The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will terminate its non-emergency ambulance hotline as lesser patients call in to seek private ambulance or medical transport services.The 1777 hotline will cease on Jan 1, 2027, after nearly 30 years in operation, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a joint statement on Wednesday (July 1).SCDF's 995 emergency services will not be affected.According to the authorities, the 24 participating Private Ambulance Operators (PAOs) receive only about six per cent of their total bookings through the 1777 hotline today.This comes as the public has more options for non-emergency medical conditions, including nearby general practitioner clinics and teleconsultation services.For non-emergency hospital visits, taxis and ride-hailing services are also readily available and commonly used, the ministries noted.«In view of these developments, the MHA, MOH and SCDF have assessed that the 1777 centralised referral platform for non-emergency medical transport services can be phased out,» it said.

What began as a normal morning ride turned into an opportunity to be good Samaritans as two bikers accompanied an elderly woman riding her personal mobility aid (PMA) off the Tampines Expressway (TPE) on Sunday (June 28).Motorcyclist CK Keong said he was riding towards Punggol at around 10.36am when he spotted another motorcyclist escorting an elderly woman riding her PMA along the expressway exit.The delivery rider told AsiaOne that he «instinctively» worked together with the other motorcyclist, accompanying him and the elderly woman from behind to divert any oncoming traffic away from them.«We coordinated our movements without any communication,» said Keong. «Our only priority was to ensure that the elderly lady reached the pedestrian walkway safely.»Together, they shielded her from traffic and stayed with her until she reached the nearby pedestrian walkway.[embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@lc.zai/video/7656297146303483152?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc[/embed]

A 42-year-old man was found dead on Monday (June 29) after allegedly falling from height and breaking through a covered walkway roof in Yishun.In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted at about 5.30am to the incident at Block 107 Yishun Ring Road that day.The 42-year-old man was taken unconscious to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.A photo of the incident circulating online shows the area next to the lift lobby on the ground floor of the HDB block cordoned off. A large hole was visible in the roof and one of the beams was bent. Yamin (transliteration), 35, told Shin Min Daily News that she heard a loud bang at around 5am and had thought it was from a nearby construction site. Her friend, she said, later saw police passing by and learned that the lift was temporarily out of service. A male resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Chinese publication that the deceased was of imposing build and that an ambulance later arrived and took him away. Based on preliminary investigations, the police do not suspect foul play. 

SINGAPORE — As a young Royal Australian Air Force pilot in 1974, Ronald Haack got a first taste of the “best Chinese food” he had eaten, at Wing Seong Fatty’s first location in Albert Street.For the next five decades, the Australian returned to the restaurant whenever he was in Singapore.Haack, 74, who went on to become a Boeing 747 pilot with Australian airline Qantas and is now retired, did not find the restaurant by chance.Patronising the restaurant was a longstanding practice begun and sustained by his fellow air force servicemen.The Cantonese restaurant was famed among pilots of the Royal Australian Air Force and Qantas, as the founder Au Yuen and his son Au Chan Seng — endearingly nicknamed “Fatty” — had secretly given food to prisoners of war during World War II.It also became a haunt for crew from other carriers such as British Airways and Emirates.The restaurant announced on Facebook in April that it would be shutting down on June 28 after 100 years, as it was unable to find a successor to continue the business.

Two men, aged 18 and 39, will be charged in court on Wednesday (July 1) for their alleged involvement in a case of loanshark harassment in Bukit Panjang.The police said in a news release on Tuesday night that they were alerted to the case at about 8.19am on Sunday.The alleged incident took place at a residential unit along Senja Road in Bukit Panjang, where the unit's gate was secured with a bicycle lock and a debtor's note was affixed to the door.A photograph of the alleged crime scene provided by the police shows a debtor's note which reads: «Like to play right? No problem! Will play with you. This time just dessert, next time splash you and your neighbour. WhatsApp to settle (sic).»Officers from Jurong Police Division identified the men via follow-up investigations and with images from police cameras, and arrested them on Monday.According to the police, the duo are also believed to be involved in other similar cases of loanshark harassment islandwide.

A 40-year-old male Chinese national was arrested on June 22 for allegedly dealing in duty-unpaid liquor.Singapore Customs said in a media release on Wednesday (July 1) that it had acted on a tip-off and conducted an operation in vicinity of Kaki Bukit Crescent that day.During the operations, Singapore Customs officers observed the man unloading brown boxes from a Singapore-registered lorry onto a trolley and transporting them into a storage room in a self-storage facility, where officers found 792 bottles of duty-unpaid liquor in the room.Another 396 bottles of duty-unpaid liquor were found in the lorry. The total duty and Goods and Services Tax evaded amounted to about $75,835.The duty-unpaid liquor and lorry were seized, while the man was arrested.

The Paragon mall outlet of French bakery Paul has been suspended for two weeks following a cockroach infestation.The licensee, Paul Singapore, accumulated 12 demerit points within a 12-month period for failing to keep the premises free from cockroach infestation, said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) in response to AsiaOne's queries.The suspension began on June 23 and will be in place until July 6.According to SFA, a business that accumulates 12 or more demerit points during a 12-month period may have its licence suspended for a period of either two or four weeks.Alternatively, the business may have its licence cancelled.During the suspension, the business is required to take necessary measures to improve food safety and cleanliness at its premises.SFA also said that all food handlers working in the suspended premises must re-attend and pass the Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) Food Safety Course Level 1 before they can resume work as food handlers.

Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) inked an agreement with Indonesia's Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten) on nuclear regulatory cooperation on June 30, including in the areas of radiation protection and nuclear safety, security and safeguards.The agreement was signed in Jakarta by NEA chief Benjamin Koh and Bapeten's acting chairman Zainal Arifin. Under the agreement, the two agencies will carry out these collaborations through activities such as joint training, personnel exchanges, research partnerships, and technical meetings.“This collaboration builds on our longstanding bilateral partnership to strengthen cooperation in nuclear safety, regulatory oversight and emergency preparedness, as Singapore studies the potential role of nuclear energy in its future energy mix," Dr Koh said.He added that it also reflects NEA's commitment to working with its Southeast Asian neighbours to strengthen regional cooperation, build trust, and enhance collective preparedness for radiological emergencies.

The 2026 National Day Parade (NDP) pack will come in six designs, featuring artworks by 36 artists with disabilities.These works, created by artists aged six to 65, reflect their interpretation of this year's NDP theme «Majulah Singapura, Go Beyond!» and their well-wishes for Singapore.The artists come from 21 special education schools, nine social service agencies and two early intervention centres.AsiaOne was among the media to be given a preview of these packs at the National Stadium on June 30, where President Tharman Shanmugaratnam met the artists.Thanking them for their work, he said that each artist has taken pride in contributing to the design of the NDP packs. 

Singpass has launched a new passkey login to strengthen security for residents and reduce the risk of scams such as phishing, said the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) today (June 30).This new login method for Singpass will be available from July 1, with the initial beta phase available to iPhone (iOS) users only. It will be extended to Android users in subsequent phases.The new login system strengthens defences against emerging cyber threats without compromising a seamless digital experience, while offering strong resistance to phishing attacks, said the agency in a media statement.Lee Shih Yen, deputy chief executive (development) of the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, said: «Stronger phishing-resistant authentication methods such as passkeys can significantly reduce the risk of attackers exploiting stolen login credentials, while offering users a simpler and more seamless login experience.»Passkeys, said GovTech, offer a more secure authentication method than passwords, which can be stolen, and conventional QR codes, which scammers can mislead users into scanning. 

Two station managers at Woodlands South MRT station performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a commuter who collapsed, proving that not all heroes wear capes.In a Facebook post on Tuesday (June 30), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) shared an incident from Jan 21 when Navin and Faizal, station managers at Woodlands South, sprang into action and saved a commuter.Recounting the incident, Navin said that he was carrying out his routine duties when a transit security officer informed him that a commuter had collapsed.The commuter appeared unresponsive and showed signs of cardiac arrest, he said, adding that he felt a sense of urgency in the moment.Faizal was alerted soon after, and performed CPR on the passenger with the automated external defibrillator.«He was struggling to breathe,» said Faizal, adding the paramedics arrived soon after to assist.«I think this is one of those experiences that tests you as a station manager when you need to remain calm under pressure,» Navin said, reflecting on the situation, calling it one that he «will never forget».

Four Singaporean men were arrested on June 23 for their alleged involvement with a transnational vape syndicate that supplies etomidate-laced vape pods, also known as Kpods.This is the first time the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is investigating a syndicate of this nature under the new Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (TCVA), it said on Tuesday (June 30).Kong Qi Cong, 32, was found with 1,000 Kpods at a Teck Whye flat on the morning of June 23, according to court documents seen by AsiaOne. Enforcement officers also seized more than $6,000 in cash.At a simultaneous raid of a Tampines flat, Willy Poh Wei Li, 32, was found with 111 etomidate vape pods.The seized etomidate vape pods have an estimated street value of more than $83,000, according to HSA.Two other men — Tobias Tan Wei An, 27 and Michael Jordan Tan Wei Hui, 31 — were arrested separately and are suspected to be involved in discussions with other persons to supply Kpods.The four suspects, were charged in court on June 24 and remanded for a week to assist with further investigations.

More than one million Singaporean households living in HDB flats will receive U-Save and Service & Conservancy Changes (S&CC) rebates in July as part of the permanent GST Voucher (GSTV) scheme.In a statement released on Tuesday (June 30), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said that the rebates will help to offset utilities expenses and S&CC for lower- and middle-income HDB households.Eligible households will receive up to $190 worth in U-Save rebates on their utility bills and up to one month of S&CC rebates in July, depending on the type of their HDB flat, the ministry said.This is the second quarterly disbursement for the scheme for the 2026 financial year, with one back in April and the next upcoming disbursements due for October 2026 and January 2027.In total, eligible HDB households will receive up to $570 in U-Save rebates and one month in S&CC rebates for the financial year.

A diner was left stunned after paying a whopping $294 for a plate of crab bee hoon at a Geylang eatery. In a TikTok video on Monday (June 29), the woman documented her dining experience which got off on a rocky start.Upon entering Sin Huat Eating House, the diner claimed that a staff member ignored her at first, later telling her she could leave if she was only ordering one dish. The restaurant owner was partially undressed when he was attending to customers, she added.Despite the awkward start, the diner decided to place her order. While she waited around 55 minutes for the dish to be served, the woman felt it was worth the wait.«Best crab we've ever eaten in our lives, the garlic made everything godlike,» she said. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@sgmustwatchla/video/7656802321107635463[/embed]When the bill arrived, however, the diner was taken aback.The single plate of crab bee hoon cost $294.

Two websites linked to The Online Citizen (TOC) have been declared as Declared Online Locations (DOLs) under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma).In a statement on Tuesday (June 30), the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) said that the affected websites will have to carry a notice alerting viewers that they are DOLs — that they have «communicated multiple falsehoods», and that viewers should exercise caution when accessing them for information.The operator of TOC's online platforms is also restricted from receiving financial or other material benefits from operating the DOLs, said the ministry, adding that the two websites will remain as DOLs for two years, until June 30, 2028.TOC's primary website declared DOL in 2025TOC's primary website, in addition to its social media pages, had been declared a DOL in June 2025, for repeatedly communicating falsehoods, said MDDI.

Cinemagoers in Singapore are hungry for more screenings of Dear You in Teochew dialogue, it appears.Nearly 14,000 tickets from 40 additional screenings were snapped up in three hours after they went on sale on Sunday (June 29) afternoon, according to Lianhe Zaobao.The ticket sales drew long queues at Golden Village at Vivocity that day.AsiaOne's checks on Tuesday showed that there are no tickets left for the Teochew screenings of the movie.Local film distributor Clover Films and cinema operator Golden Village have since applied for another 100 screenings of the film to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the Chinese daily reported.Videos shared online show queues snaking across the cinema lobby, starting from the ticket booth to outside of the cinema's premises.

Preparatory works for the Long Island coastal protection project will begin from end-2026, with measures in place to minimise the impact on the environment and surrounding community, the authorities said on Tuesday (June 30).The Housing and Development Board (HDB) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said that ideas gathered so far from more than 14,000 people will be used to shape discussions on recreation, coastline design, and future reservoir use.The preparatory works will take place in waters off the East Coast, at least 130m from the shoreline, and will be demarcated by silt screens and floating barriers to ensure public safety.First announced in November 2023, the Long Island project aims to protect the East Coast area from rising sea levels and inland flooding due to climate change.

The effects of the ongoing Middle East war — now in its fifth month — are rippling through, with Singapore households set to pay higher electricity and gas tariffs in the third quarter of 2026 due to a sharp increase in natural gas prices.The household electricity tariff from July to September, before the goods and services tax (GST), will increase by 17%, SP Group announced in a media release on Tuesday (June 30).This is 4.64 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) higher than the second quarter of 2026, from April to June.Following the increase, the average monthly electricity bill for families living in HDB four-room flats will rise by $17.14 (before GST).The overall electricity tariff (before GST), including tariffs for non-households, will increase by an average of 17.5% or 4.66 cents per kWh compared with the previous quarter. «The situation in the Middle East remains uncertain. Should the situation improve, global fuel prices and correspondingly the electricity tariffs for the fourth quarter of 2026, may decrease,» SP Group said.