes meet local standards. “The materials which will be used in the construction work are being analysed by both teams, who in turn are agreeing on what should be used to ensure that our project adheres to Seychelles’ standards,” Rangasamy explained. He added that the project would include technical and construction components provided by China. Authorities are currently in the design development phase, with construction expected to take 12 to 18 months. Of the 136 units, 72 will be built in Beoliere in the Port Glaud district, while the remaining 64 will be located in Cap Bonm Zan, a sub-district of Anse Royale. The homes will feature two and three-bedroom configurations. Rangasamy noted that the sites were pre-selected due to their suitability for development, which would help minimise costs for essential infrastructure such as roads and sewerage systems. Radegonde expressed his gratitude to China for its continued support, noting that the bilateral relationship had reached a new level. “We have now progressed our relationship one notch up – we now have a strategic partnership,” he said. Seychelles, an Indian Ocean archipelago, established diplomatic relations with China more than four decades ago. The country has benefited from a range of Chinese infrastructure projects, including the National Assembly building, the Palais de Justice, and social housing estates, as well as the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) House, which is expected to be opened in 2025. In addition to infrastructure, China has contributed significantly to Seychelles’ health sector. Since 1985, China has dispatched 18 groups of 108 doctors from Shandong Province to provide medical services to the Seychellois population.

The Indian government is poised to introduce a bill for simultaneous elections, proposing a joint parliamentary committee for broader consultations. This committee will examine the 'One Nation One Election' Bill and its implications, including potential impacts on state and union territory assemblies, within a timeframe likely spanning three months.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has raised concerns over the removal of a 1971 war photograph from Army HQ, calling it an attempt to erase history. He demands its reinstatement and an inquiry into similar incidents, emphasizing the need to preserve India's military heritage and the significance of the 1971 victory.

India celebrated Vijay Diwas on December 16, commemorating the 1971 war victory over Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah paid tribute to the soldiers' courage and sacrifice. Wreath-laying ceremonies were held in Kolkata, with Indian and Bangladeshi officers participating, honoring the historic victory and the liberation of Bangladesh.

[allAfrica]

The Hon Hugh Roche - a grandson of Baroness Fermoy - embarked on a sting operation to find out who was tearing down signs opposing the controversial development.