Indonesia: Mount Ibu erupts on 2024’s last day; govt sends out highest alert and aviation warning

JAKARTA (Agencies): Mount Ibu, located in Indonesia's North Maluku province, erupted earlier on December 31, prompting an aviation warning, according to the country's Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre (VGDMC). The biggest eruption occurred at 5:18 am (local time), sending a column of ash up to three kilometres into the sky. The thick grey cloud drifted...

Singaporean killed in Italy blast: Remains found in rubble likely those of his wife

SINGAPORE: After days of searching, the remains of a woman, likely to be Makansutra food guide founder K.F. Seetoh’s sister-in-law, have been found near the villa in Italy’s Tuscany region where a deadly explosion took place just before Christmas. Seetoh’s elder brother, Seetoh Kwok Meng, 68, was also killed in the Dec 21 blast. His body...

China auntie goes viral with comedic imitations, iconic scenes from Korean dramas

BEIJING (SCMP): An elderly Chinese aunt has captured hearts online by parodying iconic scenes from classic Korean dramas with hilarious and exaggerated acting. The woman’s performances have sparked an outpouring of affection and pleas for her to continue bringing joy. In recent years, South Korean TV dramas have seen a massive surge in popularity in the West,...

Turn away from divisiveness, come celebrate festivals with my ministry, Nga tells PAS

IPOH: The recent Christmas celebration at the Housing and Local Government Ministry is a reflection of how the diversity of Malaysia's society is its strength and uniqueness, its Minister Nga Kor Ming tells PAS. On a statement by the Islamist party that the celebration attended by Muslims was not appropriate, Nga said all festivals were celebrated...

Dengue cases rise to 1,407 in ME51, two fatalities reported, says Health DG

PUTRAJAYA: The number of dengue cases nationwide rose to 1,407 in Epidemiological Week 51 (ME51) from Dec 15 to Dec 21, up from 1,384 reported the previous week. In a statement on Friday (Dec 27), Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan confirmed two fatalities due to mosquito-borne disease complications were reported in EW51. He added...

Rembia rep Jailani now seated with opposition in Melaka assembly

MELAKA: Rembia state assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis, who was previously part of the government bloc, has been moved to the opposition bloc, says Melaka State Assembly Speaker Datuk Ibrahim Durum. Ibrahim said the decision was made after reviewing several matters concerning Jailani's membership in PAS, following its secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan's announcement at a...

Public caning for khalwat offender draws crowd in Kuala Terengganu

KUALA TERENGGANU: Mohd Affendi Awang (pic), a repeat khalwat (close proximity) offender, was brought to Dewan 'Aasim at Masjid Al Muktafi Billah Shah, Jalan Sultan Mahmud, here, at 2.30pm to undergo a public caning. The 42-year-old carpenter is set to receive six strokes of the cane under Section 31(a) of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Takzir) (Terengganu)...

Passengers on crashed plane say they heard at least one loud bang before it went down

BAKU (Reuters) -Two passengers on the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan told Reuters that they heard at least one loud bang as it approached its original destination of Grozny in southern Russia. Flight J2-8243 crashed on Wednesday in a ball of fire near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan after diverting from an area...

Vietnam likely to experience intense heatwaves in 2025

HANOI (Xinhua): Vietnam will likely experience intense heatwaves and scorching weather in 2025, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has warned. Vietnam News quoted Mai Van Khiem, the centre's director, as saying that localised heavy rains, flash floods, landslides and an increased frequency of large storms were also predicted next year. He described 2024 as a challenging...

SSPA: Avoid excessive, unnecessary loans following salary increase, says Cuepacs

PUTRAJAYA: Civil servants are reminded to not make unnecessary excessive or overlapping loans following salary increases under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA). Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public Service (Cuepacs) secretary-general Abdul Rahman Mohd Nordin said the SSPA should not be an incentive or excuse for civil servants to increase loans, which will...