On Friday, President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Teacher Awards to 45 educators from across India in recognition of their remarkable contributions to teaching and learning. The awardees were celebrated for their commitment to student development, adoption of innovative teaching techniques, and efforts to improve learning outcomes in challenging conditions. Their work ranged from pioneering pedagogical practices to motivating first-generation learners, making a significant impact on shaping young minds nationwide.
Among the recipients was M Devananda Kumar, a Telugu faculty member at Dr. Lakireddy Hanimireddy Government Degree College, Mylavaram, Andhra Pradesh, honored for his creative teaching methods. His contributions included creating thallapatra granthas (palm-leaf manuscripts), producing educational content for LMS, and earning notable accolades for his academic work.
Another awardee, Proshanto Kr Saha, a Psychology faculty member at Rajiv Gandhi Central University, Arunachal Pradesh, was recognized for his specialization in forensic and neuropsychology. With over 14 years of service, he established a Neuropsychology Lab, developed training modules, spearheaded major research projects, and provided psychological support to victims of child abuse, showcasing his dedication to both academia and social welfare.
Prior to the ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with the award-winning teachers. In a lighthearted moment, he noted that while teachers usually assign homework to students, he wished to give them an assignment — to champion campaigns for swadeshi products and strengthen the Make in India and Vocal for Local initiatives.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.
South Korean singer and television host Kim Jong-kook has officially tied the knot with his non-celebrity girlfriend in a private ceremony. The wedding, held on the afternoon of September 5 at an undisclosed location in Seoul, was an intimate affair attended only by close family and friends. According to reports from Korean media, his longtime friend and Running Man co-star, Yoo Jae-suk, took on the role of master of ceremonies for the special occasion.
Fans first learned about Jong-kook’s marriage plans through a handwritten letter he posted on his fan café on August 18. In the heartfelt note, the 49-year-old entertainer expressed both nervousness and excitement as he shared the news. He wrote that he had always imagined the day he would write such a message, yet found himself trembling as he finally prepared it. He went on to ask his supporters for warm congratulations and encouragement, adding that although the step came later in his life, he felt fortunate to be beginning this new chapter.
During the August 31 broadcast of Running Man, Jong-kook revealed to his fellow cast members that he was getting married—just ten minutes before filming began. Yoo Jae-suk, 53, later shared that Jong-kook personally asked him to host the wedding. Despite having a filming commitment on the same day, he assured his friend that he would make time.
In addition to his marriage, Kim Jong-kook is preparing for his 30th debut anniversary with a commemorative album and a concert scheduled for October 2025. Reports also revealed that he recently purchased a luxurious villa in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam, worth six billion won (approximately S$5.5 million), which will serve as the couple’s new home.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Insta/Kim Jong-kook.
The United States has ordered the deployment of 10 F-35 fighter jets to an airfield in Puerto Rico to target drug cartels, according to two sources familiar with the decision. The move is expected to heighten regional tensions. The advanced aircraft will expand the already significant US military presence in the southern Caribbean as President Donald Trump pursues his pledge to crack down on groups he accuses of smuggling drugs into the country.
The announcement on Friday (Sept 5) follows a US strike earlier in the week on a vessel Trump claimed was carrying “massive amounts of drugs” from Venezuela, which left 11 people dead. The attack signaled what appears to be the beginning of a longer-term military campaign in Latin America. The sources, speaking anonymously, said the jets are being sent to target designated narco-terrorist groups operating in the region, with arrival expected by late next week.
In recent weeks, the US has also sent several warships to the southern Caribbean, reinforcing Trump’s anti-cartel initiative. A total of seven warships and a nuclear-powered submarine are either already deployed or en route, carrying more than 4,500 Marines and sailors. Units from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Force have also been conducting amphibious and aerial exercises in southern Puerto Rico.
This buildup has intensified pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has described as “the kingpin of a narco state.” Maduro, at a rare news conference in Caracas, accused Washington of attempting “regime change through military threats.” US officials have not clarified the legal basis for the strike on Tuesday’s vessel or confirmed what drugs it was transporting. Trump claimed, without presenting evidence, that the crew were members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang labeled a terrorist group by Washington in February.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
When news leaked in June of a phone call that would topple Thailand’s prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul quickly shifted gears to position himself for power. The seasoned politician exited the Pheu Thai-led coalition of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, reached out to the main opposition, and waited for the right moment. That moment came on Friday (Sept 5), when parliament decisively chose him as Thailand’s next prime minister — a week after the court dismissed Paetongtarn, sparking political upheaval.
Anutin’s path to the top has been decades in the making. He first entered politics through Thai Rak Thai, the party of Paetongtarn’s father, billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra. In recent years, his influence has grown largely through the Bhumjaithai party, a relatively new force with roots in farming communities of northeast Thailand.
Though often mentioned as a potential prime minister in the 2019 and 2023 elections, Anutin did not clinch the role then. Instead, he made his mark as health minister during the Covid-19 crisis and by spearheading cannabis legalisation in 2022. Confident about his future, he told Reuters in 2023: “I am younger, more fresh and I understand politics in a democratic system.”
Bhumjaithai secured only 70 out of 500 parliamentary seats in the last election, but its role in blocking the Move Forward party from power gave it leverage. It became a junior partner in a Pheu Thai-led government, which lasted two years. Analysts describe Anutin as a pragmatic dealmaker, bridging powerful family dynasties and the royalist-conservative establishment. He is also seen as a loyal royalist, aligning himself with the monarchy while positioning Bhumjaithai as a reliable defender of conservative interests.
Thailand’s politics have long been defined by clashes between the conservative establishment and populist parties tied to Thaksin, leading to coups and court rulings that have unseated six prime ministers in 25 years. Born into a wealthy political family, Anutin was educated in Bangkok and the US before running his father’s construction company, Sino-Thai. He entered politics in 2004 as deputy health minister under Thaksin. After a court dissolved Thai Rak Thai in 2007 and banned him for five years, he reemerged in 2012 as leader of Bhumjaithai. Since then, his party has played a role in nearly every government, controlling key ministries that boosted its grassroots support.
Most recently, Anutin served as interior minister in two Pheu Thai administrations. His climb to the premiership was aided by the People’s Party, successor to Move Forward, which offered outside support to stabilize his coalition. Beyond politics, Anutin collects Buddhist amulets and enjoys recreational flying, sometimes assisting with organ transport. Now at the helm of a country facing a faltering economy, border tensions with Cambodia, and lingering political instability, his ability to navigate turbulence will be put to the test.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., appearing before the Senate Finance Committee, was seen rubbing his eye during testimony on President Trump’s 2026 health care agenda. The hearing focused on policy priorities and challenges, drawing attention as Kennedy presented his views while addressing lawmakers, reflecting the administration’s vision for the nation’s health system.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
LinkedIn is now requiring leaders, recruiters, and premium company members to verify their accounts, aiming to strengthen authenticity in professional interactions. But how exactly will this be implemented—and will it truly deliver on its promise? Andrea Heng sits down with Trisha Suresh, LinkedIn’s Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, to find out.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
On September 3, China held its largest military parade to date in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event featured tens of thousands of soldiers, along with hundreds of aircraft, ground vehicles, and advanced weaponry. More than just a show of military might, the parade was intended as a symbol of deterrence, national solidarity, and a display of Xi Jinping’s authority in a period of global uncertainty. Andrea Heng discussed the significance of the event with Dr. Mustafa Izzuddin, Senior International Affairs Analyst at Solaris.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, member nations officially approved the creation of a new Development Bank, marking a significant milestone after ten years of deliberations. The bank aims to enhance regional efficiency and promote social development among member states. Andrea Heng, Hairianto Diman, and Rani Samtani explore its importance and compare it with institutions such as the BRICS Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), in a discussion with Dr. Flavia Zimmermann, Lecturer in Public Policy at the University of Melbourne’s School of Social and Political Sciences.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
At 17, Hyun-Seung Lee was drafted into the North Korean army, where he faced poor conditions and minimal meals. “Most soldiers wash their clothes and bathe in streams or rivers… They must collect firewood from nearby mountains for heating and cooking,” he recalls. Reports surfaced in October last year that North Korean soldiers were fighting for Russia in Ukraine. Now living in the US as a defector, Hyun-Seung Lee believes the soldiers are gaining valuable combat experience from the conflict. Journalist Jean Lee, who spent years reporting from North Korea, told Helen Pidd that the deployment of North Korean troops in Ukraine represents the latest chapter in the longstanding ties between Russia and the “hermit kingdom.” They discuss Pyongyang’s rapidly growing arms production, the implications for Kim Jong-un’s nuclear ambitions, and how this development reinforces a wider autocratic alliance.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.
