CATEGORIES

Australia scraps plan to fine social media giants enabling misinformation

Australia's government said on Nov. 24 it had dropped plans to fine internet platforms up to 5 percent of their global revenue for failing to prevent the spread of misinformation online.

Japan mayor regrets South Korea's absence from war memorial event

A Japanese mayor said it is \"extremely regrettable\" that South Korea pulled out of a memorial ceremony on Nov 24 to honour wartime forced labour victims, local media reported.

China's local govts step up public safety measures after attacks

The local authorities in China are stepping up safety management and police patrols following several high-profile mass killings, as the central government calls for enhanced public security, media reports said on Nov 24.

Evacuation orders set off new wave of displacement in Gaza City

Israeli military's move blamed on militants firing rockets from heavily built-up suburb

S. Korea seeks better work-life balance to ease falling birth rate

Tax incentives and subsidies for SMEs and doubling of paternal leave among measures

Manila to investigate V-P's alleged assassination threat against Marcos

The Philippines' security council will verify an alleged assassination threat by Vice-President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a top official said on Nov 24, describing it as a \"matter of national security\".

Three days of sectarian clashes leave 82 dead in Pakistan

Three days of bitter sectarian gunfights in north-western Pakistan have killed at least 82 people and wounded 156 more, a local official said on Nov 24.

Johor aims to ride medical tourism wave

It hopes to capitalise on location, build up facilities to compete with Melaka, Penang

Fire rips through Manila slum area housing thousands

Raging orange flames and thick black smoke billowed into the sky on Nov 24 as a huge fire ripped through hundreds of houses in a closely built slum area of the Philippine capital Manila.

More Indian states and firms offer menstrual leave

Issue gains traction amid efforts to woo female voters and get more women to join workforce

SM Lee in China to mark 30 years of Suzhou Industrial Park

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong is visiting China from Nov 24 to 29 and he will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), a project he helped to steer at its beginning.

Laos vows justice after tainted alcohol kills 6 tourists

The Lao government said it is \"profoundly saddened\" by the recent deaths of foreign tourists from drinking alcohol contaminated with methanol and has pledged to prosecute those responsible.

Why the results of Indonesia's regional elections matter

Those elected can be potential national leaders, influence roll-out of programmes

PM Wong to take over as PAP chief from SM Lee in coming weeks

SM Lee will remain in central executive committee in supporting and advisory role

Members of party's top decision-making body announced

The People's Action Party elected its new central executive committee (CEC) on Nov 24, with few changes to the line-up.

PM Wong's speech a call for activists to go beyond grassroots work: Analysts

Bringing the People's Action Party (PAP) \"out in front\" means getting party activists to go beyond grassroots work and step up efforts to explain policies, said political observers.

Govt doing its best on cost of living; opposition tries to exploit issue: PM

The PAP Government is doing its best to shield citizens from the worst effects of global inflation, even as opposition parties in Singapore have tried to exploit cost-of-living concerns to turn sentiments against the ruling party, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

S'poreans must stay united in a far more dangerous world: PM

Speaking with one voice on the global stage essential for a small country, he says

Developing nations blast $404b COP29 climate deal as insufficient

Agreement also includes broader goal of raising US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035

Cash is king, and a curse, for UN climate talks

In the end, money talks.

About half of households in EMA pilot cut energy usage in Sept

About half of the 1,000 households enrolled in a pilot programme to encourage less energy use during peak periods managed to cut their power consumption in September by at least 20 per cent from their typical usage levels.

Stakes high in GE2025; no guarantee PAP will win, form stable govt: PM

He urges party members to work hard to earn the confidence, trust of Singaporeans

K-DRAMA FOR MENTAL HEALTH

If you have ever binge-watched an entire season of a K-drama like Squid Game (2021) or Crash Landing On You (2019 to 2020), one Korean-American expert has good news: It has likely improved your mental health.

Pop Mart to take action against unauthorized use of Labubu in food

Food retailers riding on the hype over Labubu to sell edible products fashioned after the monster character with serrated teeth may have bitten off more than they can chew.

Hawker food with less sodium – can you tell the difference?

Some hawkers have cut down on salt in their food and customers are not complaining

A taste of the Middle East

From Yemeni rice dishes to Syrian shawarma, Middle Eastern fare is adding spice to the food scene here

Environmental activist loves scoring deals at second-hand bookstores

Who: Woo Qiyun, 27, is better known as the environmental activist behind the Instagram account @theweirdandwild.

The Light Between Us dimmed by poor execution and editing

It does not bode well that on the first page of the story proper, there is an error.

A love letter to the bilingual book

My love affair with the bilingual book began with a volume of poems by Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, which I bought as a teenager from Carousell.

Community ties and characters anchor The Long Water

A teenage boy, Daniel, goes missing.