???????? SAF National Servicemen are using robotic exoskeletons to help with the heavy lifting as they put together 300,000 parade packs ahead of Singapore's National Day.

It’s been a year since supermarkets in Singapore have stopped giving out free plastic bags. Has that created a dent in our consumption of plastics? Jack Board and Liling Tan wrap their heads around the plastic conundrum.      See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

On East Asia Tonight (Jul 17), Donald Trump says Taiwan should pay the US for defence, the US mulls tougher trade curbs to limit China’s chip access, and an ex-CIA official indicted for allegedly working as an agent for South Korea. We also look at Chinese caviar dominating the global market despite US tariffs, and the tech bosses driving Taiwan’s manufacturing boom.

The Singapore Army is using a new machine gun that is more accurate at shooting targets that are farther away. The Light Machine Gun Colt Infantry Automatic Rifle replaces the Ultimax that has been in use since the 1980s. Aslam Shah with more.

Over one and a half years, 75 lower-income households received an average of S$500 every month in cash aid with no strings attached. Social service agency AWWA undertook a study that revealed how that has helped them pursue longer-term goals. CNA's Syahida Othman speaks to Director of Family Services at AWWA, Huixia Seetoh, and Senior Research Fellow at NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Head of the Case Insights Unit & Social Inclusion Project, Dr Ng Kok Hoe, and finds out that gaps remain, especially when it comes to getting quality jobs that can improve their lives.

Authorities in Vietnam have reached out to families of the four Vietnamese nationals who were among those found dead in a Bangkok hotel. CNA’s Tung Ngo with more.

Singapore's exports in June continued to disappoint, slumping by 8.7 per cent on-year, marking its fifth consecutive month of contraction. Analysts expect better numbers next quarter, but as Nadirah Zaidi finds out, the export recovery is still set to be bumpy in the short term.

An audit has found that the National Parks Board may have overpaid contractors nearly S$2 million due to lapses in procurement and contract management. The Auditor-General's Office (AGO) also flagged possible overpayment by the Education Ministry. The AGO audited the Government financial statements, as well as financial statements of three statutory boards, four Government-owned companies and two other accounts. Jeraldine Yap with more.

All Active Ageing Centres in Singapore will get guidelines on how to help seniors learn about healthy diets by the end of 2027. To do so, Singapore General Hospital is conducting interviews and focus group discussions to find out what are the gaps in knowledge. The programme aims to help seniors manage their medical conditions and ultimately improve health outcomes.

Former rivals of Donald Trump have taken to the stage of the Republican National Convention, throwing their resounding support behind the presidential nominee. The man himself was there to witness it. Simon Marks has more.

Thai police say they have detected traces of cyanide in the bodies of six foreigners found in a room in a luxury Bangkok hotel on Jul 16. Authorities are calling the incident a murder-suicide, with the culprit possibly among the dead. Full pathology results are expected before the end of the week. CNA's Saksith Saiyasombut reports. https://cna.asia/4bM2I3Z

Major tech companies in Taiwan and their chiefs are getting renewed attention from investors, as the artificial intelligence hype takes shape. CNA's Victoria Jen takes a look at five movers and shakers in Taiwan's tech industry. 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

A decade has passed since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine. All 283 passengers and 15 crew died in the crash on Jul 17, 2014. Global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw, who was one of the first at the crash site, shares his experience with CNA’s Asia Now. He also says many victims’ families could not afford to attend a memorial service in the Netherlands this week, and there should be more financial support for them to travel there or have proper burials. 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 case of 6 Vietnamese nationals found dead in a Bangkok hotel room was likely murder-suicide by poisoning, Thai police said on Wednesday (Jul 17). One of the deceased is believed to have carried out the crime.

Thai police concluded on Wednesday (Jul 17) that the deaths of six foreign nationals at a Bangkok hotel room were likely a case of murder-suicide. Traces of cyanide were found and one of the dead was believed to be behind the poisoning. CNA's Saksith Saiyasombut has more on what was revealed at the police press conference. Read more: https://cna.asia/4bM2I3Z 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

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

On East Asia Tonight (Jul 16), a look China’s modernisation ambitions, the US and South Korea’s nuclear-based alliance, and a North Korean diplomat in Cuba defects to the South. We also look at a summit of Pacific Island leaders in Tokyo, and how Japan is looking to let ‘zombie’ firms fail.

Despite questions and controversy, Indonesian officials insist Nusantara will be ready to host Independence Day on Aug 17. It is meant to replace the current capital, Jakarta, which is beset by pollution, congestion, and is also considered the world's fastest sinking city. Teresa Tang gets insight from CNA's Saifulbahri Ismail and Lewa Pardomuan. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Six people were found dead at Bangkok's Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel on Tuesday, with the cause of death unconfirmed. Police are investigating the possibility of poisoning. CNA's Saksith Saiyasombut reports from Bangkok. Full story: https://cna.asia/4bNGI94 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

Six people have been found dead inside their hotel rooms at the Grand Hyatt Erawan in central Bangkok. Thailand's foreign ministry said four of the six guests are Vietnamese nationals, while two others are Americans of Vietnamese descent. A seventh guest is unaccounted for. A police official said the guests were supposed to check out on Monday, but housekeeping found them dead. There were no signs of any fight or struggles.