TEHRAN – In an effort to strengthen the participation of local communities in conserving nature, the Department of Environment (DOE) has approved seven natural areas to be protected by the public.

TEHRAN – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in close collaboration with the Iranian Drug Control Headquarters (DCHQ) and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME), has held a training workshop aimed at enhancing the competencies of drug use disorder treatment professionals through the systematic application of the UNODC TreatNet Training Package.

TEHRAN – To ensure that medical settings serve as a strong shield for children at risk, the United Nations Children’s Fund, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, has organized an event to strengthen integrated child protection services as the first step toward activating Child Protection Committees within hospitals.

TEHRAN – Since the beginning of the current water year (September 23, 2025), until January 5, the country has received an average rainfall of 76.2 mm, which is 6.6 percent higher than the 71.4 mm recorded in the long term, according to the Meteorological Organization.

A fire broke out at an industrial building in Sungei Kadut on Wednesday (Jan 7) evening.The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post that it was alerted to a fire at 14 Sungei Kadut Avenue at about 6.40pm.Checks online by AsiaOne indicate that the location is a four-storey building occupied by Da Di Glass Private Limited, a glass production company.According to the company's website, they moved to the given address in 2013. In a second update posted just before 9pm, SCDF said that the production area on the second-floor of the building was on fire when firefighters arrived at the scene.«Firefighters deployed three water jets to contain the fire within the workshop,» it added.The fire was extinguished at about 8pm.About 30 persons from the affected building self-evacuated before SCDF's arrival.One person was taken to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation.The cause of the fire is under investigation.editor@asiaone.com 

Punggol residents will soon be able to travel round the neighbourhood on driver-less shuttles, with the first of three fixed-route services expected to begin full service in «two to three months», Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling said.In a Facebook post on Wednesday (Jan 7), the MP for Punggol GRC said that the shuttles plying route one has completed testing and preparatory work and have travelled more than 10,000km without any incident.The 10km-long route connects Matilda Court, Punggol Clover, Punggol Plaza and Oasis Terraces. Operated by Grab, the service will run from 9.30am to 5pm on weekdays.Sun said that stakeholders including key grassroots leaders and agency partners will be invited to take a ride in the vehicles in January. «Apps will also be rolled out then by the AV shuttle operators to enable commuters to check ride availability,» she said.

Survey conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology

The Icelandic Meteorological Office has issued a yellow weather warning for South Iceland and Southeast Iceland due to northeasterly blizzard conditions.

The Icelandic Coast Guard is monitoring the movements of an oil tanker that entered Iceland’s southeastern exclusive economic zone shortly after 4 a.m. last night.

An anonymous trader’s perfectly timed bet on the fall of Venezuela’s leader has ignited debate over whether fast-growing prediction markets have adequate safeguards.

UK and France say they have agreed to deploy forces in Ukraine after a peace deal – a move Russia opposes Read Full Article at RT.com

In a world where wars solve nothing, Trump’s brand of pressure politics may be the closest thing to modern peace Read Full Article at RT.com

The Marinera vessel had been shadowed by a US warship for days Read Full Article at RT.com

Venezuela will turn over 30 to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil for US sale, Donald Trump has claimed Read Full Article at RT.com

People from Erata village on Tongariki celebrated their New Year yam harvest early this year, harvesting over 100 yams yesterday.

More than 35 widows, widowers and people living with disabilities in Takara village, north-east Efate, received rice and basic food supplies on the first Sunday of the New Year through a goodwill outreach led by the Consul General of the…

The University of the South Pacific (USP) has rejected rumours circulating on social media claiming that the regional Law programme at its Emalus Campus in Port Vila has been withdrawn, or that regional students are no longer eligible to study…

One male and one female suspect were remanded in custody by the Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon in connection with the robbery at the Port Vila International Airport Cargo Terminal on December 29, 2025.

The Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) had to charter one of Air Taxi Vanuatu’s private aircraft yesterday to fly back the main suspect, who allegedly masterminded the biggest robbery in Vanuatu’s history in broad daylight — AUD600,000, equivalent to VT49 million.

During PMQs clashes, Kemi Badenoch challenged Keir Starmer for details of how many personnel could be deployed to guarantee a mooted peace deal.

At the same time, key facilities and checkpoints in Aden remain under the control of the Al-Amalika Brigades, the channel's sources said

In January 2025, Touadera, along with a delegation of several ministers, paid a visit to Russia, where he held talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin

When President Arthur Peter Mutharika reshuffled his Cabinet two days ago, the headline changes were modest: a handful of new deputy ministers and the reassignment of three senior figures. To the casual observer, it looked routine. But to political analysts and governance insiders, the reshuffle was anything but ordinary. Its true meaning lies not in […] The post Beyond Gangata: Decoding the Cabinet Reshuffle’s Real Target — the Ministry of Lands appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Fired former Escom CEO Kamkwamba Kumwenda is seeking a K1.1 billion payout settlement and has since rejected his deployment to Malawi University of Business and Applied Science (Mubas). This was revealed yesterday when attorney general Frank Mbeta was seeking the High Court of Malawi in Blantyre to consolidate two cases involving Kumwenda and former human […] The post Fired former Escom CEO Kumwenda seeks K1.1bn payout settlement, rejects Mubas deployment appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The Indonesian National Defence Forces' (TNI) Chief of Defence Force, General Agus Subiyanto, has been conferred the prestigious Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera), or Distinguished Service Order (Military), by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.Gen Subiyanto was presented with Singapore's highest military award at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) on Wednesday (Jan 7) afternoon.The award was given for his «significant role» in strengthening defence ties between the TNI and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), said Mindef.The statement added that the high cadence of professional exchanges and regular bilateral exercises have «greatly promoted» interoperability and friendship between the two armed forces.«Under General Subiyanto's leadership, the implementation of the Defence Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force in 2024, has continued to be smooth.»Both militaries also maintained a high cadence of professional exchanges and regular bilateral exercises such as Exercise Safkar Indopura, Exercise Eagle Indopura, Exercise Elang Indopura, Exercise Chandrapura and Exercise Manyar Indopura," said Mindef.

A motorcyclist was flung off his bike after a car rear-ended him along Lavender Street on Wednesday (Jan 7) morning.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the police said they were alerted to the accident in the direction of Crawford Street at about 8.20am.The 37-year-old male motorcyclist was conscious when taken to hospital.Dashcam footage shared by Facebook page SGRV showed that the motorcyclist was originally in the middle of the four-lane road, where traffic had appeared to build up.He is seen turning to check for oncoming vehicles when he turns left and switches lane, but did not appear to do the same when he crossed to the left-most lane, where a black car was travelling at.The approaching car slams into the motorbike, and the rider briefly ends up on the bonnet before being thrown to the roadside when the car brakes.He pulls himself to sit upright as a passer-by walks over and checks on him.The police said that the 64-year-old male car driver is assisting with investigations, which are ongoing.[[nid:727766]]lim.kewei@asiaone.com

A 32-year-old woman was arrested on Tuesday (Jan 6) for her alleged involvement in a case of loanshark harassment in Kallang.It took place at about 8.05pm on Monday (Jan 5) at a residential unit along Geylang Bahru in Kallang, the police said on Wednesday (Jan 7).A photograph of the items seized from her shows a blue plastic bag containing red paint, and a debtor's note which reads «Owe $ Pay Money $. This is just (a) warning. Next time will go burn your house (sic)».The woman was identified by officers from Central Police Division through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from police cameras.She will be charged in court on Thursday (Jan 8).The offence of loanshark harassment carries a penalty of imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to $50,000. In addition, those found guilty may receive up to six strokes of the cane.As caning can only be imposed on male offenders below 50 years old, she may receive an additional sentence in lieu of caning if she is found guilty.[[nid:727764]]editor@asiaone.com 

Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya's mispronunciation of Kolkata football club Mohun Bagan drew sharp criticism from the ruling Trinamool Congress. The TMC accused the BJP of showing contempt for Bengal by mangling the names of revered football institutions, calling them symbols of identity and pride. The party slammed the BJP's alleged «Bangla-Birodhi arrogance».

The female patient 'exited' the moving ambulance onto the slip road between the M6 and M55 in Lancashire yesterday evening.

Ministers are to consult on whether to slash the limit from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms in England and Wales to bring them in line with Scotland.

The actress, 36, launched her career in 2008 as a contestant on the reality show which was a competition to win the role of Nancy in a West End production of hit musical Oliver!

Mr Farage insisted Reform could kick out the three-term winning Labour leader as he confirmed Laila Cunningham, a former CPS prosecutor and ex-Tory councillor in Westminster.

The family of Joshua Johnson, 18, were mistakenly informed by officers that he had survived a collision near Rotherham which claimed the lives of two others.