2 h. ago US strikes at Isis fighters in Syria after 3 Americans killed

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday announced the start of an operation to “eliminate Isis fighters, infrastructure and weapons sites” in Syria following the deaths of three US citizens. “This is not the beginning of a war – it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people,” he said on social media. Two Iowa National Guard members and a US civilian interpreter were killed on...

Events

10 h. ago UN declares Gaza famine over, but ‘situation remains critical’ amid fragile ceasefire

A famine declared in Gaza in August is now over thanks to improved access for humanitarian aid, the United Nations said on Friday, but warned the food situation in the Palestinian territory remained dire. More than 70 per cent of the population were living in makeshift shelters, it said, with hunger exacerbated by winter floods and an increasing risk of hypothermia as temperatures plummet. Although a ceasefire between Israel and militant group Hamas that took effect in October has partially...

Events

11 h. ago TikTok seals US deal but core algorithm could still rattle ties with China

TikTok may have dodged a US ban but unresolved questions about its algorithm could remain a source of tension in the broader US-China relationship, according to analysts. ByteDance, the parent company of the social media site, signed a binding agreement this week to divest its US entity into a joint venture controlled by a consortium of American investors, ending years of legal and political uncertainties. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said in an internal memo on Thursday that the deal effectively...

Technology

12 h. ago Beijing Hyundai ELEXIO Faces Critical Sales Shortfall: Only 1,059 Units Sold Against 35,000 Target

Beijing Hyundai ELEXIO Faces Critical Sales Shortfall: Only 1,059 Units Sold Against 35,000 Target  Korean Car Blog

Economics

13 h. ago Secure Arctic shipping route essential for China, senior official says

The Arctic shipping route is essential to safeguard China’s development over the next decade, a senior Chinese official said in Beijing, calling for greater efforts to expand its practical use. With proposals for the next five-year plan incorporating security and development, China must ensure its international transport channels remain unimpeded, Ma Jiantang, deputy director of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference’s economic committee, said. China’s traditional trade lanes...

Politics

13 h. ago Singapore cracks down on scammers with mandatory caning as fraud cases surge

Singapore’s government said on Friday that scammers will face mandatory caning of up to 24 strokes from December 30, under changes to criminal law to deter surging fraud cases. The changes, passed by parliament last month, strengthen penalties that already include imprisonment and fines. The Home Affairs Ministry said the enhanced punishment “ensure that our criminal laws remain effective, fair, and responsive to emerging challenges”. Under the changes, scammers, including recruiters and members...

Politics

14 h. ago Trump says war with Venezuela remains possible, NBC News reports

US President Donald Trump said he was leaving the possibility of war with Venezuela on the table, according to an interview with NBC News published on Friday. “I don’t rule it out, no,” he told NBC News in a phone interview. Trump also said there would be additional seizures of oil tankers near Venezuelan waters, according to the published interview. On Tuesday, Trump ordered a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, in Washington’s latest move to increase...

Politics

14 h. ago Trump leaves war with Venezuela on the table, threatens more seizures, NBC News reports

US President Donald Trump said he was leaving the possibility of war with Venezuela on the table, according to an interview with NBC News published on Friday. “I don’t rule it out, no,” he told NBC News in a phone interview. Trump also said there would be additional seizures of oil tankers near Venezuelan waters, according to the interview. The US seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela last week. “If they’re foolish enough to be sailing along, they’ll be sailing along back...

Events

18 h. ago Is Philippines being unfairly targeted in Australia’s Bondi Beach shooting?

Extremist movements in the Philippines have come under scrutiny since it was revealed that two suspected terrorists had visited the country weeks before they killed 15 people in Australia, but observers argue that such threats have waned and officials should avoid “overreach” in linking the case. Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, had allegedly opened fire on people at Sydney’s Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday. The older man was killed while Naveed was in critical...

Events

22 h. ago Indonesian elephants tasked to help in flood recovery spur conservation debate

When 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...

Events

23 h. ago Hong Kong taxi driver, 62, arrested after fatally knocking down pedestrian

Hong Kong police have arrested a 62-year-old taxi driver after he allegedly knocked down a woman in Central, who later succumbed to her injuries. The taxi was travelling along Caine Road when it hit a 68-year-old female pedestrian near Elgin Street at 8.55pm on Thursday, according to the force. The woman, who sustained multiple injuries, was rushed to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai in an unconscious state and was declared dead at 10.05pm. The cabby was subsequently arrested for dangerous driving...

Events

23 h. ago Hong Kong taxi driver, 62, arrested over fatally knocking down pedestrian

Hong Kong police have arrested a 62-year-old taxi driver after he allegedly knocked down a woman in Central, who later succumbed to her injuries. A taxi was travelling along Caine Road when it hit a 68-year-old female pedestrian near Elgin Street at 8.55pm on Thursday, according to the force. The woman, who sustained multiple injuries, was rushed to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai in an unconscious state and was declared dead at 10.05pm. The cabby was subsequently arrested on suspicion of...

Events

24 h. ago Taiwan restoration experts help families say goodbye to Hong Kong fire victims

Taiwanese mortuary reconstruction specialist Kuo Chang-chen wasted no time starting work to restore the bodies of Wang Fuk Court’s fire victims upon arriving in Hong Kong on Thursday. Kuo, 62, is leading a team of five other specialists from Taiwan who volunteered to assist in reconstructing the remains of the victims at the Kowloon Funeral Parlour. Their work aims to prepare the bodies for dignified funerals and offer closure to grieving families. “Every unexpected event deeply wounds the...

Events

26 h. ago China to remain world’s biggest buyer of chipmaking equipment through 2027: SEMI

China is expected to remain the world’s biggest buyer of semiconductor manufacturing equipment through 2027, as domestic chipmakers keep expanding capacity under Beijing’s push for greater tech self-sufficiency, according to a new industry report. Sustained investment across both mature-node and leading-edge processes would keep China the largest market for chipmaking tools until at least 2027, industry association SEMI said. Even so, the association expects the pace to ease, with sales...

Politics

26 h. ago China to remain biggest buyer of chipmaking equipment through 2027: SEMI

China to remain biggest buyer of chipmaking equipment through 2027: SEMI  South China Morning Post

Politics

27 h. ago China reportedly sticking to its soybean deal with US, but worries remain

China is estimated to have secured more than half of the 12 million tonnes of soybeans that Washington says Beijing committed to purchase by early 2026, based on US government data and market conventions that analysts say usually indicate China, though little has been shipped so far, heightening concerns over potential cancellations. While the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially documented nearly four million tonnes in sales explicitly to China, three million tonnes currently sit...

Politics

33 h. ago US approves record $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan, drawing criticism from Beijing

US approves record $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan, drawing criticism from Beijing  Straight Arrow News

Economics

37 h. ago China jails smugglers of weapon metal antimony, taking tough stance on critical minerals

A Chinese court has convicted 27 individuals of smuggling more than 166 tonnes of antimony, a critical mineral used in weapons, semiconductors and flame retardants, in a significant enforcement action under Beijing’s tighter export controls for dual-use items. The Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in Guangdong province ruled that the group had illegally shipped the critical mineral without obtaining export licences, according to a statement released on Tuesday. Lead defendant Wang Wubin was...

Events

37 h. ago China jails antimony smugglers in tough stance on critical minerals

China jails antimony smugglers in tough stance on critical minerals  South China Morning Post

Events

37 h. ago Beijing, Hong Kong slam G7 over criticism of Jimmy Lai trial verdict

Beijing and Hong Kong have slammed the G7 for “trampling the city’s rule of law” after the group criticised the guilty verdict handed down at former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s national security trial and demanded his immediate release. The strongly worded statements on Thursday were in response to a joint call from the foreign ministers of the G7 and the European Union’s high representative, who condemned Lai’s prosecution while expressing their ongoing concerns about “deteriorating...

Politics