At a time of geopolitical instability, merit-based enlargement is seen as one of the EU's strongest foreign-policy and geopolitical tools and a key driver of long-term security, peace, stability and prosperity in Europe. A plenary debate on Parliament's report on the EU's enlargement strategy is due to be held in March 2026. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

During the March I part-session, Parliament will vote to conclude its first reading on legislation to amend the Package Travel Directive. The proposed amendments reflect a deal struck in interinstitutional negotiations in December 2025. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Access to affordable, sustainable and good-quality housing has become one of the EU's most pressing problems. While housing remains a competence of Member States, regions and cities, the EU has started developing a response to support their action. The European Commission outlined its approach in its December 2025 affordable housing plan. The European Parliament is putting forward its recommendations on funding, permitting and construction sector issues, in an own-initiative report to be voted during the March I plenary session. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

During the March I plenary session, the European Parliament is set to vote on a new interinstitutional agreement on its relations with the European Commission. The new framework agreement would reinforce Parliament's position, in particular with regard to its scrutiny powers, including in the area of international agreements. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has laid bare the challenges facing the EU's defence industry as it tries to meet increased demand and ramp up production in the wake of a fundamentally changed security environment in Europe. The EU's defence industry comprises a number of large multinational companies, mid-caps and a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises. It faces a multitude of challenges, such as decades of under-investment, fragmentation, insufficient critical raw material and semiconductor supplies, and a lack of manufacturing capacity. The EU and its Member States have taken several steps to reinforce the European defence industry, especially since the start of Russia's war against Ukraine. Member States have boosted their defence budgets, with their combined total estimated to have reached €381 billion in 2025. The European Defence Fund is investing in research and capability development projects and has achieved very positive results so far. Permanent structured cooperation provides the legal framework and binding commitments for progress in collaborative defence. The EU has also broken taboos by agreeing on a joint defence procurement instrument and an initiative to build up ammunition production. These form part of a three-track proposal to support Ukraine's needs for ammunition (deliver ammunition from existing stocks, jointly procure from industry and support the ramping up of production). In March 2024, the European Commission proposed the first-ever European defence industrial strategy, and the defence industry programme to implement it was formally adopted in December 2025. In 2025, the EU also put forward the white paper for European defence readiness 2030, the ReArm Europe plan (including the SAFE instrument), the defence omnibus packages, and the European defence industry transformation roadmap. Additionally, the European Peace Facility, best known for facilitating lethal weapon supply to Ukraine, is being used to procure defence materiel from the EU's defence industry, further boosting its capacity. The European Chips Act and Critical Raw Materials Act are also expected to benefit the European defence industry by ensuring it has the necessary supplies to tackle the substantially increased demand for its products. These signals have led the industry to take the first steps to increase production capacity. This updates a previous edition, published in 2024. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

LIVE UPDATES: Follow all the latest from the US-Israel war with Iran as the conflict enters its third day. Violence has spread across the Middle East with Israel launching attacks on Lebanon.

Making a statement to MPs on the mounting crisis, Keir Starmer acknowledged that the US was not happy that the UK initially refused to get involved.

Footage shared on social media appears to show the suspect brandishing a blade in each hand in Calder, west Edinburgh, at around 8.25am this morning.

The Canadian-American actor, 64, shocked fans on Thursday when he attended the 51st Cesar Awards in Paris with a striking new look.

Liam Bowes, 37, knocked back up to ten pints of lager and shots at a 50th birthday party before getting behind the wheel of a friend's Volkswagen Golf and ploughing into Abigail Eggleston, 22.

Uttar Pradesh is enhancing food security through technology-driven distribution and nutritional support, benefiting millions. The state ensures prompt farmer payments via direct procurement of paddy, wheat, and coarse grains. Modernized Fair Price Shops and the 'One Nation One Ration Card' scheme further strengthen access and transparency.

The Supreme Court has issued a stern warning, declaring that judicial orders based on AI-generated, non-existent judgments will be treated as misconduct, not mere errors. The apex court is examining the implications of artificial intelligence in court proceedings and has sought responses from top legal officials. This move follows a case where a trial court relied on fabricated judgments.

Air India Express will resume flights to and from Muscat on Tuesday, March 3, after a temporary halt due to the Middle East conflict. Services to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE will continue to be suspended until March 3. The airline cited airspace closures in the region impacting operations.

NATO is using its maritime power to restrict Russia’s Arctic freedom of navigation, the country’s ambassador to Norway has said Read Full Article at RT.com

New Delhi’s dependence on oil shipped through the Hormuz Strait puts it in a tough situation, Dinkar Srivastava has told RT India Read Full Article at RT.com

Instead of invoking international law and condemning US-Israeli aggression, Western Europe’s top brass is gleefully victim-blaming Iran Read Full Article at RT.com

Minister of Finance Joseph Mwanamvekha says his ministry is not aware of any sovereign guarantees linked to a controversial fertiliser deal with Romanian firm East Bridge Estate SRL, even as the company has issued Malawi a 10-day ultimatum to pay $32.6 million (about K57 billion). Mwanamvekha’s remarks come at a time when Malawi is facing […] The post Govt Unaware of East Bridge Guarantee as Malawi Faces K57 Billion Fertiliser Claim and Possible Asset Seizures Abroad appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

A war thousands of kilometres away may seem distant to most Malawians. But the escalating conflict in the Middle East — increasingly drawing in global powers including the United States — has the potential to send economic shockwaves all the way to Malawi. What began years ago as a regional confrontation has now evolved into […] The post ANALYSIS | Does the Middle East War Impact Malawi? appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The Malawi Chapter of the Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation (FemWise Malawi) and Sustainable Fashion and Women Empowerment (SFWE) Initiative have highlighted women’s economic empowerment as key in advancing meaningful peace and sustainable socio-economic transformation. The two organizations made these sentiments on Saturday during an interaction with 25 girls and young […] The post Women empowerment key in achieving sustainable peace, economic emancipation appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Chitipa District Council has commended the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) for empowering duty-bearers with skills in social accountability, saying the initiative will enhance service delivery and build trust between communities and authorities. The council’s Principal Agriculture Officer, Steve Msopole, made the remarks at the conclusion of a two-day training, which CCJP conducted […] The post Chitipa District Council praises CCJP for empowering duty-bearers with social accountability skills appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- The Social Health Authority (SHA) has announced a major service interruption affecting its digital health platform, disrupting pre-authorisation services across contracted healthcare facilities nationwide.

[SAnews.gov.za] The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) has formally engaged the University of the Free State (UFS) following the release of a peer-reviewed study identifying the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in various sanitary pads and pantyliners available in South Africa.

[This Day] Abuja -- A maritime tragedy has struck off the South African coastline after a Nigerian tugboat, LEO, sank in turbulent waters late Saturday night, leaving one crew member confirmed dead, five missing and 12 others rescued in a coordinated emergency response.

Read Full Article at RT.com

Representative Mike Turner has said the US is not seeking regime change in Iran, contrary to the White House’s messaging Read Full Article at RT.com

An oil tanker off the Oman coast is the latest ship to be attacked after US‑Israeli strikes on Iran sparked a wider Middle East conflict Read Full Article at RT.com

Kuwaiti air defenses have shot down three American fighter jets in “an apparent friendly fire incident,” US CENTCOM has reported Read Full Article at RT.com

Lohan took to Instagram Stories Sunday referring to the events in question. She wrote, 'Praying for peace. Stay safe everyone. God bless us all.'

LIVE UPDATES: Follow all the latest from the US-Israel war with Iran as the conflict enters its third day. Violence has spread across the Middle East with Israel launching attacks on Lebanon.

Nervous investors are watching markets closely today, amid fears that the conflict could send shares tumbling and trigger another energy price spike.

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) on Monday (March 2) said it is closely monitoring the Middle East situation and will make every effort to support and care for Singaporean students there.«The safety and wellbeing of Singaporean students remain our priority, with every effort made to support and care for them,» Muis said in a statement on Monday evening.It added that student liaison officers in Cairo, Egypt and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' overseas missions and maintaining regular contact with Singaporean students in Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.«They have been offering support and guidance during these uncertain times,» Muis said.Parents and/or guardians of students in these countries can contact Muis at 6359-1199 or info@muis.gov.sg should they have further queries.Muis also urged the community to pray for the safety of students and Singaporeans in the Middle East, and for peace to return to the Middle East and all troubled regions of the world.

When faced with disadvantages and setbacks, both Singapore and South Korea share a «basic instinct» — to do better, and not resign to falling behind, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in a Facebook post on Monday (March 3) evening.Earlier on Monday morning, President Tharman received a courtesy call from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who is in Singapore for a three-day state visit until Tuesday.

Any hope a male Malaysian bus driver may have that the Malaysia-registered vehicle he was driving may have special powers like in the cartoon The Magic School Bus (1994) was dashed on Feb 24, after Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) image analysts at Woodlands Checkpoint detected anomalies. In a video posted on ICA's social media on Monday (March 2), officers were seen removing rectangular «parcels» from the rear luggage compartment of the vehicle. As search and examination officers tore off the black wrapping, cartons of what appear to be a China-brand cigarette were revealed.ICA said the bus was directed for enhanced checks after its officers noticed anomalies in the scanned image of the vehicle. Search and examination officers went on to extract 1,488 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes from its rear luggage compartment. The 43-year-old male Malaysian driver was arrested and the case has been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation.