World

Interview: Norwegian maritime tech firm sees strategic importance in China, eyes deeper cooperation

OSLO, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- As the global shipping industry accelerates digitalization and decarbonization, a Norwegian maritime weather intelligence provider is stepping up its focus on China, citing rising demand for localized services, faster operational communication and deeper partnerships with Chinese industry players.

World

Brown University gunman 'could be anywhere' on fifth day of manhunt

Dec 17 (Reuters) - The gunman who killed two Brown University students remained at large on Wednesday, and there was no indication that authorities have grown closer to identifying the suspect four days after he opened fire inside a classroom and escaped into the surrounding streets in Providence, Rhode Island.

World

UN chief Guterres calls for restraint between US, Venezuela

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 17 (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for restraint and the immediate de-escalation of tensions between the United States and Venezuela, his spokesperson said on Wednesday.

World

Slovenia extends border controls with Croatia, Hungary

LJUBLJANA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia has extended temporary controls on its internal Schengen borders with Croatia and Hungary for another six months, the government announced on Wednesday.

World

Explosive device kills 3 children in northern Rwanda

KIGALI, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least three children were killed by an explosive device in a village in northern Rwanda, a local official and police said Wednesday.

World

Brazil threatens to abandon Mercosur-EU deal as Italy, France seek delay

SAO PAULO, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday that if the trade agreement between the European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur is not finalized this month, Brazil will no longer sign off on the deal.

World

African Dev't Fund approves 23-mln-USD grant to boost electricity supply in Somali city

MOGADISHU, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The African Development Fund, the concessional financing arm of the African Development Bank Group, has approved a 23.36-million-U.S.-dollar grant to bring clean and reliable electricity to Bosaso, a key commercial hub in northern Somalia.

World

Chinese, Zimbabwean firms to partner on power equipment manufacturing

HARARE, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's Cabinet has approved a joint venture partnership with a Chinese company for the manufacture of power equipment, Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Jenfan Muswere has said.

World

China's Xinjiang invests heavily in water conservancy project construction

URUMQI, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has accelerated construction of water conservancy projects since the beginning of this year, achieving a cumulative investment exceeding 40 billion yuan (about 5.67 billion U.S. dollars).

World

Uganda projects 10.4 pct economic growth in 2026/27 financial year

KAMPALA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's economy is forecast to expand by 10.4 percent by the end of the 2026/2027 financial year, up from an estimated 6.6 percent at the end of the 2025/2026 financial year.

World

Major south China airport reports record annual passenger throughput

GUANGZHOU, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in south China's Guangdong Province on Wednesday announced that its annual passenger throughput has surpassed 80 million for the first time, with that figure including over 16.6 million international travelers.

Cricket

Cricket-India v South Africa T20 game in Lucknow called off due to fog

Dec 17 (Reuters) - The fourth T20 international between India and South Africa in Lucknow on Wednesday was called off without a ball being bowled due to excessive fog at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.

World

Hainan FTP launches special customs clearance

HAIKOU, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Goods entering and leaving the "first line" and "second line" of the customs system of Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) can undergo special customs clearance starting Thursday.

World

Putin says Russia will take more land in Ukraine if Europe sinks peace moves

MOSCOW, Dec 17 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday Russia would take more land in Ukraine by force if Kyiv and European politicians whom he cast as "young pigs" did not engage over U.S. proposals for a peace settlement.

Tennis

Tennis-Ahead of Sabalenka showdown, Kyrgios says few men would face top woman

BENGALURU, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Nick Kyrgios believes few male players would accept the chance to face a top woman as the maverick Australian prepares to take on women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition later this month.

Nation

Anwar slams criticism of Malaysia's humanitarian aid in Gaza

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has taken to task the views of certain parties who have questioned Malaysia's assistance to Gaza, describing such criticism as lacking humanitarian values.

Motorsport

Motor racing-Boost, Overtake and Recharge; F1 announces new terms for 2026

LONDON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Formula One fans will be hearing a lot about Boost, Overtake, Active Aero and Recharge in 2026 after saying farewell to DRS, the drag reduction system that provided an extra burst of speed for overtaking.

Technology

Exclusive-Google works to erode Nvidia's software advantage with Meta's help

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google is working on a new initiative to make its artificial intelligence chips better at running PyTorch, the world's most widely used AI software framework, in a move aimed at weakening Nvidia's longstanding dominance of the AI computing market, according to people familiar with the matter.

Sabah & Sarawak

Meeting on Sabah's return of 40% revenue scheduled for Dec 19, says Hajiji

KOTA KINABALU: A meeting to further discuss the return of 40 percent of Sabah's revenue between the state and Federal governments is expected to take place this Friday (Dec 19).

Sabah & Sarawak

Bung’s son among four candidates identified for Kinabatangan, Lamag, says Sabah Umno chief

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno has identified four potential candidates for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state seat by-elections, its chairman Datuk Jafry Ariffin said.