The Straits Times - January 25, 2025
The Straits Times - January 25, 2025
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In this issue
January 25, 2025
Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire set to be extended
The ceasefire agreement that paused the war between Israel and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon will likely be extended when it expires next week, according to several people familiar with the matter.
2 mins
Singapore core inflation falls further to 1.8% in December
Drop comes as cost of services moderates; overall inflation remains unchanged at 1.6%
2 mins
EnterpriseSG to Muscle Up Support for S'pore Companies
National agency needs to tailor aid as firms are looking beyond subsidies: Chairman
4 mins
Govt to continue green budgeting approach and set aside funds for climate adaptation
The Government will continue to take a green budgeting approach and ensure that it sets aside finances for climate mitigation and adaptation, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on Jan 23.
3 mins
As the Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Holds, What's Next for Gaza?
The Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the radical Palestinian organisation, appears to be holding.
4 mins
Up to $53 billion in construction contracts expected in 2025: BCA
Projects include public housing upgrading, MBS expansion and Changi Airport T5
3 mins
Trump Uses Tariffs Threat on Russia in Bid for Ukraine Deal
He Also Vows to Turn the Screws on 'Other Participating' Nations If War Is Not Ended
2 mins
US Leader Downplays Security Risks Posed by TikTok
US President Donald Trump downplayed the national security risk posed by TikTok in an interview with Fox News on Jan. 22, days after offering the social video app a reprieve from legislation that would have forced it to shut down.
1 min
Proportion of US firms in China fearing trade turmoil at five-year high, survey shows
More than half of the American businesses in China, the highest level in five years, say they are concerned about a further deterioration in the bilateral relationship between the world's two largest economies, a survey published on Jan 23 shows.
1 min
Rubio says US backs Philippines over China's 'dangerous' actions
New US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed China's \"dangerous and destabilising actions in the South China Sea\" with his Philippine counterpart on Jan 22 and underscored the \"ironclad\" US defence commitment to Manila.
1 min
China-Taiwan tourism restart stutters amid political tensions, blame game
Experts say Beijing's nod for return of group tours is part of a pressure tactic
4 mins
Small Party in Malaysia's Ruling Coalition Faces Major Challenge
Moderate Islamic party Amanah struggling to gain the support of Muslims, says expert
3 mins
Hundreds Wed as Thai Same-Sex Marriage Law Comes into Force
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Jan 23 that the LGBTQ rainbow flag was flying high as the kingdom's equal marriage law went into effect and same-sex and transgender weddings began.
2 mins
Yoon never intended to impose full martial law: Ex-defence minister
The former South Korean defence minister charged with insurrection for his role in a short-lived martial law declaration told a court on Jan 23 that he wanted a broader military deployment but was overruled by President Yoon Suk Yeol.
3 mins
Over 250 schools close as air pollution shrouds Bangkok
More than 250 schools in Bangkok were closed on Jan 23 due to pollution, the authorities said, as officials urged people to work from home and restricted heavy vehicles in the city.
1 min
China's Dominance in EV, Battery Production Faces Scrutiny in Davos
Key to diversify manufacturing, mineral sourcing and processing: WEF panelists
4 mins
Disaster-hit US states could be left to fend for themselves
US President Donald Trump on Jan. 22 floated ending federal disaster relief and leaving states to fend for themselves during emergencies in his first Oval Office interview since returning to power.
2 mins
Trump Escalates Campaign to End Inclusive Hiring
He Orders Govt Staff to Inform on Colleagues Who Hide Diversity Schemes or Face Consequences
3 mins
Billionaire Bloomberg to help fund UN climate change body after America's withdrawal
Billionaire Michael Bloomberg announced on Jan 23 that his foundation will step in to fund the UN climate change body after US President Donald Trump declared that his country would withdraw from the Paris Agreement for the second time.
1 min
Firefighters gain some control over new blaze north of LA
Fire crews are making progress on blunting the threat from an enormous new blaze north of Los Angeles that forced students to evacuate and prompted inmates to shelter in place.
3 mins
Trump Relists Yemen's Houthis as Terrorist Group
Move is response to Red Sea attacks but aid groups worry about impact on civilians
2 mins
Wellington to relax rules to draw foreign investment
New Zealand will relax rules to lure foreign investment, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Jan 23, as his centre-right government tries to spur economic growth and boost jobs.
1 min
Albania PM softens stance on TikTok ban
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who in December 2024 announced a year-long ban on TikTok, said this week he had held \"open and constructive\" talks with the social media platform.
1 min
Wikipedia and Musk in row over perceived 'Nazi salute'
Fight sparked by billionaire's gesticulation at a Trump inauguration event
3 mins
Record numbers of people exit New Zealand in year to Nov 2024
People leaving New Zealand hit record levels in the year to November 2024, in another sign of the weakness in the country's economy, which entered a technical recession in the third quarter.
1 min
About 90% of 1.33 million households have claimed CDC vouchers
Close to 1.2 million Singaporean households, or about 90 per cent of the 1.33 million households, have claimed their $300 CDC vouchers that were launched on Jan 3.
2 mins
Four national awards to recognise work of social service professionals
President's Award for Social Service Professionals will be the highest accolade
3 mins
Singapore to work with Interpol member countries to track down assets linked to transnational crime
Singapore will work with member countries of global police organisation Interpol to track down assets linked to transnational crime.
2 mins
Jail, caning for teen motorcyclist linked to LTA officer's fatal crash
Youth rode in a dangerous manner to evade officer who ordered him to stop
3 mins
PAP new face takes over as Sengkang East branch chairperson
The People's Action Party (PAP) has appointed Mrs Bernadette Giam, 38, as the new chairperson of its Sengkang East branch to replace Mr Marcus Loh.
2 mins
Second Singaporean charged; alleged offences include forgery
$3b money laundering case
3 mins
Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder of Ex-Lover's Boyfriend
A 60-year-old married man, who pestered his former lover after she broke up with him, stabbed and slashed her new boyfriend in a jealous rage at a Choa Chu Kang void deck in June 2021.
3 mins
Easing inflation, Wall Street rally help push S'pore stocks higher
• SGX biggest winner for index stocks, Seatrium at tail end • Positive day for banks, with OCBC, UOB, DBS all up • Sydney's first drop in 3 days, after scaling 7-week highs
1 min
Microsoft Set to Gain from $677b AI Project with Zero Money
When US President Donald Trump joined tech executives on Jan 21 to tout a US$500 billion (S$677 billion) artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure project led in part by OpenAI, one question sprang to mind: where's Microsoft?
2 mins
AI boom sees SK Hynix eclipse Samsung with record quarterly profit
South Korea's SK Hynix has forecast that sales of its high-end semiconductors used in generative artificial intelligence (AI) chipsets would double in 2025 after reporting a record quarterly profit that surpassed its bigger rival Samsung.
2 mins
Oriental Kopi plans more cafes as IPO doubles on market debut in Malaysia
Shares of Oriental Kopi Holdings took off on their debut on Bursa Malaysia on Jan 23, opening at almost double their initial public offering (IPO) price on heavy buying interest.
2 mins
OpenAI, SoftBank to Invest $26b Each in Mega AI Project
Both companies will then own 40% of Trump-backed Stargate, says report
2 mins
Malaysian coffee chain says sorry, scraps CNY fee hike
A popular Malaysian coffee chain has apologised for announcing a 10 per cent to 15 per cent service charge hike during the upcoming Chinese New Year festive period.
1 min
14.6% surge in airfreight handled at Changi Airport
Operator eyes pharmaceutical, e-commerce shipments as cargo capacity tightens
3 mins
Weaker yen helps Japan's exports beat market estimate
Japan's exports rose for a third straight month in December on the back of a weaker yen, as businesses waited for further clarity on likely US trade policy in President Donald Trump's second term.
1 min
Hit Netflix show Culinary Class Wars heats up Seoul restaurant scene
Seoul's fine dining scene received a big boost with the premiere of hit Netflix cooking competition Culinary Class Wars.
2 mins
S. Korea's Q4 GDP barely grows amid political crisis
South Korea's economy barely grew in the fourth quarter of 2024, as the country's worst political crisis in decades hurts already weakened domestic demand and threatens to further sap growth in a year of rising external risks under a second Trump presidency.
2 mins
PSA rebrands, expands corporate venture capital arm
Port operator PSA International has revamped its corporate venture capital arm to tap emerging trends in the shipping industry.
1 min
Investors Still Seek T-Bills as Safe Option With Yields Around 3%
Six-month govt securities likely to hover near that level for at least half-year: Expert
3 mins
Community Care Work Isn't for Slowing Down—It's About Stepping Up
The sector has fulfilling jobs and opportunities, but joining with the wrong expectations can lead to disappointment.
5 mins
Japan Has 100 Billion Reasons To Welcome More Visitors
Residents are grumbling about the inconveniences of too many tourists, but the boost to the economy should more than make up for it.
4 mins
Can we convince grandpa to give shark's fin a miss?
When tradition clashes with modern sustainability concerns, outrage won't help. Persuasion might.
5 mins
Millionaires in Dubai Make Everyone Else Feel Poor
The influx of ultra-rich expats is putting pressure on the lifestyles of the merely wealthy.
3 mins
A US$500 billion investment plan says a lot about Trump's AI priorities
It's build, baby, build.
4 mins
Yes, Trump Can Rename the Gulf of Mexico - Just Not for Everyone
Ultimately, it will matter from a strictly US perspective, but not much to the rest of the world, save for those wishing to curry favor with the new administration.
4 mins
Workplace safety • Targeted efforts have been effective
We refer to the letter \"Take decisive action against illegal excessive overtime\" (Jan 13) by Ms Mizue Sauco of Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2).
1 min
Power ● Ensuring energy security in journey towards green future
We thank Mr Peter Heng Teck Wee for his letter \"Study potential risks linked to undersea power cables\" (Jan 17) and appreciate his concerns.
1 min
Letter of the day Informal indicators of social cohesion can give a fuller picture
I refer to the article \"Signs of social cohesion coming under strain in Singapore: IPS director\" (Jan 21).
1 min
Fallacies ● Look at medical reports carefully to avoid getting wrong ideas and conclusions
The Opinion piece \"Staying healthy in an era of health fallacies and fake news\" (Jan 22) was timely and helpful.
1 min
Selvan Aiming To Nick A Double
KL trainer's Uptown Girl, Mr Mondello turn in smart gallops ahead of their assignments
3 mins
Splice the main brace should handle turf just as well
Jan 24 South Africa (Fairview) form analysis
3 mins
Purton Stands Alone At Pinnacle In Hong Kong
Aussie ace betters legendary jockey Whyte's record of 1,813 wins with Happy Valley brace
4 mins
San Antonio Spurred by 'Home' Court Advantage
A meeting with the Indiana Pacers in Paris on Jan 23 (Jan 24, Singapore time) might just end up feeling like a home game for the San Antonio Spurs.
2 mins
Aberg drives well to lead at Torrey Pines
Sweden's Ludvig Aberg shot a nine-under 63 on the Torrey Pines North Course to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open on Jan 22 in San Diego.
2 mins
54 Points, But It's 'Not a Great Night'
Gilgeous-Alexander hits career high in Thunder's win over Jazz, but guard feels he can improve
3 mins
Real First to Generate €1 Billion in Revenue
Real Madrid became the first football team to register €1 billion (S$1.41 billion) in revenue in a single season in 2023-24, with the Spanish side topping the Deloitte Football Money League as the world's highest revenue-generating club once again.
2 mins
A First Drive To Savour
Hamilton Has 'One Of The Best Feelings' In Maiden Ferrari Test As Supporters Watch On
3 mins
Endurance racing feels like 'home' for Magnussen
For Kevin Magnussen, the 24 Hours of Daytona will begin a new chapter in his racing life.
2 mins
Coach still under fire despite beating Bayern
An impressive home win over Bayern Munich, and the guarantee of progress in the Champions League, might not be enough to save Feyenoord coach Brian Priske's job, amid continuing speculation about his future due to their poor domestic form.
2 mins
Arteta Expects Rice to Score More for Arsenal
The mathematics was still causing a few heads to be scratched after Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb on Jan 22, but Declan Rice gave the new Champions League format a thumbs up.
2 mins
Early Exit Possible: Guardiola
After defeat by PSG, City must beat Club Brugge to reach Champions League play-offs
3 mins
Djokovic wary of dangerous Zverev in semi-final
Novak Djokovic faces Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals of the Australian Open on Jan 24, with the Serb's bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title picking up steam at just the right time.
2 mins
Bolder Approach Works For Keys
American goes for shots with no regrets to shock Swiatek and set up Sabalenka final
3 mins
Sabalenka sets up shop as history beckons
The evening is cloudy in Melbourne, the cheers are clear. Not for a player but for the ball kids.
3 mins
Teh has 'nothing to lose' after slaying Naraoka
He sank to his knees for a brief moment, but immediately sprang up to punch the air in delight.
3 mins
Still A S'pore Smash Hit
Big names on show despite the absence of top Chinese trio from WTT event
3 mins
FILTERED OUT
The upcoming ban on beauty filters for teens, imposed by TikTok and Meta, is sparking a reality check as more are aware of their drawbacks
8 mins
Beauty filters can contribute to body image woes and anxiety
Beauty filters are increasingly contributing to body image issues and anxiety, particularly among young people, according to experts.
3 mins
Experience luxury all around at Tom Ford
The American fashion label opens first flagship store here at Paragon
4 mins
Patricia Mok ‘uglifies’ herself for robot role
The actress plays an AI housekeeper in Jack Neo's comedy I Want To Be Boss, her biggest movie role to date
3 mins
S'pore-born Bling Empire star had brain bleed after ski accident
Lynn Ban, a celebrity jewellery designer from Singapore and a star of Netflix's reality series Bling Empire: New York (2023), died at age 51 on Jan 20, just weeks after she had emergency surgery for a brain bleed following a skiing accident in December.
2 mins
J-pop star Masahiro Nakai retires after sexual misconduct allegations
One of Japan's biggest pop stars and best-known television hosts, Masahiro Nakai (right), announced his retirement on Jan 23 over sexual misconduct allegations, reports said, in the latest scandal to rock the country's entertainment industry.
2 mins
'Cute and Murderous': How Squid Game's Killer Doll Came to Life
While the second season of Squid Game (2021 to present) has new plot twists, one element of the Netflix hit series – where contestants down on their luck risk their lives to play children's games to win cash – has remained constant.
2 mins
The Straits Times Newspaper Description:
Publisher: SPH Media Limited
Category: Newspaper
Language: English
Frequency: Daily
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