SINGAPORE - A little blue card, with his name and a few numbers that say who he is and where he lives. To Ricqo Rafiezuwan, a 25-year-old whom The Straits Times featured in September in an article about stateless individuals and the challenges they face, the blue identity card he now guards jealously is more than just a document. He said it confirms he is no longer someone without an identity. As he spoke to ST on Dec 18, Rafiezuwan proudly held up his blue identity card. There it was - his name in big, bold letters. «I cannot believe that I am holding this. I look at it and think, wow, is this real? »Because this is what I have wanted for a very long time, for 25 years," said Rafiezuwan, fighting to hold back his tears. After the photographer was done taking pictures of him holding up the card, Rafiezuwan wiped it with his hands and returned it to his wallet. He slid the wallet into his back pocket, and gave that a gentle pat. His card was safe. Rafiezuwan said he will not forget the day he received the news that he had been granted permanent residency status.

SINGAPORE - The first signs surfaced in February 2024, but 24-year-old Chee Ming Heng, who was healthy and fit, quickly dismissed them. On his first day of work experience on Feb 8, he realised that he struggled to write his name on the time sheet, said the student at LaSalle College of the Arts. «I could hold the pen but I could not find a way to write (my name). It was very mentally tortuous to write it.» He eventually managed to do so, but his writing was a lot more closely strung together than his usual style. It was strange, but he did not think much of it. A day earlier, he had already felt some weakness in his right hand. He also had to miss his family reunion dinner four days earlier because he was unwell. When Chinese New Year rolled around on Feb 10, he went visiting and realised he had difficulty holding cutlery. The next day, he visited a general practitioner, but did not get a referral letter to see a hospital specialist. On Feb 12, his family members noticed that the right side of his face was drooping slightly when they gathered for a family photo.

President-elect Donald Trump had indicated to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that he wanted his daughter-in-law to be appointed.

The federal government avoided a shutdown. Here are some notable takeaways from legislation that cleared the House and Senate this week.

A 20-month investigation by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee found that Justice Clarence Thomas failed to report jet and yacht trips.

Currently, the Oryol Region is yet again under a massive enemy UAV attack

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli forces shelled a residential building in Deir al-Balah and a downtown Khan Yunis

Russian leader stressed that, thanks to their dedication, 'the industry is becoming more and more high-tech with every new year'

No injuries or damage were reported

SINGAPORE - A little blue card, with his name and a few numbers that say who he is and where he lives. To Ricqo Rafiezuwan, a 25-year-old whom The Straits Times featured in September in an article about stateless individuals and the challenges they face, the blue identity card he now guards jealously is more than just a document. He said it confirms he is no longer someone without an identity. As he spoke to ST on Dec 18, Rafiezuwan proudly held up his blue identity card. There it was - his name in big, bold letters. «I cannot believe that I am holding this. I look at it and think, wow, is this real? »Because this is what I have wanted for a very long time, for 25 years," said Rafiezuwan, fighting to hold back his tears. After the photographer was done taking pictures of him holding up the card, Rafiezuwan wiped it with his hands and returned it to his wallet. He slid the wallet into his back pocket, and gave that a gentle pat. His card was safe. Rafiezuwan said he will not forget the day he received the news that he had been granted permanent residency status.

Ukraine’s manpower shortage is reportedly so critical that Kiev is now reassigning highly trained air defence specialists as infantry Read Full Article at RT.com

A Mumbai court sentenced a 37-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping and assaulting his partner's 11-year-old physically challenged daughter. The judge prioritized the victim's testimony, stating that her evidence holds greater weight. The victim recounted the assault, which occurred while her mother was at work. The accused threatened her into silence.

Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the Northeast's economic potential, highlighting its role as India's export gateway via the Chittagong port. He urged banking institutions to tailor financial guidelines to the region's unique context, fostering growth in infrastructure, agriculture, and MSMEs.

Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing the North Eastern Council, emphasized PM Modi's vision for the Northeast's development. He highlighted the significant infrastructure improvements, a 71% drop in violence, and the signing of peace treaties leading to over 10,000 armed youths joining mainstream society.

A landslide blocked the vital Tawaghat-Lipulekh road in Uttarakhand's Dharchula, stranding vehicles and cutting off access to three valleys. The BRO swiftly cleared the debris, restoring access late Saturday. The slide, likely caused by road widening, occurred near Tawaghat. Luckily, the reduced winter traffic prevented any casualties or property damage on this treacherous route to Kailash Mansarovar.

The UN celebrated the first World Meditation Day on December 21st, highlighting meditation's power for global peace. Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar emphasized meditation's universal accessibility and benefits, transcending religious and geographical boundaries. Millions participated in a record-breaking guided meditation livestream.

An Edmonton woman who tried to flee an abusive relationship ended up back where she started in part due to a lack of shelter space.

A family of new Canadians from Nigeria are looking for a new home just before Christmas. Fire destroyed their townhome on Bentley Drive in northeast London, Ont. Friday night.

According to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin has several closed-door meetings slated for December 22

CENTCOM forces also shot down several Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea

Reporters are ramping up Russophobia, distorting the facts while writing on this matter, the Russian Embassy in Portugal said

The new special envoy will be in charge of trade and investment issues, as well as the cultural exchange between the two countries

Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s richest man, has been designated an extremist over financing his country’s military Read Full Article at RT.com

Un tremblement de terre de magnitude 6,1 est survenu au Vanuatu ce dimanche (heure locale), quelques jours seulement après un séisme qui a déjà fait une quinzaine de morts.

Kèo giữ sạch lưới là gì? Đây là một trong những loại kèo phổ biến trong cá cược bóng đá mà nhiều người chơi yêu thích. Nó không chỉ mang lại cảm giác hồi hộp khi theo dõi trận đấu, mà còn tạo ra cơ hội để người chơi kiếm thêm lợi nhuận từ kiến […] The post Kèo giữ sạch lưới là gì – Khám Phá Sâu Về Loại Kèo Đặc Biệt Trong Cá Cược Bóng Đá appeared first on Thabet.

A protest broke out during the chancellor's and minister's visit, with demonstrators whistling and shouting «Get out!»

According to the Al Hadath TV channel, at least three strikes hit Ansar Allah military facilities located in Sanaa, including rebel locations

A historically unproductive Congress ends with a House speaker battling to keep his job amid an ungovernable majority. Will the 119th Congress fare better?

The incoming Congress, which will be controlled by Republicans, is still expected to face bruising battles over government funding in Trump’s second term.

Riyadh had warned Berlin about the extremist views of the Magdeburg attack suspect and requested his extradition, media reports indicate Read Full Article at RT.com

Aleksandar Vucic claims the Slovakian PM will visit Russia as Serbia prepares to lose key gas supplier Read Full Article at RT.com

India's total forest and tree cover reached 25% of its geographical area, a slight increase since 2021. However, the actual increase in recorded forest area was minimal, raising concerns among environmentalists. Experts question the inclusion of plantations and trees outside designated forests in the assessment, emphasizing the need to focus on forest department efforts.

The Election Commission of India modified electoral rules, restricting public access to poll booth CCTV footage, citing voter privacy and safety. This change followed a court order to provide such footage. Congress criticized the move as damaging electoral transparency and vowed legal action.