President Macron Urges Xi to Support Ukraine Peace Efforts and Rebalance Trade Ties

Beijing — December 2025 — French President Emmanuel Macron has called on China’s President Xi Jinping to play a more active role in securing peace in Ukraine and addressing Europe’s and the world’s deepening trade imbalances and unfair business practices, as the two leaders met at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People during Macron’s three‑day […]

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JPMorgan to Build New UK Headquarters Tower in London at an Estimated Cost of £3 Billion

London, December 2025 – JPMorgan Chase has unveiled plans for a major new UK headquarters tower in London’s Canary Wharf, a project set to become one of the largest and most expensive office buildings in Europe. The development marks one of the bank’s biggest real‑estate commitments outside the United States and signals renewed confidence in […]

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Myanmar: Opium crop hits 10-year high amid conflict and economic collapse

According to the Myanmar Opium Survey 2025, poppy cultivation rose by 17 per cent over the past year, from 45,200 hectares in 2024 to 53,100 hectares in 2025 – reversing a brief dip and confirming a steady upward trend since 2020. A ‘critical moment’ Opium derived from poppies is the naturally occurring primary active ingredient […]

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Sudan’s crisis deepens with communities trapped in ‘siege conditions’

Communities in Dilling and Kadugli in the south are trapped in “siege conditions,” according to children’s agency UNICEF. Additionally, there have been reports of sustained attacks in recent days in West Kordofan. Meanwhile, the situation in and around El Fasher – which UN relief chief Tom Fletcher called a “potential crime scene” following its capture by […]

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Senator Mary Fitzpatrick Calls for Urgent Investment in Youth Services

Dublin, December 3, 2025 – Senator Mary Fitzpatrick, Seanad Spokesperson on Dublin, Local Government & Heritage, has issued a strong appeal for increased government funding to support Ireland’s youth services, warning that current levels of support are precarious and unsustainable. Funding Crisis in Youth Work Fitzpatrick praised the dedication of youth workers but stressed that […]

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Our food has too many toxins and not enough nutrients – but we already have the tools to fix it

I sometimes joke that my pets eat better than my children. It’s not for lack of trying – kids turn their noses up at vegetables, fish and pulses, while dogs will never turn down their specially formulated feed, complete with all the vitamins and minerals they need to thrive. The results are plain to see: […]

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Joint Statement on the United Kingdom-Netherlands Bilateral Security Partnership

Introduction   The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (“the UK”) and the Netherlands are strong allies and close partners. We both value democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and cooperate closely on foreign and security policy. We will continue to strengthen and sustain a free, fair, rules-based global economic order. In their meeting of 6 February 2025, our Prime […]

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New measures to secure raw materials and strengthen the EU’s economic security

  The Commission has proposed several new initiatives to strengthen the EU’s economic security and boost competitiveness. A strategic approach to strengthen Europe’s economic security The new approach outlines concrete steps to make the EU stronger and more resilient in the face of growing external economic threats, while remaining open and committed to international trade and […]

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🌍 African Continental Brief: Business, Tech, Geopolitics, Security and Human Rights – December 3, 2025

🏦 Business & Macro ⚡ Climate & Energy 💻 Tech & Development Finance 🌍 Geopolitics & Policy 🛡️ Security & Human Rights 📈 Broader Trends Here’s a compact references section in short‑form with embedded links for easy access: References: APAnews, Reuters, Ecofin Agency, Trading Economics – Ghana inflation; Africa Private Equity News, Billionaires Africa, FMO, […]

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Ireland Launches €2.8m Landmark Longitudinal Study to Track Teachers’ First Decade in the Profession

A landmark research project examining the early career journeys of teachers in Ireland has been officially launched today (3 December 2025) by the Department of Education and Youth and the Teaching Council. Teachers’ Professional Journeys: The First Decade is the first study of its kind in the State, designed to follow teachers from their initial […]

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