Christmas decor ban only for halal-certified kitchens and restaurants, says Melaka official

It is supposed to ensure clarity in halal status and to prevent confusion among consumers.

House Democrats assert themselves as Republicans struggle to set agenda

Under Hakeem Jeffries, the minority party has kept GOP leaders on the back foot since September.

Clair Obscur, Blue Prince, and more: Indie Game Awards 2025 full winners list

The Indie Game Awards celebrated 2025's games across 18 categories — these were all the big winners of the night.

Africa: Hope for Pastoralists As Africa Intensifies Fight Against Livestock Killer

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Millions of African pastoralists could soon see relief as the continent intensifies efforts to eliminate Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a fast-spreading disease that kills sheep and goats and pushes vulnerable families deeper into poverty.

Greece rescues 545 migrants off Gavdos as Libya route sees surge in crossings

Greek authorities rescued 545 migrants from a vessel off Gavdos Friday, one of the largest recent operations as arrivals from Libya continue to rise sharply.

Medical students explore ChatGPT's ability to support qualitative research

Newly published research from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine highlights student-led work in medical education and examines how artificial intelligence (AI) can assist with qualitative research.

3 REITs to Watch as Fed Rate Cut Bets Heat Up for 2026

‘Godzilla’ Studio Toho Acquires U.K.’s Anime Limited, Forms European HQ in London

Japanese entertainment giant Toho has acquired U.K.-based distributor Anime Limited from Germany’s Plaion Pictures, marking a major expansion of the “Godzilla” studio’s European operations. The deal sees Toho Global – the company’s consolidated overseas subsidiary – take full

Australia announces plan to buy back guns after Bondi mass killing

Hundreds of thousands of firearms are expected to be handed into authorities, Australia’s prime minister said, as a result of a raft of planned gun-control measures.

Israel charges Russian with allegedly spying for Iran

(Removes attribution to Israeli police from first paragraph) JERUSALEM, ​Dec 19 (Reuters) - Israel has ​charged a Russian citizen with spying for Iran, ⁠including photographing Israeli ports and infrastructure under the direction of Iranian intelligence agencies, Israel's

China threatens ‘forceful measures’ over US arms sales package to Taiwan

China has urged the US to immediately cease arms sales to Taiwan.

Russian migrant worker indicted for spying for Iran on Israeli military ports, oil refineries

A Tel Aviv Opera House cleaner is accused of photographing an American warship, a Dolphin-class Israeli submarine, multiple ports and the Haifa oil refinery for an Iranian handler called 'Roman,' receiving payments via digital wallets. Shin Bet says he knew the missions were

Taking the other side of the anti-India bet

In 2004, The Economist predicted that India’s economic growth rate would overtake China’s in two decades. In 2010, in an article called “India’s surprising growth miracle”, they shortened that timeline dramatically, declaring that India might overtake China in terms of GDP

Weather tracker: Early snowfall in New York and a storm rips down lights in Spain

Long Island receives 8.5in of snow, while a tornado tears down Christmas decorations near Málaga Heavy snow fell in parts of New England this week. Central Park, New York, received a few inches of snow, while 8.5in were dumped in parts of Long Island. This is the earliest New

What does TikTok's deal mean for America's users?

The BBC's Asia business correspondent says it is still unclear what sort of experience TikTok users in the US will get.

2.6 million vehicles expected on major Malaysian highways during Christmas peak

Smart lanes have been activated at 30 identified locations along the PLUS Expressway.

Trump shifts priority to moon mission, not Mars

US President Donald Trump on Thursday confirmed that he wants to send astronauts back to the moon as soon as possible, putting eventual Mars missions on the back burner.

Signing of EU-Mercosur FTA postponed to January

The highly anticipated signing of the free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), originally scheduled for this Saturday in Foz do Iguaçu, has been officially postponed until January following a surge in domestic pressure and

Hundreds of thousands displaced along Thailand-Cambodia border as fierce fighting continues

CNA visits displacement camps and border towns in both countries amid the ongoing conflict.

Driver held for allegedly ramming motorcyclist in Johor Bahru; videos of brawl go viral online

The case is being investigated under attempted murder, among other offences.

Argentine gas brings relief to electricity generation in Uruguay

Uruguay's state-owned electricity company UTE (technically the Administración Nacional de Usinas y Transmisiones Eléctricas) announced this week that importing gas from neighboring Argentina has resulted in savings of around US$3 million in the first seven days.

‘I can’t think of a place more pristine’: 133,000 hectares of Chilean Patagonia preserved after local fundraising

Exclusive: Ancient forests and turquoise rivers of the Cochamó Valley protected from logging, damming and development A wild valley in Chilean Patagonia has been preserved for future generations and protected from logging, damming and unbridled development after a remarkable

Discovery turns household plastic recycling into anti-cancer medication

A discovery led by the University of St Andrews has found a way to turn ordinary household plastic waste into the building block for anti-cancer drugs.

Bulgarian protests continue, citizens demand end to corruption and fair judiciary

Bulgarian protesters continue to demand political change and an end to corruption despite the government's resignation. The eurozone transition adds pressure to the situation.

Sand seas add grit to China-Mongolia relations

Dust storms regularly affect northern China, including its capital Beijing. In recent years, Chinese scientists and officials have traced the source of the dust storms to its neighbor Mongolia. Much of the dust over Beijing in the spring of 2023, for example, originated from

Paraguay's guaraní is most stable currency in the region, Bloomberg finds

Paraguay's guaraní (PY₲) has been highlighted as the most stable and highest-performing currency in Latin America for 2025. In a report published this week by the specialized outlet Bloomberg Línea, the Paraguayan currency has appreciated over 17% against the US dollar this

Myanmar arrests hundreds under new election law ahead of December vote

Dec 19 - Myanmar's junta said this week it had arrested more than 200 people under a new law against undermining elections, drawing criticism from a monitoring group that the legislation is being used to block criticism of the regime and prevent scrutiny.

Stephen Colbert Takes Aim at ‘Jag Bag’ Donald Trump in Animated Christmas Video

The holiday-themed clip, narrated by Nick Offerman, sees the president bulldozing Santa's workshop to build a ballroom

Argentina: National Bioethics Commission created

The Argentine government has officially established the National Bioethics Commission through Decree 893/2025. Operating under the Ministry of Health, this new body will serve as the country's sole regulatory authority on health-related ethical evaluations and scientific

Border casinos caught in Thailand-Cambodia crossfire

Criminals have used casinos to carry out sophisticated cyberscams across South-east Asia.

China, US seek Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire ahead of Asean meeting

Thailand and Cambodia accuse each other of moves that led to the breakdown of a July truce.

Health alerts issued in Chile and Bolivia following superflu detections

Health authorities in Chile and Bolivia have activated emergency epidemiological protocols following the confirmed arrival of a new, highly transmissible variant of Influenza A (H3N2), known as the K subclade (also referred to as "supereflu").

Peru purchasing South Korean tanks in major defense deal

Peru has signed a strategic framework agreement with South Korean defense firm Hyundai Rotem to purchase 54 K2 Black Panther battle tanks and 141 K808 armored personnel carriers, signaling a total modernization of the South American country's capabilities in this regard.

Kali Uchis Releases Leaked Fan Favorite ‘Muévelo’

The song is a demo from the singer's 2024 album Orquídeas that has been shared across social media

Euronews Culture's Film of the Week: 'Avatar: Fire And Ash' - An epic but tiresome rehash

Once again, the visual mastery of the Avatar franchise is undermined by an afterthought of a screenplay that this time boils down to: “Let’s fecklessly rehash the previous film but instead of focusing on water, let’s give fire some screen time. Oh, and a sky beam. Let's add a

Week in wildlife: honeymooning owls, an otter on the razz and a magical frog

This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading...

Putin answers Russia’s questions in marathon call-in show as war rages on

The annual event gives ordinary Russians a chance to question their leader, with queries expected on an end to the Ukraine war and boosting the economy.

US suspends green card lottery scheme after Brown shooting

The suspect in the university shooting and the murder of an MIT professor entered the US via the scheme.

Russian bombs hit Zaporizhzhia, wounding 35 and intensifying frontline battles

Ukraine saw fresh Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia on 18 December that wounded dozens, while Odesa endured its longest blackout of the war after attacks on power networks.

Tearful Jimmy Kimmel Thanks Viewers for Getting Him Through a ‘Hard Year’

"I know there are a lot harder jobs, but this is not an easy job to do," the late-night host acknowledged

Africa: Africa's Migrant Workers Still Trapped in Exploitation, ITUC Warns

[Vanguard] Africa's migrant workers continue to face widespread exploitation, abuse and insecurity despite the existence of regional and global protection frameworks, the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC-Africa, has warned.

Key witness in massive Philippine corruption scandal found dead after falling off cliff

Former undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral had been expected to link powerful politicians to the scam.

AstraZeneca: Mispriced Growth Following The Oncology Segment Success

EU leaders agree on €90 billion support package for Ukraine at Brussels summit

Belgium hosted an EU summit ending with a €90bn Ukraine support deal, while divisions over the Mercosur trade pact forced leaders to delay a decision.

Government borrowing higher than expected in November

Borrowing - the difference between public spending and tax income - was £11.7bn last month.

Arsonists target Bangladesh newspapers after student leader’s death

Several buildings were set on fire and vandalised, according to the authorities.

ULTY, Meet ULTI, Your Newest Competitor

K-beauty’s next chapter centres on ‘whole self’ wellness, according to Olive Young report

Functional drinks, gummies and snack-style supplements are gaining traction.

Indonesia government plans daily living allowance, compensation for families hit by Sumatra floods

Indonesia Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf said that the government is mulling a daily living allowance scheme of 10,000 rupiah (US$0.60) for each displaced victim.