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Markets

Bursa Malaysia weaker at midday amid cautious trading

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI sank deeper into the red at the lunch break as profit-taking continued to weigh on blue chips.

Vietnam

Vietnam adds 41 more int'l border gates eligible for e-visa entry

HANOI: The Vietnamese government has announced an additional list of 41 international border gates where foreigners may use e-visas for entry and exit, the government portal reported Wednesday (Dec 3)

Nation

Nearly 32,000 workers given pay increases under new wage policy so far, says Sim

KUALA LUMPUR: Nearly 6,000 employers have opened accounts to participate in the Progressive Wage Policy (PWP) up to the end of November, says Human Resources Minister Steven Sim.

Technology

Australia says the world will follow social media ban as Meta starts blocking teens

SYDNEY, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Australia's internet regulator said a teen social media ban would be the first domino to fall in a global push to rein in Big Tech, as Meta's Instagram, Facebook and Threads began locking out hundreds of thousands of accounts ahead of a deadline next week.

Philippines

Philippines: Child rescue ends in sexual abuse

MANILA: Child rescue groups are trying to save victims from sex trafficking in the Philippines. But a Deutsche Welle (DW) investigation found that they could be enabling abuse.

Football

Soccer-Arteta hits out at schedule after Rice, Mosquera forced off deepening Arsenal's injury woes

Dec 4 (Reuters) - Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has criticised the club's Premier League schedule after midfielder Declan Rice and centre-back Cristhian Mosquera became the latest players to pick up injuries during Wednesday's 2-0 home win over Brentford.

Cricket

Cricket-First-over specialist Starc strikes again in Ashes

Dec 4 (Reuters) - Australia's Mitchell Starc claimed his third first-over wicket of the Ashes series on Thursday, dismissing England opener Ben Duckett for a golden duck on day one of the second test in Brisbane en route to a six-wicket haul.

Nation

Two Kedah teachers removed after claims of sexual misconduct go viral

ALOR SETAR: Two teachers in Kedah have been removed from their respective schools after allegations of sexual misconduct appeared on social media, says the state Education Department.

Nation

Over 100,000 in Johor sign up for cooking oil subsidy digital system

JOHOR BARU: More than 100,000 Johoreans have registered for the Electronic Cooking Oil Subsidy System (eCOSS), making the state one of the highest users of the digital platform introduced to curb leakages in the distribution of 1kg packs of subsidised cooking oil.

Nation

Jan 13 next pre-trial date for retired teacher charged with caning student

GEORGE TOWN: A Magistrate's Court here has set Jan 13 for case management in the matter of a retired teacher charged with caning a student.

Indonesia

Indonesia revises Sumatra disaster toll to 770 dead, 463 missing

JAKARTA: Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on Wednesday (Dec 3) revised its casualty figures for the floods and landslides in Sumatra, confirming that 770 people have died and 463 remain missing across the three worst-affected provinces.

Entertainment

Intimate scenes in K-dramas: Why are they so restrained?

Explicit sex scenes are rare, almost nonexistent when top stars are involved.

Economy

Malaysia's GDP to grow 4.6% in 2026, says CGS International

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to expand by 4.6 per cent in 2026, supported by improving external demand despite a slight moderation in domestic activity, said CGS International Securities Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

Mobile apps

How to find Spotify Wrapped, YouTube Recap and more as 2025 comes to a close

Music streamers, social media sites and a host of other apps have already started delivering their annual recaps into customers' inboxes.

Living

Charles and Diana's rare wedding champagne to be auctioned

One of 12 bottles of champagne from the wedding of King Charles III and Princess Diana will go under the hammer this month in Denmark.

Singapore

Singapore Opposition Leader Pritam Singh loses appeal against conviction

SINGAPORE: Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh (pic) has lost his appeal against his conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee.

Nation

Albert Tei pleads not guilty to bribing Shamsul Iskandar

KUALA LUMPUR: Businessman Albert Tei has claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to four counts of graft involving more than RM176,000, where he allegedly bribed the former senior political secretary to the Prime Minister.

Nation

Floods in Hulu Langat: Two roads in Sungai Serai, Nanding closed

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have temporarily closed two roads in the Sungai Serai and Nanding areas of Hulu Langat after continuous rain since early Thursday (Dec 4) morning caused flooding.

Football

Soccer-Sevilla stadium partially closed after fans throw objects in derby

Dec 4 (Reuters) - Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium will be partially closed for the next three games after fans threw objects onto the pitch during their 2-0 loss to Real Betis in Sunday's LaLiga derby, Spain's football federation said on Wednesday.

Cricket

Cricket-England's Root lights up Gabba with first Ashes century in Australia

Dec 4 (Reuters) - England's Joe Root conquered his final frontier with a first Ashes century in Australia as the tourists pushed past 300 on day one of the second test in Brisbane on Thursday despite a six-wicket haul from pace spearhead Mitchell Starc.