[New Times] A Cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame on Wednesday, July 16, approved the June 27 peace agreement signed in Washington DC between Rwanda and DR Congo.

[allAfrica] Around the world, millions of people are living with HIV, each with their own story, challenges, and hopes.

[allAfrica]

SINGAPORE — The National Environment Agency (NEA) has started monitoring levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) at Sentosa's beaches, following news that swimming events at the World Aquatics Championships were twice delayed due to elevated levels of the bacteria in the waters.NEA does not usually assess marine water quality based on E. coli levels.Instead, it follows World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines to determine the suitability of a recreational beach for primary contact activities, by measuring the levels of another group of bacteria, Enterococcus.In response to queries from The Straits Times, NEA said that WHO recommends using only Enterococcus for assessing marine water quality. Epidemiological studies have shown a strong correlation between Enterococcus levels in marine waters and public health risks.

While they are both keen on addressing the needs of Singaporeans, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the Workers' Party MP Jamus Lim disagreed on the means of doing so, according to an exchange between the two on Facebook on Wednesday (July 16).SM Lee had said during a dialogue at the Economic Society of Singapore's (ESS) annual dinner on July 15 — where he was also conferred the title of Honorary Fellow — that introducing considerations for different groups' needs and circumstances into the COE system could «make it unworkable». Prof Lim wrote in his Facebook post that while SM Lee had noted during the dialogue that many people had «legitimate claims on an affordable vehicle», he didn't mention a means to adjudicate between these claims.«He then pivoted to how competitive bidding represented the best way to allocate between these claims,» said Prof Lim.«What's sorely missing, however, is how those with genuine needs may not have the purchasing power to meet those needs, even if their needs may have more merit.»

A 57-year-old man has been arrested after hitting a debt collector with a golf club outside his Simei home. General manager of licensed debt recovery agency SG Collectors Kelvin Ho told AsiaOne on Thursday (July 17) that the incident happened on July 10 afternoon at Block 135 Simei Street 1.He said that they were called into service after their client, a food supplier, sought to recover a debt amounting to $12,412 from a food stall owner.«During a lawful visit to the debtor's residence, the situation escalated rapidly due to aggressive and threatening conduct,» SG Collectors said in a Facebook on July 10.A video shared on SG Collectors' Facebook page showed the man and several debtor collectors taunting each other through the gate.«Do you dare hit [us]?» asked one of the collectors.After one of them kicked the gate, the home owner approached the debt collectors - armed with a wood stick. He was later seen spitting at the collectors.SG Collectors said that the debtor returned with a golf club just when their collectors were leaving.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Minister of Defense Ahmed Moalim Fiqi met Wednesday with the newly appointed British Ambassador to Somalia, Charles Nicholas King, at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Mogadishu.

Actor Julian McMahon's death from cancer and mysterious arrival near Scientology HQ shocked fans, but DailyMail.com reveals he was quietly cremated with no funeral.

Harrowing video footage, filmed just ten days before Ethan's death, shows him walking with a strange, knock-kneed gait and falling over, barely able to hold up his own head.

MasterChef bosses are reportedly pushing to air Gregg Wallace and John Torode's final series 'when the dust settles' after they were both sacked from the cooking show.

A blast has killed three Kenyan soldiers patrolling a road in the east of the country near the Somali border, the military said.

Khadija Dahir Mahmoud and her five children now have access to free, clean water and their first toilets in Warcaasho internal displacement camp, in Mogadishu’s Deynile district, thanks to work completed by a Somali organisation.

Somalia’s First Lady Marwo Sahro Omar Hassan has officially registered as a voter in a landmark national exercise, marking a pivotal step in the country’s democratic journey toward universal suffrage.

A parolee, Chandan Mishra, facing murder charges, was attacked by a rival gang at a Patna hospital while receiving treatment. Patna police are collaborating with Buxar police to identify the shooters, possessing their photographs. This incident adds to a series of shootings in Bihar, intensifying criticism of the state government's law and order management ahead of upcoming elections.

One man is dead and more than a dozen others were injured when lightning struck a New Jersey archery range Wednesday night.

Emma Van Der Hoek claimed the ordeal took place in broad daylight on Tuesday while she was walking alone along the pavement in London.

Harrowing video footage, filmed just ten days before Ethan's death, shows him walking with a strange, knock-kneed gait and falling over, barely able to hold up his own head.

Christopher James McCann, 50, has died days after he appeared in a Brisbane court, charged with one count of using the internet to procure children aged under 16.

Oprah Winfrey took a gentle jab at her Montecito neighbors, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, for their last name. 

SINGAPORE — The anti-vaping blitz has extended to areas near schools, with enforcement officers conducting checks outside five institutes of higher learning (IHL) across Singapore on Monday (July 14).In total, 27 people were caught and fined for vaping in enforcement operations conducted at several community hot spots, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) told The Straits Times.Another eight persons were caught for underage smoking.Those caught were aged 17 to 66 years old, said HSA, which added that 31 e-vaporisers were seized in the four-hour-long operation.[[nid:720201]]Work in the East started just after 11am, with HSA officers positioning themselves at various spots where people gather outside the institutes.Within the first hour, a man was caught loitering at a HDB void deck across from the school, with a vape around his neck.HSA officers confiscated his vape, suspected to be a Kpod or etomidate-laced pod.Etomidate is an anaesthetic agent used in clinical practice. It is classified as a poison under the Poisons Act. This means a licence is required for its importation or sale.

ComfortDelGro, Singapore's largest taxi operator, will be implementing a new cancellation and waiting fee policy for customers who book taxis through the CDG Zig app.In a Facebook post on Wednesday (July 16), ComfortDelGro said that the new policy will kick in on July 31, but that there will be a risk-free «waiver period» so that both passengers and drivers have time to familiarise themselves with the changes before they are fully enforced.During the waiver period, customers will not be charged even if fee conditions are met. Cancellation fees will only apply from Sept 1 and waiting fees will apply from Oct 15. Customers will have four free cancellations per month according to the new cancellation policy, which are only applicable to situations when the taxi has not arrived at their pickup point. Beyond the four allowances, each subsequent cancellation will cost $4.Drivers who cancel rides will also face penalties «to ensure that both parties are treated fairly», according to ComfortDelGro on their website. They didn't specify the exact penalties.

SINGAPORE — The National Environment Agency (NEA) has started monitoring levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) at Sentosa's beaches, following news that swimming events at the World Aquatics Championships were twice delayed due to elevated levels of the bacteria in the waters.NEA does not usually assess marine water quality based on E. coli levels.Instead, it follows World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines to determine the suitability of a recreational beach for primary contact activities, by measuring the levels of another group of bacteria, Enterococcus.In response to queries from The Straits Times, NEA said that WHO recommends using only Enterococcus for assessing marine water quality. Epidemiological studies have shown a strong correlation between Enterococcus levels in marine waters and public health risks.

Ukraine is ready to exchange the remains of Soviet army soldiers for captured Ukrainian servicemen, Mayor Andrey Sadoviy has claimed Read Full Article at RT.com

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced free electricity for domestic consumers, up to 125 units, starting August 1, 2025. Kumar highlighted his government's focus on affordability, stating that this initiative will benefit approximately 1 crore 67 lakh families across the state. This announcement comes as the state gears up for elections in late 2025.

Le Conseil des ministres a acté la création de l'Observatoire des violences faites aux femmes et son lancement pour le 18 novembre 2025. Ce mercredi marque aussi la fin de la visite du Conseil des femmes du Pacifique de Nouvelle-Calédonie et la passation de la Flamme de la paix.

Nicaragua is Russia’s reliable ally in Latin America, the Russian leader noted

According to the region’s governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, the house caught on fire after the detonation of the device

Russian forces also destroyed a Ukrainian field artillery system

Ukraine is ready to exchange the remains of Soviet army soldiers for captured Ukrainian servicemen, Mayor Andrey Sadoviy has claimed Read Full Article at RT.com

At least three children were injured after a Ukrainian drone crashed into a residential building in the southern Russian city of Voronezh Read Full Article at RT.com

The Cabinet has approved 'PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana' with a Rs 24,000 crore outlay to boost agriculture in 100 under-performing districts over six years, starting 2025-26. This scheme aims to enhance productivity, promote sustainable practices, improve infrastructure, and increase credit availability, benefiting around 1.7 crore farmers.

An Election Commission report revealed that 35 lakh voters in Bihar were untraceable, sparking accusations from opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav of a deliberate attempt to remove genuine voters. He alleged a targeted deletion strategy, particularly in constituencies with narrow victory margins.

BJP spokesperson Ajay Alok defended Bihar's voter list verification, dismissing opposition concerns as vote bank politics. He criticized Rahul Gandhi for disrespecting the armed forces and his remarks on the EAM's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju advised Rahul to cooperate on foreign policy and avoid anti-national comments, following the defamation case bail granted to Rahul.

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has voiced strong concerns regarding the preliminary report on the Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 240 people. FIP criticized the exclusion of pilot representatives from the investigation and the report's reliance on selectively interpreted cockpit recordings.

The Cabinet lauded Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla for his triumphant 18-day ISS mission, recognizing it as a pivotal moment for India's space exploration. This achievement is expected to inspire young Indians to pursue careers in science and innovation. The mission marks a significant step forward, offering a promising vision for future space endeavors and igniting scientific curiosity across the nation.