A northwestern Ontario councillor who was reprimanded for social media comments that some believed were about a person who died has won $35,000 in small claims court for libel. A Superior Court deputy judge says the Dryden mayor's statement posted on the city's website in response to the online comments was defamatory in nature.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar criticized parliamentarians for frequent disruptions during the winter session, which concluded with only 40% productivity. He urged members to engage in meaningful debates instead of destructive behavior, emphasizing the need to restore public trust in democratic institutions. The session saw the formation of a joint parliamentary committee on simultaneous elections amidst continued opposition protests.

The World Bank approved an $800 million loan to develop Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh's new capital city. The funding will support infrastructure development and establish Amaravati as a well-managed, climate-resilient economic hub, creating jobs and improving residents' lives. The loan has a 29-year maturity period, including a six-year grace period.

A 17-year-old boy in Shahjahanpur, India, allegedly raped his 20-year-old neighbor. Police reported the accused entered the victim's home while she slept, forcibly took her to his residence, and assaulted her. The victim escaped and informed her family, who then filed a police report. The accused is currently at large, and the victim has undergone a medical examination.

The Supreme Court granted bail to two more convicts in the 1987 Hashimpura massacre case, where 38 Muslim men were killed by Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel. This follows the granting of bail to eight other convicts earlier this month.

[New Times] The «Bright Stars» of South Sudan welcome Rwanda's Amavubi to Juba International Stadium on Sunday, December 22, in the first of the two-legged tie that could decide the team which will qualify for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

[Global Witness] The DRC government has made some ambitious commitments to achieve sustainable forest governance. But the journey there is being stalled by corruption, impunity and weak enforcement.

[The Conversation Africa] One of the most significant African museum openings of 2024 was the Musée des Rois Bamoun, or Museum of the Bamoun Kings, in Foumban, Cameroon.

[DW] The bill, which drew international condemnation, criminalizes sex acts within the gay community. Neither the outgoing nor the incoming president have confirmed they will sign it into law.

[New Dawn] The Senate said the US$1.8m is projected to finance the restoration of the Joint Chamber upon the passage of the budget.

[allAfrica]

Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the fires in Solomensky and Shevchenkovsky districts

Sergey Ryabkov pointed out that Moscow has repeatedly publicly stated its position in the form of proposals and concrete initiatives

Sun Xiuwen, an associate professor at the Institute for Central Asian Studies at Lanzhou University, is quoted by the periodical as saying that China and Russia share a common stance «on issues such as opposing external interference, safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity»

According to Bogdan Nikitchenko, the command sends «anyone available» to the Kursk Region

According to Mauro Vieira, during Brazil's BRICS chairmanship in 2025, the country's leadership plans to organize several important high-level meetings and events, including negotiations between foreign ministers and heads of state

Article 22 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) establishes the right of mobile EU citizens – i.e. those residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals – to stand as candidates in elections to the European Parliament and municipal elections in the Member State of residence under the same conditions as nationals of that Member State. In two closely linked judgments, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that this included mobile EU citizens' right to join political parties in the Member State of their residence. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Natural hazards, armed conflicts, human-induced or amplified disasters, and often, complex crises – a combination of these may result in humanitarian emergencies. Meeting complex humanitarian needs, especially in resource-scarce environments, requires intervention beyond national capacities. Therefore, broader humanitarian action is essential to save lives, preserve the health and dignity of victims, assist recovery, and improve prevention, preparedness and resilience. This action encompasses humanitarian assistance, its financing, advocacy, policy and legal frameworks, coordination, monitoring and evaluation efforts. The main international humanitarian efforts are run by the United Nations, facilitating resource mobilisation, coordination and consistency of humanitarian action. However, regional and bilateral actions are equally important, especially given that, due to growing humanitarian needs and scarce financial resources, the humanitarian system is facing a severe funding crisis, compromising the delivery of assistance. The EU is an important humanitarian donor and actor, with its toolbox consisting of humanitarian assistance, both through financing and operational means; international advocacy for more coordinated, efficient and prominent humanitarian assistance and increased resource mobilisation; support for the respect of international humanitarian law; and policy measures, most notably humanitarian exceptions to sanctions. Since the creation of its humanitarian office in 1992, the EU has provided needs-based humanitarian assistance to more than 110 countries and territories, in line with the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence and with a focus on gender-, age- and environment-sensitive approaches, among other things. The European Parliament is significantly involved in the EU's humanitarian action. As a co-legislator and a budgetary authority, as well as through its resolutions, diplomacy, outreach and numerous other activities, the Parliament shapes EU humanitarian policy, decides on the financing, and brings important issues into the spotlight. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Robert Fico emphasized that by blocking the continuation of gas transit, the Kiev authorities are damaging Slovakia's national economic interests and could negatively impact the European bloc as a whole

According to Russian diplomat, the sides also discussed current bilateral issues and «confirmed the mutual mood for further comprehensive coordination of Russia-Venezuela interaction in global affairs»

Alexander Grushko also highlighted NATO’s origins, stating that it was created under US initiative and has always been designed to manage and control its European allies

The Artyom plant is known for producing air-to-air missiles, as well as equipment for aircraft

At the opening of trading, the MOEX index rose by 0.17%, the RTS index went up by 0.16%

One driver travelling along Commonwealth Avenue allegedly had to jam on the brakes when he saw three bicycles parked in the middle of the road. All three lanes of the road were blocked by the stationary bicycles, said a woman who deemed the act a «dangerous prank». The incident reportedly occurred at the junction between Commonwealth Ave and Stirling Road on Friday (Dec 20). Geraldine Lim, who uploaded the photo to Facebook group Complaint Singapore, told AsiaOne that it was shared with her through a WhatsApp chat for private-hire drivers. The bicycles in the photo appear to be parked in a row across the lanes, obstructing traffic.

Russia’s Federal Security Service has revealed footage of the arrest of a suspect in the high-profile murder of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov Read Full Article at RT.com

President Vladimir Putin highlighted demographic challenges as a matter of grave concern and one of the key issues facing Russia Read Full Article at RT.com

Porn websites are a problem for Russia, but banning them outright is not the solution, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Read Full Article at RT.com

The people behind the clampdown on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are “infidels,” the Russian president has said Read Full Article at RT.com

Russian forces have carried out a missile strike on targets in Kiev in response to the use of US-made missiles by Ukraine, Moscow has said Read Full Article at RT.com

Mogadishu (HOL) — Turkish fishermen are set to operate in Somali waters under a new bilateral agreement, a move that highlights deepening ties between the two nations but raises questions about its impact on Somalia's marine conservation efforts.

Twelve drivers were caught by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in an operation on Wednesday (Dec 18) at Changi Airport for providing illegal ride-hailing services. In a Facebook post by the LTA on Thursday, it stated that the drivers were providing rides illegally between Singapore and Malaysia, as well as within Singapore. Their foreign-registered vehicles were also impounded, added LTA. A 21-second video accompanying the post showed enforcement officers cracking down on the drivers, most of whom appeared to be waiting for passengers outside the airport's arrival hall and car park.

SINGAPORE — After drinking 10 cans of beer, a private-hire driver decided to drive a car into Bedok Camp in Upper East Coast Road to «see the reaction of the security». Muhammad Sathiq Mohamed Sadakatulla arrived outside the camp at around 6am on Dec 20, 2023, but security did not raise the entry barrier for him. Sathiq then drove through the barrier and entered the camp, before turning and crashing through an exit barrier. After he was arrested at home, he was found to have 36 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath. This is slightly above the prescribed limit of 35mcg of alcohol in the same amount of breath. In September 2024, while out on bail, Sathiq assaulted two policemen after consuming beer in an unrelated incident. On Dec 18, the 38-year-old Singaporean was sentenced to 20 weeks' jail after he pleaded guilty to one count of entering a protected place without a permit and two counts of assaulting a police officer. The prosecution said that on Dec 19, 2023, after dropping off a passenger at around 8.30pm, Sathiq drank two cans of beer, followed by another four, before heading home.