Snow expected in Tokyo and neighbouring areas
According to Japan's meteorological agency, a strong winter-type pressure pattern is developing near Japan.
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PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang eyed to lead Perikatan Nasional but alternatives in play
PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang is at the forefront to take over the helm of Perikatan Nasional.
China taxes condoms, contraceptive drugs in bid to spur birth rate
Condoms and contraceptive pills now incur value-added tax of 13 per cent.
Indonesia’s palm oil power only as strong as its sustainability
Indonesia’s rise as the undisputed giant of global palm oil has few parallels in the modern commodity economy. No other country has so thoroughly converted a natural comparative advantage, climate suitability, abundant land and an early start in plantation development into such
Japan PM joins fight for more female toilets in parliament
Japan's parliament building was built in 1936, a decade before women was given the right to vote.
China military drills near Taiwan ‘unnecessarily’ raise tensions: US
Taipei condemned the exercises as highly provocative.
China's BYD set to overtake Tesla as world's top EV seller
It would mark the first time the Chinese firm has outpaced its American rival for annual sales.
Maduro open to talks with US on drug trafficking and oil, dodges on CIA drone strike
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says he is open to holding talks with the Trump administration over drug trafficking and the country’s oil reserves, but he dodged when asked about the CIA’s recent drone strike inside his South American nation. “The U.S. government knows,
Mamdani signs EO to undo Eric Adams's orders since his indictment
Freshly sworn-in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed a number of executive orders on his first day in office Thursday, including one to revoke most executive orders issued by former Mayor Eric Adams after he was indicted in September 2024. “We speak about this day as a
New CBS Evening News Anchor Tony Dokoupil Says News Has ‘Put Too Much Weight’ on Academics and Elites: ‘The Press Has Missed the Story’
Tony Dokoupil, who starts Monday as anchor of the “CBS Evening News,” spoke out on New Year’s Day about where he thinks the press has gone wrong, and vowed that starting Monday, the audience would come first — ahead of advertisers, politicians or corporate interests including
‘Stranger Things’ Creators Defend Will’s Coming Out Scene and Confront Toxic Fan Review Bombing: ‘The Ultimate F— You to Vecna’
SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for the series finale of “Stranger Things,” now streaming on Netflix. Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of “Stranger Things,” didn’t expect the review bombing that took place after the series’ penultimate episode dropped on Netflix
Why everything from your phone to your PC may get pricier in 2026
The price of Ram - once one of the cheapest computer parts - has more than doubled since October 2025.
Trump rejects doctors' advice to take less aspirin: 'I want nice, thin blood'
President Trump said in new interview regarding his health that he has rejected his doctors’ advice to take less aspirin for cardiac prevention because he has been taking it for more than two decades and is a “little superstitious.” "They say aspirin is good for thinning out
‘Stranger Things’ Finale Spoiler Interview: Duffer Brothers on Whether Eleven Is Alive, Debating Who Got to Kill [SPOILER] and Why the Rock From the Briefcase Is Key to the Spinoff
SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers from the series finale of “Stranger Things,” now streaming on Netflix. And so ends the nine-and-a-half-year journey of “Stranger Things,” which launched in July 2016 and concluded on Dec. 31, 2025. Creators Matt and Ross Duffer
MTV Didn’t Shut Down on New Year’s Eve, Despite Social Media Posts — but the Music Left a Long Time Ago
You’ve probably seen a variation of this news on social media over the past few days: MTV officially shut down on New Year’s Eve, ending their final broadcast the same way the network started: With the clip “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. But those posts are
How the defence sector is battling a skills crisis
Attracting younger workers into the defence industry can be challenging.
Three arrested after demolition of elderly woman’s home in Indonesia that went viral
The elderly woman was allegedly dragged and forced out of her house.
More Americans look to financial resolutions for 2026 as budget concerns linger
Nearly three-quarters of Americans dealt with financial setbacks last year, driving focus on emergency funds.
Drake, Adin Ross Used Online Casino Money for Artificial Streams, Lawsuit Claims
New class-action lawsuit alleges a racketeering conspiracy that preyed on consumers
Will Smith Sued by Tour Violinist for Sexual Harassment and Wrongful Termination
Will Smith has been sued by a tour violinist who is accusing the rapper of sexual harassment, wrongful termination and retaliation. In the suit, filed yesterday and reviewed by Variety, musician Brian King Joseph names Smith and Treyball Studios Management as defendants and
China’s Xi to host South Korea’s Lee in New Year amid Japan tensions
The state visit is a calculated move aimed at deepening bilateral relations, analysts say.
China's Xi to host South Korea's Lee in New Year amid Japan tensions
SEOUL/BEIJING, Jan 2 - Chinese President Xi Jinping will host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on a state visit starting on Sunday, signalling Beijing's intent to strengthen ties with Seoul amidst strained relations with Japan over Taiwan.
Wristwatch’s Tightly Wound Garage Punk LP III Hits Hard
Madison’s Wristwatch play a sharp-edged, high-strung form of garage punk, like the Buzzcocks meet Dark Thoughts. The vocals are theatrically forceful and piercing in a way that reminds me of Jay Reatard, and the band’s nervous-tension barrage brims with the mechanical intensity
Australian electric car market to get influx of new models as cheaper EVs hit the road in 2026
New utes, sports cars and hatchbacks will break price records at both ends as traditional brands release electric vehicles in 2026 Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Australians can expect to see more electric utes, sports cars and hatchbacks that
Iran protests escalate with deadly police clashes
The widening protests in Iran over the country’s worsening economy escalated Thursday, with demonstrators clashing with police in multiple provinces, leaving several people dead. At least three protesters were killed and 17 others wounded during an attack on a police station
CNN’s Highly Anticipated Chevy Chase Doc Begins Streaming Tonight
A new documentary from CNN offers an unvarnished look at one of the most polarizing figures in comedy: Chevy Chase. “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” premieres on CNN on Thursday, Jan. 1. Cable-cutters can stream the documentary online through a variety of Live TV streamers with
California delays cancellation of thousands of migrant trucker licenses
A series of fatal crashes in 2025 prompted a deeper look into non-domiciled CDL holders.
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter makes public visit to state mausoleum
His daughter Ju Ae has been speculated to be the next leader of the country.
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un's daughter makes public visit to state mausoleum
SEOUL, Jan 2 - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's daughter, Ju Ae, who is likely being prepared as his successor, accompanied her parents on her first public visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum to pay respects to former leaders, state media photos published on Friday showed.
Around 40 dead in Swiss ski resort bar fire, police say
A further 115 are injured, some severely, in a fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana ski resort, officials say.
Andy Cohen takes aim at Eric Adams's 'chaotic' tenure as NYC mayor
Bravo host Andy Cohen took aim at former New York City Mayor Eric Adams early Thursday, slamming his tenure leading the nation’s largest city as “chaotic” and “horrible” as his successor, Zohran Mamdani, was sworn in. “Watching the final moments of Mayor Adams's chaotic,
Este Haim Tied the Knot on New Year’s Eve at a Star-Studded Ceremony
Singer says goodbye to Single-Girl Summer, yes to the dress
'Happy Gloom Year!': The new Gloomwood update is out, and it includes the game's 'largest, most vertical open area' yet
Gloom betide ye.
Democrats start 2026 with fresh momentum — and lingering challenges
Democrats are heading into the midterm year energized by a string of recent electoral victories, but they also acknowledge the party faces tough challenges as it grapples with deeper troubles. The party says it has found a winning strategy by emphasizing the high cost of
‘On edge’, pressing ahead: What 2026 reveals about China’s next phase
From US rivalry and cross-strait tensions to expanding global influence, the coming year will test China’s ability to hold course amid mounting strain, analysts say.
Southeast Asian countries brace for elections, test of public trust and economic uncertainties in 2026
Southeast Asia faces a complex 2026, with a snap election in Thailand, conflict between two neighbours, possible state-level contests in Malaysia, and Indonesia managing reconstruction in Sumatra and other programmes.
Commentary: With Muhyiddin’s resignation and Najib’s jail term, Malaysia politics heats up in 2026
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim enters the new year facing escalating challenges within and outside party ranks, says University of Tasmania’s James Chin.
Commentary: If this is how Trump treats Europe, what about Asia?
From a special Greenland envoy to travel bans, US President Donald Trump has political-cultural and territorial designs on Europe. Here’s the good and bad news for Asia, says RSIS’ Kevin Chen.
Trump Mobile delays gold-colored phone rollout: Report
The Trump Mobile gold-colored smartphone was slated to launch in August but has yet to ship.
US cuts proposed tariffs on Italian pasta exporters
The U.S. has significantly reduced proposed tariffs on 13 Italian pasta exporters, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. The pasta-makers previously faced a potential 92 percent duty after the agency determined they were selling their pasta at unfairly low prices. Proposed
Best Horror of January 2026: Sam Raimi’s New Thriller, Ralph Fiennes in ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,’ a Killer Chimpanzee and More
Welcome to Horror Explorer, a curated column showcasing the month’s best movies, series, books and everything else spooky worth checking out. I’m William Earl, the executive digital director of Variety and the publication’s resident horror enthusiast. Please drop me a line at
Deadly Oklahoma weed shootings expose network tied to New York money and China: report
Authorities told the New York Times that the operations were fueled by out-of-state cash, concealed ownership and lax marijuana laws.
Crans-Montana: Mourners pay tribute after deadly fire at Swiss ski resort
People gathered at a makeshift memorial in Crans-Montana to remember victims of a deadly bar fire during New Year celebrations.
The Art Crossword: Art Deco Edition
Start the year with a bit of glamour as we continue celebrating the centennial of this pivotal 20th-century movement.
Stranger Things ending explained: Vecna, the Mindflayer, and a cathartic series finale
In Stranger Things, evil has finally been vanquished. If only our own reality was so simple.
Required Reading
A meditation on light, hedonistic dance-floor photos, a filthy history of public bathrooms, and more reading to ring in a new year.
