SocietySingapore police are putting additional safeguards in place around the National Stadium for Sunday’s National Day fireworks and celebrations. The measures are intended to prevent overcrowding as large crowds gather. Mobile surveillance cameras, infrared-beam equipment and live-streaming cameras will use artificial intelligence and computer vision to count people. Portable anti-ramming vehicle barriers will also be positioned to protect the public from hostile vehicle attacks.
SocietySingapore’s National Parks Board is introducing a sterilisation programme for long-tailed macaques in Maju Forest. The effort aims to manage their numbers and reduce encounters between residents and wildlife. Nearby residents had reported repeated incidents of macaques entering their homes. Authorities also plan to limit human food sources and deploy monkey-guarding patrols. Singapore is home to about 1,900 native long-tailed macaques.
SocietySocial service agencies say low-income households dependent on gig work or irregular jobs are among those most affected by rising costs. Unpredictable hours and earnings leave them with little financial cushion, leading some families to reduce spending on essentials. Temporary ComCare enhancements are intended to provide relief. Interim Assistance has been increased to at least S$250 per month for up to three months. The usual S$800 per-capita income criterion will also be applied more flexibly.
WorldIran says it is nearing the final stage of an agreement with Oman concerning the Strait of Hormuz. The terms have not yet been disclosed, but they could determine how ships enter and leave the strategic waterway and whether access payments would be required. The arrangement raises questions about whether Tehran would gain leverage in negotiations with the United States and whether Washington would support it. Security analyst Elisabeth Braw discusses the possible implications with Aaron Tilton.
CultureBroadway dancer and podcast host Amanda Kloots appeared on “CBS Mornings” to discuss the new Netflix series “Let’s Marry Harry.” Kloots is also a close friend of reality star Harry Jowsey, who is connected to the program. The morning show is hosted by Gayle King and Nate Burleson. It airs on weekdays on CBS and streams through the CBS News app.
HealthMigrant workers in Singapore are set to receive easier access to primary healthcare under an enhanced Primary Care Plan. The changes will take effect from April next year, while employers may pay less for medical coverage. The current six-zone arrangement will be consolidated into four zones from 2027. Most workers are expected to have a plan clinic within 2km of where they live. Employers could save as much as S$41 per worker annually under the changes.
PoliticsA reported Russian disinformation campaign has singled out French presidential candidate Gabriel Attal. The alleged interference comes as France prepares for next year’s presidential election. Similar campaigns have reportedly emerged in recent weeks against Raphael Glucksmann and Edouard Philippe. Glucksmann is a left-wing European Parliament member and outspoken Kremlin critic, while Philippe is a centrist former prime minister.
SocietyThe murder trial of Boston mother Lindsay Clancy has reached its eighth day of testimony. Clancy is accused of killing her three children. Jurors are being presented with critical evidence concerning her mental health and toxicological history. The proceedings continue to focus on those issues as testimony unfolds.
Fox News
TechAfter an online purchase is made, an order may enter processing within minutes. At Geek+’s factory in Hefei, small silver robots are tested before being shipped around the world. The machines move beneath shelving, lift entire racks and carry them across a warehouse to staff. Several of Britain’s biggest retailers, including Tesco, Asda and Next, are already using the company’s technology. The report presents the system as a Chinese-made automation model entering major UK retail operations.
BBC Chinese
SocietyCornwall attracts millions of visitors each year with its beaches, coastline and picturesque coastal towns. For many young people raised there, however, everyday life can be very different. Some students describe long journeys to work-experience placements and university open days, alongside limited access to opportunities. Those pressures can force difficult decisions about whether to remain in Cornwall or move away. Headline figures about poor outcomes in the North, they argue, do not capture the whole picture.
BBC News
SocietySalt farmers in Indonesia’s West Java province are benefiting from drought driven by El Nino. The dry conditions are helping them make the most of the salt-producing season. Crop farmers, however, are preparing for a more prolonged ordeal as intense heat continues to threaten agricultural production. The contrasting fortunes highlight how the same weather pattern can help one rural industry while placing another under mounting strain.
Reuters
EconomyHackers have carried out a sophisticated wave of attacks against Wall Street firms in recent days, people familiar with the matter said. Major money managers were among the targets. Point72 Asset Management told investors on Wednesday that it had been attacked, while initial indications suggested that no client information was stolen. The firm said it was continuing to review the incident. The program also reported Iran’s claim that it had reached a deal with Oman.
Bloomberg Television
WorldFrance has seen 116,000 hectares burned by wildfires this year, the highest figure since records began in 1949. Heatwaves are driving fires across Europe, including in the UNESCO-listed Fontainebleau forest, where about 2,000 hectares have been scorched. Insurers warn that claims could reach unprecedented levels. Authorities say roughly 70 percent of the fires were deliberately started, while Al Jazeera reports from Fontainebleau.
SocietyMehdi Laribi, described as one of the suspected founders of the DZ mafia, has been arrested in Algeria. The criminal organisation is based in Marseille. French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin made the arrest public on Wednesday. He praised Algiers for supporting and cooperating with efforts to combat drug trafficking around the Mediterranean.
SportsGianni Infantino has remained in place despite widespread demands for his resignation. Following a meeting in Rabat, the FIFA board issued a statement describing the gathering as constructive and positive. It said the board had reaffirmed its full support for Infantino. The meeting therefore ended without the leadership change sought by his critics.
SocietyMore than 400 migrant workers sought help from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower after their wages went unpaid at the end of June. The workers had been slow to file complaints, raising questions about why they remained silent. The ministry said on Aug. 6 that most affected workers had found new jobs. Of those who chose to remain in Singapore, 392 had been hired by about 135 companies, while others returned home. Interviews with workers, employers and aid groups examined the roots of the problem and gaps in the system.
WorldA drone carrying an explosive device was found on the tarmac at Leipzig Airport in Germany and defused. A bomb-disposal robot was involved in the operation. A second flying object later hit a cargo aircraft, causing minor damage. Air traffic at the airport was suspended for two hours. A possible Russian connection is being suggested, while Germany’s interior minister described the incident as representing a new dimension of threat to the country.
WorldRussian forces are reported to be about 20 kilometres from the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region killed 17 people and injured dozens. Ukraine’s depleted air defences failed to intercept any of the missiles launched overnight. Zelenskyy has again told allies that Ukraine needs more air-defence systems. The United Nations said July was the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022.
SocietyChristopher Guyton lost his home in the Spokane wildfires. He says he continues to express his love of Jesus Christ despite the destruction. In an interview, Guyton discusses his plans to rebuild and move forward. His comments emphasize faith, recovery and hope after the disaster.
Fox News
PoliticsSean Hannity says socialists have taken control of the Democratic Party. The headline presents that claim as a description of a shift within the party, using direct and critical political language.
Fox News
PoliticsSheikh Hasina says she intends to return to Bangladesh from exile in India in December. She faces a death sentence in Bangladesh over a bloody crackdown on protesters in 2024. Hasina made the remarks in an audio address to an event in New Delhi. The Indian government says it had “no involvement whatsoever” in the event.
The Associated Press
WorldPresident Donald Trump is expressing optimism about the prospects for a deal with Iran. Fox News reporter Steve Harrigan describes the latest direction of the talks. Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, examines what could happen next. The coverage centers on diplomacy, negotiations and the broader security implications surrounding the discussions.
Fox News
SportsCanadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday that he no longer has confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino. His criticism adds to mounting pressure on the soccer official. Infantino faced a global backlash after abandoning a proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup. The remarks further spotlight the controversy surrounding FIFA leadership.
The Associated Press
WorldMike Pompeo discusses reports that the United States and Iran may be moving toward a peace deal. The discussion examines President Trump’s decision to keep military options available and considers the possible strategic and economic consequences. Market optimism surrounding the prospect of an agreement coincides with the Dow Jones reaching an all-time high.
Fox News