Japan reaffirms no-nukes pledge after senior official suggests acquiring weapons

Tears at tribute to firefighter killed in Hong Kong blaze

The firefighter, 37, was posthumously awarded the honorary title of Senior Fireman.

A 45% school bus fare hike is too much, says dad

Ambi Ambituuni now expects to pay more than £300 a term for his daughter's bus journeys.

Africa: All of Africa Today - December 19, 2025

[allAfrica]

South Korean rail workers plan to go on strike from Dec 23

A union claimed the Ministry of Economy and Finance was trying to discard changes to a bonus system.

Australian teen wounded while shielding children during Bondi attack says she is not a hero

By Cordelia Hsu SYDNEY, Dec 19 (Reuters) - As two gunmen opened fire on hundreds celebrating Hanukkah on ​Sydney’s Bondi Beach, 14-year-old Chaya Dadon’s mind was ​clear. Across from where she had taken cover from the gunshots under a bench, Dadon saw two children ⁠stranded

Eating full-fat cheese and cream linked to lower dementia risk, Swedish study finds

Participants in the study who ate at least two slices of high-fat cheese a day had a 13 per cent lower risk of developing dementia, and a 29 per cent lower risk of vascular dementia.

UK’s largest proposed datacentre ‘understating planned water use’

Analysis suggests consumption at Northumberland site could be 50 times higher than US operator QTS estimates The UK’s largest proposed datacentre is understating the scale of its planned water use, according to an analysis. The first phase of construction for the hyperscale

Latest news bulletin | December 19th, 2025 – Morning

Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this December 19th, 2025 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.

What is so unusual about UK job postings since the pandemic?

January is a popular time for career moves, but those searching for a job in the UK may find it trickier that their peers elsewhere in Europe.

Schoolgirl, 14, wounded while shielding children during Bondi attack, says she is not a hero

Chaya Dadon ‍spent four days at the Sydney Children’s Hospital before returning home on Dec 18.

China Vanke default watch is Xi’s moment to let markets lead

As 2025 ends and 2026 approaches, Fitch Ratings is reminding China investors why it may be time to fasten those seatbelts. On Wednesday (December 17), Fitch downgraded troubled homebuilder China Vanke Co to “C” status from “CCC-” at a moment of maximum suspense for the last

Explainer-Taiwan's political deadlock and the potential for new elections

TAIPEI, Dec 19 - Taiwan is in a political deadlock over the government refusing to enact amendments to a local government spending law passed by the opposition-controlled parliament, saying the plan is fiscally unsound and has been done without proper consultation.

Hong Kong mourns firefighter killed in city's deadliest fire in decades

Ho Wai-ho, 37, lost his life battling the massive blaze that engulfed seven buildings of the Wang Fuk Court housing complex on Nov 26.

Africa: WHO Validates Brazil for Eliminating Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV

[WHO] The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Brazil for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, making it the most populous country in the Americas to achieve this historic milestone. This accomplishment reflects Brazil's long-standing

Africa: Somalia PM Closes East Africa Defence Chiefs Meeting in Mogadishu

[Shabelle] Mogadishu -- Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Thursday closed the 35th ordinary meeting of East African defence ministers in Mogadishu, hailing the event as a sign of improving security and growing regional confidence in Somalia.

Africa: Sudan's Ambassador Urges AU to Designate RSF Militia Terrorist Group and Lift Sudan's Suspension

[SNA] Addis Ababa, 18-12-2025 (SUNA) - Sudan's Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU), Al-Zein Ibrahim Hussein, addressed the informal consultative session of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) on 17 December,

Temperatures in northern Thailand can dip to 14 deg C, heavy rain expected in the south

There are concerns about sudden floods and flash floods, with waves reaching up to 2m.

Africa: AfDB Raises $11bn to Support Africa-Led Development Projects

[New Times] The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has raised a record $11 billion for the African Development Fund (ADF), which provides low-cost loans to low-income countries to support development projects.

Africa: President Nandi-Ndaitwah Ranks Third Among Africa's Most Powerful Women On Forbes

[Namibian] President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been ranked third among Africa's most powerful women by Forbes, placing her alongside influential leaders shaping politics, economies and societies worldwide.

They survived wildfires. But something else is killing Greece’s iconic fir forests

In the Peloponnese mountains, the usually hardy trees are turning brown even where fires haven’t reached. Experts are raising the alarm on a complex crisis In the southern Peloponnese, the Greek fir is a towering presence. The deep green, slow-growing conifers have long defined

Saudi Arabia’s great game

With a headlong plunge into the global video game sector, what is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman playing at?

50% highway toll discount for motorists in Malaysia to celebrate Christmas

The toll discount will cost the government an estimated RM20.65 million (S$6.5 million).

Africa: 127 African Women Journalists Write to Jailed Burundian Sandra Muhoza As She Returns to Court

[CPJ] Nairobi -- On the first anniversary of the conviction of ailing Burundian journalist Sandra Muhoza, 127 African women journalists have written her a joint letter expressing solidarity, calling for her unconditional release, and decrying her imprisonment as robbing the

240,000 victims of Coupang data leak sue South Korean company

The data breach is thought to have leaked personal information related to around 33 million Coupang users .

Made in China, Made in India – and powered by sustainable coal

The global energy debate is entering a reckoning it can no longer postpone. Not because activists have relented or governments have found consensus, but because geopolitics, productivity energy and national security have forced reality back into the room. For more than a

EU to issue €90 billion in joint debt for Ukraine after hitting a wall on reparations loan

EU leaders fail to strike a deal on an unprecedented reparations loan for Ukraine, turning to joint debt instead to finance a €90 billion loan. Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia will not participate in the scheme.

City in North Sumatra cancels New Year’s Eve celebrations after public backlash

The city of Medan remains under disaster emergency status following flooding in November.

Early testing of schoolchildren has absolutely zero effect, researchers say

Early testing of schoolchildren has no impact on their educational attainment down the line. Nor do the tests have any effect on pupils' mental health or how happy they are at school.

Africa: '97% of Spotlight Initiative Programme Countries Have Sustained Achievements' - Key Takeaways From the Initiative's Sustainability Report

[Spotlight Initiative] BRUSSELS, Belgium - On 11 December, Spotlight Initiative hosted 'A sustainable legacy: An intimate evening of conversation and insights from global leaders on how seed investments to end violence against women and girls deliver sustainable outcomes'. The

Cyclone warning prompts Bali to step up flood mitigation efforts

On Sept 10, Bali was hit by its worst flooding in its history, inundating six of the island’s eight regencies.

Why is Malaysia ruling coalition party DAP making vocal demands on Anwar’s government?

Rattled by its poor showing in Sabah election, DAP has taken an aggressive reformist stance to reclaim its political identity, though some analysts ask if the party could be panicking for “the wrong reasons”.

Africa: From Aspiration to Action - Barriers to Youth Empowerment in Africa

[Afrobarometer] Educational gains have not translated into jobs for young citizens.

Man suspected in shooting at Brown University found dead, officials say

The man is also suspected of killing of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor in his home earlier this week, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Australia's 'Bondi Hero' handed $1.65 million collected from fundraising

SYDNEY, Dec 19 (Reuters) - A man credited with saving lives for wrestling a ​gun from one of the alleged attackers ​during a mass shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach received a cheque for more than ⁠A$2.5 million ($1.65 million) on Friday, after tens of thousands of people

TikTok Awards Debut in Hollywood Despite Technical Glitches

The seams were showing at times at the first TikTok Awards held Thursday night the Hollywood Palladium and live streaming on TikTok and Tubi. The show got started almost an hour late because the LED screens on the Palladium’s stage malfunctioned. Presenters and winners

‘I deserve it?’: Australia’s ‘Bondi hero’ handed $2.1 million collected from fundraising

Mr Ahmed, 43, left his hometown in Syria nearly 20 years ago to seek work in Australia.

EU agrees €90bn loan for Ukraine but without using Russian assets

Ukraine had wanted the EU to use €200 billion of frozen Russian assets but Belgium opposed the move.

Toyota to sell made-in-America vehicles in Japan from 2026 to please Trump

Toyota is aiming to meet the diverse needs of customers while improving US-Japan trade relations.

Brown University shooting suspect found dead

The suspected gunman authorities believe to be responsible for the Brown University shooting was found dead on Thursday in a New Hampshire storage facility, according to officials. Claudio Neves Valente, 48, a former Brown student, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound,

Japan should have nuclear weapons, official reportedly says

Japan upholds a long-standing commitment to not possess, produce, or permit the entry of nuclear weapons.

Cars decorated with Christmas ornaments light up Malaysian roads

The videos received thumbs-ups from netizens, who commended the cars’ owners for bringing cheer to the roads.

Three arrested for allegedly burning wild elephant in Sri Lanka

Police said villagers used flaming torches to drive away the elephant, which later died.

Up to 18,000 could die in major Tokyo quake, mostly from fires: Government panel

There is about 70 per cent chance of a magnitude 7 quake occurring beneath Tokyo within the next 30 years.

'This year nearly broke me as a scientist': US researchers reflect on how 2025's science cuts have changed their lives

From beginning to end, 2025 was a year of devastation for scientists in the United States.

To feel lonely is to be human: Here's how to handle it at Christmas

Christmas is often considered a time of connection, warmth and belonging. That's the script, anyway. But for many people, the reality feels different; isolating, emotionally weighted and filled with comparisons that sting.

Apple Goes to Record Low on AirPods Pro 3 via Amazon, Now Cheaper Than Your Old Pro 2

The best AI earbuds are on sale via Amazon. The post Apple Goes to Record Low on AirPods Pro 3 via Amazon, Now Cheaper Than Your Old Pro 2 appeared first on Kotaku .

How much does it cost to end rough sleeping? An Australian-first study may have just found out

Homelessness is a growing issue in Australia.