AI

Sam Altman hints at the radical design choices behind OpenAI’s upcoming devices

The OpenAI CEO and Jony Ive are developing gadgets designed to give people new ways of interacting with AI.

World

Winter storm snarls holiday travel across US Northeast, Great Lakes

BOSTON: More than a thousand flights were cancelled or delayed across the Northeast and Great Lakes regions due to snow, as thousands took to the roads and airports during the busy travel period between Christmas and New Year's.

Philippines

81 Filipinos still trapped in shelter after Myanmar scam hub rescue

MANILA: In a Border Guard Force (BGF) shelter in Myawaddy, Myanmar, Jun (not his real name) spent Christmas with 80 other Filipinos and an undetermined number of other foreign nationals. Most probably, they will also welcome the New Year there, waiting for the Friendship Bridge between Myanmar and Thailand to reopen.

Nation

Government success driven by stable policies, people’s trust, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: The success of the government today is the result of stable policies, the courage to have reform and the trust of the people, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Sabah & Sarawak

Search operation continues for boy missing after crocodile attack in Daro

DARO: The search and rescue (SAR) operation for a 14-year-old boy, suspected to have been attacked by a crocodile three days ago, resumed on Sunday (Dec 28)

Singapore

Police warn public against scams involving impersonation of Singapore’s top cop

SINGAPORE: The public should stay vigilant against scams where imposters pretend to be the Commissioner of Police, who is the highest-ranking police official.

Nation

MyStep initiative to continue in 2026

PUTRAJAYA: The government is extending the Malaysia Short-Term Employment Programme (MyStep) into next year, providing short-term work and experience in the public sector.

Nation

No property damage reported after Bukit Kepong earthquake

JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor State Government confirmed that the situation is under control following a minor earthquake detected in Bukit Kepong, Pagoh, and Muar at 8.55am on Sunday (Dec 28).

Indonesia

Search continues for Spanish family feared lost after boat sinks in Indonesia

JAKARTA: Rescue teams on Sunday (Dec 28) resumed the search for four Spanish nationals missing after a tourist boat sank in rough seas off Indonesia's Padar Island, as tributes poured in from Spain's football community.

Technology

Opinion: Enable Wi-Fi calling if your house has dead zones

I was recently talking to a friend who asked me if she should change her cell phone provider. She was happy enough with the service except for a few places in her house that never seem to get more than one bar of service.

China

China welcomes Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire, plans talks

BEIJING: China on Saturday (Dec 27) welcomed a joint ceasefire statement signed by Cambodia and Thailand and said its foreign minister would meet his counterparts from both countries in China, according to a notice posted on the foreign ministry's website late in the day.

South Korea

South Korean man accused of scalding Thai wife denies charges

SEOUL: Police officials said on Saturaday (Dec 27) they have transferred to the prosecution the assault case of a South Korean man who maintains that he did not intend to pour boiling water on his wife's face.

Sabah & Sarawak

SUPP opposes cut in allowances for Sabah, Sarawak medical personnel

SIBU: The Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) Dudong and Sibu Jaya have voiced strong opposition to the Health Ministry's recent decision to withdraw allowances for medical personnel in Sabah and Sarawak, warning it could jeopardise healthcare services in the region.

Vietnam

Whodunnit? Vietnam’s online sleuths step up their game, tracking true crime

HANOI: For months, gory details swirled in cyberspace about a shocking crime in Vietnam that began with an online hook-up and ended in bloody murder.

Football

Soccer-Algeria's Mandi backs move to hold AFCON every four years

Dec 27 (Reuters) - ‌The decision to stage the Africa Cup of ‌Nations every four years is a positive step ‌by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that will give the tournament greater value, Algeria defender Aissa Mandi has said.

Myanmar

Myanmar junta chief votes in military-run election

NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar's military chief Min Aung Hlaing voted in the country's election on Sunday (Dec 28), an AFP journalist saw, casting his ballot in the capital five years after he seized power in a coup.

Nation

Flood situation in Terengganu improving, number of evacuees drops

KUALA TERENGGANU: The situation in Terengganu, hit by the third wave of floods, is improving, with the number of evacuees dropping to 138 from 35 families as of 9am on Sunday (Dec 28), down from 419 people from 107 families recorded on Saturday evening.

Cricket

Cricket-Curator 'shocked' by Melbourne pitch performance in Ashes

MELBOURNE, Dec 28 (Reuters) - The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) ‌curator who prepared the widely criticised pitch for the fourth Ashes test said he was in a "state of ‌shock" as wickets tumbled in the two-day match.

Football

Soccer-Villa stun Chelsea with 2-1 comeback victory

LONDON, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Two ‌goals from substitute Ollie Watkins stunned Chelsea on Saturday, after Aston Villa soaked up ‌intense pressure before coming from behind to snatch a 2-1 away win in ‌the Premier League. 

Football

Soccer-Arsenal respond to Man City challenge with narrow win, Villa remain in title race

LONDON, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Manchester City threw down the gauntlet for the second ‌successive weekend and Arsenal proved undaunted as they kicked off their festive fixtures with a narrow 2-1 defeat of Brighton & Hove Albion to stay as Premier League leaders on Saturday.