Victims have lost about $52,000 to scammers impersonating Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officers since September this year.There have been at least seven cases of such scams, said the police in a news release on Friday (Nov 7).In this scam variant, victims would first receive unsolicited calls from scammers posing as representatives from a bank.These scammers would claim that a credit card had been found under the victim's name, or that transactions had been made using a credit card supposedly belonging to them, according to the police.Upon denying this, the victim would be transferred to another scammer impersonating an officer from MHA who would accuse them of being involved in criminal activities such as money laundering — even presenting them with fake official documents in some cases.These documents included a «warrant of arrest», a «notice of investigation» and a «court hearing appointment”, said the police.The scammers would subsequently instruct the victims to make monetary transactions »for investigation purposes". 

From March 1 next year, Singaporeans will be able to use their $100 SG Culture Pass credits to purchase SingLit books, said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo.Neo made the announcement during his opening speech at the Singapore Writers Festival 2025 on Friday (Nov 7) at Victoria Theatre.«Literature gives voice to our hopes and dreams, and gives us our bearings in times of change,» Neo said, adding that the works particularly by Singapore's early literary community have illuminated shared experiences and helped to shape national identity.According to Neo, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) has been working closely with bookstores, publishers and distributors since the announcement earlier this year by then-Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong.«I hope SG Culture Pass will be a key catalyst to help Singaporeans love SingLit,» Neo said, highlighting National Library Board’s 2024 National Reading Habits Survey, which found that only around one in three adults had read a SingLit book last year.

Two children were taken to hospital after a fire broke out at a second-floor Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat on Friday (Nov 7) afternoon.The incident took place at about 1.20pm at Block 128 Yishun Street 11.In a Facebook post on Nov 7, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that the fire started in the bedroom.«Upon arrival, a bedroom in a second-floor unit was on fire. Firefighters entered the smoke-filled unit and extinguished the fire with a water jet,» SCDF said.Three occupants from the affected unit had evacuated before SCDF's arrival.Police and SCDF also evacuated 50 residents from the affected block as a precautionary measure.Two people from the affected unit were assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital. AsiaOne understands that there are seven occupiers in the affected unit, including five children. At the time of the incident, only a woman and two of her youngest children were at home. The woman's husband and three other children were away when the fire broke out. 

Neighbours Singapore and Thailand strengthened cooperation on rice trade and healthcare during Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's one-day official visit to Singapore on Friday (Nov 7).At a joint press conference with his Thai counterpart after both sides held a bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that the two countries have forged a relationship built on «trust, respect and deep friendship». «Our ties today are deep and resilient, and our bilateral relations are excellent,» PM Wong said, adding that «there remains tremendous potential for us to do even more together».

The driver involved in the Telok Blangah hit-and-run case has been charged for various traffic offences.Kenneth Kang, 34, was handed seven charges on Friday (Nov 7), for: driving while under disqualification, dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention causing hurt, failing to stop after an accident, failing to make a police report after a traffic accident, failing to render assistance after a traffic accident, and leaving a vehicle in a position likely to cause danger. At about 8.30am on Nov 4, Kang was allegedly driving a car along Telok Blangah Drive despite being disqualified from holding a driving licence from Nov 11, 2024, to Nov 10, 2025, according to charge sheets.Police officers had been patrolling the area when they spotted a car that had mounted a kerb. As the officers were checking on him, the driver suddenly drove off — colliding with two cars, a van and a bus, said the police in a news release on Nov 6.A 48-year-old man, who was driving one of the cars, was injured and taken to hospital.

Two children were sent to hospital after a fire broke out at a second-floor Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat on Friday (Nov 7) afternoon.The incident took place at about 1.20pm at Block 128 Yishun Street 11.In a Facebook post on Nov 7, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that the fire started in the bedroom.«Upon arrival, a bedroom in a second-floor unit was on fire. Firefighters entered the smoke-filled unit and extinguished the fire with a water jet,» SCDF said.Three occupants from the affected unit had evacuated before SCDF's arrival.Police and SCDF also evacuated 50 residents from the affected block as a precautionary measure.Two people from the affected unit were assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital. AsiaOne understands that there are seven occupiers in the affected unit, including five children. At the time of the incident, only a woman and two of her youngest children were at home. The woman's husband and three other children were away when the fire broke out. 

A passenger on a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight from Singapore to Milan lost consciousness after take-off and died despite efforts to resuscitate him.Dr Desmond Wai, who was on SIA flight SQ378 from Singapore to Milan on Nov 5, shared with 8world how he heard an announcement asking if there were any doctors available to assist with a medical emergency two hours after takeoff. The gastroenterologist and hepatologist posted a video on TikTok on Thursday (Nov 6) night recounting the incident. «Some passenger stopped breathing on the plane,» he recounted. «They woke me up at 2am [and] asked me to help. So from 2am to 2.30am we did [cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)] and failed.»He said that he, along with two other doctors, went to the rear of the cabin to provide assistance and found a middle-aged man lying unconscious on the floor.The man had no pulse, and when the crew's use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) failed, the three doctors took turns performing CPR.The deceased was a terminal cancer patient, and his wife was also on the plane at the time, reported 8world. 

About three million Singaporeans aged 21 and above will receive between $100 and $600 in cash from Dec 5.This payout - under the enhanced Assurance Package (AP) - aims to help defray living expenses for Singaporean households and provide more support for lower to middle-income families. It was announced during Budget 2023.In a press release on Friday (Nov 7), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said that adult Singaporeans must have an annual assessable income of not more than $100,000 and not own more than one property to qualify for this.These cash payments are given out to eligible Singaporeans each December from 2022 to 2026. They can check their eligibility and the amount they will receive on the govbenefits website by logging in with their Singpass credentials.MOF also cautioned that government officials will never ask the public to transfer money or disclose bank log-in details over a phone call, urging those who are unsure if something is a scam to call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.

Punters who bought one or more units of a set of iToto bet were the sole winners of the $12.3 million Toto prize money in Thursday’s (Nov 6) draw. An iToto bet comprises 28 units, with each unit costing $33. Punters may buy one or more units of an iToto bet. According to Singapore Pools’ website, all 28 units of an iToto bet must be sold before a new set of iToto numbers is generated islandwide. For the Nov 6 draw, 18 of the 28 units were purchased through the Singapore Pools account betting service.The remaining 10 units were purchased from 10 outlets across Singapore:Dawn Florist along Aljunied Avenue 2Fatt Chye Heng Trading along Hougang Avenue 3Nel’s Store along Bedok Reservoir RoadNTUC FairPrice Changi Business ParkNTUC FairPrice White SandsNTUC FairPrice Jurong PointSeah Geok Eng Agency along Rivervale DrivePapillon Florist along Jalan Bukit MerahSingapore Pools branch along Clementi Avenue 5Livewire Marina Bay SandsThe winning numbers were 3, 20, 24, 29, 32 and 44. The additional number was 46.

Jeremy Tan and Darryl Lo, who ran as independents in this year's general election, are now vying for a seat in the House as Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP).Tan, 35, who contested in Mountbatten SMC and received 36.16 per cent of votes against political newcomer Gho Sze Kee, sent in his application on Nov 5, according to The Straits Times.«Many Singaporeans are distinguished in their own right, and I hope that my application would encourage others to do so as well,» he told the newspaper.He also said that he would bring more diverse political representation into Parliament, which currently features only members of the ruling People's Action Party and the opposing Workers' Party.Lo, 28, who contested in Radin Mas SMC and garnered 23.47 per cent of the votes, submitted his application on Oct 29, reported CNA.He told The Straits Times that issues such as job security, cost of living and housing are central to public debate and hopes to represent the voices of younger Singaporeans if chosen.The NMP nomination process started on Oct 8 and concluded at 4.30pm today (Nov 6). 

The dining room of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's home at 38 Oxley Road is a space within the site that would be considered «less private», said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo in Parliament on Thursday (Nov 6).Neo was responding to questions posed by MPs following his ministerial statement on the Government's intention to preserve the site. MP for West Coast-Jurong West GRC Ang Wei Neng had sought clarification on Neo's statement that the Government would remove all traces of the Lee family's «private living spaces from the interior of the house». In particular, he asked if the basement dining area would be considered part of this «private space».Neo, in his response, had stated that the dining room would be one that would be considered «less private».

Jewish people in Singapore have been facing increased acts of hostility both online and offline in recent months, revealed Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam.Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a closed-door session with members of the Chesed-El Synagogue on Thursday (Nov 6), Shanmugam said that there have been «worrying developments on the ground» in regard to antisemitism and religious hostility towards Jews.One such incident saw a member of the Jewish community with his kippah — a Jewish skullcap — being verbally attacked by a passing motorist who shouted «free Palestine» at him.«Followers of any faith who wear visible markers of their religion... should never be made to feel targeted based on their religion,» said Shanmugam.Earlier in September, some toilets in international schools, with Jewish students in attendance, were vandalised with anti-Israel vulgarities.«They faced unpleasant incidents, hostility, both online and offline, and they feel less secure,» he said.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will acquire Elbit Systems' Hermes 900 as its next-generation unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).In a Facebook post on Monday (Nov 3), RSAF said that the acquisition is part of the SAF2040 transformation.«Ministry of Defence (Mindef) / Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will progressively take delivery of the Hermes 900 (H900) UAV to replace the Hermes 450 (H450), which has been in service for close to two decades and is becoming obsolete,» RSAF added.In an interview with Janes ahead of the 2024 Singapore Airshow, then-Chief of Air Force, Major-General Kelvin Khong, told the defence journal that the air force will be replacing its fleet of Heron 1 and H450 unmanned UAVs «as part of the service's renewal plans», adding that the selected platform will suit SAF's operational requirements.The H450, also manufactured by Elbit, entered service with RSAF in 2007. It is deployed for real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, target acquisition and designation, and battle damage assessment.