Breaking News | CuriousCats.ai

Today

+2 sources·9 September 2026 · 01:39 UTCBreaking

US strikes five Iranian tankers after Iran attempts missile attacks on Navy warship; Iran retaliates with missile barrage at Jordan, as oil prices climb to $99.49 a barrel

Iran's IRGC claimed it inflicted damage on a US base in Jordan, but the US has not commented on the claim. Jordanian air defenses intercepted 18 of 20 missiles, and Iran warned crews near Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports to leave their vessels.

·9 September 2026 · 01:37 UTCBreaking

Singapore gives PM Lawrence Wong $1m pay rise as ministerial salaries jump over 60%; Wong to donate increase to good causes

The raise lifts Wong's benchmark salary from S$2.2m ($1.7m) to S$3.6m ($2.8m), while deputy PM and cabinet ministers see benchmarks rise to S$3m and up to S$2.8m respectively. Wong acknowledged 'political salaries are a difficult and emotive issue' but stressed the need for quality leadership.

+1 source·9 September 2026 · 01:37 UTCBreaking

Police identify and interview five people over online comments on Nepal floods and SIA's Air India investment; investigation ongoing

The comments, which included references to snakes, curry, prata, and black magic, were condemned by Senior Minister K. Shanmugam as 'shameful, nasty and totally unacceptable'. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong also urged Singaporeans to reject hatred and stand together.

·9 September 2026 · 00:34 UTC

War expands as Iran-backed Houthis attack Saudi cities and US strikes Iranian tankers; oil prices surge toward $100 a barrel

US strikes hit tankers near Kharg Island and Jask, with the IRGC threatening to target oil tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports. NASA imagery showed smoke over Saudi refineries, and Brent crude closed at its highest since July 23.

Yesterday

·8 September 2026 · 22:50 UTC

Nepal tunnel rescuers recount how they found workers trapped in flooded construction site; three rescued in recent days, raising hopes for more survivors

Two workers were pulled from the Upper Trishuli 3A hydropower project on Friday, and a Chinese national was found in another tunnel the next day. Rescuers and family members have detailed the harrowing days leading up to the dramatic rescue.

+1 source3 updates

8 September 2026 · 08:40 UTCNepal rescuers focus on three hydropower tunnels where dozens of workers may be trapped, two weeks after glacier collapse killed hundreds 8 September 2026 · 02:05 UTCTwo hydropower workers survive nine days trapped in a Nepal tunnel after glacier collapse; rescue gives hope for 121 still missing

+1 source·8 September 2026 · 22:50 UTC

South Korea reviews military options for Hormuz, sends fact-finding team, but no deployment decision made; Iran warns of 'serious consequences'

The Strait of Hormuz carries about a fifth of global oil and LNG exports, and South Korea relied on it for 61% of its crude oil imports in 2025. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson warned that any military participation would be seen as support for US 'aggression'.

+1 source·8 September 2026 · 22:50 UTC

Diesel hits record as Washington takes 35% stake in Venezuelan oil; Trump's 'biggest oil deal in history' blindsides US industry

The deal gives NABEP 100-year concessions on 17 oilfields, with a 20% State Department offtake at cost and a veto over board appointments. China, which bought 80% of Venezuela's exports, now faces displacement, while US refiners run at 96% utilization amid record diesel prices.

·8 September 2026 · 22:48 UTC

MPs raise concerns over shorter timeline for signature collection as law passed to lower en bloc thresholds

The Ministry of Law said halving the timeline aims to ease "prolonged pressure" on owners who do not want to sell, citing feedback about non-signers being named on social media. Industry players call six months "too short" for bigger projects, but Edwin Tong cited data showing most signatures come within four months.

+4 sources3 updates

8 September 2026 · 20:44 UTCMPs raise concerns over shorter signature collection timeline as law passes to lower en bloc thresholds; Edwin Tong says changes address upkeep costs of aging properties 8 September 2026 · 13:48 UTCParliament passes law lowering en bloc consent thresholds for older developments; MPs raise concerns over shorter signature timeline as Pine Grove's S$1.78B bid eyes opt-in

+1 source·8 September 2026 · 20:44 UTC

Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, the world's highest-paid leader, gets a salary increase of over $1 million; pay rise is first adjustment since 2011

Wong's benchmark salary rises from Sg$2.2 million to Sg$3.6 million, while cabinet ministers will receive between Sg$1.80 million and Sg$2.88 million. He plans to donate the entire increase to 'suitable good causes' during his term.

+1 source·8 September 2026 · 16:56 UTC

IJM launches AI-enabled Smart Highway System to upgrade traffic monitoring; Works Minister Nanta says highways must evolve with rising vehicle numbers

The system includes 144 CCTV cameras, 87 video incident detection systems, and 35 ANPR systems across three highways. Nanta also noted that 26,675 accidents occurred on tolled highways in 2025, with 85.4% attributed to human factors.

·8 September 2026 · 16:56 UTC

Scammers in Shan State target Myanmar travelers at bus stops, posing as bank reps to steal NIC data for telecom fraud; victims face legal risks

The scam exploits military junta travel mandates requiring citizens to carry physical ID cards, and stolen credentials are sold to Zhapaian operations for tens of millions of kyat. A Ywangan Township resident was turned away by KBZ Bank after finding a fraudulent account registered under his name.

·8 September 2026 · 13:24 UTC

China deploys armed JL-10 trainer jet to intercept Philippine aircraft over Bajo de Masinloc; AFP slams 'coercive' act

The JL-10, designed for low-altitude, low-speed operations, conducted close-in surveillance and bilingual warnings, with footage showing PLA vessels including a Type 052C destroyer. AFP's Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said the interception aimed to weaken resolve but instead strengthened it, vowing continued patrols with allies like Japan and Australia.

+2 sources·8 September 2026 · 13:22 UTC

China and Singapore lead Asian sweep of global student rankings in OECD's PISA 2025; Taiwan ranks fourth in science, third in reading

The assessment, released Sept 8, involved a record 91 countries and economies, up from 81 previously. Singapore's proportion of academic all-rounders (15%) is five times the OECD average, while OECD-wide scores hit their lowest on record in science, reading, and maths.

·8 September 2026 · 11:42 UTC

Nepal rescue focuses on three hydropower tunnels where dozens of workers believed trapped; Chilime project is priority

About 121 of 900 missing people could be trapped in the tunnels, while oxygen has been piped into the Upper Trishuli 3A and 3B tunnels. Prime Minister Balendra Shah vowed no let-up in rescue operations, emphasizing the humanitarian spirit of the Nepali people.

+1 source·8 September 2026 · 11:42 UTC

Macron urges EU-wide ban on social media for under-15s in letter to von der Leyen; France's own ban was struck down

Macron's letter, dated Aug 29, cites addictive designs and lack of account safety as justification, and he is lobbying other EU governments ahead of von der Leyen's State of the Union speech. France will separately rework its national legislation, though political fragmentation may complicate passage.

+1 source·8 September 2026 · 11:42 UTC

Prabowo orders disaster mitigation masterplan as Indonesia grapples with multiple crises; Puan urges study on BMKG-Geological Agency merger

The earthquake on Flores Island killed 129 people and damaged over 98,000 homes, while Mount Anak Krakatau's eruption has disrupted around 3,000 flights and affected 341,000 passengers. Prabowo emphasized the need for preparedness, saying, 'We must prepare long beforehand.'

·8 September 2026 · 11:42 UTC

SIA adds 8 relief flights between Singapore and Jakarta as Anak Krakatoa's exceptional-scale eruption disrupts nearly 3,000 flights carrying 340,000 passengers

The volcano, situated on the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, started a 25-hour 'continuous' eruption on Friday, with ash reaching 50,000 feet on Monday. Authorities say the probability of further eruptions 'remains high', keeping the country's second-highest alert status active.

·8 September 2026 · 09:59 UTC

SCAT Airlines to launch Shymkent–Singapore service on 20 October 2026 via Sanya transit, using Boeing 737 MAX 8

The service will transit through Sanya, where passengers remain in the sterile transit zone and avoid Chinese immigration. The route aims to boost tourism, business exchanges, and people-to-people ties between Kazakhstan and Singapore.

+1 source·8 September 2026 · 09:59 UTC

Pokémon Center pop-up store in Kuala Lumpur announces strict entry rules for September 12 opening; queues start at 6am, tickets at 8am, no TCG sales

The pop-up store runs from September 12 to December 31, 2026, as part of Pokémon's 30th anniversary celebrations, which include parades, stage shows, and a drone show at KLCC Park. Organizers warn that anyone queuing before 6am will be disqualified and denied entry.

·8 September 2026 · 09:59 UTC

Debate in China over demoting English from core-subject status heats up as Liaoning drops history from zhongkao; Hu Xijin calls critics 'extreme and narrow-minded'

Tang Jiafeng's call topped Weibo's trending list on 5 September, sparking discussions on whether English should retain its core status. Supporters cite AI translation as sufficient, while opponents warn weakening English could undermine China's access to cutting-edge research and national competitiveness.