World

M23 still in seized Congo town despite withdrawal pledge, residents say

KINSHASA, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have not withdrawn from the eastern Congolese town of Uvira despite an announcement earlier this week that they would pull back, residents told Reuters on Wednesday.

Technology

US gaming platform Roblox pledges changes to get Russian ban lifted

LONDON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - U.S. gaming platform Roblox is willing to make changes to some of its features in Russia, it said on Wednesday, as it seeks to overturn a ban imposed on it earlier this month.  

Singapore

Singaporean cop charged with causing grievous hurt to woman in accident while driving police vehicle

SINGAPORE: A policeman on patrol duty was driving a police vehicle when it collided with a car in January.

Technology

Oracle says Michigan data center project talks on track without Blue Owl

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Oracle said talks for an equity deal to support its Michigan data center project remain on schedule and do not include Blue Owl Capital, after a report of stalled negotiations with the crucial partner knocked its shares down 5% on Wednesday.

Nation

PM tasks Media Council with recommending reforms for greater media freedom

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) has been tasked by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to come up with suggestions to the Cabinet to address laws that are regressive to media freedom.

Technology

Coursera to buy Udemy, creating $2.5 billion firm to target AI training

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Online education platform Coursera said on Wednesday it would buy rival Udemy in an all-stock deal, valuing the combined company at $2.5 billion, as the industry consolidates after a post-pandemic slowdown and heightened investor scrutiny.

AseanPlus News

Why ‘relative stability’ in US-China ties is unlikely to last

The temperature has lowered after a downward spiral since Trump's return to the White House, but relations may face 'strong headwinds' again

Thailand

First Army takes strong action in border clash with Cambodia, one more Thai soldier killed

BANGKOK: Thailand's First Army Area reports continued clashes with Cambodian forces at the Thai-Cambodian border, resulting in more casualties, including the death of one Thai soldier.

AseanPlus News

‘Don’t be misled,’ Beijing tells foreign media in Hong Kong after Jimmy Lai verdict

Commissioner's office also writes to The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, condemning their editorials on verdict

Metro News

5G, digital devices boost for Hospis Malaysia

DIGITAL capabilities are now enabling more efficient palliative care.

Nation

LRT Mutiara Line: Partial lane closure at Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway

GEORGE TOWN: A long-term periodic partial lane closure at night on Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah will be carried out from Dec 18 to Feb 16 next year, for utility identification and utility relocation works for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Mutiara Line project.

Singapore

Man jailed for burning mattress, beating elderly man at Singapore's Bukit Batok nursing home

SINGAPORE: During his stay in a nursing home, a 68-year-old man attacked another resident and set a mattress on fire

Other Sports

Bang Bang! The women gamers win gold

BANGKOK: The Malaysian women's e-sports team earned themselves a sensational gold medal win at the Thailand SEA Games on Wednesday (Dec 17).

World

UK's Duke of Marlborough charged with intentional strangulation

LONDON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Britain's Duke of Marlborough, a distant relative of Winston Churchill, has been charged with three counts of intentional strangulation, British police said on Wednesday.

Nation

Pahang floods: Hundreds of students evacuated as two Pahang educational institutions affected

KUANTAN: Hundreds of students at two educational institutions here were evacuated due to floods following days of continuous heavy rain.

Nation

Senate passes Bill requiring submission of passenger details at entry points

KUALA LUMPUR: Operators of sea vessels, aircraft and trains arriving at berths, airports or entry points in Malaysia will soon be required to submit passenger name records and passenger information.

Tennis

Mitsuki ends 24-year wait with men's singles tennis bronze

BANGKOK: No Malaysian has stood on the podium in the men's singles tennis event since V. Selvam's achievement at the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Games.

Nation

Penang JKM tracing next of kin of two 'abandoned' babies

BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Penang Social Welfare Department (JKM) is tracing the parents or relatives of a three-year-old boy known as Zaki and an abandoned baby girl in another case.

Badminton

Badminton-Vitidsarn, An off to winning starts in season finale

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn beat Jonatan Christie while South Korea's An Se-Young battled past Putri Kusuma Wardani on a contrasting opening day for the top-ranked players at the badminton World Tour Finals in Hangzhou on Wednesday.

Cricket

Cricket-Italy drop Australian-born skipper who helped seal maiden T20 World Cup berth

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Joe Burns, the former Australian cricketer who masterminded Italy's fairytale qualification to their maiden T20 World Cup, will miss the tournament after being dropped by the Italian Cricket Federation (FCRI) amid contractual wrangles.