This year's Hungry Ghost Festival begins on Thursday (Aug 13) and ends on Sept 10, with the 15th day — also known as Ghost Day — occurring on Aug 27.The festival is rooted in folklore that the gates of hell open during the seventh lunar month, allowing spirits to return to the living world to look for food. It is with this belief that many Chinese make offerings of food, joss sticks, candles, paper money and other paper effigies such as houses, cars and clothes to the dead. These offerings are not only made to ancestors but also to wandering spirits in the hope that they will be appeased and hence refrain from disturbing the living. Do hell gates really open?In a 2023 interview, Lee Chee Tong, a 27-year-old ordained Taoist priest, told AsiaOne that the festival is not as scary as many believe it to be.According to Taoist beliefs, the 15th day of the seventh month is the birthday of Di Guan Da Di, also known as the 'earth official'. 

A man spotted a foreign worker cycling on the Seletar Expressway (SLE) last Thursday (Aug 6), and decided to make a «special bike delivery» — giving him and his bicycle a lift and a quick lesson on using Google Maps.  Facebook user Foong WeiSheng shared two videos of the encounter on the platform that day. In the videos, Foong is seen mounting the man's bicycle onto a bike rack at the back of his car, which already had another bicycle secured to it.He then gives the worker a lift away from the expressway.The post captioned: «Did a special bike delivery today. Saw an Indian foreign worker cycling along SLE. I stopped and asked him where he (was) going.»Foong explained in the caption that the man had cycled from North Star towards North Link and that his Google Maps had been set to two-wheeler, which is for motorcycles, and he had just followed the app's directions. «As I am going toward Mandai Zoo, I sent him to Mandai road and guided him (on) how to set his Google maps settings so in future, he will not enter expressway again.»

In a bid to get a better vantage point, some people were seen allegedly scaling a bus stop just to shoot pictures.A photo shared in Facebook group Complaint Singapore by user Mark Tan on Monday (Aug 10) shows at least three individuals standing on top of a bus stop shelter.One person is seen perched on another person's shoulder while taking a photo. «Careful ah,» the post captioned. As the photo was uploaded a day after National Day, netizens speculated that they would have been taking pictures of the fireworks.In response to AsiaOne's queries, Tan said that the photo was shared by his friend, who saw it in a TikTok story by user rcistiredd. The photo was stitched in another TikTok video posted on Monday by user geotalkstoomuch, who alleged that those in the video were taking photos of the National Day fireworks. The post captioned: «NDP fireworks got Singaporeans doing side quests. Would you climb up for the perfect view?»

RCMP have recovered the body of a 13-year-old girl from Cultus Lake, following a three-day search of the popular Fraser Valley swimming spot.

An investigation led by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, looking at complaints involving exploitation material created with the aid of artificial intelligence program or programs, has resulted in nearly 60 charges against a 17-year-old in St. John's.

A local pet owner is speaking out about her experiences after a routine walk with her dog through downtown Edmonton ended with an emergency trip to the vet.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the White House kept Congress “in the dark” about last month’s ruse to avoid an Iranian threat.

The military operation was the first following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s dismantling of an office focused on mitigating unintended casualties.

A Syrian court sentenced ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad along with his younger brother to death in absentia today for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria's 14-year conflict

The EU still has no idea how the burden of the €90 bn Ukraine loan will be distributed among member states, MEP Fabio De Masi said Read Full Article at RT.com

A few socialist militants are poisoning the Democratic Party Read Full Article at RT.com

A Ukrainian platoon says it was stuck for weeks without supplies Read Full Article at RT.com

US-based Blackstone Medical Services faces backlash after staff in Colombia was warned against leaving work during a deadly earthquake Read Full Article at RT.com

The National Association of Probation Officers (NAPO) union said nine in ten of the thousands of workers it represents voted in favour.

Middle class areas will have to take in more migrants, Andy Burnham said on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said he would make sure arrivals were not only placed in the 'poorest communities'.

L'un des sous-traitants de la Direction de la santé a subi un incident technique. Si le problème est résolu, tous les usagers sont appelés à la plus grande vigilance quant à de potentiels piratages de données confidentielles.

Dans le cadre de son programme de vacances parlementaires, l'honorable Huguette Tsono, députée du 3è siège du département de Mulundu, exhorte l'ensemble des populations à une mobilisation massive. Du 7 au 17 août 2026, l'élue sillonne les localités de Lassio-Sébè et de l'Ogooué-Amont à la rencontre des hommes, des femmes, des jeunes et des notables du département avec un programme attractif. « Ce rendez-vous est le vôtre. Venez nombreux pour échanger, proposer et construire ensemble (...) - POLITIQUE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

Du 15 au 17 août 2026, le village de Dilolo, situé sur l'axe Ndendé-Dolisie, va renouer avec son histoire, sa culture et ses enfants à travers la première édition de « Retour à Dilolo », initiative du CRÉDI, a-t-on appris auprès de Ludovic Koumba, l' initiateur du projet. Au programme : mini-foire, produits du terroir, actions de solidarité, conférence-débat bilingue français-yipunu et soirée culturelle. Le dimanche, les participants réfléchiront notamment à l'histoire du village et (...) - SOCIETE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

Le Synode national de l'Église Évangélique du Gabon (EEG), qui devait consacrer le renouvellement de ses instances dirigeantes, s'achève sur une controverse susceptible d'ouvrir une nouvelle crise institutionnelle. Au terme du processus, le Révérend Pasteur Jean-Daniel Allogo Essimgane a été désigné président du Conseil national, fonction qui lui confère la présidence de l'Église. Il a été installé lundi 10 août 2026 au Temple national de l'EEG, à Baraka Mission, en présence d'une large (...) - RELIGION / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

Un accident mortel s'est produit mardi 11 août à Faa'a, vers 6h20, près de Hotuārea. Selon TNTV, un scootériste est décédé suite à une violente collision. Une information confirmée par la police municipale.

C'est parti pour le 4e jour de la compétition de surf à Teahupo'o, à vivre en direct sur nos antennes.