A 47-year-old man will be charged in court on Wednesday (Aug 26) for allegedly using insulting and abusive words towards public servants.In a news release on Tuesday, police said that the man had sent multiple emails to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and them between March 14 and May 16 this year.According to the police, the emails contained insulting and abusive remarks directed at SPF officers, and were sent to express his dissatisfaction with his interactions with the police.Police did not say what these interactions were about. The 47-year-old will be charged with the offence of using insulting and abusive words towards public servants under the Protection from Harassment Act.If found guilty of the said offence, the man could be jailed for up to 12 months, fined up to $5,000, or both.The police said that they have zero tolerance for harassment and abusive conduct directed at police officers and public servants carrying out their duties.«The Police will not hesitate to take firm action against those who engage in such conduct in accordance with the law,» they added.[[nid:737842]]

SINGAPORE — A centuries-old shipping practice of importing and re-exporting goods, or transshipping, has become the latest source of ire for the US, which claims that it is being used to hide the goods’ true country of origin. Singapore has not been spared, with the White House naming the Republic — the world’s biggest container transshipment hub — among dozens of other economies that it said Chinese exporters are using to avoid US tariffs. The Aug 13 report titled The Great Transshipment Scam also stated that the US authorities will now use an artificial intelligence-powered “detective border” tool, among other initiatives, to help crack down on the illegal transshipments that falsify the country of origin for goods headed to the US.While Singapore was mentioned in the report as “a small opportunistic Chinese target”, some analysts think stricter US scrutiny on the so-called “shadow transshipment network” could present an opportunity for the Republic to position itself as a trusted and traceable hub.

A customer who mistakenly paid $650 for a $6.50 meal at a Telok Blangah hawker stall was refunded the overpayment back nearly a month later, after returning to the stall.Sharing the incident in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Aug 19), the customer said they had accidentally keyed in the wrong amount and only realised the mistake about a month later, after returning from overseas.«Turns out, Vincent (the stall owner) had even gone to the bank to report the overpayment. So grateful for his honesty and I was able to get back the excess,» said the customer. According to an image shared in the post, the incident occurred at a lor mee stall at a coffee shop at Block 109 Bukit Purmei Road.Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the 48-year-old stall owner, Vincent See, said he recalled a customer visiting the stall one day in July to buy a takeaway bowl of braised noodles. He added that the customer had scanned the payment code before leaving.

In a more volatile and contested environment today, countries like Singapore and Vietnam — that have benefited from an open and rules-based international order — will need to ensure the quality and capability of its Government, said Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing.«Our view is that the quality and capability of Government will increasingly distinguish successful nations from the rest,» said Chan in his opening remarks at the inaugural Singapore-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue on Tuesday (Aug 25). The high-level strategic platform was formalised through an exchange of memorandum of understanding on cooperation during Vietnam President To Lam's state visit in May.

They may look like aunties you see in Chinatown, but they certainly don't move like them.A video of a dance troupe has gone viral after they were seen dancing with vigour inside a restaurant in Chinatown, according to a TikTok video uploaded by user Miaomiaoer422 on Sunday (Aug 23).The video has since garnered over 460,000 views and more than 20,200 likes as at Monday evening.The dance troupe, known as Fulan Dance Troupe (transliteration) from China, is led by Instagram user Superjohnnybaby, 8world reported on Monday.In the video, a group of five dressed in Nyonya outfits can be seen performing in front of a camera, between the aisles of restaurant seats in Gunkee Claypot.Beginning with a quick whip of their hair, the five then raise their right legs, kicking forward and pumping their arms in circles around them.Superjohnnybaby can be seen taking the lead, standing in front of the five performers.Spinning around, they push their backs out, before turning around and resuming the kicks again.They move out of the restaurant, cross the street while sashaying and skipping, ending the dance as they reach the opposite side.

Unhappy that her 60-year-old boyfriend did not spend more time with her, a 28-year-old woman filed a police report falsely accusing him of assaulting and stealing $400 from her.On Friday (Aug 21), Tang Peisi (transliteration) was sentenced to four days in jail after pleading guilty to one charge of filing a false police report, reported Shin Min Daily News.According to court proceedings, Tang and her boyfriend, Hong Ya Rui (transliteration), had been in a relationship for some time.Then, Hong was working as a bus driver and regularly travelled from Malaysia to Singapore for work.The incident occurred on Oct 6, 2024, when Tang waited at the Hougang interchange to have lunch with Hong, who arrived at around 2.25pm after being delayed by rain.After lunch, Hong prepared to leave for work, but Tang, unhappy that he could not spend more time with her, grabbed his uniform in an attempt to stop him from leaving.

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.