Foods like instant noodles, sauces and cooking oil could soon be graded according to how much sodium and saturated fat they contain. The Health Ministry said this system will be similar to Nutri-Grade labels for sugar and saturated fat in drinks. Products that have the highest amounts of sodium and saturated fats could also be barred from advertising. A national population survey on health has shown a rising rate of hypertension among people living in Singapore. Sabrina Ng reports.

Younger platform workers will have their increased CPF contributions fully offset by the government next year. The enhanced Platform Workers CPF Transition Support scheme kicks in from January 2025. In the second year, the offset will increase to 75%, while remaining at 50% in the third year. In the fourth and final year, the offset will be 25%. The qualifying monthly income cap will also increase from $2,500 to $3,000. A group representing riders said when the scheme ends in 2028, more has to be done to ensure these workers are able to contribute to their CPF on their own.

The Singapore Night Festival is back and we checked out the offerings. From a retro amusement park to insta-worthy projections, here's what to look out for when it opens from Aug 23 to Sep 7.

After 40 years, the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) in primary schools will be replaced with a new model for nurturing higher-ability students. Education Minister Chan Chun Sing tells CNA what sparked the change and what it means for parents and children. More on the changes: https://cna.asia/3X7zBEk Watch Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announce the changes to the GEP at the National Day Rally 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ozfftZ6zQA 00:00 Introduction 00:10 What triggered the change? 00:51 How are higher-ability students identified? 01:28 What does it mean if a child is not identified as a higher-ability student? 01:56 Why do we need the GEP? 02:16 Will classifying students create a sense of elitism? 02:46 How can schools ensure higher-ability learners will mix well with their schoolmates? 03:07 What is the difference between a regular class and a higher-ability class? 03:43 Will extra support be given to teachers? 04:14 Are all primary schools equally ready for the changes? 04:36 Would this new approach make sense in terms of resources if only a few students are selected? Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub Subscribe to our news service for must-read stories: Telegram - https://cna.asia/telegram WhatsApp - https://cna.asia/whatsapp Follow us: CNA: https://cna.asia CNA Lifestyle: http://www.cnalifestyle.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/channelnewsasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/channelnewsasia Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/channelnewsasia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@channelnewsasia

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken ended his latest visit to the Middle East with a truce agreement still proving elusive. Dr Anas Iqtait, a lecturer at the Australian National University's Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, shares with CNA's Asia First the main sticking points holding up a deal to end 10 months of violence. Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub Subscribe to our news service for must-read stories: Telegram - https://cna.asia/telegram WhatsApp - https://cna.asia/whatsapp Follow us: CNA: https://cna.asia CNA Lifestyle: http://www.cnalifestyle.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/channelnewsasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/channelnewsasia Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/channelnewsasia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@channelnewsasia

Tim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota, has formally accepted the Democratic party's nomination for vice president. Walz took to the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, receiving a warm welcome from delegates and supporters. The convention will wrap up on Friday (Aug 23) in Chicago when Vice President Kamala Harris launches the final sprint to the White House. The convention has seen the torch pass to a younger generation of Democrats, and CNA's Simon Marks reports that many are now laying plans to modernise the party and its policies.

Federal reserve police forces have been asked to take charge of the security of the hospital where a junior doctor was raped and murdered earlier this month. Reports say Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's newly appointed principal has been removed from her post after protests by medical students. Ishan Garg reports from the hospital's campus in Kolkata.

Small communities on the Italian island of Sardinia are using the stunning longevity of their residents to attract tourists. Sardinia is home to one of five “Blue Zones” around the world, where locals have been found to have “exceptional” longevity. The others are in Japan, Costa Rica, Greece and the US state of California. Giles Gibson reports from the Sardinian town of Seulo.

The gruesome rape and murder of a trainee doctor has sparked outrage in India and triggered massive protests across major cities. Advocates say legislation alone will not resolve India’s deep-rooted, systemic problem with sexual violence, calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the system. Vrinda Grover, a lawyer practising at India’s Supreme Court, tells CNA’s Asia First why strict punishments are not proving to be a deterrent, and what the political class can do. Read more: https://cna.asia/4fXvTo0 Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub Subscribe to our news service for must-read stories: Telegram - https://cna.asia/telegram WhatsApp - https://cna.asia/whatsapp Follow us: CNA: https://cna.asia CNA Lifestyle: http://www.cnalifestyle.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/channelnewsasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/channelnewsasia Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/channelnewsasia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@channelnewsasia

India's Supreme Court has created a national task force of doctors to recommend steps to ensure safety, days after a trainee doctor was raped and murdered. Activists accuse authorities of only acting whenever high-profile incidents stoke public anger, but not resolving underlying societal issues. Jhuma Sen, an advocate practising at the Calcutta High Court and Supreme Court, tells CNA’s Asia Now she has filed a petition to conduct a gender audit to assess the institutionalisation of gender equality in public and private spaces. Read more: https://cna.asia/4fXvTo0 Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub Subscribe to our news service for must-read stories: Telegram - https://cna.asia/telegram WhatsApp - https://cna.asia/whatsapp Follow us: CNA: https://cna.asia CNA Lifestyle: http://www.cnalifestyle.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/channelnewsasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/channelnewsasia Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/channelnewsasia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@channelnewsasia

Singapore authorities are investigating a Bangladeshi extremist preacher who gave an illegal sermon to migrant workers at a dormitory in Tuas on Aug 9. The preacher, Amir Hamza, managed to enter Singapore because he used a passport with a name different from what was in the country’s security databases, said the Ministry of Home Affairs on Aug 21.

 For a small country, Singapore wastes a staggering amount of food. And yet, there are people who struggle to eat three good meals a day. To tackle this, member of parliament Louis Ng spearheaded the Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill which was passed on Aug 7. He speaks to Liling Tan and Jack Board on why he embarked on this journey.    See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

The Singapore Night Festival returns this year and promises to be bigger and better. It will cover new locations and run for three weekends instead of two. This is in response to public feedback asking for more out of this popular annual event. This year's theme "Art of Play" is inspired by the area's history as the birthplace of some of Singapore's first schools. Muhammad Bahajjaj gives us a sneak peek ahead of its opening on Aug 23.

Two-year recidivism rates among youths aged 14 to 21 stood at 16.3 per cent in 2023, down from nearly 29 per cent in 2020. These young offenders typically receive reformative training instead of other forms of sentences. We take a look at how this has helped them reintegrate into society.

Dr Noor Huda Ismail, Visiting Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, gives his take on the incident involving a radical Bangladeshi preacher delivering an illegal sermon to migrant workers. He talks about the implications on Singapore's national security and how the nation can be more vigilant against such radical foreign preachers.

Singapore athletes who are part of a national sports scholarship programme will get monthly top-ups to their Central Provident Fund accounts from April 2025. It is among fresh measures announced at a sports fraternity engagement session to better help promising athletes juggle their sporting dreams and long-term career aspirations. Alif Amsyar reports from the National Stadium.

There are lingering concerns among some small and medium companies over the latest updates to Singapore's parental leave policy. They are worried that the 10 additional weeks of mandated shared leave announced at the National Day Rally would put a further strain on manpower and performance. This is despite provisions to help them adjust, including a staggered roll-out by April 2026 and minimum notice periods. Richa Mathew with more.

Singapore authorities are investigating those involved in a sermon by a radical Bangladeshi preacher. The Home Affairs Ministry says Amir Hamza's speech propagated extremist teachings that are dangerous and detrimental to the nation's communal harmony. It says strong action will be taken against those involved, if laws have been breached. Under the Internal Security Act, this includes deportation, prosecution or detention. Aslam Shah with more.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong sketched out his government's priorities in his first National Rally address, with a focus on parents, education and housing. Do the announcements show a significant shift towards a different kind of Singapore? SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan and Assistant Professor Elvin Ong from the political science department at NUS give their assessment. 0:00 Intro 1:25 An emotional and personal maiden speech 4:25 Shared parental leave: who will bear the cost? 8:07 Flexibility is key 12:45 Who's from the GEP programme? 16:00 How will resources be spread? Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub Subscribe to our news service for must-read stories: Telegram - https://cna.asia/telegram WhatsApp - https://cna.asia/whatsapp Follow us: CNA: https://cna.asia CNA Lifestyle: http://www.cnalifestyle.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/channelnewsasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/channelnewsasia Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/channelnewsasia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@channelnewsasia

Doctors, interns and trainees across India will continue to be on strike, meaning they are suspending all elective surgeries and outpatient treatments. Healthcare workers are calling for laws to be laid down to protect medical staff, while medical associations are demanding the government do more to ensure a safe work environment. This comes after the Supreme Court urged them to call off the ongoing strike. Neha Poonia has more.