World News
France mass rape trial: 50 guilty, ex-husband gets 20 years in jail
Dominique Pelicot drugged and raped his ex-wife Gisele for a decade, enlisting 50 men. Video evidence exposed the crimes, igniting calls for reform
 "France mass rape trial: 50 guilty, ex-husband gets 20 years in jail")
BoE to hold key rate despite slow economic growth, high inflation
The UK's central bank is set to keep interest rates on hold later Thursday as inflation has moved further above its target rate, even though the British economy is flatlining at best.
 "BoE to hold key rate despite slow economic growth, high inflation")
How is China achieving record harvests despite reducing fertiliser use?
China has reduced fertiliser use for eight consecutive years since 2015 and yet the country's agricultural output has steadily increased with 2024 grain production hitting a historic high
 "How is China achieving record harvests despite reducing fertiliser use?")
Dollar slips as Fed signals slower pace of rate cuts, yen slides on BOJ
Currencies around the world tumbled on Wednesday after the Fed decision boosted the dollar, although many rebounded on Thursday in choppy trading conditions with thin volumes ahead of holiday period
 "Dollar slips as Fed signals slower pace of rate cuts, yen slides on BOJ")
'Nasty trap': Trump and Musk oppose stopgap bill, US govt shutdown looms
The stopgap spending measure, designed to extend government funding until March 14, met resistance from President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk
 "'Nasty trap': Trump and Musk oppose stopgap bill, US govt shutdown looms")
Unfortunate, biased: Pak on US sanction on its missile programme entities
These include the state-owned Islamabad-based flagship aerospace and defence agency National Development Complex (NDC), and three Karachi-based entities
 "Unfortunate, biased: Pak on US sanction on its missile programme entities")
Behind Honda and Nissan tie-up, existential threat posed by Chinese EVs
Like other foreign carmakers, both Honda and Nissan have lost ground in China
 "Behind Honda and Nissan tie-up, existential threat posed by Chinese EVs")
Netflix fined by Dutch privacy watchdog over personal data violations
Increasing incidents of data breaches, growing public awareness for privacy, and a series of fines have raised the agency's profile
 "Netflix fined by Dutch privacy watchdog over personal data violations")
Number of dead, missing still unclear as aid arrives in quake-hit Vanuatu
Search crews were joined Thursday by specialists arriving in waves from Australia, New Zealand and France
 "Number of dead, missing still unclear as aid arrives in quake-hit Vanuatu")
South Korea's Yoon willing to represent himself in legal proceedings
Yoon, who is an ex-prosecutor, shocked the nation on Dec. 3 when he declared martial law in a late night televised address
 "South Korea's Yoon willing to represent himself in legal proceedings")
US defence giant RTX Corp aims to boost India headcount by 14% in 3 years
The jobs will be added across RTX's units, including around 300 engineers for aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney over the next 12-18 months
 "US defence giant RTX Corp aims to boost India headcount by 14% in 3 years")
China tightens oversight of foreign accounting firms' domestic operations
Foreign accounting organisations are subject to "supervision and management" by the authorities including the finance ministry and public securities bureau
Sri Lanka announces to lift vehicles import ban for first time in 4 years
Ministry of Finance said policy to ban vehicle imports was implemented with the intention of easing the pressure on foreign exchange reserves due to Covid-19 pandemic and the economic downturn of 2022
 "Sri Lanka announces to lift vehicles import ban for first time in 4 years")
US Congress has 2 days to avert shutdown after Trump rejects spending bill
Trump pressured his fellow Republicans in Congress to reject a stopgap bill to keep the government funded past the deadline of midnight
 "US Congress has 2 days to avert shutdown after Trump rejects spending bill")
Newspaper boss Watanabe who influenced Japan's postwar politics dies at 98
Watanabe, the editor-in-chief of the Yomiuri Shimbun for over 30 years, died of pneumonia at a Tokyo hospital on Thursday, the Yomiuri said
 "Newspaper boss Watanabe who influenced Japan's postwar politics dies at 98")
Ukrainian strikes refinery in Russia's Rostov with missiles and drones
As Russia advances at the fastest pace since the start of the war in 2022, Ukraine has repeatedly tried to strike Russia's oil infrastructure
 "Ukrainian strikes refinery in Russia's Rostov with missiles and drones")
Could Canada become 51st US state? Donald Trump thinks it's a 'great idea'
Trump sparked a debate by claiming many Canadians would support becoming the 51st US state. In November, he reportedly joked about merging the countries during a dinner with Canadian Prime Minister
Pak security forces kill 11 terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
Operations took place in various regions of the province on December 17 and 18, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces
 "Pak security forces kill 11 terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province")
US sanctions on 4 entities supporting Pakistan's ballistic missile project
The sanctions aim to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and prevent further destabilising developments in the South Asian region
 "US sanctions on 4 entities supporting Pakistan's ballistic missile project")
European car sales decline in November, led by France and Italy: ACEA
The slowdown in electric vehicle (EV) sales was only partly offset by the growth of hybrid-electric car registrations
 "European car sales decline in November, led by France and Italy: ACEA")
