The Singapore Food Agency has sent out a circular to remind food business operators to ensure food supplied is prepared hygienically and safe for consumption at all times. This, after the recent rise in the number of food poisoning incidents in the past week. Almost 300 people fell ill in two separate cases at the ByteDance office and the Civil Defence Academy. Ms Chan Fong Ying, a senior food safety consultant and trainer at ISRC, shared more about the risk factors of food being prepared in large quantities at central kitchens and how food safety protocols can be improved.

China's state planner said promoting domestic consumption will take on a "more prominent position", as the country tries to address one of the biggest drags on its economy. Measures include encouraging spending on household appliances and boosting tourism by making it easier for foreigners to travel to China. China's GDP grew by a slower-than-expected 4.7% year-on-year in the third quarter. A major drag has been weak domestic consumption. Retail sales went up by just 2% in June, slowing from 3.7% growth the month before. Olivia Siong reports.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on all parties in the Middle East to avoid "escalatory actions". Fears over a wider conflict are growing, after Iran vowed revenge for the fatal strike on Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. In Tehran, thousands gathered to mourn Haniyeh in a symbolic funeral procession. Hamas said Haniyeh will be buried in Doha. Protests have erupted across several territories -- including Pakistan, Türkiye, Jordan, the occupied West Bank and Lebanon -- in condemnation of the killing. Sarah Coates reports from Tel Aviv.

Hundreds are still missing after deadly landslides in India's southern state of Kerala. Authorities said the death toll is nearing 300. A temporary bridge is being built to allow access to some of the worst-hit areas and the deployment of heavy machinery. Opposition leader and former MP for Wayanad Rahul Gandhi has arrived in the district, as politicians trade blame over who could have done more to prevent and respond to the tragedy. Meanwhile, torrential rains have also hit India's northern regions. Schools in New Delhi have been shut and many airlines have diverted flights. Neha Poonia reports.

It’s time for the yearly feedback exercise, where your rate your boss and co-workers. Is the 360 feedback worth the effort? How can you ensure it leads to real change, and what should you do if it doesn't? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Send it to us at cnapodcasts@mediacorp.com.sg. 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

Some countries in Southeast Asia are turning to the Netherlands for ways to tackle rising tides and floods stemming from climate change. The country’s experiments with floating buildings and coastal protection can help guide the region’s bid to battle sea level rise. CNA’s Melissa Goh reports. 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

The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday (Jul 31) has renewed fears of the Gaza war turning into a broader Middle East conflict. Haniyeh, who was the Palestinian militant group’s face of international diplomacy in recent years, was killed by a missile strike in the Iranian capital Tehran. Israel is widely assumed to be behind the strike but has not claimed responsibility and said it would make no comment. Jonathan Panikoff, director of think tank Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, tells CNA’s Asia First that there will be “a lot of unclear political dynamics” in Iran that will drive how far it will take its response. 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

North Korean state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un supervised rescue efforts for over 5,000 people who were isolated by flooding in the northwest of the country. During his visit to the flooded region last weekend, Kim is said to have scolded officials for failing to prepare for and respond to floods despite previous orders to enhance the country's measures against natural disasters.

China's 19-year-old swim star Pan Zhanle made his mark at the Paris Olympics after breaking his own world record with a blistering swim to clinch the 100m freestyle gold on Wednesday (Jul 31) - the first for China in the swimming competition. This was also the first swimming world record to be rewritten at this year's Games.

China's 19-year-old swim star Pan Zhanle made his mark at the Paris Olympics after breaking his own world record with a blistering swim to clinch the 100m freestyle gold on Wednesday (Jul 31) - the first for China in the swimming competition. This was also the first swimming world record to be rewritten at this year's Games. More details: https://cna.asia/4c6Gf1W 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 badminton player Loh Kean Yew clinched his spot in the knockout stages of the Olympics after battling past El Salvador's Uriel Canjura in straight sets on Wednesday (Jul 31). The 27-year-old is the first local male shuttler to progress to the round of 16 at the Olympics since Ronald Susilo in 2004.

Singapore badminton player Loh Kean Yew clinched his spot in the knockout stages of the Olympics after battling past El Salvador's Uriel Canjura in straight sets on Wednesday (Jul 31). The 27-year-old is the first local male shuttler to progress to the round of 16 at the Olympics since Ronald Susilo in 2004. https://cna.asia/4dhePYg 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

If elected, Kamala Harris will need to thread the needle between being strong on climate change and not upsetting hugely influential big oil and gas companies. Jack Board discusses her prospects with NYU climate and energy expert, Dr Carolyn Kissane.  0:00 Intro 1:41 Turbulence in US politics 6:35 Harris’ potential climate policy 9:28 Going after big oil 11:50 What would Trump do if he wins 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

Iraq is one of the countries hardest hit by climate change. The impact is being felt acutely by the nation’s farmers, who have seen crop yields diminish in recent years as temperatures rise. Aid agencies warn the climate crisis could become a major barrier to recovery efforts following years of conflict. William Denselow reports from Hillah in central Iraq.

Travellers at Singapore's Changi Airport will soon not need to present their passports to clear immigration. This will be on trial at selected automated lanes at Terminal 3, starting 5 August. It will be progressively implemented at all terminals by end-September. The trial will be expanded to include Marina Bay Cruise Centre by December. Bringing the passport for travel is still mandatory. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said the use of facial and iris biometrics will speed up the process by 40%. Aslam Shah reports.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said Singapore remains committed to investing in the long-term growth of China, even as the world's second-largest economy faces economical and geopolitical challenges. Mr Ong, who's also co-chair of the Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council, is in the southern Chinese province for the 14th edition of the meeting. 20 deals have also been inked, most notably in higher-productivity sectors like green economy, healthcare and biomedical. Guangdong remains Singapore's top provincial trading partner in China for 35 years running. Deborah Wong reports.

Singapore and the US have inked a landmark 30-year deal to deepen cooperation in nuclear technology. It will allow the two countries to share expertise to support clean energy needs. Dr David Broadstock, senior research fellow and energy transition lead at the Sustainable and Green Finance Institute at NUS, shared how the agreement will facilitate knowledge transfer. Nasyrah Rohim also looks at how small modular reactors may reshape the nuclear energy landscape by offering more safety, reliability and flexibility for cities and smaller countries.

SMRT Trains' full-year net profit is 82.4% less than the previous FY. It made $7.5 million in the financial year ending April 2024. The drop is mainly due to a one-time $40.8 million dividend from its Thomson-East Coast Line. Higher electricity and staff costs also weighed down profits. The gradual recovery in train ridership, as well as higher average fares and savings from continuous internal improvements helped prop up profits. SMRT will invest at least $10 million in the coming year to prioritise growth areas like artificial intelligence and data mining. Nadirah Zaidi reports.

The United States was not aware of or involved in the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday (Jul 31) in an exclusive interview with CNA's Teresa Tang in Singapore. Blinken is visiting Singapore as part of a tour of Asia that also includes Laos, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan and Mongolia. In the interview, he spoke on the impact of Haniyeh's killing, the United States' ties with Asia, as well as his message to the next president of the United States regarding Asia. Read: https://cna.asia/3A5Vlr2 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