The Straits Times - Breaking News, Lifestyle & Multimedia News (original) (raw)

Top Stories

Wednesday January 15 2025

In 2024, the port of Singapore handled an all-time high of 41.12 million shipping containers, or twenty-foot equivalent units.

Singapore’s port sets new records for vessel arrivals, shipping containers handled in 2024

Singapore recorded 3.11 billion gross tonnes in arriving ship traffic in 2024.

US consumer prices rose for third straight month to 2.9% in December

Trump’s defence secretary pick clueless about Asean at confirmation hearing

Israeli prime minister’s office denies Hamas agreed to Gaza deal

President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, in Gwacheon, South Korea, on Jan 15.

South Korean investigators question arrested President Yoon in insurrection probe

A playground melted and destroyed by fire is seen in a burnt area as the Eaton Fire, one of several simultaneous blazes ripping across Los Angeles County continues, in Altadena, California, U.S., January 14, 2025. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Fire-hit LA faces new peril as dangerous gusts are forecast

[CORRECTION / This picture taken by Taiwan’s Coast Guard on January 3, 2025 shows the Cameroon-flagged "Shunxing 39" cargo ship sailing at sea. Taiwanese authorities are investigating the Chinese-owned cargo ship suspected of damaging a subsea telecoms cable northeast of the island, Taiwan's coast guard said on January 6, 2025. (Photo by Handout / TAIWAN COAST GUARD / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Taiwan Coast Guard" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / “The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Handout has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: correcting spelling of ship's name [Shunxin 39] to [Shunxing 39] and reference to ownership [Hong Kong-owned] to [Chinese-owned]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.”](/asia/east-asia/taiwan-moves-to-strengthen-communications-resilience-following-severed-undersea-cable)

Taiwan to ramp up monitoring of ‘flags of convenience’ ships after severed undersea cable incident

Ironic twist: Chinese app Xiaohongshu hosts more US-China interactions amid looming TikTok ban

Chinese and American netizens are drawing closer despite the US bid to shield Americans from Chinese influence.

More headlines

Singapore News

Epaper cover

Wednesday
January 15 2025

Read PDF

The money will go to seniors living in Singapore who do not own more than one property.

About 850,000 older S’poreans to get cash under Assurance Package Seniors’ Bonus

97% of plastic trash on Singapore’s beaches originate from offshore sources: NEA study

December new private home sales fizzle as developers hold back launches over holidays

2 more men charged with urinating in public at MRT stations

Suspicious messages sent by seemingly legitimate sources should be verified through official channels, or the anti-scam hotline at 1799.

Phishing campaign targeting iPhone users; CSA warns against replying to unknown iMessage senders

A rudimentary mannequin dressed in a biker suit and helmet serves as informal rally / ? chope ? point for motorcyclists to park their bikes at Punggol Seventeen Avenue seen on Jan 9, 2024.

Hogging or fair game? S’pore’s ‘chope’ culture in pictures

A look at the innovative ways being used to secure unofficial reservations for spaces.

Cordlife’s licences for cord blood banking, human tissue banking services renewed for a year

Married man jailed for stalking ex-employee for almost 2 years like a ‘surveillance camera’

Subscribe

Videos

More

Asia News

[CORRECTION / This picture taken by Taiwan’s Coast Guard on January 3, 2025 shows the Cameroon-flagged "Shunxing 39" cargo ship sailing at sea. Taiwanese authorities are investigating the Chinese-owned cargo ship suspected of damaging a subsea telecoms cable northeast of the island, Taiwan's coast guard said on January 6, 2025. (Photo by Handout / TAIWAN COAST GUARD / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Taiwan Coast Guard" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / “The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Handout has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: correcting spelling of ship's name [Shunxin 39] to [Shunxing 39] and reference to ownership [Hong Kong-owned] to [Chinese-owned]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.”](/asia/east-asia/taiwan-moves-to-strengthen-communications-resilience-following-severed-undersea-cable)

Taiwan to ramp up monitoring of ‘flags of convenience’ ships after severed undersea cable incident

An influx of American users, who call themselves Tiktok refugees, has surfaced on popular Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu.

Ironic twist: Chinese app Xiaohongshu hosts more US-China interactions amid looming TikTok ban

President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, in Gwacheon, South Korea, on Jan 15.

South Korean investigators question arrested President Yoon in insurrection probe

A weak yen is attracting more visitors than ever to Japan, with national tourism figures showing a new record of an estimated 36.8 million arrivals in 2024.

Japan’s tourism boom prices out business travellers

MORE

Discover

How food diary videos on social media can impact your body image

Inside Singapore’s sanctuary for old and sick pets

epa11801130 Thai people pray inside coffins as a Buddhist monk performs a rite during the New Year's resurrection ceremony at Wat Takien temple in Nonthaburi province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, 01 January 2025. The resurrection ceremony rituals are performed at a Buddhist temple where Thai devotees lie in coffins symbolizing the concepts of death and rebirth in hopes of ushering in a new year filled with luck and the fulfillment of their wishes. EPA-EFE/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

The Week in Pictures: New Year’s resurrection ceremony, New Orleans truck attack

2024 in visual stories and digital graphics

More

Invest

Some market watchers fear the party will soon end after two years of a jaw-dropping rally.

The Magnificent Seven tech stocks: Bubble or unstoppable?

Tech giants are entering a new phase of the AI evolution, and investor focus will be on monetisation and revenue generation.

Investing in AI: How to get the odds on your side

How an investor ended up with a debt of $260,000 when the market fell

Hard to reclaim losses if you sign investment contracts without reading

MORE

OPINION

Jonathan Eyal

Jonathan Eyal

Will Trump end the Ukraine war in 100 days?

Hsu Li Yang

When fear spreads faster than the disease

Sarah O’Connor

Age is more than a number when it comes to policy

Andy Mukherjee

Modi’s growth mythology needs a reboot

More

Insight

How food diary videos on social media can impact your body image

These power players will have an outsized role in developments around the world.

Meet the 10 world leaders to watch in 2025

ST looks at the key changes and events for Singapore in 2025.

8 things to look out for in 2025

‘We still carry the tsunami with us’: Aceh thrives 20 years after disaster, but scars remain

More

PODCASTS

Owner of Gao Express Towing Service Jim Koh operating his tow truck for ST senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe.

Podcast: Tales from a “repo” man on towing back vehicles

From parents of newborns to riders who dismantle their motorcycles to evade repossession, this man has seen them all.

Podcast: Myanmar’s military will not fall in 2025

Podcast: Finding adventures in these hot holiday destinations for 2025

Podcast: What’s hot in 2025 - Green Pulse’s top themes to watch

MORE

Life

(Clockwise from top left) Allan Wu, Joanne Peh, Hanli Hoefer and Izyan Mellyna are celebs fronting their own podcasts.

Celebs Allan Wu, Joanne Peh, Hanli Hoefer and Izyan Mellyna are in their podcast era

Local actor Elvin Ng plays a character who dabbles in black magic in the drama The Spirit Hunter.

Actor Elvin Ng shares ‘half wrinkled face’ look for first villain role

Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu will be the new music director of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra from its 2026/27 season.

Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu appointed Singapore Symphony Orchestra music director from 2026

From left, clockwise: Japanese actresses Rie Miyazawa, Suzu Hirose, Yu Aoi and Machiko Ono play sisters in the period Japanese family drama Asura.

Binge-worthy: Asura is a compelling tale of sisterhood with great performances

MORE

Smart Parenting

There are several ways to fund your child's post-secondary education, ranging from loans to bursaries.

askST: What is the best way to fund my child’s post-secondary studies in polytechnic or ITE?

Fun With Kids: 3 cat-themed toys and book for little feline lovers

Kids will purr with delight with Mofusand plushies, Lego Lucky Cat and a book on cat statues.

Minor Issues: Things I would tell my 20-year-old self if I could

The writer's first message is: Don’t take things too seriously.

English and maths scores suffer when pre-schoolers spend over 40 hours a week in childcare: Study

Almost one in four kids here aged three to six spends over 50 hours a week in childcare.

MORE

Photos

Tourists are silhouetted against the sunset as they take pictures on a cold day in Trocadero Square near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, January 14, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Today in Pictures, Jan 15, 2025

MORE

  1. Chinese travellers shun Thailand after actor’s abduction

  2. South Korean investigators question arrested President Yoon in insurrection probe

  3. ‘It’s like hell is here’: Singaporeans tell of their experience amid LA wildfires

  5. Malaysian grandmother cleans bean sprouts for $3 daily to raise 9 grandkids

  6. Crest, Colgate lawsuits target fluoride in kids’ toothpaste, mouth rinse

  7. Sydney closes nine beaches due to mysterious ball-shaped debris

  8. Japanese tourist hot spot Kyoto to hike hotel taxes

  9. ‘Not for the poor’: Indonesians in capital Jakarta face housing, commute woes

  10. Frenchwoman faces cyber bullying after falling for fake Brad Pitt and losing $1.2m to help him