The European Electoral Act decrees that the Members of the European Parliament shall be elected on the basis of proportional representation, using the list system or the single transferable vote. There is much leeway for a Member State to turn terms like “proportional representation” or “the list system” into executable rules. As a result, Member States differ considerably as to their electoral provisions. The briefing presents an overview of the vote patterns used by the Member States, of the apportionment methods to convert the votes of a domestic electorate into seats for the competing parties, and of the ways in which the seats of a party are assigned to this party's candidates. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

In the 2024 European Parliament elections turnout varied significantly across EU Member States, influenced by institutional factors such as compulsory voting and concurrent elections. Socioeconomic disparities persisted; older, higher-educated, and wealthier citizens were more likely to vote, while economically disadvantaged and unemployed individuals participated less. Gender and age gaps in turnout reaffirmed the importance of role models and political efficacy in mobilization. Vote choice reflected both ideological convictions and protest voting, with established pro-EU parties retaining support while Euroskeptic and far-right parties made gains. The elections confirmed the enduring importance of economic redistribution, European integration, and climate policy as key axes of political contestation. While high-quality representation fosters legitimacy and political engagement, turnout and ideological representation disparities highlight ongoing challenges for democratic inclusivity in the EU. Key recommendations for higher quality of representation include: (1) strengthening political efficacy among women; (2) encouraging youth political engagement; (3) balancing age representation in politics; (4) simplifying electoral processes; (5) strengthening social safety nets to sustain political engagement; (6) addressing political disengagement stemming from economic dissatisfaction; (7) enhancing representation for disadvantaged groups; (8) considering candidate age in party strategies; (9) bridging climate policy divides; and (10) leveraging EU defense cooperation for political consensus. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) on Wednesday welcomed home the body of Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Diana Drummond-Thomas, who reportedly collapsed and died while on special training in the United States. Friends, family and mourners gathered to...

Several arrests have been made during targeted operations by the police and the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) that are still ongoing, law enforcement sources have disclosed. The operations are related to the $47.5...

The St Catherine Municipal Corporation has voted along party lines to reject the Counties and Parishes (Amendment) Act, 2025, which was passed by both houses of Parliament to grant parish status to Portmore. During a general council meeting...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) is alerting Jamaicans about fraudulent job advertisements misusing the ministry’s logo and branding. In a media release on Thursday, the ministry said the false advertisements claim that it...

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow restrictions on birthright citizenship to partly take effect while legal fights play out. In emergency applications filed at the high court on Thursday, the...

The staff at migration departments accept applications from individuals seeking to restore their Russian passports, which are issued within 24 hours without any duties or fees

When asked to comment on the possibility of toughening anti-Russian sanctions, the US president said: «Well, I do have leverage, but I don’t want to talk about leverage»

«These groups are currently being exposed, pursued, and eliminated,» he said

The US President added that his country needs Greenland «for international security»

J&K CM Omar Abdullah confirmed relatives' ownership of the Gulmarg hotel linked to a controversial fashion show during Ramzan, amidst political backlash. BJP accused him of ties due to models staying at Nedous Hotel. Amid inquiry, organisers apologised, citing unintentional offense, and the CM assured action if laws were broken.

A study by SKIMS Medical College in Srinagar has found that the acknowledgments in medical theses in J&K often use repetitive, copy-pasted phrases. Common expressions thanking guides and invoking divine blessings appear frequently, indicating a lack of originality. The study highlights concerns about the inventiveness and independent thinking of future doctors in their research.

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah has announced plans to transform Srinagar into a major tourist destination by promoting religious tourism and exploring lesser-known border spots like Gurez and Keran. With a focus on strengthening tourism infrastructure, the state has seen a rise in visitors, reaching 2.36 crore in 2024. Over 1,000 tourism projects have been completed this year.

Mercredi, douze personnes ont été contrôlées et seize couteaux ont été saisis au parc Paofai.

Djibouti City (HOL) — For the first time in history, an East African representative has secured a seat on FIFA’s Executive Committee. Djibouti’s Sulayman Hassan Waaberi was elected in Cairo, joining football’s highest decision-making body, a momentous step for a region long on the periphery of the global game.

Garowe (HOL) — A Puntland court has sentenced a security guard to four years in prison and fined him $1,500 for assaulting an eight-year-old Yemeni refugee child in Garowe, the regional capital.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali lawmakers will summon Deputy Minister of Information Abdirahman Sheikh Yusuf Al-Adaala to parliament following remarks in which he accused some MPs of echoing Al-Shabaab's rhetoric.

AAP Punjab leader Neel Garg criticized Congress leaders for holding meetings in Delhi, despite accusing AAP of being Delhi-centric. He pointed out the contradiction in their actions and questioned their focus on Punjab's issues. Garg claimed AAP, under CM Bhagwant Mann, is dedicatedly working for Punjab’s development, unlike Congress's disconnected approach.

India opens mineral and rare earth elements exploration to the private sector with 13 acreages up for auction, aiming to unlock untapped resources. The new policy encourages private investment, offering incentives like cost reimbursements and long-term mining leases. Around 25 companies showed interest, and the government hopes to create a thriving mineral exploration ecosystem.

Ludhiana's deputy commissioner Jitendra Jorwal has urged officials to complete the upgrading of Civil Hospital by Sunday. Enhancements include new roads, signage, landscaping, and an RO system. Other completed works feature modern operating theatres, new departments, better sewage systems, and more. Jorwal emphasized the need for quality and timely execution of these projects.

Datta Power Infra has entered into a power purchase agreement with SJVN Ltd for a 70-MW wind power project, contributing to SJVN's goal of achieving 600 MW wind power capacity. This initiative aligns with Datta Power Infra's vision of developing a 1-gigawatt renewable energy pipeline in India, as stated by CEO Varchasvi Gagalas.

L'acte a été paraphé le 7mars 2025 par le ministre des Transports, Jonathan Ignoumba et le directeur général de la Setrag, Christian Magni. La salle polyvalente de la Setrag a servi de cadre à la signature de la Convention numéro N° 4 qui lie le gouvernement représentant l'Etat gabonais à la Setrag, le concessionnaire du chemin de fer Transgabonais. Bien que s'inscrivant dans la continuité de celles qui l'ont précédé, la quatrième convention demeure une avancée dans les relations (...) - TRANSPORTS / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

A l'occasion de la Journée internationale des Droits de la Femme célébrée le 8 mars de chaque année, le bureau national de l'AUF-GAbon a organisé récemment une conférence débat au profit des femmes étudiantes des établissements supérieurs de la capitale Gabonaise. Au cours de cette joirnée, deux thématiques ont ponctuées les échanges de cette journée, «Pour toutes les femmes et les filles : droits, égalités et autonomisation», et "Vers une société inclusive et durable, transformer (...) - SOCIETE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

Russia will in the meantime continue strengthening its technological sovereignty by continuing import phaseout programs, the Russian leader noted

The Belarusian president recalled Putin’s words that Russia is ready to negotiate with Ukraine, but «wants all Ukrainians to realize that we are returning to the negotiating table three years after the talks were started,» and, therefore, the current situation on the ground needs to be taken into account

The meeting also considered the prospects for strengthening partnership, increasing the efficiency of transportation and developing transport and logistics infrastructure between the two countries

Negotiations between the delegations of the United States and Ukraine took place in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on March 11

On March 11, delegations from the US and Ukraine convened in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

[New Times] The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has asked the organisers of a Congolese musician's concert that had been scheduled to take place in Paris on April 7 to postpone it as the date coincides with the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, a spokesperson of the agency told The New Times.

[IFRC] The Burundi Red Cross has set up a vital humanitarian service point at the Rugombo Stadium a few kilometres from the Democratic Republic of Congo border, providing shelter for almost 40,000 refugees - including nearly 18,000 children - fleeing the conflict there.

[New Times] Direct peace talks between AFC/M23 rebels and the Congolese government are set to start in Luanda, on March 18, Angola's presidency announced in a statement on Wednesday, March 13.

Racing in the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap this afternoon, the eight-year-old bay gelding had previously won the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase on New Year's Day.