SINGAPORE - Two members of Massive Attack were issued with stern warnings and barred from re-entering Singapore after the British band ended their performance on Wednesday (July 29) with a display of the Palestinian flag, according to local media reports.Authorities said the band were investigated for their «actions of support for a political cause and unfurling of a foreign flag», during the band's concert, reports said.The Infocomm Media Development Authority also said it is investigating the possible breach of a number of licence conditions and will take «necessary action» when investigations are completed, reports added.Singapore does not allow the public display of foreign national emblems without a permit or exemption, and the Palestinian flag is especially sensitive given the war in Gaza and Singapore's Muslim population.In 2023, the home affairs ministry said: «The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict is an emotive issue. We would like to advise against the public display and wearing of articles in relation to the conflict, given the heightened sensitivities.»

Three people, including two firefighters, were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a Clementi flat on Friday (July 31).According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), they were alerted to a fire at Block 309 Clementi Ave 4 at around 11.10pm.When SCDF arrived on scene, they found the living room of an eight-floor unit on fire. Firefighters forcibly entered the living room and extinguished the fire, which involved items in the room, with two water jets.They also found a person trapped in the kitchen.The resident was later taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, while the two firefighters who sustained burn injuries were conveyed to Singapore General Hospital.About 40 residents from the block were evacuated by the police and SCDF as a precaution.The cause of the fire is under investigation.

«I think people with cancer suffer a lot, and I would like to make them happy again.» This was what Faith, a nine-year-old girl who shaved her head at a Hair for Hope event in support of other children battling cancer, replied when she was asked about her decision to do so.Her story was shared on Facebook on July 5, in which the organisers thanked her for her courage and kindness.According to Hair for Hope, Faith had signed up for the fundraising event after seeing a promotional post, saying that she wanted cancer patients to be «less alone».«Thank you, Faith, for reminding us that courage has no age, and that even the smallest acts of kindness can make the biggest difference,» the post said.In a video accompanying the post, she was asked if she was worried about going back to school bald.«No,» was her simple reply — she instead said she wanted to tell her friends about the charity event and the reason behind her decision.

Even as technology becomes an increasingly important partner in healthcare — with artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools playing a role in patient care — what patients need from nurses will never change even as their role evolve, said Senior Minister of State for Health Tan Kiat How.«That is the heart of nursing,» he said at NHG Health's Nurses' Day celebrations on Wednesday (July 29).He grew up watching his mother who worked as a nurse for over 50 years. The senior minister of state said that he had initially thought that she was «simply looking after patients».«Only later did I realise she was also giving countless families hope and confidence during some of the most difficult moments in their lives,» he said, adding that he also grew to understand that nursing was not just a job for his mother.«It was part of who she was. She spoke about her patients with warmth and compassion. She celebrated their recoveries. She worried about those who were struggling. »Even after a difficult day, she carried with her a deep sense of responsibility for the people she cared for," Tan recounted.

A car driver and his family were shocked when their vehicle came face-to-face with a bus driving against traffic after allegedly making an illegal U-turn.The near miss occurred at the junction of Woodlands Avenue 2 and Avenue 5 at about 8.25pm on Thursday (July 30).Sameem, 45, told AsiaOne that he was turning right into Avenue 5 when bus service 901 suddenly appeared in his lane.Fortunately, he reacted in time by slowing down, preventing a collision.«Had I not been alert, I believe I will not be here now,» the private-hire driver said, revealing that his three children and brother-in-law were in the car.Dashcam footage posted by Sameem on TikTok shows that service 901 had turned into Avenue 5 instead of keeping straight on Avenue 2 to reach its next stop.The bus then makes a U-turn and goes against the flow of traffic on Avenue 5 to turn back into Avenue 2.[embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@love1111011/video/7668316947041520916[/embed]Sameem claimed that the bus captain did not sound the horn to warn oncoming vehicles.

Firms in the services sector here are upbeat about business conditions over the next six months due to upcoming major events such as the F1 Singapore Grand Prix in October and artificial intelligence (AI)-related demand, a survey has found.The Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat) polled a total of 1,600 businesses which accounted for about 70 per cent of the operating revenue in their respective industry.The poll was conducted between June and July.They were asked to indicate their expectations of the business situation and other indicators such as operating revenue and employment.The Business Expectations survey for the services sector released on Friday (July 31), found that a weighted 19 per cent of firms were upbeat about business conditions, while 6 per cent anticipated weaker conditions.Among them, companies in accommodation and wholesale trade were most positive, followed by those in recreational, community and personal services, and in administrative and support services.

In the first seven months of 2026, at least $983,000 have been lost to a scam which tricked victims into believing that they had won online «lucky draws».In a statement on Friday (July 31), police warned against the scam, saying that at least 254 cases have been reported so far.Victims were told they had to pay for various «fees» to claim their winnings from participating in quizzes, livestream scratch card or lottery promotions.One modus operandi involved the impersonation of a popular Malaysian influencer, said police.Scammers created Facebook posts or short-form videos that appeared to originate from the influencer, which promoted a quiz with a cash prize.Victims were asked to contact the influencer via WhatsApp or to provide their contact details. Once engaged, victims were told they had won, and asked to pay «processing fees», «admin fees», or other fabricated charges.In some cases, a second scammer claiming to be from Maybank would ask the victim for additional transfers, saying that the money was «stuck» or an «activation fee» was required.

A 21-year-old man will be charged in court on Saturday (August 1) after he allegedly brandished a knife at three individuals, with whom he purportedly had a dispute with. Police said in a news release on Friday evening that they were alerted to a case of dispute along Selegie Road at about 4.48am on Monday (July 27), where a man was seen holding a rod-like object.It was later established that the man had hidden a 40cm-long knife beneath the back of his shirt. He subsequently confronted three other individuals over a dispute, during which police said he allegedly retrieved the knife and brandished it at them before leaving the scene.No injuries were reported in the incident.Officers from Central Police Division identified and arrested the man through extensive ground investigations and with the aid of police cameras.The knife, which had been disposed by the man, was later recovered along Middle Road.He will be charged in court on Saturday with the offence of carrying offensive weapons in public places.

A 34-year-old man was arrested on Friday (July 31) morning for his alleged involvement in a case of snatch theft in Chinatown.Police said in a news release on the same day that they received a report of snatch theft along Chin Swee Road at about 10.45pm on Thursday.The 59-year-old victim told police that an unknown man had snatched away his gold chain valued at $1,685.Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was in a supermarket along Chin Swee Road when the man pulled the gold chain from his neck and fled the scene.Officers from Central and Ang Mo Kio Police Division identified and arrested the man within three hours of the report being made through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras and closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the supermarket.The gold chain was subsequently recovered and seized as a case exhibit.If found guilty of using criminal force in committing theft of property, the man could be jailed for up to seven years and caned. 

There are four cute additions at Mandai's River Wonders.Four capybara pups were born to mother Luna on July 10, which was also Capybara Appreciation Day, according to a Facebook post by Mandai Wildlife Reserve on Thursday (July 30).«It's quadruple the joy as things just got a whole lot cuter at Amazonia Encounters, River Wonders!» the caption said.The post featured a video of the pups roaming around their new habitat and munching on grass alongside their mother.  Luna also gave birth to two other pups on Jan 4, the first to be born at Mandai in a decade, reported The Straits Times. 

Geraldine Low Jun Ya, currently deputy secretary at the Ministry of National Development (MND), will be appointed CEO of the National Environment Agency (NEA) from Sept 1, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) announced on Friday (July 31). She takes over from interim CEO Dr Benjamin Koh, who assumed the role on June 1, following the appointment of its former CEO Wong Kang Jet as permanent secretary.Wong was appointed Second Permanent Secretary (Home Affairs) at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Second Permanent Secretary (Information) at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, and Second Permanent Secretary (Cybersecurity) at the Prime Minister's Office.

The father of a 20-year-old Singaporean girl has taken to Instagram to appeal for help after she purportedly went missing in Cambodia.According to the posts, Siti Aishah Siregar Sahat Siregar was last known to have travelled to Phnom Penh from Singapore on July 28, and the family has since lost contact with her.«Our family is very worried, and every minute that passes feels so long,» Sahat Siregar, a real estate agent, said in his caption.«As a father, I am begging for your help. I just want my daughter to come home safe.»Sahat also said that the family has made a police report and are working closely with the authorities, and thanked everyone who has tried to help him so far.He has requested the authorities in Singapore and Cambodia to find his daughter as soon as possible, stating that the family is «afraid that every hour we lose could make it harder to bring her home safely».The father also asked for the public to help by sharing the post, hoping that it can reach someone who «may have seen something or know something that can help».

Drier days are expected in the first fortnight of August, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) announced on Friday (July 31).There will likely be fair and sometimes windy conditions on some days of the two weeks, with greater likelihood in the second week.Despite the relatively drier conditions, localised short-duration thundery showers are still expected in parts of Singapore on some days in the late mornings and afternoons.On average, total rainfall is set to be below average for most parts of the island.Maximum temperatures each day will likely range between 33 deg C and 34 deg C during the day — the warm temperatures may persist on some nights, leading to warm and humid conditions with temperatures remaining above 27 deg C.Southwest Monsoon conditions are expected to stretch beyond July into the first fortnight of August, with winds blowing from the southeast or south.In the second half of July, there were similar short-duration, localised thundery showers over parts of Singapore, with heavy, thundery showers over much of Singapore in the late morning and early afternoon of July 22.

Drivers, take note: the demerit points system you're familiar with will be getting a little more strict come January 2027.Under the revised Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS), the number of demerit points that can be accumulated before suspension will drop from 24 to 18, said the Singapore Police Force on Friday (July 31).DIPS is more commonly known as the demerit points system.This comes amid an increase in road fatalities of about five per cent, front 142 deaths in 2024 to 149 in 2025 - the highest within a decade.Road injuries have also risen by 6.6 per cent from 9,342 in 2024 to 9,955 in 2025.Drivers face lower thresholdUnder the revised rules, non-probationary motorists who rack up 18 demerit points within 24 months will face licence suspension.Under the revised DIPS, the first suspension period will increase from 12 weeks to four months, while subsequent suspensions will also be increased.A third suspension will be increased from a year's duration to two, while fourth suspensions onwards will be for five years.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is doing a feasibility study on a new mode of public transport called the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Tuas South, Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said.This is part of efforts to provide those working there with faster and more reliable connections from their workplaces to existing and future MRT stations.«Tuas South has been selected for this study as it is home to major developments such as Tuas Port, and is expected to see further growth in the coming years,» LTA said following the transport minister's announcement during his visit to the Singapore Rail Test Centre on Friday (July 31).Currently, Singapore's transport network is anchored by MRT, with buses complementing the rail network by offering first-and-last mile connectivity.And BRT could further complement both the MRT and conventional buses, LTA said.What is a Bus Rapid Transit system?Around the world, BRT system varies considerably in design and technology, depending on the needs of each city.

Four new MRT stations will complete the Cross Island Line (CRL), giving greater convenience to commuters travelling to and from Singapore's western region.These stations under the Cross Island Line Phase 3 (CRL3), currently numbered CR20 to CR23, will include two interchanges.CR21 will connect to the upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL) and serve as a gateway to Jurong Island. Terminal station CR23 will link to Gul Circle station on the East-West Line (EWL).CR20 will serve residents in Taman Jurong, while CR22 will be located within Jurong Industrial Estate.Unveiling the final stage of the Republic's eighth MRT line on Friday (July 31), Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said the four new stations «will substantially improve» connectivity when they begin commercial service in the late 2030s.«Once the full Cross Island Line is open, commuters travelling to and from the western parts of Singapore can save up to 50 minutes in travelling time,» he added.Siow delivered his speech at the Singapore Rail Test Centre, which will be connected to a new CRL depot spanning approximately 23 hectares.

A man took issue with a torn Singapore flag displayed outside an HDB block in Hougang, calling it «disrespectful».The man, identified as Rayz, spotted the faded flag hanging outside Block 178B, Hougang Street 12 on July 23, according to Stomp.Rayz shared a video of the tattered flag on the yellow facade, billowing in the wind outside a window. «As the National Day period approaches, I was wondering whether this complies with the guidelines for displaying the Singapore flag,» he reportedly said.He added that the «national flag should always be displayed with dignity and respect».The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth is encouraging all organisations and households to fly the national flag during the National Day period from July 1 to Sept 30.However, it added that the flag should be treated with respect and discouraged people from displaying any worn-out or damaged flag. According to the National Heritage Board (NHB), the national flag should be replaced if faded or torn. 

SINGAPORE — Singapore sprint queen Shanti Pereira booked her place in the history books on July 30 (July 31, Singapore time), after clinching a spot in the women’s 200m final at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.At the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, the 29-year-old clocked a season-best 22.81 seconds to finish third in her semi-final and eighth out of 24 overall. She is the first Singaporean sprinter to qualify for an individual final at the quadrennial event.Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands won the same semi-final as Pereira in a Games record 22.01sec, ahead of Jamaican Ashanti Moore (22.49sec).Shaniqua Bascombe of Trinidad and Tobago won the third semi-final with the second-best overall time of 22.31sec.The top two finishers from each of the three semi-finals, along with the next two fastest athletes overall, advanced to the final, which will be staged on July 31 (Aug 1, 4.46am Singapore time).

Noticing a Personal Mobility Aid (PMA) rider in need of assistance, a bus captain stopped his vehicle mid-journey to help.It was a rainy night when SBS Transit bus captain Omri Bin Mohd Yusof had been driving Service 153 along Jalan Toa Payoh when he noticed an elderly PMA rider stranded by the roadside, according to a Facebook post by the transport operator on Thursday (July 30).The incident occurred on July 8 at around 8.15pm, based on a separate Facebook post by (buses[IN]gapore!), which also included photos of the incident.The side wheels of the PMA had slipped off the pavement, causing the device to get stuck. Pictures of the incident show the PMA tilted towards the road with oncoming traffic and unable to move forward.Another lady had stopped to assist, but was unable to move the PMA because of its weight, said SBS Transit.Omri proceeded to pull over on the roadside and help the elderly lady.He also sought help from a passenger on board the bus, anticipating that it would take more than two people to lift the device.Together, the three of them managed to lift the PMA back onto the pavement.