Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday (Aug 13) sent a condolence letter to Chinese Premier Li Qiang following the passing of China's former premier Zhu Rongji.The 97-year-old died of illness on Wednesday morning, according to Chinese state media Xinhua News. His obituary, published on China's state media, described him as an «outstanding member of the Communist Party of China and loyal communist fighter...and an outstanding leader of the Party and state.»In the letter, sent on behalf of the Singapore Government, PM Wong described the late Zhu Rongji as «an old friend of Singapore».He recalled that the former premier had met with Singapore's former Prime Ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong on many occasions, noting that Zhu was also the first Chinese leader to deliver the Singapore Lecture — a public lecture series organised by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute where prominent world leaders, policymakers and scholars share their views on regional and global developments.

On two consecutive days last week, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers foiled separate attempts by two motorcyclists to smuggle duty-unpaid cigarettes and vapes into Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint.Photographs posted on its Facebook on Thursday (Aug 13) show the contraband items hidden in plastic bags within the storage compartments.The first case, involving a Malaysia-registered motorcycle, took place on Aug 3. According to ICA, its search and examination officers had directed the 46-year-old male Malaysian motorcyclist to undergo an enhanced check. There, officers found more than 30 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes, and over 60 vaporisers and related components, hidden in the motorcycle's storage box.The following day, on Aug 4, a 51-year-old male Singaporean motorcyclist was also directed to undergo enhanced checks, where ICA search and examination officers found more than 25 cartons and 30 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes, and over 60 vaporisers.These contraband items were hidden beneath the seat and the Singapore-registered motorcycle's storage box.

A woman was arrested for allegedly hurting her 13-year-old daughter at a mall in Havelock on Wednesday (Aug 12).In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police said that they were alerted to the incident at 2 Havelock Road — where Havelock 2 shopping mall is located — at 2.30pm. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told AsiaOne that they received a call for assistance at around 3:15pm. The police arrested the 47-year-old woman for voluntarily causing hurt against a person under the age of 14.A Facebook user who runs a shop in the mall and witnessed the incident, posted about it on Facebook group Complaint Singapore, reported The Straits Times.The user wrote that «a mother hit her child in a public area» with a staff member from a nearby tuition centre standing beside them.«It escalated to the point where an ambulance arrived, and the child was taken away on a stretcher,» added the user in the now-deleted post.Both the police and SCDF confirmed that a 13-year-old girl was taken conscious to National University Hospital.Police also said that investigations are ongoing.

A 64-year-old Quebec man has become the first patient in North America to receive a regenerated liver thanks to a breakthrough technology that could make dozens of additional livers available for transplant in its first year alone.

From skull fractures to ICU admissions, pediatric specialists across Canada say severe e-scooter trauma in kids is becoming routine — and current rules are failing to protect them.

The Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded with both houses adjourned sine die. Repeated disruptions and political confrontations marked the proceedings throughout the session. The Rajya Sabha passed the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill after skipping question hour. Opposition MPs continued protests in the Lok Sabha demanding statements from ministers. The session ended after weeks of political confrontation and frequent disruptions.

[CAF] Cameroon reached the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 on Wednesday night after defeating hosts Morocco 3-1 on penalties following a dramatic goalless semi-final in Rabat.

[Horn Diplomat] Bangui (Horndiplomat) -- Abu Dhabi-based Global South Utilities (GSU) has inaugurated a 50-megawatt solar power plant in the Central African Republic, a project the company says is the largest infrastructure development in the country's history and will increase national electricity generation capacity by more than 60%.

[Premium Times] With Malawi and Cameroon now set for the final, the 2026 WAFCON has produced a fascinating title clash between a debutant nation chasing its first continental crown and a former powerhouse seeking to reclaim its place at the top of African women's football

[allAfrica] Mombasa, Kenya -- Imam Bukuru Elie Khalfan is very personal about the need for open conversations about sexuality.

Samedi 8 août, les quatre députés de la commune de Franceville, issus de sensibilités politiques différentes, ont fait le choix de l'unité républicaine en présentant un compte rendu parlementaire commun, conformément à l'esprit de l'article 90 de la Constitution gabonaise. Cette démarche avait un objectif simple : rendre compte aux populations, sans distinction ni appartenance politique, du travail accompli à l'Assemblée nationale : textes examinés et adoptés, analyses, amendements, (...) - POLITIQUE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

Le projet de construction du futur Centre multimédia de Minvoul franchit une nouvelle étape. Les élus sont allés toucher du doigt, la disponibilité du terrain qui va abriter ledit centre multimédia. L'Honorable Alexis Nnang Ntseme, député du 1er siège du Haut-Ntem, et la Vénérable Marie-Flora Mindze Mi Essone, sénatrice du département, se sont rendus sur le site pour constater l'effectivité de la mise à disposition du terrain devant abriter l'infrastructure. Cette descente de terrain (...) - POLITIQUE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

As twilight settled over the tarmac in Ankara, President Trump was smuggled off Air Force One and into a catering truck in a covert operation to dodge a possible assassination threat.

Michel Kops, décédé le 4 août des suites d'une maladie, a été enterré ce mercredi à Papara en présence de ses proches et d'anciens collègues de travail.

A Singapore-registered container ship, Nawata Bhum, struck a river embankment along the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India, while en route to Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, on Wednesday (Aug 12).Videos of the incident posted on social media show the container-laden ship heading directly towards the riverbank. The ship does not appear to slow down or alter course before the collision.The ship's horn can be heard sounding repeatedly as it approaches the riverbank. Moments later, the ship's bow becomes lodged in the embankment. Based on the footage reviewed by AsiaOne, there were no other vessels in the ship's immediate path at the time of the incident.The road running alongside the embankment also appeared deserted, with no visible damage from the collision apart from affected vegetation.Checks by AsiaOne on vessel-tracking platform MarineTraffic showed the vessel making a right turn north of Latpatia at around 10.26am (India time).Its declared next port of call was Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, formerly known as Kolkata Port.

Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh has been struck off the roll of advocates and solicitors.He had arrived at the Supreme Court on Thursday (Aug 13) morning at 9.37am for a disciplinary hearing initiated by the Law Society of Singapore.This is over his conviction for giving false evidence under oath. Singh's appeal against the conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee in 2021 was dismissed by the High Court last December.He had earlier told the media scrum: «No questions.»His case was heard before the Court of Three Judges, comprising Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Justice Kannan Ramesh and Justice See Kee Oon.Chief Justice Menon said in court on Thursday that it is not disputed that the offence Singh was convicted of involved dishonesty, reported CNA.Singh was represented by Peter Low Chambers lawyers, Peter Low, Elaine Low and Senior Counsel Chelva Retnam Rajah. LawSoc is represented by a team from Drew & Napier, led by Senior Counsel Cavinder Bull.

Eligible Singaporeans will be receiving between $400 and $600 in cash as part of the Enhanced Budget 2026 cost-of-living special payment in September.In a press release on Thursday (Aug 13), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said that over 2.4 million Singaporeans will be eligible for the payment, which will be automatically credited from Sept 9.The cost-of-living payment, announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong earlier in March, previously ranged from $200 to $400 in cash but was increased in light of the impact of the Middle East conflict on Singapore's economy, Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow said in Parliament on April 7.The payment is meant to help Singapore citizens with their living expenses, with more assistance provided for lower-income individuals, said MOF.Singapore citizens aged 21 and older in 2026, who own no more than one property will be eligible for the payment. Also, they must not have an assessable income in the year of assessment 2025 that exceeds $100,000 and reside in Singapore.

Students and staff in Xinmin Secondary School were evacuated after the school was alerted to a bomb threat on Thursday morning (Aug 13).The Hougang school shared in a message to parents and guardians that they had been notified of the threat and subsequently evacuated the premises at around 8.30am, The Straits Times reported.«The police conducted a thorough search of our premises and no suspicious items were found,» said the school.All staff and students were accounted for, the message also stated.The students have reportedly resumed classes after returning to their classrooms.AsiaOne has contacted Xinmin Secondary School and the police for more information.[[nid:739933]]khooyihang@asiaone.com

With temperatures forecast to hit 38C today, campaigners say the Government has ignored warnings that its policies have turned swathes of countryside into tinderboxes.

Detective Constable Rachel Fletcher, 49, today denied ever having used the derogatory phrase but did say she had issues with the way she feels trans rights have been put ahead of women's rights.

As Britain sweltered in the fifth heatwave of the year, an eerie yet welcome chill descended as the Moon blocked out the unrelenting 30C sunshine.

From pets wearing glasses to children using homemade viewing devices to glimpse the spectacular illusion in the skies on Wednesday, our readers embraced eclipse fever in full force.

Nothing moves in the Ukrainian city once known as the Soviet Union's 'capital of glass'.

The Haynes family from Biggar, Sask., says they tried without success to get their three-year-old son admitted to hospital in North Battleford, Swift Current and Saskatoon. They're frustrated that a 235-kilometre ambulance ride to Prince Albert left them with a $1,300 bill.

Emissions from carbon black manufacturer Birla Carbon were «a primary source» of the soot falling on Hamilton neighbourhoods in early July, Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has said. Black dust falling on Hamilton homes is a perennial issue, especially near the eastern industrial sector.

After more than a decade of work, the federal agency said westslope cutthroat trout are beginning to spawn naturally and repopulate Hidden Lake, close to Lake Louise.

Quebec and Newfoundland Labrador are close to a new deal on Churchill Falls, sources with knowledge of the matter have confirmed to CBC News.