The government is set to repeal the MGNREGA, enacted in 2005, and introduce the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025. This new legislation aims to provide 125 days of wage employment annually to rural households, shifting from an entitlement-based safety net to a future-oriented development mission aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor reposted a thread comparing his political approach to Rahul Gandhi's, calling the analysis «fair» and «reflective of a certain perception of the current reality.» The thread criticized Gandhi's rural-centric policies as «devastating» and highlighted Tharoor's alignment with his background and audience.

According to Yury Slyusar, there were no casualties

The US Government Accountability Office found that the program's implementation was flawed and that checks on applicants and their sponsors were not rigorous enough

Residential buildings and two cars sustained damage

According to the report, Vladimir Zelensky instructed Verkhovna Rada lawmakers to «develop a draft law on the possibility of holding elections during martial law»

The NTI Fund specified that, unlike other domestic solutions and foreign analogues, the technology offers precise positioning of up to 15-20 cm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced a significant three-nation tour to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman, countries with deep historical and contemporary ties to India. The visits, spanning December 15-18, aim to bolster bilateral relations, commemorate diplomatic milestones, and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation across various sectors, including trade and defense.

Former Congress MLA Mohammed Moquim was expelled from the party for «anti-party» activities after he wrote to Sonia Gandhi expressing dissatisfaction with the leadership and recent electoral losses. Moquim defended his actions, stating he offered suggestions for reform as a true Congress worker.

In a dramatic family meeting, relatives of writer Raynor Winn claim she has stolen thousands of pounds from sets of parents and then forged bank statements to cover-up her crimes.

Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer have been found dead in their home in what police are investigating as a double homicide.

Owens sparked outrage among conservatives and Kirk fans after targeting his widow with a series of damaging allegations.

Creaking under the strain of an unprecedented 'tidal wave' that hit weeks earlier than expected, ailing hospitals have been plunged into their 'worst-case scenario'.

Jacob Barnfield had just gone for a swim at Australia's most famous beach on Sunday afternoon when he heard a series of gunshots go off.

A crisis at India’s largest carrier, IndiGo, revealed a deeper issue in the world’s fastest-growing major economy Read Full Article at RT.com

[allAfrica]

A 55-year-old man was arrested on Sunday (Dec 14) for his suspected involvement in a case of housebreaking and theft.The alleged theft took place at about 11.42am earlier that day at a food and beverage establishment along Chun Tin Road.In a statement on Dec 15, the police said more than $155 in cash was stolen from the business, adding that the suspect was identified with the aid of images from police cameras and follow-up investigations.He was arrested within seven hours of the report and the stolen cash was recovered and seized by the police.The suspect will be charged in court on Dec 16.If found guilty of housebreaking and theft, the man could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.[[nid:726340]]editor@asiaone.com 

[Unicef] Kinshasa/Bujumbura/New York -- "UNICEF is deeply alarmed by the rapid escalation of hostilities in South Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has forced hundreds of thousands of children and families to flee for safety, both within DRC and across borders into Burundi and Rwanda.

Two Montego Bay-based employees of Lifespan are being hailed as quiet heroes of Hurricane Melissa, after choosing duty over despair in the days when their own lives were upended by crisis. When Hurricane Melissa barrelled across western Jamaica, it...

The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) is continuing to enhance its border security capabilities, this time with the introduction of its Canine Unit, a critical milestone in the agency’s ongoing mission to safeguard the nation’s borders and facilitate...

A group of emerging community leaders from across Jamaica is gearing up to guide young people toward safer, more supportive futures through a newly launched mentorship programme implemented by Project STAR in collaboration with community leaders....

Five women entrepreneurs in western Jamaica who were impacted by Hurricane Melissa are set to benefit from proceeds from the 2026 JN Group Race for Hope 5K and Kids Fun Run, which will support their rebuilding and recovery efforts. Organisers made...

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has announced that the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) will lead the cleanup of the town of Black River as recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa move into a focused implementation phase. The announcement...

The National Investigation Agency will file a chargesheet in the Pahalgam terror attack case. The attack on April 22 killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Investigations revealed direct involvement of three Pakistani terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba. These terrorists were later killed by security forces. India responded with precision strikes on terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has demanded an apology from Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi following the surfacing of videos showing party workers chanting slogans to «eliminate» Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rijiju stated that the BJP-NDA has never threatened anyone's life and questioned the Congress's mentality.

A motorcyclist died after a collision involving five vehicles in Yishun on Sunday (Dec 14) night.Photos of the incident were uploaded to the Professional PHV Drivers Singapore Facebook group. One of the photos shows paramedics attending to a motorist, while others show police officers at the scene.The road appeared to be cordoned off by the authorities, and was littered with debris from the cars involved in the crash.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that they were alerted to a traffic accident at the junction of Yishun Avenue 3 and Yishun Central at around 10.20pm that day.The police said that the collision involved two motorcycles, two cars and a lorry.They told AsiaOne that a 20-year-old male motorcyclist was pronounced dead at scene by an SCDF paramedic. A second male motorcyclist was conveyed conscious to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, while three other individuals were treated for minor injuries but declined to be sent to the hospital.According to the police, a 38-year-old male car driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death. 

An elderly man who saw a crow trap set up by the National Parks Board (NParks) in Toa Payoh allegedly cut the cable ties securing the netted structure. This led to the escape of the captured birds. The police on Monday (Dec 15) said it was alerted to the case at about 6.15pm on Oct 20. The crow trap at the grass patch near Block 181 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh had been deployed by NParks as part of operations to manage the bird population. The 77-year-old culprit was identified on Oct 22 through investigations and CCTV footage. He will be charged in court on Dec 16 with committing mischief that disrupted a public agency's work, said the police. If convicted, he could be jailed for up to 10 years and/or fined. «The police take a serious view of such acts of mischief and will not hesitate to take firm action against those who damage public property or any apparatus deployed to serve public functions,» it said. [[nid:718592]]lim.kewei@asiaone.com

BANGKOK — It was a case of third time lucky for Singapore's Letitia Sim, who won the women's 200m breaststroke final on Dec 14 to become the first swimmer to complete the SEA Games hat-trick in her stroke.In doing so, she also underlined her status as South-east Asia's queen of breaststroke.No one has achieved the feat since the 50m event was added to the programme in 2011. Sim had missed out in 2023 and 2022, when she finished second in the 50m and 200m respectively.But the 22-year-old has come of age since, improving on her speed and stamina, as she touched the wall first at the Huamark Aquatic Centre in a Games record 2min 27.37sec. Thailand's Pimchanok Chinveeraphan (2:31.50) was second, with Indonesia's Adellia (2:32.50) third.She said: "This means a lot. It showed the progress that I made throughout the past two SEA Games. I was extremely nervous for this event compared to the other ones because it's definitely one of the tougher races for me mentally and physically because you are just constantly doing it.

Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has written to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressing his condolences over the recent shooting at Bondi Beach.The shooting, carried out by a father and son duo at the famed beach in Sydney, happened on Sunday (Dec 14) during a Jewish celebration to mark the beginning of Hanukkah. The mass shooting resulted in the deaths of 15 people with some 40 taken to hospital, including two police officers and four children, one of whom later died from her wounds, Reuters reported. The victims' ages ranged from as young as 10 to 87. In a letter on the same day, PM Wong shared that he was deeply saddened to learn about the tragic incident and labelled it as an «act of terrorism».«This senseless violence struck a place cherished by Australians and visitors alike, including many Singaporeans,» he said, condemning the shooting.«Such acts have no place in our societies, and undermine the peace and security we all cherish.»PM Wong also extended his condolences to the affected families and expressed Singapore's solidarity with Australia.

A Chinese national suspected of breaking into three landed properties was brought back to one of his targeted houses in Serangoon Gardens on Monday (Dec 15) morning.Huang Xiaozong, 40, is accused of climbing over the gate of a home along Chuan Drive at about 8.40pm on Dec 7 and stealing a pair of wedding rings, a diamond-studded pendant, several necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings.The pieces of jewellery are valued at about $47,750, according to court documents seen by AsiaOne.The foreigner arrived at the row of terrace houses in an unmarked police vehicle at about 10.55am on Monday.Escorted by two officers, Huang kept his head down as he was questioned by another investigator near the burgled house. He left the scene at 11.02am.