Expect «very heavy traffic» at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints from Aug 7 to Aug 10, during the National Day long weekend, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said on Monday (Aug 3).The ICA also said that it has stepped up security checks at all checkpoints since Feb 28 because of the heightened global security environment and recent developments in the Middle East.«Travellers should therefore expect longer waiting time during peak travel periods,» said the authority.Over 18 million travellers crossed checkpointsMore than 18 million travellers crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints during the recent Hari Raya Haji, Vesak Day long weekend and June school holidays from May 26 to June 28, according to ICA.Traffic peaked on June 19 with more than 598,000 crossings in a single day, surpassing the previous record of almost 589,000 crossings on December 19, 2025.According to ICA, car travellers experienced waiting times of up to three hours for immigration clearance due to traffic tailbacks from Malaysia during the peak periods.

A 56-year-old Singaporean man died after a multi-vehicle collision involving an MPV and three motorcycles on Malaysia's North-South Expressway.The crash occurred at around 2pm on Sunday (Aug 2) at the 44.6km mark of the expressway in the southbound direction near Kulai, Johor, reported The Star.According to Kulai District police Chief Assistant Commissioner Tan Seng Lee, the man was travelling southbound with two Malaysian motorcyclists, aged 39 and 57, when he reportedly lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into the rear of an MPV. The MPV, which was travelling in the right lane, was driven by a 32-year-old Singaporean woman, the police said.«The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics,» the police chief said.He added that a 39-year-old Malaysian rider suffered a fractured right thigh, while a 57-year-old sustained minor injuries.

A total of 276 commercial vehicles were checked during a three-day islandwide enforcement operation by the traffic police (TP) from July 20 to 22, with 154 summonses issued.The offences included speeding, failing to wear seatbelt and not keeping to the left, the police said on Monday (Aug 3).TP officers also detected 99 violations, which included the offence of displaying improper licence plates.They have since been referred to the Land Transport Authority for follow-up.Thee people, aged between 34 and 47, were also caught driving without a valid licence and using a vehicle without insurance coverage.The police also reminded motorists to comply with Singapore's traffic laws, adding that they take a serious view of errant road users who blatantly flout traffic laws and endanger the safety of other road users.[[nid:740033]]Speed limitersHeavy vehicles found exceeding their regulated speed limits will be required to undergo inspection to verify that their speed limiters are functioning properly.

A dry rising main that was not in proper working condition hampered firefighting operations during a fatal fire in Clementi on Friday (July 31), which claimed a resident's life and left two firefighters injured.The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to a fire on the eighth floor of Block 309 Clementi Avenue 4 at around 11.10pm, where an unconscious resident was taken to hospital and later died.Two firefighters were also taken to hospital after sustaining burn injuries during the operation.In response to AsiaOne's queries, the SCDF said that firefighters discovered that the dry rising main was «not in proper working condition». A dry rising main is a vertical red pipe that is connected to a fire engine to pump water to upper floors during firefighting operations. In this instance, the SCDF said that the malfunction resulted in reduced water pressure, preventing water from being charged effectively to the affected floor.

An 80-year-old petrol station attendant suffered a fractured arm after he was allegedly assaulted by a taxi driver last Thursday (July 30) while trying to stop him from parking illegally outside a toilet.The incident occurred at around 6am at an Esso gas station along Dunearn Road that day. Chen, an 80-year-old employee, told Shin Min Daily News that his shift typically begins at 7am. As he always arrives early to prepare for the day, Chen then noticed a taxi parked outside a toilet near the staff changing room that morning. Seeing the male driver about to enter the toilet, Chen approached him to dissuade him from doing so, reported the Chinese newspaper.Chen pointed out that the taxi was parked in a spot marked with double yellow lines and that there were several parking spaces available just a short distance away. Double yellow lines indicate that parking is prohibited at all times on the road.«I politely reminded him that he couldn't park here, and he got very agitated,» said Chen.The driver allegedly taunted him to «call the police» and even tried to hit him with a safety cone outside the toilet.

What was meant to be a second chance at love turned into a costly experience for one man, who said he lost about $220,000 after his second marriage ended in divorce.Speaking to AsiaOne on Thursday (July 30), True Love Vietnam Bride Matchmaker owner Mark Lin, 64, said he entered the marriage believing he had found a loving and supportive partner after his first marriage ended.«I married my second wife in 2017. Everything was perfect at first — there were no issues, and we were very loving and supportive of one another,» said Lin.«I thought I had found someone for life, and we were together for seven years.»Lin said his former Vietnamese wife, who is 25 years his junior, was initially introduced to one of his customers through his matchmaking business. He was 54 years old at the time, and she was 29.«My customer and my ex-wife originally went on a date, but they did not hit it off. Interestingly, when I spoke to her then, I felt there was a spark,» he said. 

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will deliver this year's National Day message on Aug 8 (Saturday), the eve of National Day.PM Wong, who is also the Minister for Finance, will deliver his message in English.His message will be broadcast at 6.45pm on CNA and radio station CNA938.The Prime Minister's Office said that the National Day message will also be available on its website and YouTube channel after the first broadcasts.Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong will deliver the message in Manadarin, broadcast on Mediacorp's Channel 8 and radio station Capital 95.8FM at 7pm.Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad will deliver the message in Malay, at 8.30pm on Mediacorp's Suria.Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash will deliver the message in Tamil, at 9pm on Mediacorp's Vasantham and radio station Oli 96.8FM.

English trip-hop band Massive Attack has responded to a ban on re-entering Singapore after they were seen holding up a Palestinian flag at their concert last Wednesday (July 29).The band, which consists of Robert «3D» Del Naja and Grant «Daddy G» Marshall, posted a statement on their social media platforms on Sunday expressing their «surprise» and «disappointment» at their detainment as police investigated the situation.However, they stopped short of addressing the ban directly.«Following our performance at the Star Theatre, Singapore, we were surprised and disappointed that our entire band was detained by the police, isolated and separately questioned – with some members subjected to hotel room searches and temporary passport confiscation,» the statement read.

SINGAPORE — In recent weeks, the US has been hit by an outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis.So far, there have been more than 6,700 laboratory-confirmed infections, with an additional 11,500 suspected cases in various states across the US, including Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan — the worse-hit area, where more than 10,000 have been affected.The cause of the outbreak is still unknown, though the US Food and Drug Administration has linked it to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell fast-food restaurants sourced from Taylor Farms’ facility in central Mexico.However, cases continue to rise even after the supplier had recalled all iceberg lettuce grown and processed at the facility in question.What exactly is cyclosporiasis, and could a similar outbreak happen in Singapore? Simply Science takes a look.What is cyclosporiasis?The disease’s main symptom is explosive, watery diarrhoea, while other symptoms include fatigue, low-grade fever and nausea.

A total of nine hawker centres across Singapore will close for between one and three days from Monday (Aug 3) for spring cleaning.According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), such cleaning is conducted regularly so that Singaporeans can enjoy affordable food in a clean and hygienic place.Cleaning at hawker centres owned by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment is conducted by NEA, while town councils are responsible for cleaning at Housing and Development Board-owned (HDB) hawker centres.The nine hawker centres affected for the upcoming spring cleaning are mostly in central region, but also include The Hawker Centre @ Our Tampines Hub and Buangkok Hawker Centre in the eastern and north-eastern regions.Meanwhile, the Teck Ghee Square hawker centre at Block 409 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 is set to reopen on Aug 7 following repairs and redecoration work since June 8, according to a list published on NEA's website.

The Workers' Party (WP) will file a motion to speak on how Singapore can upgrade her economic structure for the benefit of all citizens when Parliament sits on Tuesday (Aug 4).Titled «an economy of the future that works for all», the motion expresses the need for a «more equal and inclusive economy» that gives households, businesses, workers and innovators more opportunities.It also states that the economy should be driven by local companies and domestic demand, as well as the expansion of Singaporean capital overseas.Most WP MPs are expected to debate various economic issues and topics in the motion led by Aljunied GRC MP Kenneth Tiong and Sengkang GRC MP Assoc Prof Jamus Lim.Tiong told reporters on Saturday (Aug 1) that Singapore has relied on multinational corporations (MNCs) to grow the economy, but companies are beginning to move their regional headquarters and production facilities elsewhere.«Singapore faces a new set of challenges and markedly different global realities. We cannot rely on a safe playbook to succeed, and we cannot just rely on headline growth numbers to propel Singapore forward,» he said.

In the first ever indoor drone show staged at a National Day Parade, some 300 drones will take flight inside the National Stadium next Sunday (Aug 9).These drones, together with the team behind them, will embody the spirit of the segment of the show they appear in: pushing beyond what is thought possible.Electronic music artist Jasmine Sokko will be descending onto the stage in Chapter 5: Go Beyond Our Limits, performing her NDP single «You'll Be Okay». Alongside two aerialists, they will be suspended 30m above the floor, all while 300 drones move in formation around them.Teaching 300 drones where to goDrones typically find their way using GPS, the same satellite signal your phone uses for maps. In a crowded indoor setting full of performers and audience, that signal is unreliable and not precise enough for everyone's safety.So the team from the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) worked on an alternative in their first two weeks in the stadium, which is a network of transmitters fixed around the venue that allows every drone to know where they are.