With the rise of discount shopping days, Icelanders’ Christmas shopping has become far more spread out. This is reflected, among other things, in the fact that the capital area’s largest shopping centres, Kringlan and Smáralind, are starting their extended Christmas opening hours later than before. Despite the growing share of online shopping, foot traffic to shopping centres appears to be increasing.

When retired RCMP constable Jason Hydamacka heard the news that the insurance money for his amputated leg was coming, he sat in his truck and cried. Originally denied the coverage, Canada Life reversed its decision after CBC News reached out to it.

Quebec Liberal Leader Pablo Rodriguez is expected to publicly announce his resignation at a news conference this morning, after a six-month tenure that ended in internal discord and allegations of vote-buying during his leadership race.

Tamil Nadu police detained former BJP state president K Annamalai and party workers protesting against the dumping of waste from Tiruppur city in Chinnakalipalayam village. The BJP criticized the arrest, calling it a condemnable act by the Stalin government for supporting local residents.

India faces a severe water crisis, with 600 million people experiencing extreme stress. Groundwater, the nation's lifeline, is being depleted faster than it replenishes, particularly in agricultural regions. Over-extraction, pollution, and weak regulations are exacerbating the situation, pushing cities and rural areas towards 'Day Zero' scenarios. Urgent action is needed.

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah defended ally Congress, stating it's unfair to blame the entire party for former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan's remarks on Operation Sindoor. Abdullah emphasized that Chavan's comments were personal, not party policy, and reiterated Congress's past support for the government and army post-operation.

India faces its greatest strategic challenge in Bangladesh since 1971. A parliamentary committee warns of Islamist resurgence, weakening political structures, and growing Chinese and Pakistani influence. This situation poses a long-term strategic test for India's regional stability and neighborhood policy. The government is monitoring developments and engaging with Bangladesh's interim government.

There's a saying that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but rail operator SMRT may just have shown train commuters otherwise with their first upgraded fifth-generation C151B train. For those who commute frequently on the MRT's North-South and East-West lines (NSEWL), the C151B is a familiar sight. Forty five of these fifth-generations trains have been in service since 2017.  The C151B rolling past Kallang MRT station. The fifth-generation rolling stock is used on both the North-South Line and East West Line. PHOTO: AsiaOne/Ong Chin Wee Along with 35 fourth-generation C151A and 12 sixth-generation C151C trains, all 92 trains will need to receive upgrades, typically carried out when trains reach around 15 years old. Specifically for the C151Bs, they are expected to be upgraded by mid-2030s.

Police investigations into the death of legendary Bollywood singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore on Sept 19 are still ongoing but, so far, no foul play is suspected, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Thursdsay (Dec 18). The police's statement was issued following Indian media reports that four men had been charged with the singer's murder in Assam state. An SPF spokesperson said, «The case is currently still being investigated by the SPF, in accordance with the Singapore Coroners Act 2010. Based on our investigations so far, the SPF does not suspect foul play in Garg's death. »Upon completion of the SPF's investigations, the findings will be submitted to the State Coroner in Singapore, who will hold a Coroner's Inquiry." The inquest is scheduled for January and February 2026. During the inquiry, the coroner will lead a fact-finding process to establish the cause and circumstances of Zubeen Garg's death, with the findings made public. Garg was due to perform at the 4th Northeast India Festival at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sept 20. 

Back in October 2025, social media users stood in arms when a man posted a video complaining about migrant workers resting at a HDB void deck in the central region of Singapore. «Who said you're allowed to sleep here?» the man is heard asking repeatedly in that video. «Singaporeans don't behave like you, show some respect,» one netizen remarked. That belief was proven right by a boy. In a video posted to his TikTok by Marran J Trav on Tuesday (Dec 16), a migrant worker is seen resting and using his phone at the void deck of a HDB block in Choa Chu Kang. A boy is also seen playing in front of the worker, trying to catch his attention with a bottle. Instead of being upset that his personal time and space are being intruded, the worker holds up his phone, presumably for a photo. Meanwhile, the boy adjusts himself to get into frame. 

The Belarusian leader that the country held a record level of gold and foreign exchange reserves at present and suggested rethinking the strategy for managing international reserve assets

The Russian Prime Minister said the government also expects an increase in the use of domestically bred seeds, which is a critically important factor in ensuring the country’s food security

The regulator said that it is too early to speak about any assessments

According to the source, the Trump administration has been pressing Natanyahu for several weeks to approve the deal

Sergey Naryshkin said «the Ukrainian people must find the strength and will to eliminate the neo-Nazi plague»

A team of 117 electrical linesmen from Canada arrived on the island Wednesday night, bolstering the Jamaica Public Service Company’s (JPS) efforts to restore electricity in hurricane-battered western Jamaica. This is the third arrival overseas...

(AP) - An Indonesian court on Thursday sentenced an Australian citizen to 12 years in prison after finding him guilty of smuggling cocaine to the tourist island of Bali. Lamar Aaron Ahchee, 43, from Cairns in north Queensland, was arrested in May...

An Azerbaijani state prosecutor has asked for a life term for Ruben Vardanyan over his role in the now-defunct Republic of Artsakh Read Full Article at RT.com

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has warned that growing US pressure on Venezuela is dangerous and risks escalation Read Full Article at RT.com

One of the most damaging features of Western engagement with Africa has been instruction disguised as partnership Read Full Article at RT.com

A new law aims to boost India’s atomic energy generation to 100 GW by 2047 Read Full Article at RT.com

At least 12 people were killed when armed militias attacked a mine in Nigeria’s Plateau State Read Full Article at RT.com

Under Donald Trump, the US aims to continue global domination, seeking to lessen its burden by making others share the cost Read Full Article at RT.com

By tapping Russian assets frozen in the EU, its members aim to boost their own defense industry while arming Ukraine Read Full Article at RT.com

South Africa’s tourism minister has said Pretoria is working with the hospitality sector to step up safety measures for the festive season Read Full Article at RT.com

The Mjólkár Line 1 went out just after midnight, causing a power outage across the Westfjords.

The 59-year-old, who played Anna Windass in the ITV soap from 2008 to 2018, revealed that her 'beautiful baby boy' William, 31, passed away on Wednesday.

As part of the European Union's budget for the 2028-2034 period, the European Commission presented a short proposal for a regulation establishing the European Fund for Regional Development (ERDF), including territorial cooperation (Interreg) and the Cohesion Fund (CF), and establishing conditions for the implementation of Union support to regional development from 2028 to 2034. However, support for regional and cohesion policy would be integrated into a larger fund (the 'Fund') that also covers areas such as fisheries and agriculture. The 'Fund' is covered by a separate regulation. Consequently, rather than launching separate, fully fledged legislative proposals on the ERDF and CF, as happened in the 2021-2027 programming period, the Commission published a much shorter ERDF/CF sectoral proposal which briefly includes these two funds but also outlines some basic conditions for funding in regional policy. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Partners in the coalition government led by Prime Minister (PM) Jotham Napat publicly reaffirmed their support yesterday afternoon, as the Opposition said it is quietly confident it has enough backing for its motion of no confidence to be debated in…

The Leader of the Opposition and President of the Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Ishmael Kalsakau, welcomed yesterday’s decision of the Court of Appeal (COA) to dismiss the appeal of Speaker of Parliament Stephen Felix against the Supreme Court judgment…

An investigation launched by the Police Commissioner into the RVS Takuare grounding at south Epi during a ministerial tour in early October remains incomplete, as the appointment of investigators was deemed invalid under the Police Act [Cap 105].

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ambae, Jay Ngwele, has called on MP Stephen Felix to resign as Speaker of Parliament before Parliament reconvenes tomorrow to debate the motion against Prime Minister (PM) Jotham…

The Supreme Court expressed concern over alleged «inhuman» treatment of stray dogs by the MCD, questioning the petitioner's «sense of humanity» and promising to show a video. The court is hearing a suo motu case on stray dog bites and rabies, with ongoing debates about relocation, sterilization, and shelter management.