Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia is facing a mounting political crisis as tensions between the federal government and the southern state of Jubbaland escalate over a disputed electoral reform plan.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Al-Shabab militants ambushed and killed two Southwest state soldiers on Tuesday as they traveled by motorcycle along the road between Wanlaweyn and Afgoye districts in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, residents reported.

The Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT) will be able to mandate mental health treatment for those who cause unreasonable interferences in the community if a bill to amend the Community Disputes Resolution Act (CDRA) goes through.  The bill was proposed in Parliament by Minister for Community, Culture and Youth Edwin Tong on Tuesday (Nov 12). The CDRT currently hears disputes under CDRA between neighbours involving acts of unreasonable interference with the enjoyment or use of places of residence. Under the bill, the tribunal will be able to issue Mandatory Treatment Orders (MTO) should there be a belief that the acts of disturbance stem from an underlying psychiatric condition. «In those cases, the issue therefore is not just a disamenity one,» Minister Tong said. «Hence, the MTO is intended to address the root cause of certain acts that a resident may engage in.» Tong added that their priority remains in persuading the resident to go for treatment voluntarily, and that the CDRT-issued MTO is a measure of last resort. There are also criteria that must be met for the MTO to be issued.

SINGAPORE – The police are investigating deepfake nude photos of Singapore Sports School (SSP) students that were created and spread by other students. In response to queries from The Straits Times, school principal Ong Kim Soon said SSP is “aware of the incident involving the creation and sharing of deepfake photos by our student-athletes”. “The school does not condone such harmful behaviour,” he said, adding that it has launched an investigation and lodged a police report. The police, in response to queries from ST, confirmed that a report was lodged and investigations are ongoing. A reader who identified himself as a parent of a victim had alerted ST in an e-mail on Nov 12 about the deepfake nude images that were being circulated. “Many parents of affected female students in Singapore Sports School are making police reports about deepfake nude photos of their daughters generated by male students from the school,” the parent said. When contacted, the parent said that female teachers were also targeted, and that the school has offered affected students counselling.

As a group of friends circled a hearse, chants were heard. Then, they stopped and bowed to the portrait displayed at the front of the vehicle. This was not a typical Buddhist funeral, but rather the unconventional birthday celebration of a funeral director, reported Shin Min Daily News. According to the Chinese evening daily, a video circulating online showed the friends chanting a birthday song. The hearse's interior had been decorated with balloons and a birthday banner, with the man even laying inside for photos. The clip garnered criticism from netizens, with some deeming it overboard and disrespectful to the funeral industry. In an interview with Shin Min, director of Xin An Funeral Services Chen Weisong (transliteration) explained that he had celebrated his birthday at the company's premises with his friends and family last week. Halfway through the performances by singers, his employees and business partners had surprised him with the birthday-themed hearse bearing his portrait. Chen told 8world he was not angry and did not think it was taboo. «I was too embarrassed to turn down their gesture,» he said. 

India and Nepal are set to hold their eighth annual border talks in Kathmandu from November 16th to 18th. An Indian delegation led by SSB Director General Amrit Mohan Prasad will meet with their Nepalese counterparts to discuss strategies for combating cross-border crime and enhancing intelligence sharing along the 1,751 km unfenced border.

African researcher Mashood Jacob Ajene has shared his views on the US presidential election and key global economic issues Read Full Article at RT.com

[allAfrica] World Pneumonia Day is held every year on November 12. This year it focuses on events around partnerships, aiming to lower mortality rates and strengthen pandemic defenses by uniting organizations to expand access to life-saving interventions.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh defended Rahul Gandhi's accusations against the BJP, claiming the ruling party diverted investments from Maharashtra to Gujarat. Ramesh cited data and media reports as evidence, while the BJP filed a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging Gandhi's statements aimed to incite discord between states.

A total of 54 countries, including the US, Canada and Germany, have rejected a Russia-initiated anti-racism resolution Read Full Article at RT.com

Moscow and New Delhi discuss implementing decisions taken by leaders Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi in July  Read Full Article at RT.com

North Korea has ratified a strategic security treaty with Russia which calls for mutual assistance in the event of foreign aggression    Read Full Article at RT.com

The US president-elect has promised to end wars in the Middle East, but experts believe it will be no easy task Read Full Article at RT.com

Russia says its trade volume with African states rose by 18.5% to $18.6 billion in the first eight months of 2024 Read Full Article at RT.com

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says the International Criminal Court should investigate the disappearance of Indigenous children from Canadian residential schools.

Statistics Canada data reviewed by CBC Toronto shows a dramatic shift in criminal outcomes in Ontario over the last decade. The majority of criminal cases in the province have ended with charges being withdrawn, stayed, dismissed or discharged before a decision at trial since 2020.

This paper reviews the simplification measures aimed at reducing administrative costs and burdens for Managing Authorities (MAs) and beneficiaries in implementing European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). The study further provides an overview of the administrative burdens and challenges that MAs and beneficiaries face when implementing the ESIF. Although various initiatives have been undertaken, administrative challenges persist due to complex regulations and overlapping programmes. Recommendations include consolidating funds, expanding Simplified Cost Options (SCOs) use, enhancing audit principles, and adopting flexible funding models. Effective simplification requires a stable legislative framework and political commitment, with long-term changes including a shift to result-based financing. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The Mediterranean Sea boasts a particularly high biological diversity, including more than 500 fish species, many of which are unique to the region. However, several factors have contributed to the disturbance of the sea's habitats, with consequences for the living organisms and, hence, for the fisheries in the region. Pollution from land and sea sources, climate change, invasive species, overexploitation and the growing competition for space are among the main challenges. Traditional small-scale fishing vessels make up the vast majority of the EU fleet in the Mediterranean and account for more than half of employment in the sector. The sector as a whole is at risk of losing its economic and cultural importance, given that vessels, catches, employment and profits have all been decreasing for years. Given the high number of countries bordering the Mediterranean, it is regulated by numerous organisations and agreements in an effort to reconcile the interests of the various countries and sectors involved. The presence of numerous EU- and international-level initiatives indicates a high level of awareness regarding the problems facing the Mediterranean. While efforts to keep the exploitation of fish stocks at a sustainable level have shown results for some species, the European Parliament has repeatedly underlined the urgent need for additional action. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

[New Times] President Paul Kagame on Tuesday, November 12, arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan where world leaders gathered for the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

Marian Tompson, one of the founders of the world's oldest breastfeeding support charity denounced it as an 'organisation that has become a travesty of my original intent'.

Kim Hall, 28, (pictured) from Middlesbrough, was stopped at Chicago's O'Hare airport as she prepared to board a connecting flight to Manchester.

Lineker is set to leave the quit the iconic BBC show at the end of the season after 26 years in the driving seat.

Sir Keir is one of just a small handful of world leaders who have come to the annual event in Baku, aimed at curbing catastrophic global warming caused by greenhouse gases.

Two weeks after his crash in Sheffield, Scott Maw, 36, was still able to pull an eight-tonne tractor and be crowned King of the Log Press at the Peak District Highlands Games.

Earlier, Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Russia’s state tech corporation Rostec, stated that the Su-57 is the only fifth-generation aircraft globally that has demonstrated its exceptional performance characteristics in all combat scenarios

The regional Ministry of Internal Affairs previously reported that US sergeant Black had served in South Korea

According to the newspaper, «one idea would replace some US troops stationed in Europe with Ukrainian forces» once the conflict is over

«Unless the current situation changes, we will have no choice but to impose severe sanctions on Russia,» Takeshi Iwaya noted

The range of containerized cargoes, when the coal transshipment is relocated to the Kola Bay's western shore, is practically unlimited, since along with development of the Murmansk transport hub and its participation in global corridors, such as North-South, the city will become a global logistics hub, Alexey Fadeev of the St. Petersburg Committee for Arctic Affairs explained to TASS

The Karnataka Chief Minister's Office refuted media reports claiming a proposal for Muslim job reservations was under consideration. While acknowledging demands for such reservations, the CMO clarified that no formal proposal existed. The statement comes amid controversy surrounding Muslim reservations in the state, with Home Minister Amit Shah criticizing Congress's stance on the issue.

The United Transformation Movement (UTM) is standing at a precarious crossroads with barely a week left before its highly anticipated presidential convention. The shock withdrawal of Dr. Michael Usi from the race for UTM presidency has sent ripples through the party, leaving many questioning the future of a party already grappling with internal struggles and […] The post The implications of Dr. Usi’s Withdrawal: A critical blow for UTM’s future appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The nomination list for the annual Maso Awards, which celebrates the achievements of Malawi’s music and film industries, has sparked a flurry of reactions. While the awards usually generate excitement, this year’s nominations have seen several prominent artists, including Emmie Deebo, Mr Jokes, Ethel Kamwendo Banda, and Zeze, opting to bow out of contention. Meanwhile, […] The post Maso Awards nominees bowing out: Is it fear of competition or an act of nobility? appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The Insurance Association of Malawi (IAM) has announced a significant shift in how motor insurance will be handled in the country. Beginning January 1, 2025, IAM will cease the use of printed motor insurance certificates, replacing them with a digital system aimed at curbing fraud and improving the tracking of stolen vehicles. IAM representative, Dickson […] The post No more printed motor insurance certificates starting January 2025 as digital ones set to roll out appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, Sanjay Raut and Uddhav Thackeray, have accused the Election Commission of bias, alleging their luggage and vehicles are rigorously checked during campaigns while those of ruling alliance leaders are not. They questioned if similar scrutiny is applied to figures like PM Modi and others, highlighting a perceived imbalance in enforcement and demanding a level playing field.