TOP OF THE NEWS
The Elections Department will make public the results of a sample count for each of the 16 GRCs and 13 SMCs being contested in the Sept 11 General Election, a few hours before the full count. Voters can then get a sense of how the results may pan out from as early as 10pm.
Malaysian police yesterday began a crackdown on last weekend's mammoth rally calling for Prime Minister Najib Razak to resign, saying they will summon Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for questioning over comments he made at the Bersih 4.0 protest against the Premier. It was unclear whether the former leader would face charges.
WORLD
Jokowi picks new Chief of Staff
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has promoted trusted aide Teten Masduki to be his Chief of Staff, and added a small party to his ruling coalition to strengthen his position as he seeks to carry out his reform promises. With the addition of the National Mandate Party, the ruling coalition's control of parliamentary seats rose to 46 per cent.
United States President Barack Obama has proposed speeding up the acquisition and building of new US Coast Guard icebreakers that can operate year-round in the nation's polar regions, part of an effort to close the gap between the US and other nations, especially Russia, in a global competition to gain a foothold in the rapidly changing Arctic.
Millions go on strike in India against Modi's labour reforms
Millions of workers went on a nationwide strike in India for the first time since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in May last year, protesting against proposed labour reforms. The protests disrupted transport, banking and industrial activity in several parts of the country. Factories were shut in Delhi and its satellite cities, while clashes broke out elsewhere in India yesterday.
OPINION
Grey areas in censorship rules
In July, American search giant Google sold R21 titles that are banned from home distribution on its Singapore online Play store. The episode has again raised the question of whether local censorship rules should be updated to include content from the online stores of foreign players that target Singapore viewers. Tech editor Irene Tham examines the issue.
India should realise that educating young women rather than marrying them off has wider benefits for the country and its economy, writes former journalist Ashwini Devare.
HOME
A top-end limousine company is suing its chauffeurs for cutting short their contracts. Wolero leases out around 130 Mercedes and Audi cars to private drivers. However, a group of up to 30 are allegedly looking to quit after discovering that what they are doing could be illegal.
BUSINESS
August was an especially turbulent month for the global economy and offered beleaguered local manufacturers no respite. The Purchasing Managers' Index - an early indicator of factory activity - hit 49.3 last month, following a reading of 49.7 in July. A reading below 50 implies contraction.
SPORT
The Singapore national football team will face Syria in the neutral venue of Oman tonight in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. The Lions, unbeaten in two games and yet to concede, top Group E and will be looking to reproduce another mean defensive performance against the Syrians to hold out for at least a draw.
LIFE
Art fair to be 'more intimate'
The next edition of the Affordable Art Fair returns from Nov 12 to 15, with 85 galleries representing the works of 600 artists. Last year, 108 galleries were featured . Organisers say the smaller number of galleries is the result of their working on "a more intimate" visitor experience, now that they have two fairs a year. The fair in Singapore started in 2010 as an annual affair. Since last year, there have been two editions a year.
Norwegian band A-ha, whose song Take On Me remains one of the most popular tunes from the 1980s, are reuniting temporarily. They are releasing their first new material in six years. The trio split after a worldwide tour in 2010 and are now back together for a two-year reunion. Their 10th studio album, Cast In Steel, is out today and a European tour will follow next year.
