When Nuruddin Farah writes fiction about the ravages of terrorism, the details may be imaginary but the scars are real. The celebrated Somali novelist, a frequent contender for the Nobel Prize in literature, lost his sister Basra Farah Hassan in 2014. A nutritionist working for UNICEF, she was murdered, along with at least 20 others, when the Taliban bombed a restaurant in Kabul.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit had talks on Tuesday with Somali Finance Minister Abdirahman Duale Beileh on means of drumming up Arab support for Somalia.

The United States re-established permanent diplomatic presence in Mogadishu, Somalia on December 2, 2018. USAID also re-established presence.

The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), one element of the ‘Juncker Plan’, was proposed in 2015 with the aim of covering part of the investment gap that occurred as a consequence of the global financial and European sovereign debt crises. In the absence of adequate public investment, the plan would mobilise private investment in specific areas through the use of first-loss guarantees provided from the EU budget. It was estimated that, through the provision of €21 billion in guarantees, a total investment of €315 billion would be generated by end-2017. Given its promising start as well as the broadly positive overall evaluations by the European Commission, the European Investment Bank and EY, it was soon decided to extend EFSI's duration and guarantees, allowing the fund to unlock additional investment of at least €500 billion by the end of 2020. EFSI – now called 'EFSI 2.0' – was also amended with a view to improving its governance and transparency. Four years after its inception, EFSI seems to be fulfilling its promise. Indeed, figures from October 2018 show €67.3 billion worth of approved EFSI financing, which is expected to mobilise €344.4 billion in investment. Furthermore, while the total funding generated will only be visible after a few more years have elapsed, the additionality and complementarity of the projects signed bode well. Nevertheless, the picture will be more complete after the end of the ongoing audit by the Court of Auditors. For the period of the next multiannual financial framework (2021-2027), EFSI 2.0 will be replaced by a yet broader programme, InvestEU (subject of a separate EPRS briefing), which is expected to generate an additional €650 billion over the period. Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

This briefing analyses the impact assessment accompanying the legislative proposal of the Commission to establish the European Maritime Single Window environment (EMSWe). The goal of the EMSWe is to decrease and harmonise throughout the EU, the reporting formalities and obligations of the maritime operators when calling at ports in the EU. The IA provides the overview of the main problems of the existing legislation and the policy options considered by the Commission to deal with them. Despite some minor inconsistencies, the IA provides a solid analysis of the current problems related to reporting obligations of ships when calling at a port. Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

The European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA) is responsible for the operational management of the three large-scale EU information systems: the Schengen Information System (SIS II), the Visa Information System (VIS), and Eurodac. The Commission proposed to strengthen the mandate of eu-LISA, as part of a broader set of measures aimed at addressing current migration and security challenges by making better use of information technologies. Adopted by parliament and Council in autumn 2018, the Agency’s new tasks, applicable from 11 December 2018, include ensuring interoperability of EU information systems, upgrade of existing and development of future systems and technical and operational support to Member States. Second edition of a briefing originally drafted by Costica Dumbrava. The ‘EU Legislation in Progress’ briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure. Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

The Ibero-American Summit of heads of state or government is a unique multilateral forum of 22 countries from Latin America and Europe sharing a common history, values, culture and languages. Two EU Member States – Spain and Portugal – are full members of the summit, and four others are associated observers. The 26th summit was held in Guatemala in November 2018, with a focus on establishing a common road map towards implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

LONDON (AP) — The British Cabinet was meeting Tuesday to discuss ramping up preparations for Britain’s departure from the European Union without a deal, after Prime Minister Theresa May postponed Parliament’s vote on her divorce...

Howard Mitchell has been re-elected as President of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ). This is his 2nd term as President. Returning to join Mitchell on the Executive are Vice Presidents Dennis Cohen, Deputy Group Managing Director...

Jamaica is to get an Information and Communication Technology Authority. Cabinet has approved the promulgation of legislation to establish the agency. As part of the change, the current functions being executed by eGov Jamaica Limited and the...

The Management of the Half Way Tree Transport Centre in St Andrew has been transferred from the Port Authority Management Services Limited (PAMSL), a subsidiary of the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), to the Transport Authority. The change took...

The United Nations will convene Yemen's warring parties by video link on Wednesday to discuss the redeployment of all forces from Hodeidah city and three ports under a ceasefire deal agreed last week, a U.N. spokesman said.

In the midst of the biggest political crisis of his presidency, Emmanuel Macron is enlisting the help of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, in a sign that the right-wing ex-leader's influence on Macron is on the rise.

Demontae Walker was facing a slew of charges earlier this year for shooting a San Antonio police officer. However, earlier this month, all those charges were dropped once the truth came out and the District Attorney found that Walker was justified in shooting officer Dezi Rios—who was the aggressor in the situation.

The US military’s Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is developing genetically engineered organisms that it hopes will be able to detect the presence of enemy submarines, ships, or divers, according to a new report published in Defense One. The work is part of a $45 million initiative across all the branches of the US armed forces that is investigating ocean-based military applications for genetic engineering.

The investigation of a Harlem building blaze that killed a firefighter and disrupted production of a movie starring Edward Norton was rigged so Norton’s production company -- which was using the building for filming – would escape blame, an FDNY fire marshal claims.

A bombshell scientific study reveals that aspartame may be one of the most damaging vectors for the widespread “dumbing down” of humanity. Published in AJTCAM (African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines), the study is entitled, “IMPACT OF ASPARTAME CONSUMPTION ON NEUROTRANSMITTERS IN RAT BRAIN.”

Biotech giants Monsanto and Bayer are infamous for their destructive practices. So it’s probably shocking to hear their recent 62.5 billion dollar merger is turning out to be some of the best news of the year for those of us who care about human health and that of the environment.

Cara Shillingford one of four lawyers representing former Dominica Labour Party (DLP) Minister Atherton “Athie” Martin whose home was searched by police and then arrested says that the behaviour of the police is a breach of his constitutional rights. “I...

Two Chicago police officers were tragically struck and killed by a train while responding to reports of shots fired in the city’s far South Side. Read Full Article at RT.com

Donald Trump has issued an order for the Department of Defense to create a Space Command to oversee and advance the US military’s operations in space. Read Full Article at RT.com

While it may not be worthy of ‘Honey, I shrunk the kids’ or Marvel’s Ant-Man, MIT researchers have developed a technique that will allow humanity to create nanoscale objects “of nearly any shape.” Read Full Article at RT.com

US President Donald Trump’s former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn will be sentenced in March 2019, after he confessed to lying to the FBI. Despite many conspiracy theories, his case has nothing to do with ‘Russiagate.’ Read Full Article at RT.com

In a candid chat with City Times, to promote his new film 'Zero', SRK attempts to explain his universal appeal.

The UAE VP has asked researchers and experts to study the status of the language.

The report is expected to come out in 2019.

Ontario's official Opposition is calling for a public inquiry into allegations of political interference in the appointment of a new provincial police commissioner.

Convicted impaired drivers now face stricter penalties, and police officers now have enhanced powers to determine whether drivers are impaired by alcohol or other drugs.

Rescue officials say four people aboard a stranded, storm-battered sailboat off Nova Scotia have been rescued.

Schools in many parts of Atlantic Canada were closed and travel was slowed today by a sloppy storm that brought rain, snow and wind to the region.

A Quebecer who pleaded guilty in Australia to smuggling cocaine aboard a luxury cruise ship has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison.

Nadiya Hussain has married her husband for the second time, years after they wed in an arranged marriage.

Electricity Supply Cooperation of Malawi (ESCOM) in collaboration withthe Electricity Generation Company (Malawi) Limited have assuredMalawians of improved power supply as they continue to implementvarious projects lined up aiming at easing power blackout challengesin the... The post Escom, EGENCO assures to ease power blackout challenges appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in Malawi.

Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company Limited on Friday handed over a school block furnished with desks and some school materials worth K20 million to Chikazimasika Junior Primary School in Kasungu. Limbe Leaf and Ministry of Education... The post Limbe Leaf hands over K20m school block, materials in Kasungu appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in Malawi.