The Treaty of Nice only partially prepared the EU for its significant enlargements to the east and south on 1 May 2004 and 1 January 2007. Therefore, as part of the conclusions to the Laeken European Council meeting in December 2001, EU leaders established the European Convention on the Future of Europe – an effort to produce a new legal basis for the EU in the form of a treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. Following ‘no’ votes in referendums in two of the Member States, this treaty was not ratified. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Public authorities across the EU award contracts for works and services worth EUR 2.448 billion annually, making public procurement a major driver of economic growth, job creation and innovation. The 2014 public procurement package alone adds EUR 2.88 billion to the EU’s GDP each year. Moreover, EU procurement directives have significantly increased total award values, rising from under EUR 200 billion in 2009 to approximately EUR 525 billion by 2017. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The disastrous effects of the Second World War and the constant threat of an East-West confrontation meant that Franco-German reconciliation had become a top priority. The decision to pool the coal and steel industries of six European countries, brought into force by the Treaty of Paris in 1951, marked the first step towards European integration. The Treaties of Rome of 1957 strengthened the foundations of this integration, as well as the notion of a common future for the six European countries involved. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

As part of the wider Indo-Pacific, Southeast Asia has vital geostrategic importance for the EU and is currently facing relevant geostrategic challenges. The Indo-Pacific is undergoing rapid change, and as home to more than 50% of the world’s population, it is becoming a key geostrategic region. Two thirds of the world’s container trade passes through the Indo-Pacific and its sea lanes are important routes for trade and energy supplies. The EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific was adopted in September 2021 to increase the EU’s engagement and build partnerships to address global challenges. The EU is adapting its current instruments to achieve strategic autonomy. Its Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, formally approved by the Council in March 2022, promotes an open and rules-based regional security architecture, including secure maritime routes, capacity-building and an enhanced naval presence in the Indo-Pacific.The EU’s strategy priority areas in Southeast Asia are sustainable and inclusive prosperity, the green transition, ocean governance, digital governance, connectivity through the Global Gateway, security, defence and human security. The EU is forging closer ties with Southeast Asian countries and is promoting regional integration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which represents, as a whole, the EU’s third-largest trading partner outside Europe (after China and the US). The region has geostrategic concerns, such as the South China Sea dispute and the Taiwan issue, as well as environmental concerns, especially in the Mekong sub-region. The EU is a strong economic player in Southeast Asia and a major development aid donor, working to foster connectivity, digitalisation, institution-building, democracy, good governance and human rights. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

[allAfrica]

The Jamaica Rugby Football Union (JRFU) has secured a new partner for the 2025–2026 season: Mr. Breakfast, a local company known for its fusion of continental breakfasts and Jamaican flavours. The partnership includes pre-game breakfast support,...

WESTERN BUREAU: Savanna-la-Mar Mayor Danree Delancy has pushed back against “unfair” criticism from Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie regarding delays in the Negril Fruits and Vegetable Market project. “It is unfair to blame us for what we...

WASHINGTON, DC (PAHO): Ahead of World Blood Donor Day, observed on June 14, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) has released new data showing progress in voluntary blood donation across the Americas. However, key challenges remain to...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is advancing efforts to align Jamaica’s waste export practices with recent global amendments, under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their...

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday visited the Turkish seismic exploration vessel Oruc Reis at the Port of Mogadishu, marking the official completion of an extensive oil exploration mission off the coast of Somalia.

Oruc Reis Seismic Exploration Vessel, built by Turkish engineers, has successfully completed its first intercontinental mission according to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.

Kenya’s National Assembly has pledged to strengthen parliamentary ties with Somalia through a comprehensive capacity-building program aimed at training Somali parliamentary staff.

Three hundred vulnerable displaced families living in an internal displacement camp in Merka, Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, are appealing for support following the cutting of cash aid in January.

Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty and European Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa Annette Weber discussed pressing regional developments on Thursday, including the ongoing crisis in war-ravaged Sudan, security challenges in Somalia, and navigation in the Red Sea.

Iran has vowed to retaliate following Israeli airstrikes Read Full Article at RT.com

Following Israel's military operation in Iran, Air India has rerouted numerous flights, causing disruption for passengers. Several flights bound for or originating from London, New York, Delhi, and other major cities are being diverted to locations like Vienna, Sharjah, and Jeddah, while others are returning to their origin airports. Air India is offering refunds and complimentary rescheduling to affected passengers.

Air India changed several international flights because of the emergency in Iran. Flights to and from the US, the UK, and Canada were affected. Some flights were rerouted, and others returned to where they started. The airline is helping passengers with accommodations and refunds. Passengers should check their flight status for updates.

Tensions escalate as Israel launches 'Operation Rising Lion,' conducting preemptive strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, resulting in significant casualties, including military leaders. Simultaneously, a devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad claims 265 lives, prompting a visit from Prime Minister Modi to the crash site and hospital.

The airspace was closed until further notice

«We delivered a strike into the heart of Iran’s weapons program», Benjamin Netanyahu said

Simultaneously, civil defense sirens sounded in the country’s central regions

According to the report, the strikes also targeted buildings in two heavily guarded residential neighborhoods for the Islamic Republic’s top brass

The goal was to damage Iran’s strategic missile sites and its air defense capabilities, the journalist wrote

Israel has carried out a strike in Iran on Friday Read Full Article at RT.com

Israel has carried out a strike in Iran on Friday Read Full Article at RT.com

The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has reportedly been killed by Israel Read Full Article at RT.com