While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Aug 13, 2025
A Ukrainian soldier keeps a lookout for Russian drones in the back of a pickup truck, in the city of Kostyantynivka, Ukraine.
Ukraine fights Russian grab for more territory
Small bands of Russian soldiers thrust deeper into eastern Ukraine on Aug 12 before a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, which European leaders fear could end in peace terms imposed on an unlawfully shrunken Ukraine.
In one of the most extensive incursions so far this year, Russian troops advanced near the coal-mining town of Dobropillia, part of Mr Putin's campaign to take full control of Ukraine's Donetsk region.
Ukraine's military dispatched reserve troops, saying they were in difficult combat against Russian soldiers.
Mr Trump's administration tempered expectations on Aug 12 for major progress towards a ceasefire, meanwhile, calling his meeting on Aug 15 with Mr Putin in Alaska a 'listening exercise'.
READ MORE HERE
DPM Gan kicks off India visit in Mumbai
PHOTO: MDDI
Kicking off his India visit aimed at deepening bilateral economic and business ties, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on Aug 12 witnessed Singapore firms inking agreements committing more than 200 billion rupees' (S$2.93 billion) worth of investments in Maharashtra state.
In addition, DPM Gan, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, visited PSA's port operations at Bharat Mumbai Container Terminal and inaugurated CapitaLand Investment's (CLI) first data centre in Navi Mumbai – touted as being two of the more significant investments by Singapore firms in Maharashtra.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Luxury items seized in $3b money laundering case handed over to Deloitte for liquidation
Singapore MyRepublic customers air concerns over broadband speed after sale to StarHub
Singapore Power switchboard failure led to disruption in NEL, Sengkang-Punggol LRT services: SBS Transit
Singapore NEL and Sengkang-Punggol LRT resume service after hours-long power fault
Business Ninja Van cuts 12% of Singapore workforce after 2 rounds of layoffs in 2024
Singapore Hyflux investigator 'took advantage' of Olivia Lum's inability to recall events: Davinder Singh
Singapore Man who stabbed son-in-law to death in Boon Tat Street in 2017 dies of heart attack, says daughter
Singapore Man who stalked woman blasted by judge on appeal for asking scandalous questions in court
'These investments underscore the growing bilateral economic partnership between Singapore and India and Singapore's confidence in India's long-term economic trajectory,' the Republic's Ministry of Trade and Industry said on Aug 12.
READ MORE HERE
South Korea's former first lady arrested
PHOTO: EPA
South Korea's former first lady, Ms Kim Keon Hee, has been arrested after a court late on Aug 12 issued a warrant to arrest her following accusations of graft that she denies, the Yonhap news agency reported.
Ms Kim is South Korea's only former first lady to be arrested, joining her husband, ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, in jail as he faces trial, following his ouster in April, over a botched bid to impose martial law in December.
Earlier in the day, Ms Kim, wearing a black suit, bowed as she arrived at court, but did not answer reporters' questions or make a statement. After the hearing ended she left to await the ruling at a detention centre in Seoul, the capital, in line with customary practice.
READ MORE HERE
Perplexity makes bold $44b bid for Google's Chrome
PHOTO: REUTERS
Perplexity AI made a US$34.5 billion (S$44.2 billion) unsolicited all-cash offer for Alphabet's Chrome browser on Aug 12, a bid far above its own valuation as the startup reaches for the browser's billions of users pivotal to the AI search race.
Run by Mr Aravind Srinivas, Perplexity is no stranger to headline-grabbing offers: it made a similar one for TikTok US in January, offering to merge with the popular short-video app to resolve US concerns about TikTok's Chinese ownership.
OpenAI, Yahoo and private-equity firm Apollo Global Management have also expressed interest in Chrome as regulatory pressure threatens Google's grip on the industry.
READ MORE HERE
Duplantis breaks pole vault world record for 13th time
PHOTO: AFP
Sweden's Armand Duplantis broke his own pole vault world record with a clearance of 6.29m at the Hungarian Grand Prix meeting in Budapest on Aug 12, the 13th time he has set a new world-best mark.
The double-Olympic champion continued his tradition of improving on his previous mark by one centimetre, with his second attempt at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial overhauling the record he set in Stockholm in June.
Duplantis had looked a little off his best form, missing his first attempt at 6.11, and after Greece's Emmanouil Karalis retired after failing twice at the same height the Swede had the bar raised to make his usual world record attempt.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Peru's Boluarte pardons security forces for abuses during decades-long internal conflict
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Peru's President Dina Boluarte speaks during a press conference with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (not pictured) at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 11, 2025. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/File photo LIMA - Peru President Dina Boluarte signed a law on Wednesday pardoning military and police officers accused of human rights abuses committed from 1980 to 2000 during a bitter fight with leftist rebels. The law, approved by Congress in July, was enacted despite a request from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which urged Peru's government not to pass the bill to ensure "victims can get justice." It also asked courts to not enforce the law. "With the enactment of this pardon law, the Peruvian government and Congress recognize the sacrifice of members of the armed forces, the police and self-defense groups in the fight against terrorism," Boluarte said in a speech. "We're giving them back the dignity that should never have been questioned." According to the national human rights coordinator, the pardon will effectively halt or overturn more than 600 pending trials and 156 sentences against security officials for abuses committed during clashes with insurgent groups like the Shining Path. The conflict resulted in an estimated 69,000 deaths and disappearances. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 2 dead after fire in Jalan Bukit Merah flat, about 60 evacuated Singapore TB screenings at two pre-schools after staff member diagnosed in July Singapore HSA seeks Kpod investigators to arrest abusers, conduct anti-trafficking ops Opinion The 30s are heavy: Understanding suicide among Singapore's young adults Singapore Lawyer who sent misleading letters to 22 doctors fails in bid to quash $18,000 penalty Business Haidilao to close Clarke Quay outlet on Aug 31; exit follows 3 earlier outlet closures Singapore Jail, caning for recalcitrant drug offender who assaulted 2 cops with stun device Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story Lawmakers from the right-wing Popular Force party, which backed the measure, argued the law was necessary to end hundreds of trials that have stalled for over two decades without a verdict. The party was founded by the late former president Alberto Fujimori, who died in September. Fujimori had been sentenced to 25 years in prison for human rights abuses committed during his presidency before receiving a pardon in 2023. The law comes as Boluarte faces an investigation for the deaths of protesters after she took office in late 2022. Her public approval rating has fallen to historic lows. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
‘Coalition of Willing' leaders set out stance on Ukraine ceasefire pathway
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox LONDON - Britain, France and Germany, co-chairs of the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing', set out their position on the pathway to a ceasefire in Ukraine in a statement released after a virtual meeting on Aug 13. 'Ukraine must have robust and credible security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,' said the joint statement, published by Britain two days before a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. 'The Coalition of the Willing is ready to play an active role, including through plans by those willing to deploy a reassurance force once hostilities have ceased. 'No limitations should be placed on Ukraine's armed forces or on its cooperation with third countries. Russia could not have a veto against Ukraine's pathway to EU and Nato.' REUTERS
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Trump floats meeting with Putin and Zelensky if initial Putin talks go well
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Russia's President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands during a bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that if his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin goes well, he would like to have a quick second meeting with Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and himself. "If the first one goes okay, we'll have a quick second one," Trump told reporters. "I would like to do it almost immediately, and we'll have a quick second meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky and myself, if they'd like to have me there." Trump did not provide a timeframe for a second meeting. He is to meet Putin in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday. Trump also said Russia would face consequences if Putin does not agree to stop the war. "Yes, they will," he said. He did not spell out the consequences but he has warned of stiff economic sanctions if no breakthrough can be achieved. Trump spoke after holding talks via telephone with European leaders and Zelensky about his meeting with Putin. "We had a very good call. He was on the call. President Zelensky was on the call. I would rate it a 10, very friendly," he said. REUTERS
