When Charlene Tan was in secondary school during the Covid-19 pandemic, she felt isolated from her peers and uncertain about what she wanted to do with her life.As she spent hours scrolling through social media at home, the constant stream of devastating global news left her feeling helpless in the face of injustices she could do little about.The newly-minted President's Scholar told AsiaOne that while studying at Nanyang Girls' High School, it was easy to feel like «just a student stuck in Singapore» who could not make much of a difference to the sociopolitical and geopolitical tragedies unfolding around the world.That changed when she began speaking to Singapore Police Force (SPF) officers at recruitment events as a junior college student. Through those conversations, Tan realised that a career in policing could offer the opportunity to make a tangible difference.The first officer she met, named Stefan, spoke about how the SPF balances fighting crime with empathy and compassion. His perspective reinforced the SPF scholar's desire to be part of an organisation whose values aligned with her own. 

From supporting children with chronic illnesses to engaging migrant workers through community football, the two President's Scholarship recipients for 2026 share a common mission: to make a tangible difference.Charlene Tan, 20, and Samuel Poh, 19, both turned their passion for community service and football respectively into a greater calling to serve the community.Tan is Singapore's first female Singapore Police Force scholar to receive the President's Scholarship, while Poh is also a double scholarship recipient of both the President's Scholarship and the Singapore Armed Forces Scholarship.Both of them received their scholarship awards from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at a ceremony held at The Istana on Friday (Aug 14).About 70 guests were in attendance, including Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence, Chan Chun Sing and Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Goh Pei Ming.

The funeral wake of Physics teacher Lau Chu Beng was attended by «a few hundred» people, including former students from nearly 30 years ago and old classmates who had lost contact with him.Many young students and ex-students who came to pay their respects also wrote farewell notes and placed it on the casket, a gesture which deeply touched Lau's family.The 55-year-old lead teacher at Yusof Ishak Secondary School (YISS) died on Aug 6, and the wake was held till Aug 10.Online tributes described Lau as a caring, friendly and inspirational teacher and mentor.When Lau's younger brother, who declined to be named, reached out to AsiaOne in the days after, he said the family wished to thank the numerous visitors to the wake.«I really lost count (of the number of mourners),» he told AsiaOne on Friday (Aug 14), recounting how current students, ex-students, parents, ex-colleagues and friends had steadily streamed in over the five-day wake.

[New Dawn] Victims of Liberia's civil wars have pledged their support for President Joseph Nyuma Boakai's efforts to establish a War and Economic Crimes Court, urging lawmakers to expedite action on legislation needed to set up the court.

Alex Vindman thinks he can do what no Democrat has been able to do over the past decade: break through Republicans’ hold on Florida.

The women, all from Sukma, took part in a Swadeshi fashion show organised as part of rehabilitation efforts for former Naxalites. Sukma SP Mayank Gurjar said the event also gave them an opportunity to promote Swadeshi products. For some of the women, the experience was unlike anything they had done before. One former Naxalite said she surrendered in 2026 and travelled to Raipur for six days of training.

Speaking at an event in Lucknow marking Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, CM Yogi said the Congress had failed the country by prioritising political power and alleged that the consequences of Partition continue to affect India. “Had Narendra Modi been the Prime Minister of India at the time of Independence, nobody would have been able to damage India in the slightest,” he said.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, a rail station at the port of Izmail has been used to load, store and transport military cargo and fuel for Ukrainian troops

Over the past 24 hours, the battlegroup detected and destroyed 58 UAV control posts, three Starlink satellite communication stations

Nassereddin Heidari said the extent of the American side's adherence to its commitments is the thing that matters

Iran has signalled that it sees India as a potential partner in efforts to ease tensions in West Asia, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying New Delhi could play a greater role in de-escalating the ongoing crisis. Araghchi made the remarks during his visit to India in June. He said Tehran did not see a military solution to the conflict and believed that negotiations offered only viable way forward.

Gokulpura residents staged a protest on Pratap Circle Road, highlighting poor road conditions. Two individuals dressed as astronauts entered water-filled potholes, simulating a lunar landscape. This unusual demonstration aimed to draw attention to neglected infrastructure and drainage issues. Residents have sought attention from local officials for several months regarding these problems. Tenders for road and drainage work have been awarded and will commence after the monsoon.

[New Times] Efforts to contain the spread of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) among cattle, goats and sheep are gaining momentum, with authorities carrying out household and pasture inspections and establishing designated vaccination sites in villages, according to local leaders and livestock farmers.

A senior Malawi Police commissioner has been forced into retirement after being found guilty of sexually exploiting dozens of female officers under his command, sparking outrage from human rights campaigners who say the punishment falls dangerously short of justice. Stan Kaliza, who oversaw human resources, management and development for the Malawi Police Service, has been […] The post Police commissioner accused of sexually exploiting 45 female officers forced into retirement appeared first on Malawi News | Breaking News, Politics, Business & Sports | Nyasa Times.

With three weeks left before the Sangalala ndi Coca-Cola campaign concludes, consumers across Malawi are continuing to collect prizes as the promotion moves into its final stretch. Recent winners include Martha Patisoni and Diana Wilson, both of Lilongwe, who each secured a smartphone, while fellow Lilongwe resident Madalitso Chinkhaka received a gym bag. The campaign, […] The post Coca-Cola’s Sangalala Promotion Nears Close With More Malawian Winners appeared first on Malawi News | Breaking News, Politics, Business & Sports | Nyasa Times.

The president is actively fighting for his endorsed candidate in the South Carolina Senate runoff, Sen. Darline Graham, the sister of the late Lindsey Graham.

Can anyone win by distancing themselves from President Donald Trump?

A lawsuit filed this week alleges that the product is unconstitutional, and other experts warn it could violate securities laws.

The White House has accused dozens of US partners of helping Chinese goods avoid American tariffs through third-country trade routes Read Full Article at RT.com

The US has included India among 40 trading partners allegedly operating a “shadow trans-shipment network” to help China evade tariffs Read Full Article at RT.com

Israeli defense officials have been shocked by the speedy recovery of Iran’s military capabilities, the Jerusalem Post has reported Read Full Article at RT.com

An explosion has damaged an ammo factory near Colleferro, Italy, owned by KNDS, a Franco-German arms manufacturer and supplier to Ukraine Read Full Article at RT.com

[GroundUp] NEET rate for 15-34 year olds has risen from 38% to 45% since 2012

[Scrolla] PMBEJD found 350kWh of prepaid electricity rose by R81.57 a month after a 6.9% tariff increase. Buying 20 litres of paraffin now costs R40.60 more, taking the combined monthly increase to R122.17.