Asian markets mostly up after US growth fuels Wall St recordHONG KONG, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Most Asian stocks rose Wednesday and gold topped $4,500 for the first time as investors tracked a record on Wall Street following forecast-beating US economic growth data. Markets looked set to go into the Christmas break on a broadly positive note amid optimism for 2026, which has offset recent worries about stretched tech valuations and rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela. Asian markets swung between gains and losses as traders wound down before Christmas. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Wellington and Taipei all rose though Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore and Jakarta edged down. The yen extended its recent rebound against the dollar after Japan's Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama suggested authorities were prepared to step in to finance markets to support the currency, citing speculative moves in markets.

DHAKA, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS) - The government has extended the Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption on Metro Rail services until June 30, 2026, aiming to promote the use of the country's modern, environmentally friendly mass transit system. The VAT exemption on Metro Rail services was previously scheduled to remain effective until December 31, 2025. The extension follows a recommendation from the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, which emphasized the role of Metro Rail in ensuring sustainable and affordable public transportation. In this regard, the government issued a gazette notification on December 23, 2025, formally extending the VAT exemption period up to June 30, 2026, the NBR release said. The move is expected to keep Metro Rail fares affordable for commuters and further enhance the popularity of the service as a modern solution to Dhaka's growing transportation challenges.

By Stephen BeechThe perfect travel partners are not your dearest and dearest, according to new research. As millions gear up for the festive season, an Australian study suggests what really makes for the perfect travel companion. Professor Huang noted that compared with solo travel, traveling with a companion was more likely to foster high-quality and memorable experiences, while also offering a measure of safety. "More and more young travelers tend to establish temporary travel partner relationships with strangers who share common travel goals through online travel communities." The research found that travel partners with extensive travel experience and a strong sense of conscientiousness are better equipped to overcome obstacles on the road and work effectively together to achieve shared goals.

How the One Big Beautiful Bill affects your healthcareOn July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed into law the budget reconciliation package known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Key takeaways:The One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes major changes to Medicaid. The OBBBA makes major changes to how people get and keep health insurance, especially through Medicaid and ACA marketplace coverage. When do the Big Beautiful Bill healthcare changes go into effect? The timeline below highlights when major healthcare changes discussed in this article take effect, along with a few health-related provisions in the OBBBA:GoodRxThe bottom lineThe One Big Beautiful Bill brings many changes to healthcare, including Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

This year, we scooted off to Barcelona, Athens, London, Tokyo, Fiji, Paris, Sydney, Milan, Montblanc and wine country in Bordeaux. Oh, it’s just absolutely stunning (From what I can remember, LOL — I may have had a little too much vintage Chateau Haut-Brion…). For the first time, we also privated to a private (“P2P”) — that’s when you take a private jet to a private island. We bought our little slice of the Caribbean in March — come visit! When he’s not doing his business deals (it’s always work, work, work with that one!)

After assuming office on August 8, 2024, following the July mass uprising, the interim government first formed five reform commissions through a gazette on October 3, namely – the Election System Reform Commission, the Judicial Reform Commission, the Public Administration Reform Commission, the Police Reform Commission, and the Anti-Corruption Commission Reform Commission, and thereafter, through another gazette on October 7, formed the Constitution Reform Commission. Professor Dr. Ali Riaz, head of the Constitution Reform Commission, was made the Vice-Chairman of the Consensus Commission. On this issue, the Constitution Reform Commission recommended that a person cannot become Prime Minister more than twice. There will be a separate secretariat for the judiciary under the control of the Supreme Court. However, the Public Administration Reform Commission thinks that the post of vice chairman of upazila parishads may be abolished.

WASHINGTON, United States, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The US Supreme Court dealt a blow to President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown on Tuesday by blocking his deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago. After two lower courts blocked Trump from sending troops into Chicago, his administration made an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court rebuff of the emergency appeal was a rare defeat for Trump at the top court, where conservatives hold a 6-3 majority. It was not immediately clear how Tuesday's decision would affect the other cases where Democratic-ruled states have challenged Trump's National Guard deployment. Some 300 National Guard troops remain activated in the Chicago area but are not engaged in operations.

General Daily Insight for December 24, 2025 Simple moves can bring calm and clarity. Venus, planet of attraction, enters your 10th House of Career and Status, refreshing your public image and encouraging measured moves that display confidence without heat. Because ambitious goals deserve steady care, make a point of rehearsing any upcoming presentations and thanking any other team members involved. Resources get clearer as Venus, planet of money, enters your 8th House of Shared Resources, encouraging tidy agreements and honest talk about needs. Venus, planet of self-worth, enters your sign today!

THE HAGUE, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Belgium on Tuesday joined a case brought by South Africa before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. The UN's highest court, based in The Hague, said in a statement that Brussels had filed a declaration of intervention. Several countries including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkey have already joined the case. In rulings in January, March and May 2024, the ICJ told Israel to do everything possible to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza, including by providing urgently needed humanitarian aid to prevent famine. The campaign has also displaced the majority of the 2.2 million people in the Palestinian territory.

At UN, Russia and China criticize US conduct toward VenezuelaUNITED NATIONS, United States, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Russia and China on Tuesday criticized the United States for its military and economic pressure on Venezuela, telling the UN Security Council it was "cowboy behavior" and "intimidation." Venezuela, which requested the emergency council meeting with the backing of Moscow and Beijing, accused Washington of "the greatest extortion known in our history." US President Donald Trump accuses Venezuela of using oil, the South American country's main resource, to finance "narcoterrorism, human trafficking, murders, and kidnappings." "The responsibility of Washington is also evident for the constant catastrophic consequences of such cowboy-like conduct," he told the council. "This is the greatest extortion known in our history," he added.

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US denies visas to EU ex-commissioner, four others over tech rulesWASHINGTON, United States, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The US State Department said Tuesday it would deny visas to a former EU commissioner and four others, accusing them of seeking to "coerce" American social media platforms into censoring viewpoints they oppose. The measure targeted Thierry Breton, the former top tech regulator at the European Commission, who often clashed with tech tycoons such as Elon Musk over their obligations to follow EU rules. Also subject to the ban were Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of HateAid, a German organization that the State Department said functions as a trusted flagger for enforcing the DSA. The White House last week suspended implementation of a tech cooperation deal with Britain, saying it was in opposition to the UK's tech rules. "President Trump has been clear that his America First foreign policy rejects violations of American sovereignty," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

US slams China policies on chips but will delay tariffs to 2027WASHINGTON, United States, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - US trade officials determined that China should be punished for employing unfair tactics to dominate the semiconductor industry, but will wait 18 months to impose tariffs, American authorities said Tuesday. USTR officials launched the probe in December 2024 in the final weeks of Joe Biden's presidency, extending the initiative when US President Donald Trump took office in January. The White House has jousted with Beijing, but reached a broad truce with China after a major escalation in the spring. The USTR's "Section 301" probe concluded that China had employed "increasingly aggressive and sweeping non-market policies" to dominate semiconductors that have included "massive and persistent" state support of private actors and "wage-suppressing labor practices." The USTR did not respond to an AFP query on the reason for the 18-month timeframe on tariffs.

LONDON, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Kepa Arrizabalaga was Arsenal's League Cup quarter-final hero with the decisive penalty shoot-out save that completed a miserable evening for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix on Tuesday. It was a cathartic moment for the Spanish goalkeeper, who infamously refused to be substituted before Chelsea's League Cup final penalty shoot-out defeat against Manchester City in 2019. Kepa also missed a spot-kick in the Blues' 2022 League Cup final shoot-out loss to Liverpool. Arsenal are into the League Cup semi-finals for a second successive year as they chase their first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020. The north Londoners have only won the League Cup twice, with their last triumph coming in 1992-93, before any of their current squad were born.