Speaking during the debate on the women’s reservation-related amendment bills and the proposed delimitation framework, Shah said the total strength of the Lok Sabha would rise to 816 seats, though the legislation mentions a ceiling of 850 because that figure is rounded. He explained that 816 reflects a precise 50 per cent increase over the current 543 elected seats.

ISRO's Space Applications Centre and ATREE have partnered to map India's grasslands and open natural ecosystems using satellite data and ecological research. This collaboration aims to assess restoration impacts, improve carbon estimation, and generate policy-ready datasets for land use planning and conservation efforts.

Pope Leo XIV made the unusually forceful remarks during a trip to Cameroon on Thursday after the US President launched a tirade against him over his repeated criticism of the war in Iran .

On day three of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Australian tour, the couple spoke to students in Melbourne about the dangers of social media and its impact on mental health.

Scottish actor Alexander 'Sandy' Morton, who is best known for playing Golly Mackenzie in the BBC series Monarch of the Glen, has died aged 81.

In an astonishing development, No10 revealed Lord Mandelson was granted clearance to take on the role against the recommendation of security vetting officials.

The official yuan rate was set at 11.17 rubles, up 13.66 kopecks

Many countries continue pursuing the imbalanced fiscal policy and continue boosting expenses and debts for the geopolitical struggle in conditions of huge budget imbalances and the record high government debt, Anton Siluanov stressed

About 22,700 people applied for military service in the first quarter of 2026

Maria Zakharova recalled that Zelensky never gave the order to cease fire, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces violated the silence regime more than 6,000 times

Maria Zakharova emphasized that it was a «destructive course»

US President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ten-day ceasefire after talks in Washington Read Full Article at RT.com

The Pentagon has approached General Motors and Ford as it seeks to expand military output amid ongoing conflicts, according to the WSJ Read Full Article at RT.com

During a moment of rising tensions, the opposition turns to rapprochement with mainland China – the only viable path forward Read Full Article at RT.com

US Vice President J.D.Vance was forced to defend President Trump’s Gaza policy after being heckled at a TPUSA rally in Georgia Read Full Article at RT.com

US-Israel strikes and Tehran’s retaliation are pushing oil and gas facility damage costs toward $50 billion, Rystad Energy projects Read Full Article at RT.com

[New Times] Industries operating within the Kigali Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) exported processed goods worth approximately $290 million in 2025, as authorities advance expansion preparations for Phase III and Phase IV.

[New Times] The Burundian Minister for Media and Communication, Gabby Bugaga was found dead in the morning of Thursday, April 16, according to media reports from the neighbouring country.

Residents heard the bawling from a bear cub early in the morning on Tuesday and called for help.

Tanks, fighter jets and about 1,500 Canadian soldiers have taken over some areas in Quebec for a series of training exercises as part of the army’s largest annual training event to prepare for a NATO mission.

An activist based in Surrey, B.C., who was a friend and associate of the assassinated pro-Khalistan advocate Hardeep Singh Nijjar, says he has been warned by police that he could be in serious danger.

Montreal’s largest school board has lost more than 100 support staff because they refused to remove religious symbols to comply with the province’s new secularism law.

Mandelson is said to have been initially denied clearance in January 2025 - weeks after the PM had officially announced his appointment.

Le Maroc a réaffirmé, jeudi, son ambition de faire de l'intelligence artificielle un levier de paix, de sécurité et de développement durable pour le continent africain, à l'occasion de la réunion ministérielle du Conseil de paix et de sécurité de l'Union Africaine consacrée à l'intelligence artificielle et à ses implications pour la gouvernance, la paix et la sécurité en Afrique. Intervenant par visioconférence, le ministre marocain des Affaires étrangères, Nasser Bourita, a souligné (...) - ECONOMIE NUMERIQUE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

Marie-Edith Tassyla-Doumbeneny, Ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération, Chargé de l'Intégration et de la Diaspora, a pris part ce 16 avril 2026 à la réunion ministérielle consultative virtuelle du Conseil de paix et de sécurité de l'Union africaine, consacrée à l'intelligence artificielle : gouvernance, paix et sécurité. Dans sa déclaration, la ministre a souligné l'engagement du Gabon, sous l'impulsion de Son Excellence Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Président de la (...) - ECONOMIE NUMERIQUE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

Le Gabon prend aujourd'hui la présidence du Groupe Afrique II au sein du Groupe de la Banque mondiale. Je porte désormais la responsabilité de représenter et de défendre les priorités de 23 pays membres. Ma prise de fonction fait suite à une cérémonie officielle de passation en présence de Monsieur Harold Tavares, Administrateur pour le Groupe Afrique II, et de plusieurs Gouverneurs. C'est pour moi un moment de continuité, de confiance et d'ambition partagée. Je succède à Monsieur (...) - LIBRE PROPOS / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

There may be some relief from the sweltering heat, as thundery showers are forecast on most afternoons for the rest of April, the Meteorological Service Singapore said on April 16 (Thursday).The weatherman said short-duration thundery showers are expected over parts of the island in the afternoon on most days, with showers extending into the evening on some occasions. Widespread thundery showers accompanied by gusty winds are expected during the pre-dawn and morning hours on one or two days.During this fortnight, daily temperatures are expected to range between 33 deg C and 34 deg C on most days, with temperatures reaching around 35 deg C on a few days.The first half of April was relatively wetter than the second half of March, with thundery showers occurring mostly in the afternoons, driven by daytime heating.Temperatures exceeded 34 deg C on 12 days — with a high of 35.4 deg C recorded at Paya Lebar on April 5.On April 7, widespread rain affected many parts of Singapore in the morning, with a total rainfall of 60.8mm — the highest rainfall for the first half of April — around Punggol.[[nid:732814]]

Three more European Union (EU) countries — Greece, Lithuania and Latvia —will be authorised to export meat and egg products to Singapore, the EU, Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and NParks announced in a joint statement on Thursday (April 16).With Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, the three new additions bring the total authorised countries up to 18.The announcement comes alongside the recognition by Singapore of EU-wide regionalisation measures for animal diseases such as African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease.This allows Singapore to avoid countrywide restrictions and unnecessary trade disruptions to exports, as an outbreak in one region would mean only that region gets restricted, instead of the entire country.Trade from areas outside the restricted region can still be conducted safely with the recognition of these regionalisation measures.

The Singapore brand is seen as reliable and trusted in China with opportunities for Singaporeans and Singapore businesses to collaborate and develop there, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat.He added that the Government will continue to support them to go overseas — to build connections and get opportunities.Chee, who is also deputy chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), wrote two Facebook posts as he wrapped up a five-day working visit to Beijing and Tianjin.Following his meeting with Bank of China chairman Ge Haijiao a day earlier, Chee met with China Construction Bank (CCB) chairman Zhang Jinliang in Beijing on Wednesday (April 15).They discussed further cooperation in areas such as trade financing, infrastructure financing and fintech, as well as supporting Chinese companies looking to venture into the region using Singapore as a launchpad.