A GetGo rental car driven by a 26-year-old man crashed into a section of the fencing of a road divider on Sunday (Aug 23) at about 8.05pm on Tampines Concourse towards Tampines Central 1.Photographs of the accident shared in a motoring chat group show the car, which has the GetGo livery on its doors, with significant damage to its front bumper and front right wheel axle.A section of the fencing could be seen underneath the car. The visibly damaged GetGo car is seen stopped on the road divider along Tampines Course. PHOTO: Social media In response to AsiaOne's queries the police stated that no injuries were reported.The driver is assisting with ongoing investigations.[[nid:743436]]editor@asiaone.com 

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is investigating the Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream, following reports that it may contain a prohibited ingredient.HSA is working with three companies marketing the product to suspend sales and recall the product while investigations are underway.The product first came under the spotlight on Jul 24, when Hong Kong Customs warned members of the public against using the cream and appealed to merchants to remove it from their shelves.The cream is suspected of containing the prohibited Sudan Red dye, according to Hong Kong Customs. Sudan Red dyes have been linked to potential carcinogenic and allergenic effects.Medicube has emerged as one of South Korea's most recognisable skincare brands in recent years, gaining a strong international following through social media platforms. The Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream is one of the brand's most viral products. Marketed as containing PDRN, an ingredient derived from salmon DNA, and collagen, the cream is widely available on e-commerce platforms and has built a substantial following among K-beauty fans worldwide.

Singapore has urged the Israeli government to stop plans for expanding settlements in the West Bank, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Monday (Aug 24).«Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law,» the MFA spokesperson said, adding that the construction would «further fragment» the West Bank and «severely undermine» the possibility of a two-state solution.West Bank refers to a territory just west of the Jordan River, that is divided between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.The landlocked territory consists of over 3.3 million Palestinians and more than 500,000 Israeli settlers.Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said in September last year that the West Bank «belongs to [them]» during a ceremony where he signed an agreement to expand settlements in an area known as E1, Bloomberg reported.On Aug 18, the Israeli government issued a tender for the construction of seven residential compounds housing 1,234 units in E1, The Times of Israel reported.

A 26-year-old British man and a 50-year-old Polish woman will be charged in court on Tuesday (Aug 25) over their alleged involvement in separate cases of shop theft at Changi Airport.Police said on Monday that the alleged crimes took place at Jewel Changi Airport on Aug 14, and Changi Airport Terminal 1 on June 11 respectively.The first case involving the man was reported at about 6.35pm, after a retail assistant noticed a blue denim jacket missing from a display mannequin.Checks on the shop's closed circuit television (CCTV) footage show the man allegedly removing the jacket, valued at about $350, from the mannequin at about 3.55pm.He left the store without paying and had already departed Singapore when officers from the Airport Police Division established his identity.However, his luck ran out when he transited through Changi Airport just a day later, and the police arrested him.Meanwhile, the Polish woman's alleged crime was uncovered after a retail outlet in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 1 realised that a bottle of perfume was missing.

Revising the monthly household income ceiling for Build-to-Order (BTO) flats to a higher limit of $16,000 will make sure eight in 10 Singaporean households remain eligible for subsidised homes, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat on Monday (Aug 24).He said in a Facebook post: «These increased income ceilings allow us to keep pace with income growth and ensure that eight in 10 Singaporean households continue to qualify for subsidised public housing.»At the National Day Rally on Sunday, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said more Singaporean couples are settling down at a later age and hence crossing the income ceiling of $14,000, which was last set in 2019.Effective Monday, eligible families can apply for a HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter for BTO flats, CPF Housing Grant for resale flats and HDB loans under under the new income ceiling.The income ceiling for Singaporean singles aged 35 and above has also been raised to $8,000 from $7,000.The income ceiling for executive condominiums (ECs) has likewise increased to $18,000 from $16,000.

A 29-year-old Singaporean man was sentenced to nine weeks in jail on Monday (Aug 24) after being convicted on one charge of voyeurism at an industrial building in Bendemeer.Reuben Goh Chin Kang pleaded guilty to one charge, while another charge was taken into consideration during sentencing.According to charge sheets seen by AsiaOne, the incident took place on at 1.57pm Oct 6, 2025, at Block 996 Bendemeer Road, where the office of AsiaOne is situated.At the time, Goh had just finished a session at a gym nearby in Macpherson, but decided to stop at the industrial building in Bendemeer to use the bathroom.Goh proceeded to the second floor to find a toilet, and noticed the female toilet situated next to the male toilet.He subsequently entered the female toilet, after feeling the «urge to peek inside», although there was no one inside.Goh planned to leave after relieving himself, but noticed the female victim, an employee of AsiaOne, heading towards the toilet and decided to wait nearby.

Singapore and Ecuador are separated by the vast Pacific Ocean, but while far apart in longitude, the two are remarkably close in latitude and share deep connections, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.In  a toast speech at the state banquet hosted for Ecuador President Daniel Noboa Azin on Monday (Aug 24), President Tharman noted that while Ecuador takes its name from the Equator that passes through its territory, Singapore lies just one degree north of it.He also pointed out that the two countries are both maritime nations with a history of looking outward — using the oceans for connectivity and trade, and to build friendships and partnerships around the world.«As maritime nations, we share a joint interest in upholding the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and freedom of navigation, and in preserving the broader rules-based international order,» President Tharman said.The two countries also recognise the importance of openness to trade and investment, he said.

SINGAPORE — The higher income ceiling will increase demand for public housing, but a strong pipeline of new and resale flats entering the market means supply will be able to keep pace, property analysts said.They pointed to the steady supply of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, as well as several waves of resale flats that will reach their minimum occupation period (MOP) in the coming years, after which they can be sold on the open market.In his National Day Rally speech on Aug 23, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the income ceiling for BTO flats will be increased to $16,000 for families and $8,000 for singles. The current income ceiling is $14,000 and $7,000, respectively.This higher ceiling will also apply to those buying an HDB resale flat with the CPF Housing Grant and Singles Grant.While this is likely to drive up demand, analysts noted that many flats could enter the resale market in the coming years.About 13,500 flats will reach their MOP in 2026. This will rise to 15,000 in 2027, and 19,500 in 2028.

For nearly a year, some residents of a Hougang HDB block have been plagued by a foul stench emanating from the lift lobby.Urine and a brown substance believed to be faeces have allegedly been splashed on walls and belongings left along corridors, reported Shin Min Daily News.A reporter from the Chinese evening daily recently visited Block 552 Hougang Street 51. The reporter detected a urine odour at the lift lobbies of the ground floor and the first five floors of the building.A resident, who did not want to be named, said the smell had been an issue for quite some time.«Sometimes, the urine smell is present up to five days a week. It is unbearable when we pass by the area on our way home,» the resident said.«To keep the smell out of our house, we keep the doors and windows tightly shut.»Another female resident, who also was not named, told Shin Min that the situation has persisted for almost one year.She said she had once found an unpleasant smelling brown substance smeared on the walls and floor of the lift lobby.

Barely a week has passed since a 73-year-old elderly man was shoved to the ground at a coffee shop in East Coast, but there's already another case of a senior being pushed to the ground — this time during a fight. The incident on Saturday (Aug 22), involving a 75-year-old man and a 50-year-old man, took place at about 9.55pm at a coffee shop in Yew Tee Point. A video of the altercation circulating on social media shows the elderly man speaking in dialect and warning the other not to threaten him.After a further exchange of words between the two, the younger man is seen walking off. While doing so, he could be heard saying the senior was courting his death.But the senior continues to swear at him, prompting the 50-year-old to grab a chair. He then swings it at the senior before holding himself back. However, the senior continues to provoke him, and the younger man is next seen grabbing the senior by the collar.

The monthly household income ceiling for Build-To-Order (BTO) flat buyers will be raised from $14,000 to $16,000, announced Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during his National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 23).This is to keep public housing affordable and accessible for Singaporeans, he added.This will kick into effect from Aug 24, according to a joint press release from the Ministry of National Development (MND) and the Housing Development Board (HDB).«These days, Singaporeans are marrying later. By the time they settle down, many are further along in their careers and earning more. So more young couples are crossing the current income ceilings,» said PM Wong on Sunday.He added that the government wants to ensure that the vast majority of Singaporean couples can continue to have access to subsidised public housing, which is why the income ceiling will be raised.According to the joint statement by MND and HDB, incomes have risen since the income ceilings were last adjusted in 2019, resulting in more aspiring home buyers exceeding the existing ceilings.

The Government is studying the feasibility of building undersea tunnels to Pulau Tekong, where new military recruits undergo their first months of training.With no physical structures connecting Singapore's mainland and the island located off the north-eastern coast, soldiers currently use ferries.«In the past, we relied on this to get there — Ramp Powered Launches (RPL), standing room only, and no air-con!» PM Wong said during the National Day Rally 2026 speech at the ITE College Central on Sunday (Aug 23). Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said military recruits used to board Ramp Powered Launches to reach Pulau Tekong.PHOTO: Screengrab/YouTube/Lawrence Wong Speaking about the connectivity of the nation's coastline, he said Pulau Tekong still has no land connection, unlike other islands such as Sentosa and Jurong Island.

Raising the income ceiling for HDB home buyers, giving working parents more childcare leave and providing greater financial support for new parents — these were among the measures announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 23).Speaking at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central in Ang Mo Kio, PM Wong unveiled a series of measures spanning childcare support and housing policies, as well as plans to harness advances in technology, including autonomous vehicles (AV).Here are five key points he brought up during the rally. 1. BTO income ceiling to be raisedThe income ceilings for all Build-To-Order (BTO) flats and executive condominiums (EC) will be raised from Aug 24, in a bid to keep public housing affordable and accessible for Singaporeans.Income ceilings were last adjusted in 2019, and will now be increased from $14,000 to $16,000 for BTO flats. ECs will see theirs raised from $16,000 to $18,000.

Singaporeans and Singapore businesses could see more opportunities in the region if they pick up Malay and better appreciate its culture, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. He made this point in his Malay speech at the 2026 National Day Rally held at the ITE College Central on Sunday (Aug 23).Referring to Kampong Glam, where he officiated at the reopening of the Malay Heritage Centre on April 25, PM Wong said that beyond the community's rich heritage, the place is special as it reminds Singaporeans of their close connections to the region.«It is also a part of our shared history and heritage. We (Singapore) value these connections,» he added.Turning to how the Malay language is an «integral part» of Singapore's identity, PM Wong pointed out that it is the Republic's national language, the language of the national anthem, and used for commands in the Armed Forces.And given the city state's location, it would be valuable for Singaporeans to learn Malay and better appreciate its culture, he said.

The National Library Board (NLB) is partnering the National Library of China (NLC) to stage an exhibition on the Four Great Classic Novels, which will see several rare historical artefacts being displayed outside China for the first time.The event was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his Mandarin speech at the 2026 National Day Rally held at the Institute of Technical Education College Central on Sunday (Aug 23).Amid concerns that the falling use of Mandarin in Chinese households could cause Singapore to slowly lose touch with its cultural roots, and consequently, its bilingual edge, PM Wong emphasised that the Republic must not become a monolingual society.The prime minister noted that since his first NDR in 2024 — when it was announced that the criteria for taking up Higher Chinese would be eased — more than 1,000 students have benefitted from the change, which took effect this year.About one in four Secondary One students now take Higher Chinese in school, he said.In addition to school, the language environment at home matters too, said PM Wong.

Singapore's bilingual policy and efforts to promote Mandarin must continue, but the country can also make room for dialects, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sunday (April 23).Speaking at the 2026 National Day Rally at the Institute of Technical Education College Central, he noted that Teochew film Dear You had sparked lively debates.«I believe it is because it reminded us of our pioneers, the sacrifices they made and the hardships they endured, as well as the values they lived by,» he said, adding that he agreed dialects are cultural heritage worth preserving.But that cannot come at the expense of the hard-won gains of the Speak Mandarin campaign, making Mandarin now the common language among Chinese Singaporeans and laying a strong foundation for the country's bilingual policy.PM Wong also pointed out that the language connects Singapore with Chinese communities worldwide.«Therefore, our bilingual policy and efforts to promote Mandarin are moving in the right direction and must continue,» he said.