HELSINKI, Finland (HOL) — Finland's parliament is set to vote on a bill on Friday that would grant border guards the power to turn back asylum seekers crossing from Russia, following the arrival of over 1,300 people, which forced Helsinki to close its border. Among those affected are numerous Somali migrants, who find themselves caught in the geopolitical struggle between Finland and Russia.

The world's population is expected to grow by more than two billion people in the next decades and peak in the 2080s at around 10.3 billion, a new report by the United Nations said Thursday.

Mogadishu (HOL) — A fierce battle broke on Thursday evening in Qaamqaam, near the southern port city of Kismayo, between the government and Jubbaland forces and Al-Shabaab fighters. The clash, which lasted nearly an hour, resulted in casualties, though the exact numbers remain unconfirmed.

A Malaysian motorcyclist who crosses the Causeway frequently is worried that his rest spot during heavy traffic conditions will be closed off due to excessive littering. On July 5, Abdullah Mohammad Fazli posted pictures of the road leading from Woodlands Checkpoint towards the waterfront on Facebook group Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossers (MSBC). The group is made up of members who travel across the Causeway regularly, usually for work and by motorcycle. In the photos, plastic bags and disposable food and drink containers are strewn across the road and on the grass patch next to it, which Abdullah said is a common «resting place» for motorcyclists. In his post, he urged members of the group not to litter along the road, adding that he is afraid the area will be closed off if the dumping of trash continues. «If [the road] gets closed, we won’t have a place to rest during the morning traffic congestion. This is just a gentle reminder for our mutual benefit. One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch,» he wrote. Some netizens shared his sentiments and criticised those who littered.

An e-bike rider ran a red light and crashed into two women in Commonwealth on Thursday (July 11). The police told AsiaOne that it was alerted to a hit-and-run accident involving a power-assisted bicycle (PAB) and two female pedestrians at the junction of Commonwealth Avenue West, towards Commonwealth Avenue Junction, at about 7.25pm. The women, aged 31 and 33, were taken conscious to the National University Hospital. Police investigations are ongoing. Dashcam footage of the collision was posted on Facebook group SG Road Vigilante on the same day.  The video, which is over a minute long, shows the PAB user, who appears to be a food delivery rider, on the leftmost lane and hurtling towards a group of pedestrians crossing the road.

SINGAPORE — The driver of the car that hit four-year-old Zara Mei Orlic and ran over her body could not have detected the girl's presence as she ran across the road, a coroner has found. In his findings on Zara's death, Coroner Eddy Tham said the girl, who was just 1m tall, was completely obscured by a stationary vehicle in the first lane of Institution Hill in River Valley as the car turned into the other lane. Zara, who was Australian, died in hospital on Jan 23 from severe head injuries just hours after the accident. She had run across the road while on the way home from pre-school with the family maid, a 32-year-old Indonesian, and her 2-year-old sister. Coroner Tham said the maid, who was carrying the children's school bags, was holding on to the younger child's hand while Zara walked a short distance ahead. As Zara ran across Institution Hill, the girl did not notice the car coming from her left. «The maid saw oncoming traffic on the second lane but it was too late. By then, the car had collided into Zara and tragically ran over her body,» said the coroner.

At the end of the Nato summit in Washington, the Prime Minister suggested member states should aim to spend at least 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood will unveil a series of measures granting early release to thousands - which she will say are necessary to avert 'unchecked criminality on our streets'.

The Prime Minister said the 'very poor state' of nation's finances meant the government would not be able to afford bumper pay rises for six million public sector workers.

Chilling details emerged today of what police are describing as an 'unprecedented attack' on Louise Hunt, 25, her sister Hannah, 28 and mother Carol, 61.

Kenyan President William Ruto announced Thursday the dismissal of almost his entire cabinet and consultations to form a «broad-based government», as he scrambled to contain the fallout of deadly protests against his administration. The East African nation was left reeling after peaceful rallies last month over steep tax increases escalated into violence with police firing at crowds who stormed parliament, leaving it partly ablaze. Organised online and led largely by young, Gen-Z Kenyans, the protests plunged Ruto's administration into the most serious crisis of his presidency, forcing him to abandon the finance bill containing the tax hikes. In the latest move to defuse tensions, Ruto said his decision would extend «with immediate effect» to all ministers including the attorney-general, but excluded prime cabinet secretary and foreign minister Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The president said he decided on the dismissals «upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of my cabinet and its achievements and challenges». Prominent Gen-Z protester Hanifa Adan welcomed the announcement, writing on X: «THE PRESIDENT OF KENYA HAS DISSOLVED THE CABINET!!! THE POWER LIES WITH THE PEOPLE ALWAYS!!!!!» The rallies have widened into a broader campaign against Ruto and his government, with some demonstrations degenerating into violence that has left 39 dead, according to rights groups. While large street protests have subsided, anger against the government has not, and hundreds of Kenyans attended a memorial concert in Nairobi Sunday, chanting «Ruto must go». Analysts said Ruto's decision to sack allies including former interior minister Kithure Kindiki offered the possibility of a fresh start, but warned of further risks. «The challenge that Ruto now faces is forming a new cabinet that includes various vested interests, whilst simultaneously calming popular anger in the face of an explicitly leaderless movement,» Gabrielle Lynch, professor of comparative politics at the University of Warwick, told AFP. Declan Galvin, managing director of Exigent Risk Advisory, told AFP that «a clean slate will be good for him... There is no crisis without opportunity so maybe Ruto can get this right the second time.» - Debt rating downgraded - Last week, the Kenyan leader announced sharp cuts to government spending, including travel and refurbishment costs. Ruto's frequent high-profile trips abroad, as well as news that the deputy president's office spent over $70,000 on curtains, have infuriated ordinary citizens burdened with a cost of living crisis. Ruto said borrowing would have to increase to pay for some services even as Kenya grapples with massive foreign debt equivalent to roughly 70 percent of GDP. He said the fiscal deficit would rise from 3.3 percent to 4.6 percent. The crisis led US-based Moody's to downgrade Kenya's debt rating further into junk territory, warning of a negative outlook, which will make borrowing even more expensive for the cash-strapped government. The ratings agency said it was cutting the ratings for Kenyan government debt to Caa1 -- considered to have «very high credit risk» -- with the move reflecting Ruto's «significantly diminished capacity» to raise taxes and reduce debt. - 'Radical programmes' pledged - The businessman-turned-politician, who won elections in 2022 on the promise to lift the fortunes of the common man, was caught off guard by the depth of public anger over the proposed tax hikes, which followed an earlier round of increases last year. Ruto said Thursday that he would «immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations, with the aim of setting up a broad-based government». This government would, he said, help him to develop «radical programmes» to deal with the country's huge debt burden, increase job opportunities, eliminate government waste and «slay the dragon of corruption». Ruto has sought to engage with some of the protesters, hosting an event on X with young Kenyans last week. But this has failed to appease some demonstrators, who are calling for him to step down, using the hashtag #RutoMustGo and staging smaller rallies across Kenyan cities. © Agence France-Presse

Covid-19 is still killing around 1,700 people a week around the world, the World Health Organization said Thursday, as it urged at-risk populations to keep up with their vaccinations against the disease. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sounded a warning on declining vaccine coverage. Despite the continued death toll, «data show that vaccine coverage has declined among health workers and people over 60, which are two of the most at-risk groups,» the UN health agency's chief told a press conference. «WHO recommends that people in the highest-risk groups receive a Covid-19 vaccine within 12 months of their last dose.» More than seven million Covid deaths have been reported to the WHO, though the true toll of the pandemic is thought to be far higher. Covid-19 also shredded economies and crippled health systems. Tedros declared an end to Covid-19 as an international public health emergency in May 2023, more than three years on from when the virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. The WHO has urged governments to maintain virus surveillance and sequencing, and to ensure access to affordable and reliable tests, treatments and vaccines. © Agence France-Presse

The outgoing Canadian High Commissioner to Seychelles, Kyle Nunas, has expressed satisfaction at successful collaborations in maritime security, providing technical support in the fight against crimes and the introduction of electronic travel authorisation. Nunas made the statement following his farewell visit to President Wavel Ramkalawan on Thursday. The two nations have consistently worked in maritime security, with some members of the Canadian Coast Guard coming to the island nation to offer capacity-building training as part of the United States-led Cutlass Express military exercise, earlier this year. «We have a proud history of working with Seychelles on improving maritime security and improving Seychelles' ability to ensure its territorial integrity where there are bad actors in the areas of human trafficking or various types of smuggling,» said Nunas. He revealed that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police personnel have also provided important technical assistance in fighting crimes to the local police force. Nunas mentioned the introduction of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), which allows Seychellois citizens holding a Canadian temporary resident visa in the past 10 years, or a valid U.S. visitor visa, to enter Canada their country when travelling by air. Canada and Seychelles established diplomatic relations in 1976 and both are members of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, the Commonwealth and the United Nations. Nunas explained that through these organisations, the two countries have also worked closely on the issue of climate change as «both countries share a very realistic view of climate change and we're together in seeking solutions there.» Canada is also the eighth largest contributor to the Global Climate Fund of which four projects are taking place in Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. The island nation also faces vulnerability from external sources and Nunas said his country is working with the small island state and others like it «to improve how the international financial institutions work with countries like Seychelles.» Montreal is home to the third-largest Seychellois diaspora after London, United Kingdom and Perth in Australia, estimated at 740 according to the 2016 Census. In this area, Nunas said there has been an increase in the number of tourists visiting the archipelago as part of their people-to-people relations.

Live updates from the 2024 campaign trail with the latest news on presidential candidates, polls, primaries and more.

Democratic Reps. Jim Himes (Conn.), Rep. Eric Sorensen (Ill.) and Scott Peters (Calif.) on Thursday evening urged the president to step aside.

Nouveau mort sur les routes, ce jeudi 11 juillet. Un matahiapo est décédé suite à une sortie de route à Mataiea, au PK 44,500. Les circonstances de l'accident ne sont pas encore connues. Une enquête a été ouverte. 15 personnes ont perdu la vie sur les routes du fenua depuis le début de l'année 2024.

[The Conversation Africa] There is little doubt that Paul Kagame will win the votes necessary to extend his 24-year rule in Rwanda's general election on 15 July 2024. The ruling party, the Rwanda Patriotic Front, nominated Kagame as its presidential candidate during a congress in March. He got 99.1% of the vote.

[UNHCR] UNHCR-APLFT partnership supports skilled Sudanese refugees with legal backgrounds to provide vital legal assistance, raise community awareness about Chadian laws and customs, facilitate mediation, and reinforce feedback sharing within the refugee communities.

[Africa Renewal] The singer-songwriter - and World Food Programme High-Level Supporter - on dreaming big against the odds in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed that two children still remain in serious condition. Preparations are now under way to take one of them to Moscow for treatment

A video linkup with other TASS press centers - in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk - will be held as part of the event

Russian exports to China grew by 3.9%, to $65.2 billion

RIYADH:  Passenger traffic in Saudi Arabia increased by 17 percent during the first six months of 2024, reaching about 62 million passengers compared to 53 million passengers during the same period last year, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported early Sunday.  The number of flights also reached approximately 446,000, marking a 12 percent increase compared to 399,000 flights during the first six months of 2023, the report said, citing statistics released by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). 

New UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has praised Joe Biden’s “good form” during the NATO summit in Washington Read Full Article at RT.com

US leader said that in this regard he is «following the advice» of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Brown, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and intelligence services

The country’s defense ministry said it will include air defense missiles, air-to-ground weapons, and anti-tank weapons, as well as artillery shells and ammunition for mortars, cannons, and small arms

The US president has “zero” chance of defeating Donald Trump and should let the Democrats nominate someone else, campaign aides have said Read Full Article at RT.com

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has endorsed a state commission of inquiry into the Hamas incursion and West Jerusalem’s response Read Full Article at RT.com

US President Joe Biden has introduced Vladimir Zelensky as “President Putin” Read Full Article at RT.com

The average daily enlistment rate is 1,000 people, the Russian Defense Ministry says Read Full Article at RT.com

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Heavy rains associated with Hurricane Beryl and the earlier Tropical Storm Alberto have led at least 200 crocodiles to enter urban areas in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, across from Texas, state and federal...

Councillors in Clarendon have criticised the National Works Agency (NWA) for its perceived shortcomings in maintaining the parish's infrastructure, which they say contributed to the destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl. Councillor Carlton...

A 48-hour curfew has been imposed in sections of the Homestead and the McVickers Lane area in St Catherine. The curfew began at 6:00 p.m. today and will remain in effect until 6:00 p.m., Saturday, July 13. The boundaries of the curfew are:...