Israel says missile launched from Yemen was intercepted
The Israeli military said on Thursday that a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted after air raid sirens sounded in several areas across the country.
The Iran-aligned Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have been firing at Israel and attacking shipping lanes.
Houthis have repeatedly said that their attacks are an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel's military assault since late 2023 has killed more than 57,000 people, Gaza authorities say.
Most of the dozens of missiles and drones they have launched have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes. REUTERS
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Straits Times
13 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Countering misinformation requires both laws and access to trusted news sources: Josephine Teo
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said Sinfapore must try and prevent 'cracks in our infrastructure of fact'. SINGAPORE – Laws against fake news and manipulated content during elections will continue to be essential in safeguarding Singaporeans against information threats, but by themselves are not enough to push back against misinformation, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said on July 16. Instead, the Republic must try and prevent 'cracks in our infrastructure of fact', which pave the way for rogue actors to dominate its media and information landscape, as has happened elsewhere, said Mrs Teo. That is why the Government has stepped in to support public service media, she added, which ensures that Singaporeans have continued access to trusted news sources and to uphold the integrity of the city-state's infospace. 'Our long-term goal remains unchanged, and that is to nurture a resilient information ecosystem – one where truth can stand on its own, and public trust is anchored in an informed, engaged and discerning citizenry,' she said at the Singapore Press Club Awards 2025 held at Pan Pacific Singapore. These efforts to counter misinformation are crucial because Singapore, as a diverse and open society, will always be susceptible to the dangers of misinformation, she said. Mrs Teo cited examples from the 2020 general election, when there were falsehoods on projected population figures and Covid-19 testing of foreign workers; and the 2023 presidential election, when there was a false claim that the Government could trace how individuals voted and penalise them for their choices. Such attempts at misinformation could be addressed 'to some extent' with the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma), which came into force in 2019. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 600 Telegram groups in Singapore selling, advertising vapes removed by HSA Singapore 2 weeks' jail for man caught smuggling over 1,800 vapes and pods into Singapore Singapore Jail for man who fatally hit his daughter, 2, while driving van without licence Singapore Primary 1 registration: 38 primary schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2A Singapore ComfortDelGro to introduce new taxi cancellation, waiting fee policy Singapore Here comes the sun: Less rain, more warm days in second half of July Singapore Instead of overcomplicating COE system, Govt has ensured affordable transport for all: SM Lee to Jamus Lim Singapore Baby died after mum took abortion pills and gave birth in toilet; coroner records an open verdict This is as Pofma does not generally take a falsehood out of circulation but requires that a correction notice be carried alongside it, which means people can continue to believe the falsehood in spite of it being called out. Lies also tend to travel faster than the truth, she added. 'We are realistic that a factual correction does not reach everyone who had seen the falsehood.' The risks during the recent May 3 general election were much greater with the availability of AI-generated deepfakes, she noted. A compressed election timeline - there were nine days of campaigning during GE2025 - meant that the window to react was extremely narrow, said Mrs Teo. 'We therefore needed to be absolutely clear what was permitted and what was not, and who was accountable for validating the suspected content,' she added. In October 2024, authorities put in new safeguards when it amended election laws. The Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Act, or Eliona, prohibits digitally generated or manipulated election-related content that realistically misrepresents a candidate's speech or actions during the election period. Candidates have to declare whether content featuring them was true or false, and a wrongful declaration could have led to the result of their election being voided. Thankfully, GE2025 did not see a surge in egregious misinformation or malicious synthetic content, said Mrs Teo. Neither Pofma nor Eliona were invoked during the recent election. She added that Singapore is fortunate that its public service media remain trusted institutions, with the recent Reuters Digital News Report having found that 75 per cent of respondents trusted The Straits Times , while 74 per cent trusted CNA. 'These are outstanding achievements, especially when compared against the global average trust in media, which stands at just around 40 per cent,' she noted. Going forward, Mrs Teo said public service media has to continue developing the right talent and instincts to provide quality journalistic content to Singaporeans. 'Content is still key. Information is the currency of the industry, and your insight is what sets you apart from the rest. This is also your mission and duty to your audiences,' she said to a room of over 250 guests, including journalists past and present. Media outlets here must also keep pace with technology and the changing preferences of audiences by investing in new capabilities, adopting new processes and creating new products. She cited SPH Media's in-house multimedia facility Studio+65, which allows for virtual production, audiovisual storytelling and digital content creation. Mediacorp has also deployed AI in its newsrooms, automating translation and subtitling processes, she noted. In her speech, Mrs Teo spotlighted some award winners for innovating and finding new ways of bringing important stories to readers. They included ST senior correspondent Stephanie Yeo, who won a health journalism award for her well-researched reports on women's health issues that raised awareness of conditions such as endometriosis and menopause and their available treatment options. Endometriosis is a condition where menstruation tissue is found outside the womb. Mrs Teo said public service media in Singapore has defied the odds and avoided the fates of many of their international counterparts, and that generations of journalists played an important role in fostering a thriving and vibrant media ecosystem here. 'It is fair to say that journalism has never been an easy job, and it has become only harder in recent decades. But you have soldiered on with a tireless commitment to excellence,' she said. 'Your dedication to the craft has been instrumental in upholding truth and trust in Singapore's information space, shaping an informed audience and a stronger Singapore.'
Straits Times
13 minutes ago
- Straits Times
US has told Armenia it is ready to manage transport corridor with Azerbaijan, Armenpress reports
FILE PHOTO: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan waves as he arrives to attend the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, February 11, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the U.S. had offered to manage a potential transport corridor that would link the bulk of Azerbaijan to an Azerbaijani exclave via Armenian territory, the Armenpress news agency reported on Wednesday. The potential corridor, which Baku is keen to secure, would run roughly 32 km (20 miles) through Armenia's southern Syunik province, linking the majority of Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan, an Azerbaijani exclave that borders Baku's ally Turkey. Azerbaijan does not want the corridor to be controlled solely by Armenia due to concerns that Yerevan could revoke access too easily. Asked at a news conference if Armenia had received a specific proposal from Washington regarding the proposed corridor, Pashinyan said: "Yes, we have received proposals from the United States," Armenpress, a state news agency, reported. The transit link is one of several stumbling blocks to a peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia, neighbours in the South Caucasus region who have fought a series of wars since the late 1980s and remain arch rivals. The countries said in March they had finalised a draft peace deal, but the timeline for signing it remains uncertain. Pashinyan's comments came days after the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, said that Washington has proposed taking over the planned transit corridor. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 600 Telegram groups in Singapore selling, advertising vapes removed by HSA Singapore 2 weeks' jail for man caught smuggling over 1,800 vapes and pods into Singapore Singapore Jail for man who fatally hit his daughter, 2, while driving van without licence Singapore Primary 1 registration: 38 primary schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2A Singapore ComfortDelGro to introduce new taxi cancellation, waiting fee policy Singapore Here comes the sun: Less rain, more warm days in second half of July Singapore Instead of overcomplicating COE system, Govt has ensured affordable transport for all: SM Lee to Jamus Lim Singapore Baby died after mum took abortion pills and gave birth in toilet; coroner records an open verdict "They're arguing over 32 kilometres of road, but this is no joke. It's been going on for a decade – 32 kilometres of road," Barrack told reporters in New York last Friday, according to a State Department readout. "So what happens is America comes in and says, 'Okay, we'll take it over. Give us the 32 kilometres of road on a hundred-year lease, and you can all share it." REUTERS
Straits Times
43 minutes ago
- Straits Times
UK counter-radicalisation scheme Prevent must 'up its game', review concludes
FILE PHOTO: LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Home Secretary Yvette Cooper speaks with members of the local community during a visit to the recently refurbished Spellow library on September 21, 2024 in Liverpool, England. Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo LONDON - Britain's counter-radicalisation scheme Prevent needs to rapidly adapt to avoid mistakes which saw two men who had been referred to the programme go on to commit deadly knife attacks, a review concluded on Wednesday. Prevent has been a key strand of Britain's security apparatus since the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001, with the aim of stopping radicalisation and preventing people from going on to commit acts of violence. But since its inception it has faced criticism from some Muslims who argue it has been used to spy on their communities, while some referrals have gone on to commit acts of terrorism. The government commissioned a report into the scheme after it emerged that teenager Axel Rudakubana, who murdered three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport last year, had previously been referred by his school, but concerns about his violent tendencies were not acted upon. David Anderson, the Interim Independent Prevent Commissioner, looked at the case of Ali Harbi Ali, who was inspired by Islamic State to stab to death veteran lawmaker David Amess in 2021. Ali too had previously been referred to Prevent by his school, and Anderson said both cases involved a long string of mistakes and poor judgments. He concluded that the scheme, while it worked sometimes, had to improve and adapt, applying to those who were simply obsessed with violence, such as Rudakubana. In the longer term, it should become part of a broader safeguarding and violence protection system, he said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 600 Telegram groups in Singapore selling, advertising vapes removed by HSA Singapore 2 weeks' jail for man caught smuggling over 1,800 vapes and pods into Singapore Singapore Jail for man who fatally hit his daughter, 2, while driving van without licence Singapore Primary 1 registration: 38 primary schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2A Singapore ComfortDelGro to introduce new taxi cancellation, waiting fee policy Singapore Here comes the sun: Less rain, more warm days in second half of July Singapore Instead of overcomplicating COE system, Govt has ensured affordable transport for all: SM Lee to Jamus Lim Singapore Baby died after mum took abortion pills and gave birth in toilet; coroner records an open verdict "More needs to be done," Anderson said. "Prevent needs to up its game in the online world, where most radicalisation now takes place." Home Secretary (interior minister) Yvette Cooper said the government would immediately act on his findings. The most recent figures showed in the year to the end of March 2024, 6,922 people had been referred to Prevent, an increase of 1.5% on the previous 12 months. Of those, 63% were categorised as holding extremist Islamist views and 29% were considered to hold extreme right-wing ideologies. Only two years ago, another independent review concluded that Prevent should refocus its efforts more on the threat posed by militant Islamism after becoming too concerned with extreme right-wing ideologies. REUTERS
