What's News: December 25 2015

The Maxwell Food Centre carpark has been closed since March 2015 and will only open in 2018 due to construction of the Thomson-East Coast MRT line. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

TOP OF THE NEWS

Indonesia nabs 13 terrorists

Thirteen terrorists have been arrested in Indonesia since last Saturday, with police saying that three of them had groomed two suicide bombers and planned attacks on churches, police and military command stations. Some of those detained were core members of Jemaah Islamiah, Al-Qaeda's South-east Asia branch.


TOP OF THE NEWS

SIT to offer six new courses

The Singapore Institute of Technology will roll out six new degree courses next year and raise its intake by 300 to a total of 2,400. The university for polytechnic upgraders currently offers more than 30 degree programmes.


A child at a camp in Rakhine state in Myanmar. ST PHOTO: NIRMAL GHOSH

WORLD

Risky journey to refuge

Fearful for their lives in Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state, a Buddhist- Muslim couple tried to make their way to Thailand. But unlike his Buddhist wife who made an uneventful journey, Mr Abdul Islam suffered a treacherous trip by boat before reaching a camp near the Thai-Malaysian border - where he was flogged before being freed.


WORLD

S'pore 'tops in social progress'

Singapore has made the most social progress among four ethnic Chinese regions in Asia in the eyes of people living in those regions, a recent survey found. In second place was China, followed by Hong Kong and Taiwan.


OPINION

Race-based admission uproar

Debate has been sparked about US affirmative action policies, which include race as an admission factor to ensure a diverse student body. But Asian Americans say this means they need to get higher scores than other races to get into their choice university. US bureau chief Jeremy Au Yong analyses the issue.


HOME

Maxwell hawkers seek help

Hawkers at the Maxwell Food Centre are asking the authorities for help, after business there suffered because of construction work for a new MRT line.

Hawkers interviewed said their takings have dropped by as much as half after a carpark there was closed for construction work in March.


HOME

Pay for TV Go app service

Singtel will start charging for its Singtel TV Go app from Jan 12 next year, after ending a 30-month fee waiver. The service allows users to watch TV programmes on the go, among other things.


BUSINESS

Demand for luxury goods falls

Luxury items such as glitzy watches and swanky cars are proving harder to sell worldwide amid global economic uncertainty and weaker Chinese demand.

The S&P Global Luxury Index, which comprises 80 of the largest publicly traded luxury goods or services companies, is down 7.45 per cent in total returns as of Dec 23 from its highs two years ago.


SPORT

Tough fixture for Klopp's men

Liverpool were touted as a title contender when Juergen Klopp's (photo) men managed to string together a chain of pleasing results.

But that run has stopped and the Reds will need to fix all their flaws if they are to contain high-flying Leicester City in a Boxing Day showdown.


SPORT

NBA's 5 'gifts' for Christmas

NBA fever continues, even on Christmas, with five games - featuring the top teams and stars - boosting the festive cheer.

The top pick is the repeat of last season's Finals, with the Golden State Warriors hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers.


The Beatles' music is still popular, as are auctions of merchandise featuring the 1960s rock group, such as the dolls above. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

LIFE

Beatles' music now available for streaming worldwide

As of 12.01am yesterday, the Beatles' music finally became available on streaming services worldwide. Their catalogue - 13 original albums and four compilations - is now playable on nine subscription streaming music services, including Spotify, Apple Music and Google Play.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 25, 2015, with the headline What's News: December 25 2015. Subscribe