The human rights situation is worsening in Belarus, with a continued climate of oppression in the country. Meanwhile, presidential 'elections' are due to take place on 26 January 2025. The democratic forces of Belarus call this vote a 'self-reappointment of Lukashenka' and urge the international community not to recognise it. The European Parliament will hold a debate on the situation and possible actions with the High Representative /Vice-President of the Commission, Kaja Kallas, during the January plenary session. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

During its January session, Parliament is due to debate a Commission statement on the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). This conference concluded in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 13 December 2024, following two weeks of negotiations. A significant outcome of the conference was the commitment to support financially land restoration and drought resilience initiatives. However, it failed to establish a legally binding global framework to tackle drought. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Insolvency laws are the rules governing the legal proceedings applicable to companies unable to repay debts as they fall due. The convergence of non-financial companies' insolvency laws across the Member States is high on the EU's policy agenda: the two reports requested from former Italian prime ministers Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi both emphasised the importance of the convergence of insolvency laws for the defragmentation and proper functioning of EU capital markets. This would help unlock capital and support both the EU's green and digital transitions and its competitiveness in general. In 2019, the EU adopted a directive to harmonise the preventive restructuring framework. The European Parliament and the Council are currently debating a European Commission proposal on the harmonisation of certain aspects of insolvency regimes. Theoretical and empirical economic literature has provided substantial evidence suggesting that insolvency regimes impact the conduct of business, in particular access to equity and debt, and their respective costs. The insolvency regime is an implicit component of the contract between a company and its financiers, and determines the chance of recovery of credits in the event of company failure. Converging corporate insolvency rules would also increase the predictability of returns on cross-border financing, enhancing volumes while decreasing costs. The European Parliament and the Council have expressed support for harmonising insolvency laws with a view to completing the savings and investment union and boosting the financing of the EU's economy. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Migrant smuggling is a key activity for criminal networks operating in the EU, sustained by continued demand for facilitation services. Geopolitical and socioeconomic instability worldwide, as well as climate change, are expected to keep driving migratory movements. Migrant smuggling is a high-profit, low-risk business, and the criminal groups involved are increasingly sophisticated, professional and violent. Many of those who willingly pay smugglers to help them cross borders do so at great personal risk. Parliament will discuss the links between organised crime and migrant smuggling during its January plenary session. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The EU's population is ageing and set to decline. The shrinking working-age population poses risks in terms of greater labour shortages, increased pressure on public budgets, worsened territorial disparities and depopulation. These can negatively impact EU competitiveness, slow down the green and digital transitions and undermine social cohesion. While managing the demographic transition is the responsibility of Member States, it has also become one of the biggest challenges the EU is facing today. The Commission is due to make a statement on addressing demographic challenges during the January plenary session. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Alice Weidel, co-chair of the Alternative for Germany party, says she wants to ‘Make Europe Great Again’ Read Full Article at RT.com

Russia’s Great Patriotic War veterans should be provided with special care and attention, according to Defense Minister Andrey Belousov Read Full Article at RT.com

Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Aubyn Hill, says CARICOM has agreed to suspend the 30 per cent Common External Tariff (CET) to allow Jamaica to import ice at an affordable price. Hill provided the update at Wednesday's post-...

After finding several discrepancies in the government’s management of its social benefits programmes, Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis has urged the government to implement outstanding reforms to streamline its social protection efforts. In...

Mogadishu, Somalia – Liban Hassan* has spent most of his adult life fishing off Somalia’s northeast coast – often finding himself with a net in hand navigating waters near the town of Eyl in Puntland state, where he grew up.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia and Saudi Arabia have entered an agreement to advance development initiatives funded by Saudi Arabia.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somaliland has launched a nationwide three-week campaign to combat drug trafficking, targeting smugglers, distributors, and users. The initiative, led by the Somaliland police in collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and local clerics, underscores the government's determination to address the growing narcotics crisis.

A woman is challenging herself to do 30 activities to make friends in Vancouver, a city with a reputation for being unfriendly, and documenting her journey on TikTok, garnering her hundreds of thousands of views.

Former Woodstock mayor Trevor Birtch has been found guilty of two more counts of sexual assault, with the Ontario Superior Court justice saying he «lied frequently and extravagantly.»

The Leaders' Debates Commission has released the rules for the English- and French-language leaders' debates that are to be held during the next federal election race. 

The federal incentive for buying electric vehicles has stopped months earlier than planned, due to a surge in demand. With Quebec pausing its rebate for buyers and the political winds shifting in the U.S., where does that leave Canadians looking to buy EVs in 2025?

Earlier on Wednesday, Israel's state-run Kan radio reported that Hamas had approved a Gaza deal

Production of potatoes declined in 2024 due to adverse weather conditions, but the preliminary data reveal that 7.2 mln metric tons were gathered in the organized sector, the ministry added

«Sigma Boy» is seventh in the Hot Dance/Pop Songs chart

Сolumnist Samuel Charap said that Donald Trump is likely to try to disengage the United States from European security affairs, but, eventually, Washington may become potentially embroiled in a new conflict

«It’s been a warm winter in Baikal, as observed from space,» Roscosmos said in comments to its posted pictures

Key Russian opposition figure Maria Pevchikh is the latest target of Ukraine’s infamous blacklist Read Full Article at RT.com

The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Energodar has been added to the US sanctions list but its operations remain unaffected Read Full Article at RT.com

Alice Weidel, co-chair of the Alternative for Germany party, says she wants to ‘Make Europe Great Again’ Read Full Article at RT.com

TEHRAN –Maysaa Alghribawy, the new representative of the World Food Program (WFP) in Iran, has announced the organization’s commitment to supporting Iran as one the biggest refugee hosting countries.

TEHRAN –According to a report released by the Web of Science database, with 606 publications on three-dimensional printing over a span of ten years, Iran ranks second among Islamic nations.

TEHRAN -The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Iran-Switzerland Chamber of Commerce (ISCC) have signed a three-year partnership to further support children, particularly the vulnerable ones.

TEHRAN –The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) director, Razieh Alishvandi, in a meeting with the Sudanese ambassador to Tehran, Abdulaziz Hassan Saleh Taha, has announced readiness to cooperate, and share knowledge as well as experiences with other Red Crescent societies, including Sudan.

Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed an FIR against a proclaimed offender under the Negotiable Instruments Act after both parties reached a compromise. Justice Sumeet Goel emphasized that pursuing such cases, when settled, burdens courts unnecessarily and goes against the legislative intent of Sec 138 of the Act. The compromise was deemed a significant factor in deciding to quash the FIR.

The Commissioner for Railway Safety has approved the Katra-Reasi section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail project, paving the way for regular train services between Jammu and Srinagar. The maximum speed will be 85 kmph on regular lines and 15 kmph on loop lines, with operations limited to daytime for security reasons. Compliance with certain conditions is required before starting train operations.

Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde's aide Valmik Karad, already in SIT custody for extortion charges, has been named an accused in the Sarapanch Santosh Deshmukh abduction-murder case. The MCOCA court has extended his custody till January 22 for further investigation. The prosecution presented call records linking Karad to the crime. Karad's lawyer insists on the lack of legal grounds and substantial evidence against him.

Supreme Court refused to entertain BRS MLA K T Ram Rao's plea seeking to quash criminal proceedings in the Formula-E race scam. The court upheld the Telangana HC's order, with Rao facing charges including criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and misconduct. Rao withdrew his plea after the court's decision.

Pakistan's military and foreign office refute Indian Army Chief Gen Dwivedi's claims that Pakistan is the source of regional terrorism. Islamabad labels these statements as baseless attempts to distract from India's internal issues, including its actions in J&K and minorities' repression. Pakistan urges India to introspect its own actions.

Le président de la Transition, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, a procédé à un remaniement gouvernemental ce mardi 15 janvier 2025. Ce nouveau gouvernement, dirigé par le Premier ministre Raymond Ndong Sima, met en avant, des personnalités issues de divers horizons pour accompagner le pays dans sa phase de transition politique. Composé de 35 membres, dont des militaires, des universitaires, et des acteurs de la société civile, l'Exécutif se distingue par une volonté affirmée de répondre aux (...) - POLITIQUE