World

Democrats release dozens more new images from Epstein estate

WASHINGTON, Dec ‌18 (Reuters) - Congressional Democrats released dozens of new images from the estate of the ‌late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday, a day before the U.S. ‌Justice Department is required by law to release unclassified files from its investigation of the disgraced financier.

World

Feature: Breaking barriers -- more Lebanese women push into male-dominated trades

BEIRUT, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- In this village near the southern city of Nabatieh, Perla Shalhoub's hands are blackened with grease and machine oil. At 25, she spends her days bent over the open maw of a sedan, the metallic cadence of a wrench echoing through her workshop.

World

EU provides 13.5 mln euros to improve BiH's migration management

SARAJEVO, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has provided 13.5 million euros (15.82 million U.S. dollars) to strengthen the capacity of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in managing irregular migration, said the Delegation of the EU to BiH on Thursday.

World

UK appoints Christian Turner as ambassador to the US

LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Britain on Thursday appointed Christian Turner as the UK ambassador to the United States, handing him a pivotal role in navigating ties with President Donald Trump's administration at a sensitive moment for the transatlantic relationship.

World

Belarus prepares 'big deal' with US but not at Russia's expense, Lukashenko says

Dec 18 (Reuters) - Belarus is nearing a major deal to restore relations with the United States but will not give up its close ties to Russia, President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday.

Other Sports

NFL's Dallas Cowboys top Forbes' most valuable teams list

Dec 18 (Reuters) - The Dallas Cowboys retained their status as the world's most valuable sports team, according to the list published by Forbes on Thursday that was dominated by National Football League clubs.

World

Spanish pork sales remain steady despite African swine fever concerns

BARCELONA, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Pork sales at local markets in Spain have continued as usual despite public concerns over a recent outbreak of African swine fever, with vendors and consumers saying purchasing habits have not been significantly affected.

World

Finland cuts 2025 growth forecast to 0.2 pct as weak demand, fiscal strain persist

HELSINKI, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Finland's economic recovery is losing momentum as weak domestic demand drags on growth and public finances remain under pressure, the Ministry of Finance said Thursday.

World

China, Zimbabwe sign deal to upgrade irrigation facilities

HARARE, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- China and Zimbabwe on Thursday signed letters of exchange on the upgrading and maintenance of the China-aid irrigation schemes project, aiming to strengthen Zimbabwe's agricultural productivity and climate change resilience.

World

Murders rise in South Africa's Western Cape, Cape Town at epicenter

CAPE TOWN, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- More than 1,000 people were killed in South Africa's Western Cape Province between July and September this year, with Cape Town at the epicenter of the region's violent crime, according to the latest crime statistics.

Football

Soccer-Ex-player Ebanks-Blake wins first stage of UK lawsuit against surgeon

LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Former English Premier League player Sylvan Ebanks-Blake on Thursday won the first stage of his multi-million-pound lawsuit against a specialist sports surgeon for negligence, as he argues he was denied another five years as a high-level professional.

World

Interview: Hainan Free Trade Port to become global innovation hub: Swedish expert

STOCKHOLM, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The launch of island-wide special customs operations in China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) will significantly expand zero-tariff coverage, boost key industries, and help turn the island into a new hub for global innovation and services, a Swedish expert has said.

World

Panama president announces first direct "voluntary return" flight to Caracas

PANAMA CITY, Dec 18 - Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino said on Thursday that the first direct flight under its "voluntary return" program will leave Panama for Venezuela on Monday.

World

Exclusive-Syria, Kurdish forces race to save integration deal ahead of deadline

AMMAN/RIYADH/BEIRUT/ANKARA, Dec ‌18 (Reuters) - Syrian, Kurdish and U.S. officials are scrambling ahead of a year-end deadline to show some progress in a stalled deal to merge Kurdish forces with the Syrian state, ‌according to several people involved in or familiar with the talks.

Motorsport

Motor racing-Binotto says Audi will have confidence and credibility for F1 debut

Dec 18 (Reuters) - Mattia Binotto expects Audi to show they mean business in Formula One next season, even if they do not spring any surprises.

AseanPlus News

Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Thursday (Dec 18, 2025)

Here's a look at the news highlights from Asean countries in the Star-AseanPlus section for Thursday (Dec 18, 2025)

World

Belarus has deployed Russia's Oreshnik missile, Lukashenko says

MOSCOW, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Belarus has deployed Russia's new Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic missile system, President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday.

Technology

Lawmakers raise concerns about Echostar deals to sell wireless spectrum to AT&T, SpaceX

WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Two Democratic lawmakers on Thursday raised concerns about EchoStar's deals to sell key spectrum to AT&T and SpaceX for $40 billion, saying it could shrink competition in wireless and satellite markets.

Technology

Big Tech-backed coalition supports biowaste carbon removal firm

(Corrects lede to remove referece to Meta which is no longer a member of the coalition, replaces with Stripe.)

World

Belgian farmers in anti-trade protest clash with police

BRUSSELS, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Belgian police fired tear gas and water cannon on Thursday as a demonstration by farmers against an EU-Mercosur free trade agreement turned violent, with some protesters hurling rocks and potatoes at police and smashing windows.