Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Arshad Madani criticised the Union Government's mandate to sing all six stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' in schools and official functions. He stated the decision infringes on religious freedom and minority rights, as some verses contradict monotheistic beliefs. Madani argued the move reflects electoral politics and a sectarian agenda rather than patriotism.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has dismissed speculation about a leadership change, stating no discussions on the chief ministerial post occurred during his meetings with Congress leaders. He emphasized the party's focus on its broader vision and goals, with senior leaders to make decisions at an opportune time.

The Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board will be introducing a new investment scheme in 2028 for longer-term investors interested in a simplified and low-cost option, announced Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on during his Budget statement. The scheme is a response to the CPF Board's recommendation in 2016 to introduce a Lifetime Retirement Investment Scheme (LRIS).This new scheme will be be an alternative investment option to the CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS) that is currently available, according to a joint statement by the CPF Board and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Thursday.In particular, the new investment scheme will cater to CPF members with a longer runway to retirement, who are prepared to take more risk and generate potentially higher returns but have less expertise in navigating the numerous CPFIS offerings.Additionally, the new investment scheme will be suitable for those who prefer not to actively manage their investments.Scheme will be voluntarySimilar to CPFIS, participation in the new investment scheme will be voluntary.

The Government will take steps to aid Singaporeans with rising cost of living pressures, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in his Budget 2026 statement on Thursday (Feb 12).This will be in the form of cash payouts, rebates and CDC vouchers this financial year.The Government will be providing a cost-of-living special payment between $200 to $400 in cash to Singaporean adults earning up to $100,00 in assessable income, who do not own more than one property.They must also be aged 21 and above in 2026 and residing in Singapore. Annual value of residenceAssessable incomeAnnual value up to $15,000Annual value more than $15,000, up to $31,000Annual value more than $31,000Up to $22,000$400$300$200More than $22,000, up to $39,000$300$300$200More than $39,000, up to $100,000$200$200$200This payment will benefit about 2.4 million adult Singaporeans, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

Singapore is expected to keep defence spending at around three per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), but is prepared to spend more if the need arises, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister, made the announcement in the Budget 2026 statement on Thursday (Feb 12).Referring to the 61 state-based armed conflicts worldwide in 2024, he noted that the number was the highest recorded since World War II.«The world has never been free of conflict. But in recent years, it has become more dangerous,» said PM Wong, emphasising that the conflicts are not confined to distant regions — as in the case of the Thailand-Cambodia conflict. He also reminded Singaporeans that the Republic's defence and survival are the sole responsibility of Singaporeans.«History has taught us a hard lesson: no one will come to our rescue if Singapore faces a crisis,» PM Wong noted.Evolving threats, changing needsTurning to the digital domain, he noted that Singapore is seeing a sharp rise in attacks by both state-sponsored and non-state actors in cyberspace.

A Health Surveillance Assistant (HSA) in Thyolo has been arrested after allegedly attempting to fake his mother’s death in order to claim funeral benefits from a civil servants’ savings scheme. Police say the suspect, Enosi Biniweli Mathewe, 54, was apprehended after submitting false information to the National Registration Bureau (NRB) in a bid to obtain […] The post HSA Arrested in Thyolo for Trying to Fake Mother’s Death to Claim Funeral Benefits appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Just a day after police fired teargas to flush vendors from the streets of Lilongwe, traders were back in the same spots, laying out their goods as if nothing had happened. The scenes on Wednesday morning were a repeat of what city authorities have been trying to stop for months: vendors occupying pavements, road reserves […] The post Teargas Today, Vendors Tomorrow: Lilongwe’s Street Trading Crisis Refuses to End appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has moved to clear confusion and fear surrounding the proposed rental income tax, saying the tax will only affect landlords who earn K170,000 or more per month from rent. MRA officials say the majority of landlords in Malawi will not be affected because most rental properties charge far below the […] The post MRA Clarifies Rental Tax: Only High-Value Rentals Targeted, Landlords Told Not to Increase Rent appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Right now, many Malawians are confused about what is happening in the economy. Maize prices are falling fast. Fuel prices are going up. Treasury Bill interest rates are coming down. At first glance, this seems contradictory. However, it is not. These events happen in a sequence that tells a clear story about where the economy […] The post ANALYSIS | Maize Down, Fuel Up, T-Bills Falling: What This Really Says About Malawi’s Economy appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Punters using Singapore Pools were reportedly credited with double payouts, after the lottery and sports betting operator experienced a technical malfunction that caused incorrect winnings to be paid for a football match. The glitch reportedly led to hundreds of thousands of dollars in excess winnings being disbursed for a German league match on Wednesday (Feb 11), according to Lianhe Zaobao, citing unnamed sources. As only online bets were affected and all punters' information are stored, Singapore Pools is able to recover funds that were incorrectly credited, the report added.Following the incident, Singapore Pools posted a notice on its website stating that payouts for sports betting prizes were delayed due to technical issues. The notice has since been removed.Its website, mobile app and hotline numbers were also temporarily unavailable from 6.30am to 7.30am on Thursday morning for system maintenance.

France is aiming to claw back lost sway in Africa by toppling “undesirable” governments, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said Read Full Article at RT.com

The Department of War has reportedly instructed another aircraft carrier strike group to prepare for possible deployment to the Middle East Read Full Article at RT.com

President Donald Trump has warned Republican lawmakers they will face political “consequences” after the House of Representatives vote Read Full Article at RT.com

META India has not confirmed US claims that it will stop buying Russian crude Read Full Article at RT.com

US forces have withdrawn from the Al-Tanf base in Syria after a détente between Washington and Damascus Read Full Article at RT.com

The Supreme Court reprimanded Congress MP Jairam Ramesh for challenging an Office Memorandum that implemented the apex court's judgment on retrospective environmental clearances. The bench warned of exemplary costs, stating the challenge was effectively against the judgment itself. Ramesh subsequently withdrew his plea.

The Malawi Law Society has launched a blistering attack on the justice system following a shocking revelation that it took the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal twelve years to conclude an appeal involving Finance Bank of Malawi, warning that the delay alone represents a serious failure of justice with dangerous consequences for the country. In […] The post MLS Questions 12-Year Court Delay as Taxpayers Face Costly Finance Bank Ruling appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

A 29-year-old man was arrested last Saturday (Feb 7) after a two-car collision occurred at the junction of New Bridge Road and Cantonment Road. The police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told AsiaOne that they were alerted to the road traffic accident at around 9.20pm.The police stated that a 29-year-old male car driver was arrested for driving without reasonable consideration and driving under the influence of drugs.Two vape pods were also seized.Police added that the offence has been referred to the Health Sciences Authority. One person was assessed for minor injuries but declined to be taken to the hospital, said SCDF. In a photo shared by the SGRV Front Man's Facebook account on Sunday (Feb 8), a silver car and a black car appear to have been involved in a head-on collision, with both bonnets damaged.Two police officers are also seen standing behind the silver car. Police investigations are ongoing. [[nid:729772]]esther.lam@asiaone.com 

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Traffic Police (TP) will be conducting stepped-up traffic enforcement operations at Woodlands Checkpoint from Friday (Feb 13) to the first day of the Chinese New Year on Feb 17.In a Facebook post on Thursday, ICA said that the operations are aimed at deterring and detecting motorists who commit traffic violations such as speeding, «and engaging in queue-cutting» at the checkpoint.«Failure to maintain lane discipline and obey traffic rules can cause severe congestion and compromise the safety of other motorists,» ICA added.The authority also revealed that eight cases of traffic violations were detected at Woodlands Checkpoint in January, with enforcement actions taken against the offenders.Drivers of foreign-registered vehicles who fail to comply with officers' instructions or commit offences may face entry bans, while drivers of Singapore-registered vehicles may be referred to TP for further investigations and penalties.ICA also warned that those who are caught queue-cutting will be made to requeue. 

The Philippine Embassy in Singapore has said it is providing assistance to a Filipina woman after a video of her being hit and kicked by a man in Lucky Plaza went viral.In a Facebook post on Wednesday (Feb 11), the Philippine Embassy said that it is aware of the video circulating online, which «involved an assault on a Filipina by a man whose citizenship has yet to be confirmed». It added: «The Embassy, through the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), is taking appropriate measures and has reached out to the victim to provide the necessary assistance.»The embassy also stated that it is monitoring the situation closely and is in contact with the victim «to help ensure her safety and well-being». «At this stage, we are mindful not to disclose details that could inadvertently affect ongoing measures or aggravate the situation,» it added.In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police said that a report had been lodged and investigations are ongoing. 

[GroundUp] City of Cape Town is conducting a risk assessment

[GroundUp] They are accused of unlawfully issuing asylum and refugee documents

[allAfrica]

Les prochains calendriers scolaires n'ont toujours pas été publiés. Les professeurs des écoles, le personnel de l'éducation et même les parents d'élèves s'inquiètent. Impossible de se projeter pour les vacances, pour les rentrées. Et la situation délicate du ministre de l'éducation, qui pourrait être écarté du gouvernement, n'arrange pas les choses.

A UN Security Council report has implicated Jaish-e-Mohammed in a car bombing near Delhi's Red Fort last November, which claimed 15 lives. The outfit's leader, Masood Azhar, reportedly established a women's wing to aid terror attacks. Investigations into the incident revealed a 'white-collar' terror module, leading to several arrests.

Rahul Gandhi voiced support for nationwide worker and farmer protests against government policies, citing concerns over labour codes, trade agreements, and MGNREGA. Ten trade unions and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha called for an all-India strike on Thursday to oppose these measures and demand policy changes.

[RFI] The United States is planning to send about 200 troops to Nigeria to train the country's military to fight Islamist militants, weeks after President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes against what he called Islamic State targets.

La cour d’assises de Papeete juge, depuis ce mercredi 11 février, un homme de 57 ans, pour violences ayant entraîné la mort d’un autre sans domicile fixe en avril 2023. La victime, grièvement blessée lors d’une altercation, était décédée trois jours plus tard à l’hôpital. L’accusé encourt jusqu’à vingt ans de réclusion criminelle. Le procès se déroule sur deux jours.

Les épisodes pluvieux récents ont entraîné une augmentation des cas de leptospirose, dont certains ont présenté des formes graves. Depuis le 1er janvier, 23 cas ont été confirmés par examen de laboratoire. Parmi eux, 21 personnes ont nécessité une hospitalisation, dont 9 prises en charge en service de réanimation, et un décès est à déplorer.

L'ancien principal du collège de Tubuai, Willy Vaiho, a reçu une convocation au vice-rectorat de Polynésie française, fixée au vendredi 13 février. Cet entretien professionnel est en lien avec les mesures prises depuis sa suspension en octobre dernier.

Le championnat scolaire de va’a V6 de vitesse a réuni une vingtaine de collèges et lycées de Tahiti et de Moorea, ce mercredi 11 février à la pointe de Tehoro, à Mataiea. Sous un ciel plus clément et après plusieurs reports liés aux intempéries, toutes les équipes avaient une seule ambition : décrocher le titre de champion de Polynésie en va’a de vitesse. Entre esprit d’équipe, stratégie et puissance, les jeunes rameurs ont tout donné sur le plan d’eau.