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AdvertisementIndonesiaThis Week in AsiaHealth & EnvironmentIndonesian elephants tasked to help in flood recovery spur conservation debateThe four elephants deployed to lift debris in Aceh last week after flooding were also involved in the 2004 post-tsunami recovery efforts
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPAisyah LlewellynPublished: 11:00am, 19 Dec 2025When the Indonesian island of Sumatra was struggling to recover from devastating floods last week, local authorities in Aceh turned to an unconventional form of help to clear debris: elephants.The move to deploy four trained elephants in Pidie Jaya Regency, however, has drawn mixed reactions, with some experts praising the effective response to extreme conditions and others criticising it due to the risks faced by the critically endangered species.
Triggered by days of torrential rain last month, the floods killed more than 1,000 people across Sumatra and left swathes of its northern region cut off, with bridges destroyed and r..

Riziki Ilenre. Image via: TMZ Police in Alabama are working to piece together the circumstances surrounding the death of TikTok creator Riziki Ilenre, as questions continue to spread rapidly across social media. The Montgomery Police Department confirmed it is investigating Ilenre’s death, which occurred in mid-December, following a wave of online concern and speculation from fans who followed her closely.In the days since her passing, social platforms have filled with posts from followers searching for clarity. Many pointed to troubling moments from her online presence and raised concerns about persistent bullying. Authorities, however, have not confirmed any cause of death, and several of Ilenre’s loved ones have declined to speak publicly as the investigation remains ongoing.Riziki Ilenre death investigation draws public attention
According to police, investigators are reviewing the facts surrounding Riziki Ilenre’s death and have not released further details. Reports circulating on..

AdvertisementUnited StatesUSPoliticsTrump gives himself high marks in 2025 report card, with his eyes on 2026 fightIn a White House speech, the president claimed economic and foreign policy wins while urging voters to back his agenda in the midterms
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPKhushboo Razdanin WashingtonPublished: 11:33am, 18 Dec 2025US President Donald Trump addressed the nation on Wednesday, highlighting what he described as his administration’s achievements in 2025 and promising to build on his “Make America Great Again” agenda in the next year.In a defiant 18-minute address from the White House, Trump awarded his administration straight A’s for what he hailed as a year of unprecedented American greatness.
“We are making America great again tonight, after 11 months, our border is secure. Inflation has stopped. Wages are up, prices are down. Our nation is strong. America is respected, and our country is back stronger than ever,” he said.

FULL EVENT: US President Don..

AdvertisementElectric & new energy vehiclesBusinessChina BusinessBYD ups the ante on L3 autonomous cars, begins testing models for mass productionBYD has pinned its hopes on preliminary self-driving technologies to bolster its sales in mainland China
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPDaniel Renin ShanghaiPublished: 11:11am, 18 Dec 2025Chinese electric vehicle (EV) leader BYD has reinforced its push to build and sell more cars fitted with level 3 (L3) autonomous driving systems after Beijing took its first step towards deregulating the technology.The company collaborated with authorities in Shenzhen, where it was based, to test some of its cars ahead of mass production, according to China Business News. BYD confirmed the report, adding that it had completed more than 150,000 kilometres of real-world L3 testing.
The company did not elaborate on when production of its first L3 vehicles would start.
AdvertisementThe report came two days after the Ministry of Industry and Informat..

Image Via Instagram YouTuber Ross Creations has received widespread criticism following the posting of a viral video depicting his own ‘opossum launcher.’ In the Instagram post on November 30, 2025, a wild American opossum stepped onto a catapult baited with food and was flung several meters into the air, but it walked away without injury. Though this seemed to be the case for the opossum, some fans have condemned Ross for his lack of concern about this act, which has been described by many to be cruel. Many have signed online petitions requesting action by authorities on this violation of state laws against animal cruelty in Florida.An investigation was conducted by the Florida State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). There were reports filed at the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office concerning the video shoot. The Emergency Response Team Director for PETA, Kristin Rickman, stated that the video was “absolutely sickening” and described it ..

Asmongold criticized Twitch for allowing gambling-related ads to run during streams while creators publicly condemn gambling content. He argued that running ads makes streamers complicit, calling the debate “over” and accusing the platform of hypocrisy. With sports betting and fantasy ads still allowed, Asmongold says Twitch and its creators can no longer claim a moral high ground. Asmongold has reignited the long-running debate over gambling on Twitch, this time turning his frustration toward both the platform and fellow creators. The veteran streamer criticized Twitch for allowing gambling-related advertisements to appear during streams, despite its public stance against certain gambling content. While Twitch banned streams tied to unregulated casino sites in 2022, Asmongold argues the platform’s continued promotion of sports betting and fantasy sports exposes a contradiction that undercuts years of moral outrage from creators. In his view, the issue is no longer about policy nuances..

Erika Kirk met privately with Candace Owens after months of frustration over conspiracy claims surrounding Charlie Kirk’s assassination. While describing the meeting as productive, Kirk continues to push back against unproven narratives, highlighting the tension between free speech and accountability. The discussion underscored the influence of public platforms and the emotional toll of misinformation amid an ongoing criminal case. Erika Kirk has offered a rare public assessment of her long-awaited sit-down with Candace Owens, calling the meeting “very productive” despite months of tension fueled by conspiracy theories surrounding her husband’s killing. Since conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in September, Owens, once considered a close ally, had promoted unsubstantiated claims that questioned the official narrative of his death. Those theories deeply angered Kirk’s widow, who has since taken over leadership of Turning Point USA and publicly urged Owens to stop. Their..

AdvertisementHong Kong economyHong KongHong Kong EconomyHong Kong launches consultation for 2026 budget focusing on economic growth‘As we prepare the new budget, we aim to gather views from different sectors, engage with the public and draw on collective wisdom,’ finance chief Paul Chan says
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPDenise TsangPublished: 11:13am, 17 Dec 2025Updated: 11:15am, 17 Dec 2025Hong Kong has launched public consultation for the 2026-27 budget, which the finance chief says will focus on how the city can expand its economic development and better integrate into China’s 15th five-year plan.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Wednesday highlighted several key issues for the coming budget, including how the city could further broaden and deepen its economy, accelerate innovation and technology, upgrade its industrial structure, and strengthen its integration and contribution to national development.
He said other issues included creating more high-quality job..

AdvertisementNepalThis Week in AsiaHealth & EnvironmentNepal rolls out tourist tracking system to keep tabs on foreigners after protest delaysStarting next year, hotels and travel companies must begin automatically reporting visitor locations to a central government database
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPBibek BhandariPublished: 11:00am, 17 Dec 2025As tourist numbers climb back towards record highs, Nepal is rolling out a new digital registration system to track every foreign visitor, in a move officials say will boost safety and curb visa misuse.Starting from January 1, all foreign visitors will be required to register detailed accommodation information through the government’s new digital platform, replacing the earlier system that allowed only partial disclosures.
Authorities say the measure will modernise an overstretched immigration network while giving authorities faster access to location data during emergencies.
Advertisement“This system enables us to have details..

Donald Trump (AP) US president Donald Trump on Monday said a peace deal to end the four-year-long war between Ukraine and Russia is “closer than ever,” citing ongoing talks between European leaders and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin.Trump said the United States is receiving “tremendous support” from European countries, including Germany, Italy, France, the UK, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and the Netherlands, all of which he said are keen to see an end to the conflict.Putin’s Men ‘CHANGE’ Front With New Capture, KILL 1450+ Ukraine Troops As Berlin Talks Struggle”We are going to get it done. I think we are closer now, and they will tell you that they are closer now with numerous conversations with President Putin of Russia. And I think we are closer now than we have ever been… We want to save a lot of lives,” Trump said, speaking at the White House. “We are getting closer. We are having tremendous support from European leaders that want to get it ended also,” h..