For the European Union to compete globally while continuing to ensure progress in environmental, social and fundamental rights, more strategic and collective action is imperative. In a world where some leading global businesses have a market capitalisation of more than €3 trillion, an integrated economic, financial and fiscal policy framework is needed to encourage innovation and growth, including for successful SMEs. As the recent Letta and Draghi reports highlight, this requires clear political priorities, enough budgetary means, lower public spending waste rates at Member State level and crucially a transnational pro-innovation perspective. As a result, EU businesses could harness the full potential of the single market and economic and monetary union and challenge competitors in fast-growing and future-oriented economic activities such as digital and clean energy production. This agenda, although largely elusive at this point, could bring substantial economic benefit. This study finds that, compared to a situation where Member States act alone, a coordinated approach at EU level could bring an additional 0.9 % of GDP in 2035. A more ambitious integrated approach could be even more positive, with a benefit estimated at 2.6 % of additional GDP in 2035. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Senate Democrats slam “significant gaps and inadequacies” in the background vetting of President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon.

Trump’s inauguration performers include Carrie Underwood, Village People and Christopher Macchio.

A Republican strategist, he was credited with transforming Reagan, a former B-movie actor, into one of the most successful politicians of his time.

[Ghanaian Times] «The Ghana Card Number at birth is not just an ID; it's a promise to our children of a future where their identity and rights are recognized from their very first breath.»

[ISS] Laws and policies against illicit logging exist, but sustainable solutions should also consider the many benefits of ecotourism.

[Africa Check] IN SHORT: While Nigerians grapple with the rising cost of living and reported bad governance, a claim has spread on social media that an investigative journalism group has named Nigeria's president the most corrupt person in the world for 2024. But that's not quite true - the top spot went to the ousted leader of Syria.

A once-in-a-lifetime comet is set to become visible for the first time in 160,000 years - and you don't want to miss it.

Gunnar Þór Hallgrímsson, a professor of zoology, found 19 dead greylag geese in Vatnsmýri in Reykjavík yesterday. There is every chance that bird flu killed the geese.

A water pipe that burst recently in the Phoenix Park office campus has cut off the water supply for offices and businesses there. A pre-school, enrichment centres, a yoga studio and a tailoring business are among affected businesses in the cluster of 11 colonial buildings located in Tanglin Road. The 59,630 sq m site, which used to house the former Ministry of Home Affairs office, is managed by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA). According to an e-mail sent to tenants on the morning of Jan 11, an underground pipe had burst, causing water leaks. It was sent by facilities management company Ocean IFM, a contractor hired by master tenant LHN Group, which offers real estate management services and leases out the majority of the units in Phoenix Park office campus to sub-tenants. The e-mail added that the water supply was disrupted, and that repairs works were taking place. On the morning of Jan 13, Ocean IFM sent another e-mail notifying LHN Group’s sub-tenants that the water disruption would continue on that day, “due to unforeseen circumstances and bad weather conditions”.

SINGAPORE — Facing financial difficulties, a woman started operating an online vice ring in 2017 and later lived on the earnings of six sex workers totalling more than $264,000. The mastermind of the vice syndicate, Phua Shewn Ying, 43, also known as Pan Xuanying, had engaged Singaporean and Malaysian women to work for her. The sex workers provided services on up to 1,005 occasions in total. Phua's husband, Lim Teck Lee, 45, started helping her with the vice-related activities in 2022. On 18 occasions between November 2022 and January 2023, Lim, who is also known as Lin Deli, transferred ill-gotten gains totalling more than $110,000 to a bank account, and helped his wife to live on the earnings of sex work. On Jan 13, Phua pleaded guilty to five prostitution-related charges under the Women's Charter while Lim pleaded guilty to two charges including one count of dealing with the benefits of criminal conduct. Deputy Public Prosecutor Natalie Chu told the court that Phua had initially operated alone after setting up the online vice ring in 2017.

La grève de la FRAAP devait débuter le 14 janvier à minuit, après l'échec des négociations avec le président Moetai Brotherson. Au vu des difficultés que ce nouveau mouvement social pourrait engendrer, le syndicat a décidé de suspendre son mouvement de grève.

Chaque semaine, découvrez le portrait d'un des 6 athlètes nominés pour le prix du public de la 11e édition des Trophées du Sport. Rencontre avec Hinatea Montebello, championne de crossfit et candidate n°6.

Si la dépression Pita s'est affaiblie au sud de la Polynésie, le temps reste perturbé notamment sur la Société et les Tuamotu. Sur l'atoll de Vahitahi, les habitants craignent la montée des eaux et restent à l'abri.

Biden spoke a week before transferring power to his successor Donald Trump

This decision will make it possible to invite Switzerland to this project, for the participation in which it applied in September 2024

Biden's statement today is an admission of a deliberate provocation, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said

The event’s format implies answers to a wide array of question from Russian and foreign reporters

During the visit, the prime minister will meet with President of Vietnam Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam

Delhi High Court criticized the AAP government for not promptly forwarding key CAG reports to the assembly for discussion on the scrapped liquor policy, raising doubts about their motives. The court noted that calling an assembly session is the Speaker's prerogative and scheduled the next hearing for January 16.

Amid the push for gender-neutrality in the armed forces, General Upendra Dwivedi supports women officers, countering a Lt General's criticism. The number of women officers is set to increase, with plans to induct more into various ranks by 2032. Women are already serving successfully in multiple non-combat roles.

IT and I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw rebutted Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg's claim that incumbents, including those in India, lost elections post-Covid. Vaishnaw highlighted Modi's third-term win in 2024 amid pandemic policies, criticizing the misinformation and emphasizing the significance of accurate information dissemination.

One of two youths from Thrissur, trapped in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, is believed to have been killed by Ukrainian forces as per information from the Indian embassy. Although confirmed verbally, official communication is still pending. His cousin, also trapped, was injured and underwent surgery in Moscow.

Kerala Police have arrested 14 more people, aged 18 to 25, in connection with the rape and abuse of a Dalit girl in Pathanamthitta district, bringing the total number of accused in custody to 42. The survivor, aged 18, alleges abuse by nearly 60 people since age 13.

The president spoke at the State Department as an Israel-Hamas ceasefire appeared to be drawing closer.

Apple’s board of directors has urged investors to vote against proposal to end DEI programs Read Full Article at RT.com

Head of NATO Mark Rutte has urged the European Parliament to either raise military spending to over 2% of GDP or to start studying Russian Read Full Article at RT.com

Three tow-truck related shootings in Toronto last week have pushed police to launch a new task force aimed at addressing what investigators are calling a 'troubling' increase in gun violence within the industry.

The number of self-reported cases of gastroenteritis at the University of Guelph has increased to 234, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health confirmed on Monday.

Students at Bishop's University in Sherbrooke, Que., say they're shocked and appalled by the school's apparent lack of action over a teacher they allege has been using derogatory language in her classroom for years.

Canadian health officials are reporting a rising number of cases of the highly contagious norovirus illness in Canada, warning that the elderly and young children are most at risk.

Premier Doug Ford is proposing a closer relationship with the U.S. when it comes to critical minerals while at the same time boasting that the province won’t 'roll over' should president-elect Donald Trump follow through on his threatened tariffs upon taking office next week.

India's market capitalization dropped below $5 trillion for the first time in over seven months due to a sliding market and a weakening rupee. Investor sentiment waned due to strong US jobs data, rising crude oil prices, and global market sell-offs, leading to heavy losses in midcap and smallcap stocks.

Banks are offering better deposit rates to attract customers amid liquidity shortages. IDBI Bank launched a scheme for individuals aged 80 and above, with higher interest rates. Similarly, Bank of Baroda introduced a liquid fixed deposit scheme allowing withdrawals in units of Rs 1,000, with extra benefits for seniors.

In December 2024, SBI Life Insurance overtook LIC in regular premium policies with Rs 3,416 crore, a 16.7% increase from last year, while LIC's premiums fell 15% to Rs 2,628 crore. Despite a significant decline in group single premium policies, LIC remained the largest player by total new business premiums.