THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, OF INDIAN DESCENT, TRIUMPHS IN SINGAPORE'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Singaporean economist Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who has Indian roots, clinched victory in the recent Singapore presidential election. This marked the country's first contested presidential race since 2011. Tharman, aged 66, secured a significant 70.4% of the votes, outperforming his Chinese-origin rivals, Ng Kok Song and Tan Kin Lian, who received 15.7% and 13.88%, respectively, according to the elections department spokesperson.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong extended his congratulations to Tharman and emphasized the president's crucial role in representing Singapore both domestically and internationally, overseeing reserves, and key appointments.

Addressing his supporters, Tharman expressed his humility and saw the vote as an endorsement not only for himself but also for a future marked by optimism and unity in Singapore.

Tharman began his political career in 2001 and has served in various public sector and ministerial roles within the ruling People's Action Party for over two decades. Known as a popular political figure, he achieved significant victories in parliamentary elections, including the largest margin of votes in the 2020 general election as a PAP member.

With over 2.7 million voters participating, this election comes as the incumbent President Halimah Yacob's six-year term nears its conclusion on September 13. She is Singapore's eighth president and the first female to hold the position. This marks Singapore's third presidential election since a 1991 act granted the public the right to choose the president. While the president's role is primarily ceremonial, it is expected to provide checks and balances on the government.

"NORTH KOREA CONDUCTS SIMULATED NUCLEAR ATTACKS AND TERRITORIAL OCCUPATION DRILLS AMID RISING TENSIONS"

On August 31, North Korea disclosed that its recent missile launches were part of simulated "scorched earth" nuclear attacks aimed at South Korea. Additionally, the country revealed that it has been rehearsing strategies for occupying its rival's territory in case of a conflict.

In the past, North Korea has tested missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has outlined their potential use in hypothetical conflicts with South Korea and the United States. This latest revelation of detailed war plans is seen as an attempt to assert its aggressive nuclear doctrine and intimidate its adversaries, particularly as tensions rise due to ongoing South Korean-U.S. military exercises that North Korea perceives as a significant security threat.

North Korea's military confirmed the launch of two tactical ballistic missiles from its capital on August 30, stating that the missiles were simulating "scorched earth strikes" targeting major command centers and operational airfields in South Korea. Notably, the missiles were said to have executed their simulated attacks through air bursts, indicating that they successfully detonated dummy warheads at specific altitudes.

North Korea attributed its missile tests as a response to a joint aerial training exercise involving the United States' long-range B-1B bombers and South Korea, which took place earlier on the same day as part of their collaborative field exercises.

DRONE STRIKE ON RUSSIAN AIR BASE WAS FROM INSIDE RUSSIA: UKRAINE

Kyiv : Ukraine's military intelligence chief revealed that a recent drone attack on Russia's Pskov airport, located 700km from Ukraine, originated from within Russian territory. The attack damaged several Russian military transport planes, including the destruction of two and serious damage to two others. These aircraft were used for transporting troops and cargo.

The Kremlin has expressed its concern over the increasing drone attacks and is working to identify the routes taken by the drones to prevent such incidents. Pskov, which has been targeted by drones previously, is surrounded by NATO members Estonia and Latvia to the west and Belarus to the south.

Russia's defense ministry reported destroying a total of 281 Ukrainian drones in the past week, with 29 of them in western regions of Russia. This escalation in drone attacks has been impacting multiple Russian regions.

Ukraine's presidential adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, anticipates an increase in drone strikes on Russian soil, suggesting that the conflict is shifting towards Russia. He also stated that peace talks are not currently on the table, as they would be perceived as capitulation by Ukraine and its supporting democracies.

NOBEL INVITE TO RUSSIA, BELARUS SPARKS ROW

Several Swedish lawmakers said Friday they will boycott this year’s Nobel Prize award ceremonies after the private foundation that administers the prestigious awards changed its position from a year earlier and invited representatives of Russia, Belarus and Iran to attend. The nobel foundation said invitations were extended to all countries with diplomatic missions in Sweden and Norway since that “promotes opportunities to convey the important messages of the Nobel Prize to everyone.” It was unclear whether the invitations to the December 10 events already went out. Writing on X, Swedish employment ministerJohan Pehrson called the foundation’s decision “extremely injudicious.”

PUTIN SAYS WILL MEET XI SOON; RUSSIA TO HOST ERDOGAN NEXT WEEK

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping soon, following earlier reports that he planned to visit China in October. Russia has turned increasingly to China as its most powerful ally since alienating the West last year with its decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov said in July that Putin planned to visit China in October at the time of its third “Belt and Road” forum, responding to an invitation issued by Xi during a high-profile state visit to Russia in March.

Meanwhile, Putin will host Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan for talks on Monday in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi,just over six weeks after Moscow broke off a deal brokered by Ankara and the UN that allowed Ukrainian grain to reach world markets safely. Moscow is pushing its own plan, one that would allow Russia to ship grain directly to Turkiye, which would then deliver the goods to food-insecure nations. That would allow Moscow to profit from its grain, though it leaves Ukraine out entirely.

THAI KING REDUCES FORMER PM’S 8-YR TERM TO 1 YR’S JAIL

Bangkok : Thailand’s king on Friday reduced former PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s eight-year prison term to a single year following the divisive politician’s return last week from 15 years of self-imposed exile. Thai media, citing justice ministry sources, reported that Thaksin can apply for parole after serving one-third of his sentence, or four months.

Thaksin remains one of Thailand’s most influential politicians. He was ousted as PM in a military coup in 2006 and accused of corruption, abuse of power and disrespecting the monarchy. He fled Thailand in 2008. Hours after Thaksin’s return, Srettha Thavisin of the Thaksin-affiliated Pheu Thai party won enough votes in Parliament to become PM.

PAK FUEL PRICES CROSS RS 300-MARK FOR FIRST TIME IN HISTORY

Karachi : Pakistan set record-high prices for petrol and diesel, with petrol increasing by Rs 14.9 to Rs 305.4 and diesel rising by Rs 18.4 to Rs 311.8. This marks the first time fuel prices in Pakistan have crossed the Rs 300 mark, causing additional strain on a population already grappling with high inflation.

The government attributed these price hikes to global petrol price fluctuations and currency exchange rate shifts. The Pakistani rupee also continued to depreciate, closing at a record low of Rs 305.5 against the US dollar.

Electricity tariffs have been on the rise as well, in line with the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for a $3 billion financial assistance package. These increases have sparked protests in major cities like Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi and have forced many small and medium factories to shut down.

Short-term inflation in Pakistan has surged by 27.5% year-on-year for the week ending on August 17, primarily due to rising petroleum prices. While this represents a decrease from the previous week's 30.8% inflation rate, the weekly inflation rate has been steadily rising for the past four weeks, with a 0.7% increase week-on-week.

KATHMANDU MAYOR SCRAPS TRIP TO CHINA OVER NEW MAP

Nepal Student Union, a prominent student political group, protested outside the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu, demanding revisions to China's new map. They asserted that areas like Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura, which Nepal claims but are located in Uttarakhand, India, have not been accurately represented on China's map, which depicts them as part of India. While the Nepal government didn't officially respond to China's new map, Kathmandu's mayor, Balendra Shah, canceled his planned trip to China, stating that "China's portrayal of Nepali territory as Indian is incorrect" and that he would not visit on moral grounds.

The border dispute between India and Nepal began in May 2020 when India's defense minister inaugurated a 74-km road from Ghatiyabagar to Lipulekh Pass. Nepal protested, alleging that the road crossed its territory. The Nepalese parliament later voted to amend the constitution to include the Kalapani region as part of Nepal.

WITH EYE ON CHINA AND RUSSIA, POPE VISITS MONGOLIA

Pope Francis arrived in Mongolia on Friday to encourage one of the world’s smallest and newest Catholic communities. It’s the first time a pope has visited the landlocked country and comes at a time when the Vatican’s ties with Mongolia’s neighbours, Russia and China, are strained. Experts suggest the Vatican hopes that Mongolia could act as an intermediary to improve relations. In his flight to Mongolia, Francis passed over Chinese airspace, allowing him to send acustomary telegram of greetings to Xi Jinping, a rare direct communication. Russia has proved to be more nettlesome. Days before his visit, he sparked outrage in Ukraine over his praise of Russia’s imperial past, comments that the Vatican insisted were not an endorsement of Moscow’s war.

EB-5 VISA PROVES TO BE LIFELINE FOR H-1B HOLDERS IF THEY CAN AFFORD IT

Many Indians in the US on H-1B visas, waiting for employment-based green cards, are now considering the EB-5 investment-linked green card program. This interest is mainly from those who can afford the $800,000 minimum investment required for a qualifying project, aiming to create at least 10 US jobs. Some are Indians residing in the US with children studying there. The Reform and Integrity Act (RIA) introduced last year allowing concurrent filing for conditional green cards and adjustment of status applications has sparked this interest. This process grants Employment Authorization Documents in six months, enabling job flexibility and travel.

H-1B layoffs created uncertainty, prompting the shift to EB-5, which currently offers reserved visas without waiting lists. New EB-5 investors can potentially move ahead of those who applied in 2019-2021.

X PLANS TO COLLECT BIOMETRIC DATA AND JOB HISTORY

X updatedits privacy policy to include a new kind of user data it plans to collect: biometric. “Based on your consent, we may collect and use your biometric information for safety, security, and identification purposes,” the company said in its new policy. Xdoesn’t define what it considers biometric, though other companies have used the term to describe data gleaned from a person’s face, eyes and fingerprints.A representative of San Francisco-based X confirmed the new policychange. After the policy update, Musk announced X users will be able to make video and audio calls through the platform without having to share their phone number, in the latest expansion of services as he seeks to create an “everything app.”

AT A PRICE, META MAY OFFER AD-FREE FB, INSTA IN EUROPE

Meta is considering paid versions of Facebook and Instagram that would have no advertising for users in the European Union, three people with knowledge of the firm’s plans said, a response to regulatory scrutiny and a sign that how people experience technology in the US and Europe may diverge because of government policy.

Those who pay for Facebook and Instagram subscriptions would not see ads in the apps, said the sources. That may help Meta fend off priva cy concerns and other scrutiny from EU regulators by giving users an alternative to the company’s ad-based services, which rely on analyzing people’s data, the people said. Meta would continue to offer free versions of Facebook and Instagram with ads in the EU, they said. It is unclear how much the paid versions of the apps would cost or when the service will be rolled out.

For nearly 20 years, Meta’s core business has centered on offering free social networking services to users and selling advertising to firms who want to reach that audience. Providing a paid tier would be one of the most tangible examples to date of how companies are having to redesign products to comply with data privacy rules.

PUTIN INFLUENCERS PROFITING FROM WAR PROPAGANDA

Russian pro-war influencers, known as "Z-Bloggers," are profiting from the conflict by generating significant advertising revenues through their social media coverage. These influencers, often embedded with the Russian army, share graphic videos and false claims about Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky while promoting various ads, from cryptocurrency to fashion. Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, these influencers have gained millions of followers on Telegram, the platform many Russians turned to after Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter were banned. This surge in users has boosted Telegram's advertising market, with influencers selling ad space to companies seeking to reach young audiences. Prominent influencers like Alexander Kots and WarGonzo charge substantial amounts for posting ads on their channels, exceeding Russia's average monthly wage.

IN A RETALIATORY MOVE, DENMARK WANTS RUSSIA TO LIMIT EMBASSY STAFF

COPENHAGEN: Denmark said that it had told Russia to reduce the number of staff at its Copenhagen embassy following Russian requests for visas for "intelligence officers". Denmark said the Russian mission would need to reduce its staff to match the level of the Danish embassy in Moscow, and that it had informed Russia's Ambassador.

150+ UK SCHOOLS TOLD TO SHUT OVER FAULTY CONCRETE

More than 150 British schools have been told to close some buildings after they were deemed unsafe, drawing anger from parents and teachers on the eve of a new term and posing a fresh headache for the government. UK department for education said 156 schools had been affected by the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete in their buildings which authorities have now decided is at risk of collapse. Education minister Gillian Keegan said the majority of schools affected would remain open for face-toface learning for all pupils because the problematic concrete was only found in a small part of the school buildings.But some schools will facecomplete if temporaryclosure. The news that schools will be affected comes just days before most children are due to return to education for the new year after a six-week summer holiday, raising questions over why the government had announced the move at the last minute.

‘AU REVOIR’ RENTAL E-SCOOTERS: PARIS BECOMES 1ST EUROPE CITY TO IMPLEMENT BAN

Paris : Paris has become the first European city to ban free-floating rental electric scooters, following a referendum in which voters overwhelmingly chose their removal. This decision marks the end of five years of scooter use, which has been criticized for crowding sidewalks and causing accidents. Operators Lime, Tier, and Dott are gradually removing their 15,000 scooters from the streets, relocating them to other European cities after repairs. The firms hope users will transition to floating rental bicycles, which they already offer. In addition, France has raised the minimum age for electric scooter riding to 14 and imposed heavier fines for traffic violations nationwide.

AGING S KOREA TO OPEN DOOR FOR FOREIGN MAIDS

South Korea approved a Seoul city plan on Friday to let 100 foreign domestic workers into the country through a pilot programme aimed at boosting birth rates by helping more women rejoin the workforce. The issue sits at the confluence of South Korea’s sharply declining birthrate, aging population, and its historical reluctance to accept more immigrants. “Foreign domestic helpers could revitalise our society. Especially it could immediately help with career breaks,” Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon said.