New requirements for Integrated Shield Plan (IP) riders will be introduced to address rising insurance premiums and private healthcare costs, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Wednesday (Nov 26). From April 1, 2026, IP riders sold will no longer be able to cover the minimum deductibles set by MOH. Additionally, the minimum co-payment for riders will be raised to $6,000 per year, up from the $3,000 miminum cap set in 2018, to keep pace with the increase in bill sizes over time. The new cap applies to co-payments excluding the minimum IP deductible. Both the deductible and co-payments can be paid using MediSave, and the minimum 5 per cent co-payment requirement remains unchanged. An Integrated Shield Plan (IP) is an optional private medical insurance plan that supplements the mandatory MediShield Life coverage. 

Cord blood banking services Cordlife Group will no longer be allowed to collect, test, process and store new cord blood from Wednesday (Nov 26), said the Ministry of Health (MOH).Cordlife will only be permitted to maintain the storage of existing cord blood units (CBUs), according to the Notice of Regulatory Action issued by the ministry.Cordlife will be allowed to perform limited actions in relation to such existing units, such as facilitating the transfer of these existing CBUs to other cord blood banks and disposal of existing CBUs in accordance with its clients' instructions.This follows MOH's Notice of Intent issued on Sept 29 on the intended suspension of Cordlife's licence and its subsequent written representations to the ministry.[[nid:723305]]Cordlife had not adequately addressed the concerns raised during the ministry's mid-point audit this July to continue providing the service in a safe, clinically and ethically appropriate manner.

EC President Ursula von der Leyen noted that EU countries committed themselves to cover Ukraine’s financial needs in 2026 and 2027, which the European Commission previously estimated at 135.7 bln euros

In 2024, trade turnover between the two countries increased by 13.6% to a record $4.1 bln, the Russian president said

Experts in Brussels are now urgently drawing up new initiatives to assist Ukraine if the «reparations loan» proposal is not ready by the EU leaders’ summit on December 18

The agreements encompassed various areas of cooperation, including a protocol amending the treaty between Russia and Kyrgyzstan on military-technical collaboration

Vladimir Tarabrin stressed that Kiev also continued attacks on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant

The notwithstanding clause allows for premiers or prime ministers to override rulings on legislation that judges have determined would violate sections of the Charter. But the use of the clause, once viewed by many as a political taboo, has become more frequent in recent years.

Newfoundland and Labrador's sea urchin fishery is on the verge of collapse, as the fish harvesters and divers are confined to certain overfished areas, says Jerry and Alisha Hodder, owners of one of the province's last urchin plants. They say DFO could fix the problem with the stroke of a pen.

An online photo has sparked a passionate debate about whether or not it's possible.

The American-built F-35 fighter jet dominated its Swedish rival Gripen in terms of technical and military capabilities during a competition held by the Defence Department in 2021, according to data obtained by Radio-Canada.

A joint investigation by CBC News and the Investigative Journalism Foundation has found that transit violence in some of Canada's biggest municipalities remains well above pre-pandemic levels, despite recent decreases. It has roughly doubled over the past decade in eight major Canadian cities.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has ordered a broad review of all refugees who entered under former President Joe Biden, an internal U.S. government memo seen by Reuters said, an unprecedented move that could reopen cases of thousands who sought U.S. protection.

Mogadishu (HOL) - The Banadir Regional Court has handed down a severe sentence to Maryan Mohamed Nur after the Office of the Attorney General charged her with financing terrorism, illegal money laundering, and involvement in financial operations linked to the Al-Shabaab insurgency.

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) has announced the beginning of a new phase of the wetlands conservation project (2025 –2028) to strengthen sustainable livelihoods and alleviate pressure on the wetlands ecosystem.

TEHEAN – Iran’s anti-narcotics police chief, Iraj Kakavand, and Azerbaijan’s Interior Minister, Vilayat Suleyman oglu Eyvazov, have agreed to promote collaborations in the fight against narcotics.

TEHRAN –The 27th national earthquake and safety drill will be held on Saturday in schools to raise awareness among students, teachers, and their families, as well as reinforce safety behaviors during and after earthquakes.

TEHRAN - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture-Jahad (MAJ) and the Iranian Society for Horticultural Sciences (IrSHS), held a National Workshop on Saffron Quality Integrity and Value Chain Development.

EU chemicals and pesticides legislation focuses on protecting human health and the environment, while facilitating trade. It includes rules on chemical product marketing, restrictions on hazardous substances, and protocols for accidents and exports. Key achievements include the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) and REACH Regulations. The ongoing revision process aligns the legislation with the European Green Deal, particularly its sustainability and biodiversity strategies. In 2025, newly announced proposals and action plans aim to enhance safety, simplification and innovation in the regulation of chemicals and pesticides. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

EU policy for research and technological development (RTD) supports scientific excellence, innovation, and global competitiveness. The policy is rooted in early European legislation, it and was extended in the 1980s with a European framework programme for research. In 2014, most EU research funding came under the umbrella of Horizon 2020 (2014-2020). Its successor, Horizon Europe, is the EU’s main research and innovation funding programme for the 2021-2027 period, with a budget of EUR 93.4 billion. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Sweden's national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) is financed under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The NRRP's total volume is €3 445.7 million, financed entirely through EU grants. This amount reflects the downward revision of the national RRF envelope in June 2022, and includes €198 million in additional grants under the REPowerEU chapter, as well as a €66 million transfer from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. The plan represents 0.4 % of the RRF and 0.7 % of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019 (the RRF represented 5.2 % of EU 27 GDP in 2019). Sweden is set to receive payments in five instalments. To date, the European Commission has disbursed €1 646 million, covering the first two instalments and corresponding to 47.8 % of its total grant allocation, which is below the EU average of 56.5 %. In June 2025, Sweden submitted a revised plan, to ensure full implementation before the RRF ends in August 2026. The revision is currently under Commission assessment and pending Council approval. The plan contributes 43.6 % of resources to climate-related objectives, surpassing the minimum target of 37 % set in the RRF Regulation. At 21.2 %, its allocation for digital expenditure also exceeds the threshold, which was set at 20 % of resources (excluding the REPowerEU chapter). The European Parliament has been a major supporter of establishing a common EU recovery instrument, and takes part in interinstitutional settings to cooperate, discuss and scrutinise implementation of the European Commission's work. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Fourth edition. The previous edition was written by Eckhard Binder. The 'NGEU delivery' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

After 'constructive discussions' in Geneva on 23 November between representatives of the US, Ukraine, France, Germany and the UK to 'update and refine' the 28-point Russia–Ukraine peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, the President of the European Council, António Costa, called a special meeting of EU leaders to take stock of the latest developments. The aim was to draw on the 'new momentum for peace negotiations' by carrying out 'additional work' on major issues left unresolved. EU leaders stressed that the solution should be just and lasting, and expressed their readiness to support the process by working closely with Ukraine, the US and NATO. While reiterating their commitment to provide Ukraine with all the diplomatic, military, economic and financial support it needs, they also insisted that issues concerning the EU directly, such as sanctions and immobilised assets, required an EU decision and its full involvement. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Ireland's national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) has the fourth smallest allocation in absolute figures under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Following the European Commission's 2022 update of national allocations, the initial €989 million allocation was adjusted to €914.4 million in grants, to be disbursed in five instalments. In 2024, Ireland introduced in its plan a new REPowerEU chapter to accelerate the green transition; this brought Ireland's new total to €1 153.8 million in grants. In November 2025, Ireland submitted a new revision aimed at streamlining implementation. Ireland has so far received €679.6 million in three payments. Relative to the size of its economy, Ireland's RRF grants are not large, at around 0.3 % of the country's 2019 gross domestic product (GDP), while the total RRF amounts to 5.2 % of 2019 EU 27 GDP. Given also that spending is spread over the years up to 2026, the plan is not expected to have a significant direct impact on Ireland's key macroeconomic indicators. А more significant indirect impact is expected from the overall boost to the EU economy and the associated cross-border spillover effects (slightly over 1 % of Ireland's 2023 GDP). The plan's overall objective is to contribute to a sustainable, equitable, green and digital recovery. It complements the government's broader domestic efforts under the economic recovery plan, underpinned by the national development plan (NDP) of €165 billion, for 2021 to 2030. Although the RRF allocation amounts to less than 1 % of the total NDP investment, the plan's 19 investments and 10 reforms focus on strategic EU priorities. The Irish NRRP allocates 50.2 % of funding to climate-related measures (boosted by REPowerEU) and, excluding REPowerEU, 34.2 % to digital measures. The European Parliament participates in interinstitutional forums for cooperation and discussion on the implementation of the RRF and scrutinises the European Commission's work. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Sixth edition. The 'NGEU delivery' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

This is the third in a series highlighting Youth Voices in Hurricane Melissa recovery, featuring young people’s perspectives on resilience, rebuilding and the future after the storm. To rebuild – and how to rebuild – that is the question. The...

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has mobilised an initial US$2 million in Resilient Recovery grants to support Jamaica’s rebuilding efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa. This follows a surge mission to Jamaica by...

The Government of Jamaica and the European Union (EU) have praised their partnership on the multibillion-dollar Citizen Security Plan (CSP), saying the initiative has achieved major milestones in community safety and will play a critical role in...

WESTERN BUREAU: Jamaica’s arrival numbers remain sharply down three weeks after Hurricane Melissa battered the island, leaving thousands of hotel rooms offline until well into 2026. But on Monday, a small yet symbolic victory touched down at...

Opposition Spokesman on Health Dr Alfred Dawes is warning that Jamaica could “pay with lives” if it fails to prepare for a major public-health crisis following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa on October 28. With the United Nations...

Former Chief Justice of India, B.R. Gavai, revealed he acted on instinct during a shoe-hurling attempt in the Supreme Court, choosing to continue hearings immediately. Despite the incident, he advised the Bar not to be distracted. The accused lawyer's outburst was reportedly linked to alleged remarks by Gavai, which the former CJI has denied.

Karnataka minister Satish Jarkiholi revealed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged the Congress high command for a swift decision on leadership change. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has consistently expressed his ambition for the chief minister's role. Jarkiholi plans to discuss the matter with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

[Namibian] Magistrates across the country have stopped working after months of frustration over the government's failure to implement approved housing and vehicle benefits - a standoff that their legal representative says has pushed judicial officers to the wall.