The recent cost-of-living crisis has exacerbated a longstanding problem with housing affordability in the EU. Higher building costs and mortgage rates, together with a related decrease in housing construction, have made access to home ownership more difficult. At the same time, investors use housing as a vehicle for investment. Growing numbers of people are struggling to access affordable housing, whether to rent or to buy, particularly in cities. Across Europe, homelessness is rising. In addition, many residential buildings need to be made energy-efficient and decarbonised in order to achieve the EU's energy and climate goals, lower energy consumption and reduce energy bills. While the EU has no direct competence in the area of housing and only a limited scope of action to address social issues, it provides relevant guidance and funding, and has carried out several initiatives to support housing. Furthermore, certain EU rules have a indirect impact on housing provision, starting with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. In parallel, many sources of EU funding are available for various housing-related purposes in the current financing period. In the run-up to the 2024 European elections, the lack of adequate and affordable housing, and the need to address it at EU level, emerged as a concern across the whole of the EU and the entire political spectrum. The new European Commission ('von der Leyen II') is giving housing policy visibility and weight by proposing a coordinated approach. For the first time, housing has become a distinct part of a commissioner's portfolio. Dan Jørgensen, the new Commissioner for Energy and Housing, is responsible for dealing with several complex issues relating to housing. The European Parliament voted on 18 December 2024 to set up a special committee on the housing crisis in the EU. Building on recent developments, the Commission's 2025 work programme is expected to outline the next steps for the EU. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

According to the ministry, 'the death toll has reached 45,936 since the start of Israel’s military operation, while 109,274 were injured'

According to Al Mayadeen, the shelling also targeted Houthi facilities in the Amran province in the northwest of the country

According to a TASS correspondent in St. Petersburg, Polish and EU flags were removed from the flagpoles on the building

Gas supplies to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline could surpass the design capacity of 38 billion cubic meters in 2025

The information has not been confirmed or denied officially yet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Visakhapatnam, launching projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore to boost the development of Andhra Pradesh. The plans include making Andhra Pradesh a $2.5 trillion economy by 2047, setting up a green hydrogen hub, and advancing railway electrification and urban modernization.

SINGAPORE — Some stubborn scam victims lost so much money to scams — despite advice from banks, police, friends and family members — that they asked the Government for financial assistance. But with the passing of the Protection from Scams Bill, the police will be able to control the bank accounts of such victims to prevent them from transferring money to scammers. The new law will give the police powers to issue restriction orders (ROs) to banks, which will then restrict the banking transactions of an individual's accounts. These include money transfers, the use of ATM facilities and all credit facilities, affecting even PayNow and in-person, over-the-counter transactions. The law was initially intended to deal with remote scams, such as overseas syndicates targeting victims through calls, social media and messaging channels. When the Bill was introduced in Parliament on Nov 11, 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had said the laws would not cover traditional cheating cases, such as those involving in-person interactions with errant renovation contractors or family members and friends.

SINGAPORE — Flick knives and knuckledusters will be added to the list of six regulated weapons in the first half of 2025 to safeguard public safety following several knife attacks in 2024. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) currently regulates the sale of daggers, swords, spears, spearheads, bayonets, and dangerous bows and arrows through the Arms and Explosives Act. On Jan 7, Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling said in Parliament that this list will be expanded to include flick knives and knuckledusters when the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act is operationalised in the first half of 2025.  Sun was responding to questions from Dr Tan Wu Meng (Jurong GRC) and Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) on incidents relating to knife crimes and what the authorities were doing to protect Singaporeans. Their questions come after a priest was attacked at St Joseph's Church on Nov 9, 2024. Basnayake Keith Spencer, 37, allegedly approached Reverend Christopher Lee while the Catholic priest was giving communion and stabbed him in the mouth.

Both the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) and the People's Action Party (PAP) have alleged that the other party's volunteers harassed their own during a walkabout in Bukit Gombak. This comes after PSP member S Nallakaruppan gave an account of how he and other volunteers from his party were allegedly stalked and harassed throughout their walkabout in that area last Saturday (Jan 4). «They (PAP volunteers) said it's 'their territory' and they have a right to follow us,» Nallakaruppan wrote. «Whenever we managed to reach out to a resident, they quickly handed out their flyers as well. »It was really unprofessional of them to do so but we did not want to have any confrontation and went about doing our job." Nallakaruppan was a candidate for PSP in Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the 2020 elections.  The PAP volunteers also purportedly took photos and videos of them without their consent.

Samajwadi Party demanded the Election Commission for webcasting of all polling booths in Milkipur constituency by-elections to ensure free, fair, and transparent voting. This request follows the EC's decision to block public access to CCTV footage, citing voter privacy protection.

A Rajya Sabha MP urges the health minister to enable local production of Risdiplam, a vital drug for spinal muscular atrophy, to reduce costs. Current patents prevent affordable production. Encouraging local manufacturing could make the drug accessible at significantly reduced prices, benefiting thousands of patients in India.

The Bombay High Court granted bail to Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale, accused in the Elgar Parishad Maoist Links case, due to prolonged incarceration and a pending trial. Bail conditions include reporting to the NIA weekly. The case involves inflammatory speeches and alleged Maoist connections.

The petition is the latest effort by President-elect Donald Trump to avoid sentencing for his 34-count felony conviction related to a 2016 hush money payment.

Ontario’s premier Doug Ford made the suggestion following Donald Trump’s claim that Canadians would be better off under Washington’s rule Read Full Article at RT.com

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Athens violated migrants’ rights through forced ‘pushbacks’ without proper review Read Full Article at RT.com

Turkish-backed Syrian proxies could be even more dangerous than a stand-off with Iran, the Nagel Commission says Read Full Article at RT.com

The number of foreigners expelled from Russia for violating migration laws amounted to more than 80,000 in 2024 Read Full Article at RT.com

Two Social Democrats have used an image of Moscow’s “Project 636” vessel during the election campaign Read Full Article at RT.com

The torpedo bomb that got caught in the fishing gear of a trawler was pulled out into Eyjafjörður this evening and placed in a place where it will be destroyed by publication. This is stated in a statement by the Icelandic Coast Guard.

Follow President Trump’s progress filling over 800 positions, among about 1,300 that require Senate confirmation, in this tracker from The Washington Post and the Partnership for Public Service.

Get the latest news on the transition to the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump and the new Congress.

While Donald Trump's comments on tariffs and Canada becoming 'the 51st state' have drawn anger and fear among Canadians, reaction from Americans who live, study or work in Canada has been mixed, and is largely influenced by how they voted in the presidential election.

As Vanuatu goes through a snap election, the involvement of churches in politics has become a hot topic. While some churches support political parties, others stay neutral and focus on their spiritual work.

Thirty-five more candidates have been declared qualified to run the Snap Election next week, after sorting out their government debts over the weekend.

Tanna Ferry and Vanuatu Ferry have reported a high number of passengers traveling back to the islands after the recent 7.3 earthquake, with over 800 passengers on some trips.

Club Lit, one of Port Vila’s most renowned nightclubs, is on the hunt for a new location following extensive damage caused by the recent earthquake.

Why shouldn’t it be a political tool, why shouldn’t people come out and say I support the bus drivers and we want to take you up to VT200 as a minimum charge?

A 'Mahabharat era' Shivling was found vandalized at Billeshwar Mahadev temple in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. Awadhesh Kurmi, dealing with depression over his wife's illness, was arrested for the act. This incident has deeply hurt the sentiments of devotees, leading to condemnation from local organizations.

Sharmistha Mukherjee criticized Congress MP Danish Ali for linking a memorial for Pranab Mukherjee to his alleged connection with RSS, calling it ignorant. She emphasized the varied responsibilities Pranab held in Congress, questioning the intelligence of past leaders. BJP accused Congress of disrespecting its leaders, with spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla highlighting Modi's unbiased appreciation of contributions.

An RTI activist has filed a petition claiming that Aligarh's Jama Masjid was built on Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu temples, deeming it illegal. The petition followed responses revealing the mosque was constructed on public land without approval. The case is scheduled for hearing on February 15.