Internet

The European laws curbing big tech... and irking Trump

The European Union is back in the crosshairs of the Trump administration over its tech rules, which Washington denounced as an attempt to "coerce" American social media platforms into censoring viewpoints they oppose.

Living

Masterful French and Italian fare at D Empire, Kuala Lumpur

A passionate chef's newest restaurant celebrates indulgent European-centric cuisine with all the bells and whistles.

Markets

Asia stocks rise to six-week high; precious metals on a tear

SINGAPORE: Asian stocks rose to their highest in six weeks on Friday and a blistering rally in precious metals showed no signs of tempering as investors sought to close out the year on a high while a softer yen kept intervention risk in the fray.

Forex

Ringgit rises to 4.04 as investor confidence strengthens; economist foresees return to 3.82

KUALA LUMPUR: With less than a week remaining before the close of 2025, the ringgit continued its upward momentum, trading around 4.04 against the US dollar, its highest level in nearly five years.

Nation

Danger-level continuous rain warning in Kelantan and T'ganu until Dec 29

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a warning of continuous rain at the dangerous level in Kelantan and Terengganu until Monday (Dec 29).

Nation

51-year-old man charged with murder of Suri Narudin

TAMPIN: A 51-year-old man was charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with the murder of Suri Narudin, whose body was discovered in a bag buried behind a house near Rembau. Zainizan Zainal nodded in understanding after the charge was read before Magistrate Mohamad Redza Azhar Rezali. No plea was recorded, however, as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

Nation

Teacher duped out of RM140,000 by bogus Scam Response Centre officer

KUALA BERANG: A teacher has lost RM144,152 after being scammed by a man posing as an officer from the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) last month.

Nation

Senior citizen and son die in blaze at Sentul PPR

KUALA LUMPUR: A senior citizen and her son were killed after a fire broke out at a People's Housing Project (PPR) in Sentul.

Commodities

Gold, silver jump to record highs on geopolitics, weak dollar

GOLD and silver jumped to all-time highs, with escalating geopolitical tensions and US dollar weakness helping to extend a historic rally for precious metals.

Asia & Oceania

Young holidaymakers take charge of family holiday planning

Gen Alpha and Gen Z are influencing family holiday plans, survey reveals.

Video games

A skateboarding demon’s grinding, gratifying quest

The solo developer behind Skate Story pitched his underworld trek to publishers as Tony Hawk's Journey Dark Souls.

Nation

21 houses in Simpang Pulai hit by flash floods

IPOH: Twenty-one houses in Lorong Pulai Raya 4, Simpang Pulai, were hit by flash floods after two and a half hours of relentless heavy rain on Thursday (Dec 25) night.

Economy

Japan's cabinet approves record US$785bil budget, vows to keep debt in check

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet on Friday approved a record $785 billion budget for the next fiscal year, aiming to strike a balance between her proactive fiscal policy and debt blowout concerns by limiting new bond issuance.

Entertainment

California equestrian in hitman plot against husband dies at 45

Tatyana Remley tried to hire a hitman to murder her estranged husband.

Nation

Addictive social media algorithms threaten child safety and development, says Fahmi

PUTRAJAYA: Social media algorithms that are opaque and designed to keep users addicted have become one of the greatest threats to public safety and children's development, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

China

Did the US play a ‘critical role’ in triggering China-India war 6 decades ago?

Study highlights Washington's efforts to divide the two countries during the Cold War and its policies on Tibet

China

China tests super wireless rail convoy that could carry three Eiffel Towers

The technology that virtually links locomotives could boost the country's freight capacity by 50 per cent, state broadcaster CCTV says

Nation

Najib's supporters gather at Palace of Justice from 6.45am in hope of a favourable verdict

PUTRAJAYA: Supporters of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak expressed hope that Friday's (Dec 26) court decision would redeem their disappointment over the dismissal of his review application for house arrest earlier this week.

Animals

Cattle tagging is key to slowing deforestation in the Brazilian state of Para

Maria Gorete, who just began ranching three years ago, is doing something new with her 76 head of cattle in the Brazilian countryside near the town of Novo Repartimento. She's piercing their ears.

Positive Parenting

Stay well during the holidays 

It is not uncommon to fall sick while on a holiday trip, but this can be prevented with some precautions.