Northern Ireland Executive Nears Draft Program Agreement

The Northern Ireland Executive is aiming to finalize a draft programme for government, more than seven months after Stormont's return, with a meeting planned for Thursday. Despite hopes for agreement, criticism has mounted due to the lack of progress and the perception of Stormont's failures, highlighted by opposition leader Matthew O'Toole. Meanwhile, in Finland, the government led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has proposed a draft budget for 2025 that includes significant cuts to vocational education and benefits, increased VAT rates, and additional funding for police and NATO. The budget negotiations reflect an ongoing struggle for consensus among the four-party coalition amid economic challenges. In Indonesia, a parliamentary committee has reached a preliminary agreement on key economic assumptions for the 2025 budget, which includes modest adjustments to the rupiah exchange rate and oil production targets. The Indonesian government aims to maintain a budget deficit of 2.53% of GDP amid anticipated economic growth and inflation rates.