CATEGORIES

Syria Govt Launches Operation in Assad Stronghold

Syria's new authorities on Dec. 26 launched a security crackdown in a coastal region where 14 policemen were killed a day before, vowing to pursue \"remnants\" of the ousted Bashar al-Assad government accused of the attack, state media reported.

Hamas and Israel Blame Each Other for Gaza Ceasefire Delay

Both Sides Fail to Reach an Agreement While Casualties Continue to Mount

Finland-Estonia cable hit in latest Baltic Sea incident

The Finnish police on Dec 26 said they are investigating whether a foreign ship was involved in the damage of an undersea power cable connecting Finland and Estonia, following a sudden outage on Dec 25.

Russia Says It Foiled Ukraine Plots to Kill Senior Officers Using Disguised Bombs

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Dec. 26 that it foiled several plots by Ukrainian intelligence services to kill high-ranking Russian officers and their families in Moscow using bombs disguised as power banks or document folders.

Zelensky Condemns Christmas Attack

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dec 25 denounced an \"inhumane\" attack from Russia, which launched dozens of missiles and drones on his war-torn country's energy grid on Christmas Day.

Azerbaijan Mourns 38 Killed in Kazakhstan Plane Crash

Experts say it may have been accidentally shot down by Russian air defence systems

Beijing Criticises Manila's Move to Deploy US-Built Missile System in Exercises

China's Foreign Ministry urged the Philippines on Dec 26 to return to \"peaceful development,\" saying Manila's decision to deploy a US-built, medium-range missile system in military exercises would only bring the risks of an arms race to the region.

Japan raises 'serious concerns' over China military build-up

Tokyo's top diplomat also brings up Taiwan situation with counterpart on visit to Beijing

Impeachment motion filed against S. Korea's acting president

South Korea's opposition said on Dec 26 that it filed an impeachment motion against Acting President Han Duck-soo, after he refused to appoint Constitutional Court judges to complete the process of removing his predecessor from office.

Graft probe of PDI-P sec-gen fuels claims of selective prosecution

Timing raises suspicions anti-graft body may be targeting critics of official policies

MRT, bus fares for adults to go up by 10 cents from Dec 28

Adult passengers will need to pay 10 cents more for each train and bus ride from Dec 28, when a public transport fare hike of 6 per cent kicks in.

Restaurants Grapple With Competition Amid Influx Of Foreign Players

Singapore eateries launch new brands or concepts to woo price-conscious diners

Aceh beefs up warning system to prepare for the next big one

Traumatised by the Indian Ocean tsunami that hit Indonesia 20 years ago, Mr Teuku Hafid Hududillah has spent his adult life making sure that if disaster strikes again, his home province of Aceh will be ready.

Tsunami Detection Buoys Help Safeguard Lives in Thailand

Country's Two Devices Linked by Satellite to Towers That Can Raise Alarm in Coastal Areas in Minutes

Tears, prayers as Asia mourns tsunami dead 20 years on

Tearful mourners prayed on Dec 26 as ceremonies were held across Asia to remember the almost 230,000 people who died two decades ago when a tsunami hit coastlines around the Indian Ocean, in one of the world's worst natural disasters.

S'pore firms braced for turbulent 2025 after a year of transformation

US-China tensions, Mid-East war, high costs, labour crunch among uncertainties

Rust prosecutor withdraws appeal of dismissal of Alec Baldwin case

The effort to prosecute Alec Baldwin (right) for the fatal shooting of a cinematographer in 2021 ended on Dec 23, when the special prosecutor withdrew her appeal of the judge's decision to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charge during the actor's trial.

Stray Kids' album Hop gets historic sixth Billboard 200 No. 1

K-pop boy band Stray Kids marked a historic milestone by ranking No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart for the sixth time with their latest album, Hop.

New entries to a hallowed catalogue: The holiday album

NEW YORK A holiday album offers musicians a chance to adopt or reinvent a classic format and show fans a different side of themselves. Here is a sampling of 2024’s releases, from singers exploring the standards to artistes rethinking the meaning of the holidays.

‘I was upstaging myself constantly'

Actor Jim Carrey comes out of retirement to play dual geniuses in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Binge-worthy Gong Yoo shows fragile, vulnerable side in The Trunk

A gunshot and sinking of the titular trunk set up this psychological-romance drama led by South Korean star Gong Yoo.

Thrills and spills abound in legal thriller Juror #2, airport actioner Carry-On

The story: Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood's 40th directorial feature has a juror (Nicholas Hoult) in a high-profile murder trial weighing a crisis of conscience.

History is handled with care in Harbin

The period drama directed by Woo Min-ho is a handsome but reverent account of a Korean hero

The extremely offline joy of the board game club

When Ms Michelle Kong started a chess club in 2023, hoping to meet other players in their 20s, attendance was so meagre that she needed only one chessboard.

You may not need protein powder if you are eating right

But if it is necessary to use the supplement, choose one that has fewer extra ingredients

Exercise helps with almost everything, including hangovers

Electrolyte drinks, ibuprofen, a bagel overflowing with bacon, egg and cheese - everyone has his or her own way of nursing a hangover.

Do you need to take magnesium supplements?

The best way to get enough of the mineral is to eat more magnesium-rich foods

BLOWING HOT AND COLD

There is a science behind how temperature affects your energy levels and overall well-being

Koh, Tan start anew in Taiwan after tough year

After a tough 2024 for Amanda Tan and Koh Sock Hwee, the Singaporean golfers are charting new paths together as they take their sporting pursuits closer to home.

END 26-YR WINLESS STREAK: OGURA

Lions coach says 'history is there to be changed and made' in tough s-final against Vietnam