Malaysia targets full vape ban by mid-2026: Health Minister

Malaysia's Health Ministry aims to finalise the policy by 2026.

Philippines confirms visit by alleged Bondi gunmen amid terrorism concerns

MANILA, Dec 16 - The Philippines Bureau of Immigration said on Tuesday that the two alleged gunmen behind the mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach travelled to the ‍Philippines ​on November 1 aboard Philippine Airlines Flight PR212 ‍from Sydney to Manila and onward to Davao.

Bondi attack presaged by surge in online antisemitism

At least 16 people – including a ten-year-old child – are dead after two men opened fire on a crowd of people celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah on Sunday in a public park at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Many more are injured. I am horrified. But as a researcher who studies

Empty shelves fill food hub volunteers with dread

The Cheylesmore Food Hub are appealing for donations in the winter months due to empty shelves.

Thaksin-backed party picks another family member as Thai PM candidate

Mr Thaksin’s nephew is one of three prime minister candidates nominated by the Pheu Thai Party.

Why many mental health conditions may be more alike than we thought

The findings of this study could eventually improve how mental health conditions are diagnosed and treated, especially for people who live with more than one diagnosis.

Can electric air taxis really ease city gridlock? Vertical Aerospace reveals latest flying taxi

A British start-up has unveiled an electric air taxi, pitched as a future fix for gridlocked cities - but analysts warn the economics of vertical flight haven’t changed since the helicopter.

European salary rankings: Which countries offer the highest average pay?

The start of the new year is a prime time for job switching — with salary playing a key role in many employees’ decisions. Curious about what your European neighbours are earning? Here is Euronews' country comparison.

Festive fare: Europeans are having to dig deep to pay for this year's Christmas feast

Euronews took a quick sleigh ride around Europe to see what bills countries are facing to put on the traditional festive banquet.

Invest in healthcare systems to improve Europeans’ health and prosperity, report finds

Non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes or cancer, cause most of the preventable illnesses and deaths in the EU. They are increasingly affecting younger people, with more children becoming inactive and obese. A new report on the state of health in the EU identifies

Pakistan seeks oil deal with Russia as energy ministries hold talks, RIA reports

The gruesome poaching of rare elephants in Malaysia’s remote jungle

By beheading elephants, culprits are able to make a quick getaway and carry off the tusks intact.

Broken eagle: China ‘Overmatch’ warning tests US credibility

A leaked US Department of Defense (DoD) assessment known as the “Overmatch” brief warns that the US would likely lose a high-end war with China over Taiwan under current conditions. The classified, multiyear report, obtained by the New York Times (NYT), was prepared by the

Scientists warn federal funding cuts could undermine walleye recovery in Minnesota

Christopher Rounds is a scientist who studies walleye in Minnesota, but he doesn't use a boat or a net or even a laboratory.

Sudan once again tops International Rescue Committee crises watchlist

WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Sudan has once again topped a watchlist ​of global humanitarian crises released ​by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) aid organization, as warring sides press ⁠on with a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people. It is the third

Jimmy Kimmel Slams Donald Trump as ‘Hateful and Vile’ For Saying Rob Reiner Had ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’: ‘That Corroded Brain Is in Charge of Our Lives’

Jimmy Kimmel slammed Donald Trump during his Monday night broadcast of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for saying Rob Reiner died “due to the anger he caused others” through his “Trump derangement syndrome.” “What we need at a time like this, besides common sense when it comes to guns and

Social media giants subject to Malaysian laws from 2026

It is part of a government push to shield children from online harms and strengthen platform accountability.

Trump sues BBC for $10 billion in defamation lawsuit over edited documentary

The 33-page lawsuit accuses the BBC of broadcasting a “false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction of President Trump,” calling it “a brazen attempt to interfere in and influence” the 2024 US presidential election.

James Woods Tears Up Over ‘Infuriating’ Remarks About ‘Patriot’ Rob Reiner: ‘Because You Disagree With People, Doesn’t Mean You Have to Hate People’

James Woods, who has been vocally pro-Donald Trump, is speaking out against the “distasteful” comments made about Rob Reiner. Woods, who starred in Reiner’s “Ghosts of Mississippi” in 1996, opened up about his late friend during an appearance on Fox News on Monday night,

Women in the Indian Armed Forces suffer systemic discrimination across all stages of their military careers, study shows

Women serving in the Indian Armed Forces suffer systemic discrimination across all stages of their military careers, a new study shows.

‘Waiting to die’: The dirty business of recycling in Vietnam

Sustained exposure to the toxic recycling environment results in higher health risks for residents.

Africa: Nigeria's Path to Fiscal Transparency and Accountability

[World Bank] Abuja -- The World Bank today released the Fiscal Governance Reform in Nigeria: Lessons from the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Program (SFTAS), a report reviewing one of Nigeria's most significant subnational fiscal reform

Ambition to ashes: Luthra brothers return to India to face justice over Goa fire

The brothers have been deported to India from Thailand in connection with the blaze. But who are they?

Bondi Beach shooting suspect arrived in Philippines as 'Indian national': Immigration

Sajid Akram and his son Naveed spent nearly the entire month of November in the Philippines, with the older man entering the country as an "Indian national", authorities in Manila said.

Antisemitism allowed to fester in Australia, says daughter of wounded Holocaust survivor

By Christine Chen and Tom Bateman SYDNEY, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Government authorities have not done enough to stamp ​out hatred of Jews in Australia, which has allowed ​it to fester in the aftermath of October 7, said the daughter of a Holocaust survivor who was wounded ⁠at the

Africa: Rwanda Maintains Top Spot in Africa's Visa Openness Rankings

[New Times] Rwanda has retained its position as the most visa-open country in Africa, according to the 2025 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI). The country has held the top spot since 2023 due to its visa-free regime.

Anti-Semitism allowed to fester in Australia: Daughter of Holocaust survivor wounded in Bondi shootings

She said hatred has been allowed to fester against the Jewish minority in Australia.

A hidden climate shift may have sparked epic Pacific voyages 1,000 years ago

Around 1,000 years ago, a major climate shift reshaped rainfall across the South Pacific, making western islands like Samoa and Tonga drier while eastern islands such as Tahiti became increasingly wet. New evidence from plant waxes preserved in island sediments shows this

Indonesia’s MSMEs are selling—and selling out—to Chinese goods

Across Indonesia’s sprawling archipelago, from the markets of Surabaya to the online storefronts of Jakarta, a quiet transformation is reshaping Southeast Asia’s largest economy. The country’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises—MSMEs, which employ nearly all Indonesian

Foreigners bought almost 3,500 properties near sensitive sites in Japan in FY2024: Study

By country or region, China accounted for the most acquisitions at 1,674.

Call to increase funding for 'invisible' Deaf victim-survivors of domestic abuse

A new report warns Deaf women experiencing domestic abuse in Scotland remain "effectively invisible" due to the chronic absence of specialist services and a lack of coordinated national support. Researchers say this gap leaves deaf victim-survivors without meaningful access to

Bondi Beach gunmen went to Philippines before attack, authorities say

Australian police are investigating how the father and son planned the attack and whether they had links to terrorist groups, including Islamic State.

West Africa: AMCE Achieves Two Landmark Successes As It Completes Its First Open-Heart Surgery and Delivers West Africa's First Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (Sbrt) for Lung Cancer

[Afreximbank] Landmark procedure strengthens Africa's capacity for complex cardiac care, reducing reliance on overseas medical travel

Africa: Coup Contagion? a Rash of African Power Grabs Suggests Copycats Are Taking Note of Others' Success

[The Conversation Africa] In a scene that has become familiar across parts of Africa of late, a group of armed men in military garb appeared on state TV on Dec. 7, 2025, to announce that they had suspended the constitution and seized control.

Giant sea monsters lived in rivers at the end of the dinosaur age

Giant mosasaurs, once thought to be strictly ocean-dwelling predators, may have spent their final chapter prowling freshwater rivers alongside dinosaurs and crocodiles. A massive tooth found in North Dakota, analyzed using chemical isotope techniques, reveals that some

Japan lifts mega quake advisory week after powerful tremor

The advisory urges people to prepare emergency bags should they need to evacuate quickly.

Lebanon is flexing its muscles with Iran - but war with Israel could play into Tehran's hands

Beirut needs international support to curb Iranian efforts to maintain its presence in Lebanon while it continues to support Hezbollah. The resumption of war would free Tehran from this dilemma, as it fears the complete crushing of its regional sphere of influence

GOP Rep. Lawler says it would be ‘wrong’ for Trump to reclassify marijuana

Republican Rep. Mike Lawler (N.Y.) said Monday that President Trump changing marijuana’s classification would be ill-advised. “I think rescheduling marijuana is wrong. The fact is, marijuana is a gateway drug. Most of the people who end up using hard substances start out on

Pentagon escalates review into Sen. Kelly over ‘illegal orders’ video

The Pentagon is escalating its preliminary review into Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) over his participation in a video where he and other Democrats told U.S. service members to disobey “illegal orders.” A Pentagon official told The Hill on Monday that Defense Secretary Pete

Ben & Jerry's row deepens as three board members removed

One co-founder called it a "blatant power grab" designed to strip the board of its independence.

Foreign arrivals to Vietnam hit record high despite pollution, floods

The previous record of 18 million foreign tourists was set before the pandemic in 2019.

Iran's record drought and cheap fuel have sparked an air pollution crisis—but the real causes run much deeper

Air pollution is the latest environmental crisis causing havoc across Iran. Large parts of the country are already suffering from a drought, one of the worst in decades. Its wetlands are dry, and its land is subsiding at alarming rates.

Eroded Jersey Shore beaches could soon get federal money for replenishment: Will it be enough?

Congress appears poised to spend money in 2026 on beach replenishment projects in wake of the zero dollars it allocated this year.

Australian PM Albanese visits Bondi Beach hero in hospital

Anthony Albanese said Ahmed al Ahmed's bravery is an inspiration for all Australians.

China’s big layoff wave now buffeting its tech sector

China’s long‑running wave of corporate layoffs is spreading from manufacturing and property to the technology sector, with some key firms cutting hundreds of engineering jobs as core businesses weaken and artificial intelligence (AI) growth remains uneven. Recent job cuts at

Human‑wave attacks and drones: How Myanmar’s junta is fighting back

The generals have also been boosted by the backing of China.