Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitra has resigned from Mamata Banerjee's faction. He joined the rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee on Wednesday. Mitra accused Abhishek Banerjee of refusing to step aside during the party's crisis. This development follows summons issued to Mitra's family by the Enforcement Directorate. The ED is investigating a municipal recruitment scam in West Bengal.

The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Centre and Delhi government regarding a PIL. This plea requests urgent medical intervention for climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite hunger strike. The activist-lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini filed the public interest litigation seeking hospitalisation and supervised treatment. Wangchuk has been fasting since June 28, demanding the Education Minister's resignation over examination irregularities.

The Calcutta high court permitted the Trinamool Congress rally on July 21. The court ordered the venue shifted from Victoria House to near Birla Planetarium. This decision aims to ensure smooth traffic flow and maintain public order. The rally attendance will be limited to 2,500 people between noon and 3:30 PM. Police will deploy adequate personnel to manage the law and order situation.

WESTERN BUREAU: The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) says it is urgently in need of additional workers and trucks to handle the backlog of garbage piling up in Hanover. Speaking at last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Hanover Municipal Corporation, Mark Jones, the public cleansing manager at Western Parks and Market (WPM), said there is a dire need for drivers and sanitation officers, which is impacting the ability to address the growing garbage backlog.

Road safety officials are intensifying efforts to reduce Jamaica’s annual road death toll to fewer than 300, with a renewed focus on curbing motorcycle fatalities and protecting vulnerable road users.

While many students preparing for the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) were narrowing their focus to books and past papers, Darien Hudlin was chasing a different goal – a spot on his school’s football team.

Western Bureau: With no formal plan in place to relocate or permanently rehabilitate the Savanna-la-Mar Market in Westmoreland, vendors displaced by Hurricane Melissa continue to bear the brunt of flooding and increasingly high tides that regularly inundate the low-lying coastal area where the facility is located.

Seventy per cent of the more than 34,000 contracts entered into by Jamaican public bodies during the last financial year, with a combined value of $370 billion, were awarded using either the single-source or emergency-procurement methods, the Integrity Commission (IC) has disclosed.

Good relations between the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Indonesia National Armed Forces (TNI) can foster trust between the two countries, and in turn, promote peace in the broader region, said Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing.Together with his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, the two defence ministers on Tuesday (July 14) launched the Indonesia-Singapore Defence Alumni Initiative, known as Persahabatan Alumni Pertahanan, or PERSAHAN during a ceremony in Jakarta. The name combines two Indonesian words — persahabatan and alumni pertahanan — which means friendship and defence alumni. In a statement the same day, Singapore's Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said the initiative will provide a platform to strengthen the enduring people-to-people ties between the two armed forces, thereby allowing relationships to continue growing across generations. The alumni’s membership will comprise SAF and TNI officers who have graduated from courses in Singapore and Indonesia respectively, as well as current and former defence attaches and assistant defence attaches to Singapore and Indonesia.

«No time to watch movies» has been a trending phrase in Singapore recently, and the Workers' Party is now leaning into it. Acting Minister of Culture, Community and Youth David Neo's quip that ministers have no time to watch movies in Parliament earlier this month quickly gained traction online, spawning memes, jokes and commentary across social media.  In social media posts uploaded on Wednesday (July 15), the opposition party shared a video of their Member of Parliament (MP) Jamus Lim introducing the party's new National Day campaign.WP's #MakeTimeFor campaign aims to encourage Singaporeans to show what they «make time for», whether it be hobbies and interests or spending time with families and friends.«No time, no time, no time.. We've all heard that before,» Lim told the camera in the video.«No time for movies? No time for singing? Even no time for football? Look, if we are honest to ourselves, if we really want to make the time, we will find the time,» he added.

A woman was injured after falling into a 3m-deep drain in Hougang following an alleged dispute with her daughter on Tuesday (July 14). Videos taken by passers-by show a woman lying in the drain while a man — reportedly a food delivery rider in a long-sleeved shirt and helmet — shields her with an umbrella.Other clips shows several emergency personnel assisting and strapping her into a stretcher before lifting her out of the drain using a ladder. At least nine Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) personnel went into the drain to assist with the rescue, reported Shin Min Daily News. In response to AsiaOne's queries, the SCDF said they received a call for assistance at around 11.50am that day near Block 698B Hougang Street 61. Upon arrival, the woman was found lying in a drain and SCDF personnel used a ladder to gain access into the drain to bring her out to safety.The woman was subsequently taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. The police told AsiaOne that they received a call for assistance at about 11.45am that day. 

Locals in Southfleet received a letter through their doors last week revealing that agricultural has been earmarked for the proposed Ebbsfleet AI Data Centre

Keir Starmer is giving his swan song at PMQs after holding one final Cabinet meeting, with his Downing Street exit looming on Monday.

The Treasury has told its OBR watchdog that the threshold will increase to 68 between 2037 and 2039.

At first glance, they could pass for the centrepiece of a dessert table – swirls of frosting, rich colours and toppings that look good enough to eat. But the cupcake-like creations that drew double takes at Christmas in July are not baked treats. They are handcrafted candles made by Danielle Harrison, a Grade 12 student at St Andrew High School for Girls, who is turning a childhood fascination into a growing business.

For decades, the phrase ‘pageant queen’ conjured up images of evening gowns, flawless make-up, and carefully rehearsed answers about world peace. Yet at the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show in May Pen, Clarendon, on July 31, a different kind of royalty will take centre stage – one expected to explain the complexities of Jamaica’s agricultural sector as confidently as she walks in heels.

The Jamaican Bar Association (JamBar), in partnership with Scotiabank, hosted a fireside chat on personal development and financial empowerment for legal professionals on Saturday at the Scotiabank Corporate Learning Centre in Kingston.

Western Bureau: Last week’s opening of National Commercial Bank Jamaica’s (NCB) new branch in Falmouth, Trelawny was warmly welcomed by residents and business leaders, many of whom say the facility offers a far more comfortable banking experience than the previous location.

Supriya Sule denied her party would support the Delimitation Bill without discussion. She stated the NCP (SP) remains firmly aligned with the INDIA alliance. Discussions about the bill will occur within the INDIA bloc after its introduction. Recent meetings with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis fueled merger speculation. However, NCP leaders have refuted claims of any merger talks.

The Cockroach Janata Party will hold a hunger strike on July 16 supporting Sonam Wangchuk. Wangchuk's health is declining on his eighteenth day of fasting. He has lost significant muscle mass and is experiencing immense pain. A court petition seeks to force-feed Wangchuk and move him to a hospital. This intervention is deemed necessary to preserve his life and prevent further deterioration.

[allAfrica] EU Bans Sudan Gold Imports to Curb War Funding

a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } Think twice before sending payroll records or employee details to someone claiming to be from the CPF Board. Scammers have been posing as CPF Board officers under the guise of conducting investigations, compliance checks or CPF-related verification exercises. In an email addressed to employers seen by AsiaOne, the board advised employers to ignore such requests. Sharing details of the scam modus operandi, the CPF Board said that fraudsters may ask for information such as proof of salary payments, employees' personal particulars, or documents related to CPF contributions, employment records or payroll matters.

The bill targets the five largest buyers of Russian energy, including China and India

The drones were reportedly shot down over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Rostov, Moscow and Krasnodar regions, as well as Crimea, the Sea of Azov, and the Black Sea

According to Alexander Stepanov, any future actions against Russia’s merchant fleet in the Mediterranean Sea will depend on NATO states’ shore infrastructure

The scientists conducted more than 50 types of observations: in the atmosphere, hydro-biology, oceanography, hydro-chemistry, ice, geophysics, geology, and hydroacoustic directions

The discovery means that new types of viruses can be discovered in the Arctic, which could be promising for the development of new antibacterial drugs based on bacteriophages

A Malawi beauty pageant is throwing out the rulebook — swapping sashes and crowns for boardrooms and business plans, as it transforms itself into a launchpad for the country’s next generation of female leaders. Vision Pageantry Malawi has revealed its 2026 competition will put women’s empowerment front and centre, with contestants trained up to become […] The post Malawi pageant ditches crowns for girl power appeared first on Malawi News | Breaking News, Politics, Business & Sports | Nyasa Times.

An advert for two messenger positions at the Reserve Bank of Malawi has provoked a wave of criticism after it emerged that the bank had set a bachelor’s degree as the minimum qualification for the roles. The advert, which circulated widely on social media, drew ridicule and pointed questions from Malawians who argued that a […] The post Reserve Bank of Malawi job advert sparks backlash over degree requirement for messenger post appeared first on Malawi News | Breaking News, Politics, Business & Sports | Nyasa Times.

A mother has sparked debate among netizens online after she was seen on an MRT train with her two children, who were eating and drinking while seated in a stroller wagon.A photo shared in Facebook group Complaint Singapore on Wednesday (July 15) shows a woman wearing a green shirt with her two children in a black stroller wagon. One child, dressed in a school uniform, is standing while eating what appears to be a biscuit, while the other child, who is wearing a black top, is seated and drinking from a juice box. The post captioned: «Increasingly common to see children eating inside MRT trains these days. Shame on the parent.» The incident took place at around 8.10am on the East-West Line towards Outram Park MRT station, according to the caption. However, it is unclear which exact day this took place. 'Not easy to handle two kids'Many netizens acknowledged that while eating or drinking on public transport is not allowed in Singapore, they still empathised with the woman. 

Taslima Nasreen's upcoming return to Kolkata after 20 years sparks intense political discussions. The Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party both voiced their strong opinions regarding her visit. Exiled since 2007, Nasreen is set to participate in an anti-fundamentalism literary event this August. Her previous works and the circumstances of her exile have sent shockwaves through conversations about free speech and the intersection with religious beliefs in West Bengal.

On Tuesday at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Mann said Punjab is playing a significant role at Bharat Tex 2026, with 97 companies from the state participating in the exhibition.

Bicycle sharing company Anywheel is urging users to ride responsibly after a video showing a rider weaving in and out of traffic on what appeared to be one of its bicycles sparked criticism online.The video, which have been posted on social media page, sgfollowsall, on Sunday (July 13), show two riders travelling along a busy road while shouting to each other, seemingly chasing one another through moving traffic.One clip appears to have been filmed by a person sitting in the bicycle's front basket, with the camera capturing only a pair of bare feet as the bicycle sped alongside buses, lorries and other vehicles.Another rider, dressed in a black top, can be seen weaving between lanes and overtaking multiple vehicles before riding alongside the other bicycle.The bicycles in the videos appear to be Anywheel bicycles.'Extremely dangerous'The bicycle sharing company told 8world said that «such behaviour is unacceptable and extremely dangerous».

Cross-border travel between Singapore and Malaysia is once again making headlines after Malaysian authorities intensified enforcement against Singapore-registered vehicles illegally purchasing subsidised RON95 petrol. The latest case, which resulted in a substantial fine for a Singapore-registered vehicle owner, has renewed attention on Malaysia's long-standing fuel subsidy policy and the responsibilities of motorists travelling across the Causeway.For drivers who regularly commute between Singapore and Johor, or travel into Malaysia for business or leisure, understanding the country's fuel regulations is more important than ever. Increased enforcement sends a clear message that authorities are taking a stricter approach to protecting public subsidies, while also ensuring that fuel intended for Malaysian citizens is not misused by foreign vehicles.