Asia Tonight - Sun 3 Aug 2025
About the show:
Top stories of the day with 'live' reports and interviews to keep you up-to-date on what's happening in one of the most dynamic regions of the world.
Daily at 8pm (SIN / HK)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Straits Times
Death of a delta: Pakistan's Indus sinks and shrinks
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Abandoned houses are pictured in one of the villages of Kharo Chan town, in the Indus delta, south of Pakistan. KHARO CHAN, Pakistan - Salt crusts crackle underfoot as Habibullah Khatti walks to his mother's grave to say a final goodbye before he abandons his parched island village on Pakistan's Indus delta. Seawater intrusion into the delta, where the Indus River meets the Arabian Sea in the south of the country, has triggered the collapse of farming and fishing communities. 'The saline water has surrounded us from all four sides,' Mr Khatti told AFP from Abdullah Mirbahar village in the town of Kharo Chan, around 15km from where the river empties into the sea. As fish stocks fell, the 54-year-old turned to tailoring until that too became impossible with only four of the 150 households remaining. 'In the evening, an eerie silence takes over the area,' he said, as stray dogs wandered through the deserted wooden and bamboo houses. Kharo Chan once comprised around 40 villages, but most have disappeared under rising seawater . The town's population fell from 26,000 in 1981 to 11,000 in 2023, according to census data. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 'She had a whole life ahead of her': Boyfriend mourns Yishun fatal crash victim World Israel to decide next steps in Gaza after ceasefire talks collapse Singapore Singapore-made bot matchmakes strangers virtually – without profile photos Life Urinary issues: Enlarged prostate affects half of men in their 50s and up Business Lendlease Reit to sell office component of Jem to Keppel for $462 million Singapore Conditional warning for ex-manager at Mendaki accused of trying to obtain laptop as bribe Mr Khatti is preparing to move his family to nearby Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, and one swelling with economic migrants, including from the Indus delta. The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, which advocates for fishing communities, estimates that tens of thousands of people have been displaced from the delta's coastal districts. However, more than 1.2 million people have been displaced from the overall Indus delta region in the last two decades, according to a study published in March by the Jinnah Institute, a think tank led by a former climate change minister. The downstream flow of water into the delta has decreased by 80 per cent since the 1950s as a result of irrigation canals, hydropower dams and the impacts of climate change on glacial and snow melt, according to a 2018 study by the US-Pakistan Centre for Advanced Studies in Water. That has led to devastating seawater intrusion. The salinity of the water has risen by around 70 per cent since 1990, making it impossible to grow crops and severely affecting the shrimp and crab populations. 'The delta is both sinking and shrinking,' said Mr Muhammad Ali Anjum, a local WWF conservationist. 'No other choice' Beginning in Tibet, the Indus River flows through disputed Kashmir before traversing the entire length of Pakistan. The river and its tributaries irrigate about 80 per cent of the country's farmland, supporting millions of livelihoods. The delta, formed by rich sediment deposited by the river as it meets the sea, was once ideal for farming, fishing, mangroves and wildlife. But more than 16 per cent of fertile land has become unproductive due to encroaching seawater, a government water agency study in 2019 found. In the town of Keti Bandar, which spreads inland from the water's edge, a white layer of salt crystals covers the ground. Boats carry in drinkable water from miles away and villagers cart it home via donkeys. 'Who leaves their homeland willingly?' said Mr Haji Karam Jat, whose house was swallowed by the rising water level. He rebuilt farther inland, anticipating more families would join him. 'A person only leaves their motherland when they have no other choice,' he told AFP. Way of life British colonial rulers were the first to alter the course of the Indus River with canals and dams, followed more recently by dozens of hydropower projects. Earlier in 2025, several military-led canal projects on the Indus River were halted when farmers in the low-lying riverine areas of Sindh province protested. To combat the degradation of the Indus River Basin, the government and the United Nations launched the Living Indus Initiative in 2021. One intervention focuses on restoring the delta by addressing soil salinity and protecting local agriculture and ecosystems. The Sindh government is currently running its own mangrove restoration project, aiming to revive forests that serve as a natural barrier against saltwater intrusion. Even as mangroves are restored in some parts of the coastline, land grabbing and residential development projects drive clearing in other areas. Neighbouring India meanwhile poses a looming threat to the river and its delta, after revoking a 1960 water treaty with Pakistan which divides control over the Indus basin rivers. It has threatened to never reinstate the treaty and build dams upstream, squeezing the flow of water to Pakistan, which has called it 'an act of war'. Alongside their homes, the communities have lost a way of life tightly bound up in the delta, said climate activist Fatima Majeed, who works with the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum. Women, in particular, who for generations have stitched nets and packed the day's catches, struggle to find work when they migrate to cities, said Ms Majeed, whose grandfather relocated the family from Kharo Chan to the outskirts of Karachi. 'We haven't just lost our land, we've lost our culture.' AFP
Straits Times
18 hours ago
- Straits Times
Night Safari welcomes 4 Tasmanian devils from Australia
Lumiere the Tasmanian devil is among three others who will now call the Night Safari their new home. SINGAPORE - Four new Tasmanian devils will now call the Night Safari their home. Three-year-old Cogsworth, Lumiere, Scuttle and Cuttlefish, joined three others along the Tasmanian Devil Trail, the Mandai Wildlife Group said in a statement on Aug 5. The newcomers are part of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Programme (STDP) and come from Australian conservation organisation, Aussie Ark. Tasmanian devils, the world's largest carnivorous marsupials, are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Wild populations from the southern Australian island state have been devastated by the spread of devil facial tumour disease – a contagious cancer that threatens the species' survival. The newcomers' move to Singapore is part of a global programme that aims to raise awareness of the species, their plight in the wild and the importance of safeguarding them. The Night Safari received its first Tasmanian devils in 2022 under the STDP, which aims to build a healthy, cancer-free population under human care. The Tasmanian devils at Night Safari will share two existing exhibits, designed to replicate elements of their natural habitats and encourage behaviours such as foraging and exploration. PHOTO: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP 'This transfer marks a meaningful step forward in our collaboration with the Save the Tasmanian Devil Programme and Aussie Ark to safeguard this iconic species,' said Dr Cheng Wen-Haur, Deputy CEO of Life Sciences and Operations and Chief Life Sciences Officer at Mandai Wildlife Group. 'Beyond strengthening population resilience, we aim to deepen public understanding of why Tasmanian devils matter.' Tasmanian devils are recognised by their stocky build, black fur and loud vocalisations that likely inspired their name. Despite their fierce appearance, they are shy scavengers and play an important role in keeping their native ecosystems healthy. Individuals can live up to eight years in captivity while those in the wild have shorter lifespans, typically up to six years. The Night Safari's four newcomers are gradually being introduced to the existing population. The three males – Cogsworth, Lumiere and Scuttle – are housed together in one exhibit while the females will share the other. The groups will be rotated regularly between two exhibits to encourage environmental stimulation. Each appears to exhibit different personality traits. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Israel to decide next steps in Gaza after ceasefire talks collapse Singapore 'I wish I can hear her sing again,' says boyfriend of Yishun fatal crash victim Singapore Singapore-made bot amble matchmakes strangers virtually - without profile photos Asia What's it like to deal with brutal US tariffs? Ask Malaysia Singapore Singapore launches review of economic strategy to stay ahead of global shifts Singapore A look at the five committees reviewing Singapore's economic strategy Singapore Conditional warning for ex-manager at Mendaki accused of trying to obtain laptop as bribe Cuttlefish, the only female among the group of newcomers, is notably vocal and easily recognised by a white marking near her tail. Like her, Cogsworth, with his all-black coat, is expressive and often first to explore new areas. Cogsworth, the most active, playful and curious devil of the group, explores his new home at Night Safari. PHOTO: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP Meanwhile, Lumiere is quieter and more reserved, with a large white spot near his tail. Scuttle can be recognised by the small white spots on his back and tends to be protective of his personal space, Mandai Wildlife Group said. Mr Tim Faulkner, managing director of Aussie Ark, hailed its partnership with the Night Safari and STDP, saying: 'Establishing genetically diverse populations in well-managed, accredited zoos globally helps safeguard the species and provides a vital safety net against extinction.' Visitors will be able to see the three new male Tasmanian devils from Aug 5. Meanwhile, Cuttlefish is still adjusting to her new environment, with no estimates as to when she will join the exhibits.
Independent Singapore
18 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Man says ex who never offered to split the bill texted him out of nowhere, then disappeared again
SINGAPORE: A man was left feeling confused and emotionally unsettled after a woman he had parted ways with two months ago suddenly reached out to ask how he was doing, only to delete the entire conversation shortly after. On Reddit, the man, who had been seeing the woman despite their two-year age gap, explained that he initially ended things with her due to several red flags, one of which was the imbalance in financial contributions during their dates. 'I am an NUS uni student; she is working full-time, [but] she never even offered to split because 'that's what her partner usually does,' he wrote. 'Decided that maybe she isn't so suitable for me, and had the thought of parting ways. In the end, due to non-financial reasons, we decided to part ways, and I thought that was it.' However, the silence between them was unexpectedly broken two weeks ago when she sent him a message out of the blue, asking how he had been. 'I thought we cut each other off already? I felt so messed up, so I asked her what she wanted. She said she wanted to 'know how I am doing,' but then I said I am doing fine. She then proceeded to delete the Telegram chat from both sides.' Seeking clarity, he asked fellow Reddit users: 'To anyone who has faced this/did this, why did this happen? I am disturbed and disoriented. I am genuinely curious because, in my knowledge, cutting off means not seeing or talking to each other ever again, even through text.' 'I don't think it means she wants to get back with you, so don't be too disoriented.' The man's post sparked a flurry of responses from netizens, many of whom speculated that the woman might have been feeling nostalgic, lonely, or even regretful. One explained, 'I think it was just a moment of weakness on her side. She felt lonely, missed you probably, and couldn't help but text you. Knowing you would probably reply, and maybe start pining for her again, would assuage her lonely heart for a while. I don't think it means she wants to get back with you, so don't be too disoriented.' Another chimed in, 'I don't think you're wrong to be confused because the other person is definitely sending mixed signals. As to why she did this, who knows? Maybe she was curious. Maybe she was lonely. Maybe she was drunk. Maybe she just wanted to know if you're still a valid backup. Point being that no one (but her) knows, and it isn't YOUR job to find out, either. Your job is to take care of yourself, since you're still emotionally vulnerable (as seen from your post).' Some also advised the man to simply ignore her, with one commenting,'Life is not so black and white. Maybe there is something she misses about you. Something that makes her crave for you. Just ignore her; if you're incompatible, you're incompatible.' Why did your ex suddenly reach out and then disappear? According to professional relationship coach Chris Seiter, this confusing behaviour is often driven by something called the 'nostalgia principle.' This happens when your ex starts thinking about the good times you shared and feels a strong urge to relive those moments. That feeling pushes them to send a message or reach out to you. See also Are you suddenly interested in the Supreme Court? You're not alone After making contact, however, they may begin to feel unsure about their decision. They might start to worry about what reconnecting could mean. Questions like 'Am I doing the right thing?' or 'Will I lose my independence again?' can cause them to panic or pull away. This often leads to them disappearing just as quickly as they showed up. Read also: 'You own this place ah?' — Man says elderly uncle snapped after he asked him to lower loud phone video at West Coast Plaza
