One person was taken to hospital after an electric mahjong table caught fire in a Tampines HDB flat on Saturday (Aug 8) night.The incident happened at about 9.30pm at Block 449 Tampines Street 42.A livestream posted by TikTok user M.K Collector shows black soot on the external facade wall outside the bedroom and toilet of a ninth-floor unit. Some residents are seen waiting at the void deck of the block, while Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedics attended to a person seated within a police cordon.During his livestream, the TikTok user claimed that the fire started due to a candle placed on a mahjong table.In response to AsiaOne's queries, SCDF stated that the fire involved an electric mahjong table in a ninth-floor unit. SCDF added that members of the public used buckets of water to help put out the fire prior to firefighters' arrival.According to the Singapore Police Force, an 86-year-old man was conveyed conscious to the hospital, tallying with SCDF's statement that they had sent one person to the Singapore General Hospital. 

As the nation prepares to celebrate National Day in Kallang, the Government stands ready should haze conditions worsen, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Sunday (Aug 9).As of 1pm, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) stood at 81, in the moderate range, in Singapore's Central region.Recent dry conditions have led to an escalation in hotspot activity, with hotspots and smoke plumes observed over parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan, NEA said.Under prevailing southeasterly winds, smoke haze could be transported towards Singapore, particularly from hotspots in southern Sumatra. Dry conditions are expected to persist over the coming week, increasing the risk of haze if the fires continue.Singapore's Haze Task Force (HTF), comprising 28 public agencies, is ready to take action should air quality deteriorate and the 24-hour PSI reading exceed 100, which would prompt NEA to issue daily haze advisories.The advisory will include the 24-hour PSI forecast, which will aid the public in planning their activities and events for the following day.

Their work may take them to many places around the world, but there's only one country they call home.The stewards and stewardesses of Singapore Airlines (SIA) have put together a performance for all Singaporeans in a video shared on SIA's Instagram page on Friday (Aug 9) — our country's 61st birthday.The video begins with a flight steward, Kelvin, playing a violin, while stewardess Lei Hoi plays a guzheng.Leading steward Jasper, dressed in a short-sleeved batik shirt, then eases into the first song of the performance: Semoga Bahagia, composed by Zubir Said.Zubir Said also composed Singapore's national anthem, Majulah Singapura.

Singapore's character is revealed not just through policies, but by the everyday acts of its people — regardless of background — recognising their common responsibility to one another, said Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh in his National Day message. «All of us, including our fellow Singaporeans — regardless of race or religion — who have recently taken up citizenship, but enjoined as fellow Singaporeans with the red passport, are empowered to play a part in strengthening our nation. »Collectively, we are RSS Singapore,« he said in the message put up on the Workers' Party's (WP) Facebook page on Saturday (Aug 8) evening.Such acts include neighbours caring for one another, essential workers persevering through heat and rain, and volunteers strengthening their communities, Singh added.He also called on Singaporeans to build a stronger country. »Singapore is strongest when all who call it home, whatever their background, recognise our common responsibility to one another."

A total of three winning shares split the $5.1 million jackpot in the Toto National Day draw held on Friday (Aug 7).According to Singapore Pools, the winning shares were a $28 QuickPick System 8 entry bought at Seah Geok Eng Agency at Block 476D Upper Serangoon View, and two $1 QuickPick System 8 entries bought through the Singapore Pools' account betting service.Each winning share received about $1.7 million in prize money.The winning numbers were 5, 7, 30, 33, 36, 46, with the additional number 44.Meanwhile, eight winning shares split the Group 2 prize, with each share receiving $135,119.The next draw will be held on Monday, with an estimated prize money of $1 million.[[nid:741062]]editor@asiaone.com 

What time is it?For generations of Singaporeans, the answer is almost instinctive: It’s Tiger time.For Thomas Heng, however, the answer is more personal. The 64-year-old senior technical officer from Johor Bahru has spent over four decades inside the brewery that turned those three words into one of Singapore’s most enduring marketing catchphrases. By the time he retires in 2027, he would have spent 42 years making Tiger Beer, longer than many in the country have been old enough to drink it.The Malaysian also happens to be one of 130 production workers whose jobs will progressively disappear as Tiger Beer prepares to cease brewing operations in Singapore by end-2027, relocating production to Malaysia and Vietnam. About 50 of the affected workers are, like him, foreigners too.Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore (APBS) – which also brews Heineken beer for Singapore consumption – employs a total of 530 workers before the restructuring, with some remaining staff expected to take on redesigned roles.

Singapore's character is revealed not just through policies, but by the everyday acts of its people — regardless of background — recognising their common responsibility to one another, said Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh in his National Day message. «All of us, including our fellow Singaporeans — regardless of race or religion — who have recently taken up citizenship, but enjoined as fellow Singaporeans with the red passport, are empowered to play a part in strengthening our nation. »Collectively, we are RSS Singapore,« he said in the message put up on the Workers' Party's (WP) Facebook page on Saturday (Aug 8) evening.Such acts include neighbours caring for one another, essential workers persevering through heat and rain, and volunteers strengthening their communities, Singh added.He also called on Singaporeans to build a stronger country. »Singapore is strongest when all who call it home, whatever their background, recognise our common responsibility to one another."

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and former chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers Eddie Teo have been awarded the Order of Temasek (With Distinction) — the highest honour conferred at this year's National Day Awards.The award recognises individuals who have rendered exceptionally distinguished service to Singapore.They head this year's list of National Day Award recipients, which sees a total of 7,491 individuals recognised for their contributions to Singapore. The recipients are made up of 6,624 civilian recipients, including public servants, educators, community and grassroots leaders, while 867 are military personnel.According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) website, the honour was introduced in 1962 and has three grades — the Order of Temasek (With High Distinction), the Order of Temasek (With Distinction), and the Order of Temasek. 

Singapore is taking a «fresh look» at issues relating to marriage and parenthood to help families lighten the load as family life comes under greater strain, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Saturday (Aug 8).Ultimately, economic growth and technological progress must translate into better lives for all Singaporeans, he said in his National Day Message on the eve of the nation's 61st birthday.

Since Singapore's independence 61 years ago, Singaporeans from all backgrounds have come together as «one people and one nation», and as the world becomes increasingly divided, the values embodied in Singapore's national pledge are more relevant than ever, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.In his National Day message on Aug 8, he called on Singaporeans to keep faith with one another and stay true to the ideals of the national pledge.And if Singapore and its people can do so, there will be a better and stronger Singapore, PM Wong said.«Six decades ago, that conviction found expression in our National Pledge,» he added.  «It reflected a simple but powerful belief — that we could become one nation, bound together not by race, language or religion, but by a shared commitment to one another and to Singapore.» 

A 38-year-old driver died after his car was believed to have crashed into a traffic light and road divider in Hougang, causing it to flip onto its side on Friday (Aug 7).The incident occurred at around 4.20am that morning at Hougang Avenue 6 towards Hougang Avenue 10.Photos of the aftermath shared on Facebook by user Eng Seng Teo show a black car lying on its side with its bonnet crushed, next to a broken road railing and surrounded by debris. At least two police cars can be seen at the scene.Long (transliterated), a 29-year-old passerby, told Shin Min Daily News that he had seen the overturned car and the unconscious driver.He added that about 10 Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) personnel were at the scene to rescue the trapped driver.Lin (transliterated), a 60-year-old renovation contractor, told the Chinese daily that she had heard a loud bang and went to take a look. She added that passersby knocked on the car window but received no response and had to wait for SCDF to arrive.

Two persons, aged 23 and 29, were arrested for their alleged involvement in a case of motor vehicle theft.Police said in a news release on Aug 7 that they were alerted to a case of car theft at a multi-storey carpark along Kranji Loop at about 7.45pm on July 24.According to the victim, he had parked his rental car at the carpark on July 21.Officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of a 29-year-old man through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras.He was arrested on Aug 6 and the stolen vehicle was also recovered.Preliminary investigations revealed that the keys to the rental car had been left unattended overnight on one of the car tyres.Investigations against the 23-year-old woman are ongoing.The man will be charged in court on Aug 8 with the offence of theft of motor vehicle. If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to seven years and fined.[[nid:742094]]editor@asiaone.com 

Three people, aged between 25 and 38, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a coordinated scheme that compromised the Singpass accounts of work permit holders.Police said in a news release on Friday (Aug 7) night that since early August, at least 23 work permit holders have reported that their Singpass accounts were locked after being approached and offered an $80 cash incentive in exchange for access to their accounts. Some of the victims were purportedly told that their Singpass accounts would be used to purchase National Day Parade (NDP) tickets at a discounted price of $500.After they agreed to participate in the scheme, the work permit holders were allegedly instructed to meet the perpetrators at locations such as MRT stations, Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates and construction sites.Subsequently, the victims' work permits were scanned and their Singpass passwords obtained from them.The compromised accounts were then used to apply for telco or financial accounts, the police said.

SINGAPORE – A number of investors in Singapore have made police reports over an alleged Ponzi scheme involving Fun Coffee, a food business that originated in Vietnam.It comes just days after the authorities in Hong Kong and Macau arrested eight people in total linked to a scheme that has seen 200 people lose nearly HK$100 million (S$16.3 million).Based in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, Fun Coffee claimed to have assets of more than US$1 billion (S$1.28 billion) and a team of more than 5,000.Investors were encouraged to pour money into the firm's coffee-based ventures using cryptocurrency.It claimed to employ sophisticated technology including brewing machinery and intelligent irrigation and fertilisation systems, reported Asia News Network.

Next stop, IS7 Cayden? A new MRT station has just been announced, but you probably won't find it on Singapore's official rail map.The station, IS7 Cayden, was created specially for a seven-year-old train enthusiast's birthday celebration.Megan Chew, Cayden's cousin, posted a TikTok video on Sunday (Aug 2) of the little train enthusiast's birthday celebration.Chew told AsiaOne that she was excited to see the little boy's reaction to the MRT-themed cake. The 23-year-old said that Cayden had developed an interest in trains and MRT lines since the start of the year.«Every time I meet him, he'll share about his favourite MRT lines and stations. Sometimes, [he] even tests me on my train knowledge like: 'Name five stations on the North-East line',» shared Chew.In the clip, the birthday boy can be seen giggling with joy as he admires his birthday cake, which is decorated with the Singapore MRT map.Cayden bashfully smiles and covers his face before dashing away from the spotlight, as a birthday song is sung for him. The White Ombre shared on Facebook on Tuesday that it had customised the cake for Cayden.

Ilhan Fandi handed Singapore an early birthday present as his second-half equaliser secured a 1-1 draw against Indonesia, sending the Lions into the Asean Championship semi-finals on Friday (Aug 7).Roared on by a sell-out crowd of 5,113 at Jalan Besar Stadium, the world No. 148 hosts recovered after falling behind early in the second half. The final whistle sparked celebrations among the home supporters, who had packed the stadium just two days before National Day.Playing in their new Adidas home kit for the first time, Singapore secured second place in Group A and a berth in the last four.Ilhan capitalised on a costly goalkeeping error in the 66th minute to cancel out Ragnar Oratmangoen’s goal and deny the world No. 118 visitors the victory they needed to progress.With only a point needed to qualify, Singapore finished second in Group A behind Vietnam, whose 3-1 win over Cambodia sealed top spot.Indonesia, who entered the match knowing only a win would keep their campaign alive, were eliminated.

A Singapore TikToker was offered the chance to live and farm on a piece of New Zealand land, which she compared to the size of Toa Payoh, free of charge.The unexpected offer to place a tiny house on the property came after TikToker Esther, known on social media as risewithaster, said she spent time helping a farming couple she first met through an Airbnb stay.Esther said that she eventually became part of a community focused on self-sufficient living, according to her post that has been viewed more than 25,000 times since it was uploaded on July 24.'I was interested in permaculture'In her video, Esther shared that she initially planned to spend six months in New Zealand but ended up staying for over a year as she travelled, explored permaculture and considered her next steps after leaving her teaching job.According to her website, Esther had previously taught English and Literature for 14 years.Recounting her experience in a TikTok video, Esther said one Airbnb listing in New Zealand had caught her attention: a farm owned by a couple named James and Sarah.

A 22-year-old man will be charged in court on Saturday (Aug 8) for allegedly driving a deregistered vehicle without a valid driving licence and causing the death of a pump attendant at an Esso petrol station in Upper Changi Road North.Police said in a news release on Friday night that the man drove a car to the petrol station at about 3.55am on Thursday.As a 69-year-old male pump attendant was about to refuel the car he was driving, the man allegedly returned to the driver's seat and reversed abruptly.This caused the open driver's-side door to strike the elderly man, causing him to fall and hit his head. He was taken unconscious to the hospital, where he later died of his injuries on Friday.According to the police, the male driver abandoned his vehicle after the incident and fled the scene with a female passenger.Officers from the Traffic Police (TP) established the identities of the duo through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras and closed-circuit television (CCTV), and arrested them on the same day of the incident.

A man was handed a $3,000 fine after refusing to pay for a bowl of porridge while intoxicated and later verbally abusing police officers at Orchard Plaza.Wu Guojie (transliterated), 36, faced one charge each under the Protection from Harassment Act and the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act, reported Chinese publication Shin Min Daily News.Wu pleaded guilty to one of the charges, while the other was taken into consideration during sentencing.The incident occurred on Dec 9, 2025 at around 7am, when Wu refused to pay a female stallholder for a bowl of porridge he had ordered.The stallholder subsequently reported him to police officers. When officers asked Wu to produce identification documents to verify his identity, he refused to cooperate.Despite repeated attempts by an officer to engage him, Wu, who was intoxicated, continued shouting, behaved aggressively and even challenged the officers to arrest him, Shin Min reported.He was subsequently arrested and taken to Woodlands Police Division Headquarters.

Four people were taken to the hospital after a chain collision involving three vehicles on Bedok North Road.The incident was shared on Friday (Aug 7) via Facebook in a group for private-hire drivers. The post claimed the accident occurred at about 2.15pm.Photos of the incident showed multiple vehicles stopped in the outermost lane. One of the photos showed a green GrabCab sandwiched between two other cars.In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police said that they were alerted to the traffic accident involving two cars and a taxi on Bedok North Road towards Bartley Road East at 2.10pm.A 43-year-old male driver and his two passengers, aged 10 and 42, were taken to the hospital conscious.A 25-year-old female passenger from another vehicle was also taken to the hospital conscious, while two other drivers, aged 48 and 65, sustained minor injuries but declined to be taken to the hospital.According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), two people were taken to Changi General Hospital, while another two were taken to Sengkang General Hospital.

Ilhan Fandi handed Singapore an early birthday present as his second-half equaliser secured a 1-1 draw against Indonesia, sending the Lions into the ASEAN Championship semi-finals on Friday (Aug 7).Roared on by a sell-out crowd of 5,113 at Jalan Besar Stadium, the world No. 148 hosts recovered after falling behind early in the second half. The final whistle sparked celebrations among the home supporters, who had packed the stadium just two days before National Day.Playing in their new Adidas home kit for the first time, Singapore secured second place in Group A and a berth in the last four.Ilhan capitalised on a costly goalkeeping error in the 66th minute to cancel out Ragnar Oratmangoen’s goal and deny the world No. 118 visitors the victory they needed to progress.With only a point needed to qualify, Singapore finished second in Group A behind Vietnam, whose 3-1 win over Cambodia sealed top spot.Indonesia, who entered the match knowing only a win would keep their campaign alive, were eliminated.