President Droupadi Murmu commenced a two-day visit to Manipur, her first since taking office and since the ethnic conflict began. Her itinerary includes attending a polo event, offering prayers at a temple, and participating in Nupi Lan celebrations. Security has been heightened due to a militant-called shutdown.

This briefing reviews the initial implementation of the National Escape Clause (NEC), operationalised for defence purposes in 2025 to help accommodate higher defence spending within the EU fiscal framework. Using the evidence released in the European Semester Autumn package, it assesses how Member States responded to the new instrument, both in terms of activation and actual use of the additional fiscal room. These early developments offer preliminary insights into how such clauses operate in practice, and into their effectiveness in encouraging higher spending in specific policy areas within clearly defined rules and over relatively short implementation periods. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

EU growth continues to build momentum, driven mainly by domestic demand. Fiscal deficits are edging up, and debt remains elevated. Inflation is revolving around the 2 % target, prompting the ECB to keep rates unchanged. Labour markets remain tight, with unemployment stable at record-low levels and employment at historic highs. US tariffs are expected to weigh only modestly on EU growth, affecting exports, with limited and short-lived effects on GDP, prices and the trade balance. Regarding EU funding, the delivery of the national recovery plans is advancing, but more than half of all milestones and targets are still outstanding. Thus, it is crucial for Member States to accelerate implementation in 2026 to secure the full economic impact of investment and reform measures. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Critics have pointed out that such programs create a two-tier immigration system, disproportionately benefiting wealthy individuals.

The department of Refugees Independent Schools Association (RISA) at Dzaleka camp is lobbing with government for a policy shift to allow refugees in the country to attain tertiary education and have access to job opportunities so that it can change their life style as most of them are living in uncertainty. Director of RISA Pascal […] The post Refugees at Dzaleka camp lobby for inclusion in formal education, change in life status appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining has expressed serious concern over illegal mining, revealing that Malawi is losing between US$300 million and US$500 million every year in unpaid taxes. Speaking during a stakeholder interface meeting in Kasungu District, Acting Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Andrew Chisamba described […] The post Malawi Loses Up to US$500 Million Annually to Illegal Mining appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Malawi possesses significant mineral resources, yet official records show that mining contributes less than one percent to the national economy. Government data and publicly reported studies highlight concerns about unregulated mining activities and the limited capacity of authorities to fully monitor mineral extraction. Data from the Malawi Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (MWEITI) indicates that total […] The post Counting the Cost: How Illegal Mining Is draining Malawi needed Billions of kwacha appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Ukraine has classified data on AWOLs and desertion, saying the rising number could “discredit the defense forces” Read Full Article at RT.com

Sergey Sobyanin said that emergency services are working at the scene where the debris fell

Hungary has made it clear that it opposes the decision that would require a unanimous vote

The Labour Government, with Streeting's blessing, is pursuing a dystopian experiment to test puberty-blockers on healthy children who think they were 'born in the wrong body'.

Campaigners say the testing of the controversial drugs on gender-questioning youngsters is unlawful and unethical, as the Tories branded the NHS-backed experiment as 'grotesque'.

The rules for electing the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are set both by EU laws, which apply to all Member States, and national laws, which differ from country to country. The common rules establish the principle of proportional representation, define electoral thresholds and specify activities that are incompatible with serving as an MEP. Other important details, such as the specific voting system and the number of constituencies, are decided by national laws. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

European territorial cooperation (ETC) is one of cohesion policy’s goals and aims to solve problems across borders and to jointly develop the potential of diverse territories. Cooperation actions are supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through three key components: cross-border cooperation, transnational cooperation and interregional cooperation. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

European Union employment strategy, dating back to 1997, has established common objectives for employment policy and contributed to ‘soft coordination’ among the Member States. Creating more and better jobs was one of the main goals of the Europe 2020 strategy. In the March 2021 European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the Commission proposed new and more ambitious targets in employment policy as well as concrete actions for a fair, equitable and well-functioning labour market. EU law is relevant in certain areas, even if the responsibility for employment policy lies primarily with national governments. Employment policy is monitored and assessed in the European Semester. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Improving health and safety at work has been an important concern for the EU since the 1980s. Legislation at European level sets minimum standards for the protection of workers, while allowing Member States to maintain or introduce more stringent measures. Health and safety at work is a key component of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The Cohesion Fund was set up in 1994 and provides funding for environmental and trans-European network projects in the Member States whose gross national income per capita is less than 90% of the EU average. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

[allAfrica]

[allAfrica] Two four-storey residential buildings collapsed in Fez, Morocco, killing 22 people and injuring 16.

[allAfrica] For women in labour across Kenya, reaching a health facility, finding skilled health workers, and affording care can be a matter of life and death. These challenges are not rare, but daily realities for many families.

The results of the 2025 Singapore-Cambridge N-level examinations will be released on Dec 18, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) on Thursday (Dec 11). Details of the collection arrangements will be shared by the respective schools with their students, said MOE and SEAB in a joint media release on Dec 11. Students who are unable to return to school to collect their results may appoint a proxy to do so on their behalf. Proxies are required to produce the relevant documents for verification when collecting the results, said MOE and SEAB, adding that school candidates can contact their school for assistance with the appointment of a proxy. Private candidates with a Singpass account can obtain their results via SEAB's candidate portal from 2.45pm on Dec 18. Those who do not have Singpass can view their results in the portal using the account they created during their earlier registration as examination candidates. 

The 2025 SEA Games opening ceremony at Bangkok's Rajamangala National Stadium on Tuesday (Dec 9) faced an embarrassing mix-up when Indonesia, the host of the 1997 SEA Games, was mistakenly represented with Singapore's flag. The mistake drew criticism from Indonesian viewers and spectators, reported the Jakarta Globe. But this was just one among several mishaps that marred the opening ceremony, which ran for more than two-and-a-half hours. When the event displayed a digital map projecting the different Southeast Asian nations as each delegation entered the arena, netizens noticed that some islands were missing from the Vietnam map, reported VietNamNet. The drone display for the gold medal tally also mistakenly formed the number 547 instead of 574, reported Thaiger. Ahead of the Games, a women's football schedule published on the official SEA Games website also showed Laos' flag next to Indonesia's name, while Thailand's flag was swapped with Vietnam's flag, reported Jakarta Globe. The 33rd SEA Games takes place from Dec 9 to 20 in Thailand, with Bangkok and Chonburi as host regions. 

A former driving tester has been charged for allegedly attempting to obtain $150 from a candidate in exchange for leniency during the latter's practical driving test.Muhamad Zahirey Bin Ishak, a 39-year-old Singaporean man, was charged in court on Thursday (Dec 11) for an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act, according to a statement by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.According to court documents, Zahirey had been a driving tester with People Advantage and was deployed to Bukit Batok Driving Centre.On May 23 this year, Zahirey had attempted to obtain the $150 bribe from a test candidate as a reward to help the candidate obtain his Singapore driving licence.The court heard that he intends to plead guilty on Jan 29, 2026.If convicted, he will face a jail term of up to five years, a maximum fine of $100,000, or both.[[nid:726340]]dana.leong@asiaone.com

WESTERN BUREAU: A subdued atmosphere hung over the Ridgemount United Church in Mandeville, Manchester, yesterday as relatives and well-wishers said farewell to businessman Ruel Alphanso Crawford, a former Master Builders Association member and a board member of the Southern Regional Health Authority. Crawford, who died on September 24 at age 74 after a lengthy battle with cancer, was also the father of Dwight Crawford, deputy mayor of Montego Bay in St James and the St James Municipal Corporation’s councillor for the Spring Garden Division.

WESTERN BUREAU: Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness says the topping out of Tower One at The Pinnacle marks a major step forward for Jamaica’s tourism diversification strategy. However, he insists that luxury development must go hand-in-hand with rebuilding homes, improving public order, and ensuring workers benefit from the sector’s growth. Speaking at the ceremony for Jamaica’s new tallest building, Holness said the Government remains acutely aware of the national mood following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa.

Defending the decision to lend the Jamaica Public Service Company US$150 million towards its early restoration efforts following Hurricane Melissa’s devastation, Energy Minister Daryl Vaz has shrugged off criticisms, labelling them as “misinformation and noise”. Addressing yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Vaz again defended the Government’s decision, saying he was confused by the criticism. The decision to make the multimillion US dollar loan to the privately owned JPS has been widely criticised and the subject of fiery parliamentary sittings.

Residents of Phoenix Park Village in Phase 3, Portmore, St Catherine, were left shaken yesterday after a reported police operation ended in gunfire, leaving one alleged robber dead and another on the run. The incident, which unfolded along Hellshire Drive, has ignited fresh anxiety in the gated community, where homeowners say crime has been quietly creeping in despite heavy investments in security. Residents say explosions echoed across the midday atmosphere, and The Gleaner arrived in time to see the scene littered with spent casings.

The administrative arm of the Houses of Parliament has been found wanting as the Auditor General’s Department places the spotlight on a $24-million contract to renovate the Members’ Lounge at Gordon House, as well as procurement breaches in the purchase of 16 air-conditioning units. A special audit was conducted by the Pamela Monroe Ellis-led Auditor General’s Department into the operations of Parliament following allegations of mismanagement at the seat of the nation’s legislature.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah honored former President Pranab Mukherjee on his birth anniversary. Modi lauded Mukherjee as a «towering statesman and a scholar of exceptional depth,» highlighting his dedication and intellectual contributions to Indian democracy. Shah emphasized Mukherjee's profound constitutional understanding, stating his life and work will continue to inspire the nation's democratic path.

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill providing $800 million in Ukraine aid Read Full Article at RT.com

US President Donald Trump has said that Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky should be “realistic” and hold elections Read Full Article at RT.com

Promotional clips of women posted without their consent are being used by criminal gangs to advertise their services providing migration routes to the UK and Europe, Daily Mail has found.