Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has weighed in on Singapore's push to reverse its record-low total fertility rate (TFR) of 0.87, warning simply: «Humans are disappearing.»The remark comes nearly two years after Musk warned that Singapore was «going extinct» amid concerns over the country's declining birth rate. Musk was responding to a post on X by user XFreeze, which pointed out measures announced by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the 2026 National Day Rally (NDR) on Sunday (August 23) to tackle the country's fertility crisis.Measures include $70,000 in direct financial support for each Singaporean from birth to age 17, increased childcare leave and more opportunities for first-time families to secure a build-to-order (BTO) flat.The post also included a clip of PM Wong speaking at NDR.«Singapore just went all in on birth rates,» XFreeze wrote in a post on Monday.

Public transport operator SMRT on Friday (Aug 28) launched a transformative initiative that will change how it manages and maintains its bus fleet. Dubbed «Bus 4.0», the $6 million initiative will allow SMRT to identify risks earlier, coordinate responses faster and act before issues affect commuters, the operator said in a media release.It is made possible by the installation of telematics across the entire bus fleet managed by SMRT. This, in turn, allows SMRT to see the entire network, identify emerging problems, and quickly focus on what needs attention, said SMRT chairman Seah Moon Ming during the launch at Gali Batu Depot. 

The Government plans to hire 1,800 more infant care educators by 2030 to expand access to affordable, quality preschool education, announced Senior Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming.Speaking at a Teachers' Day celebration at E-Bridge Pre-School @ Sumang Lane on Friday (Aug 28), SMS Goh shared that the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) also plans to expand the network of government-supported preschools.In line with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's National Day Rally message to strengthen support for families and provide affordable infant care, ECDA will be expanding the Manpower Hiring Grant (MHG) from September 2026.«ECDA's focus is to build a strong and well-trained infant care workforce,» said the agency in a press release on the same day.«Infant care educators require specialised knowledge and skills to support the developmental and caregiving needs of infants.»

A bus captain was allegedly assaulted while servicing his route between Changi Village Terminal and Kampong Bahru Terminal on Aug 16, Go-Ahead Singapore said in a Facebook post on Thursday (Aug 26).The operator said the incident took place around 5.20pm on Service 2, disrupting the trip.This is the second case of alleged assault of a Go-Ahead bus captain in three months.The bus captain in the latest case sought medical attention at Changi General Hospital, according to the post.«He has since returned to work, and we are continuing to provide him with our full support,» Go-Ahead Singapore said, adding that a police report has been lodged, and it is cooperating with ongoing investigations.The bus operator stressed that it does not condone any form of abuse of violence against its colleagues, who «carry out their duties every day so that commuters can reach their destinations safely».«They deserve to be treated with respect and should never have to face abuse or violence while doing their job.»Their safety and well-being remain our priority, and we will continue to do our part to support and protect them."

A snake was seen slithering about outside a glass enclosure in Mandai's RepTopia, according to a video uploaded to Instagram by user Azulesoctopus on Monday (Aug 24).In the video, the snake, a painted bronzeback, is seen moving across a rocky structure connected to the glass enclosure, surrounded by guests.One of two staff members next to it then reaches down, holding the snake's tail with a gloved right hand while wrangling its body with her left.Once secured, the snake is then escorted away as the video ends.Reacting to the sight, Azulesoctopus shared that they were just about to step into the reptile exhibition, but overheard a visitor informing staff of the situation.«My heart skipped a beat,» they laughed.Mandai Wildlife Group told 8world that the incident took place on Sunday (Aug 23) and that staff immediately arrived after the visitor alerted them to the snake outside the exhibit.«Snakes typically do not harm people unless provoked,» the spokesperson said. «If given sufficient space, they will usually leave on their own.»

A 30-year-old man was apprehended after he locked himself in a room in his Woodlands flat.Police officers were prompted to break into the unit after he was assessed to pose a danger to himself.The incident happened in an eight-floor unit of Block 537 Woodlands Drive 16 at about 3.55pm on Aug 23.Videos, which show rescuers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force's (SCDF) Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) rappelling from a 10th-floor unit, started surfacing on social media on Thursday morning.As a rescuer throws down a safety net from the 10th-floor unit, two officers started rappelling down. They are then seen securing the net over the windows of the man's unit.SCDF firefighters are also seen dismantling a safety life air pack as officers from the Special Operations Command (SOC) arrive with cutting tools.

With his wife missing in the Nepal-Tibet floods, he does not know what to tell their seven-year-old daughter.Wanting to be known only as Selvaganesh, 43, the man said his wife, Shalinny Deavy, 40, had been on a pilgrimage in Nepal when floods and landslides swept through parts of central Nepal and Tibet on Aug 26.That night, Selvaganesh told their daughter, an only child, that Shalinny was missing.The Singaporean couple have been married for 10 years.Selvaganesh said: «I just told my daughter, 'Amma (mother) is missing'. She said she misses Amma, and before she went to school, she said to tell Amma to call in the evening as she wants to talk to her.»I don't know what else to tell her."More than 1,500 people are missing following floods and landslides in Nepal and Tibet on Aug 26, killing at least 270 people.The Nepal Tourism Board said over 500 foreigners remained uncontactable, including those from India, the US, Ukraine, Malaysia and Australia.Nine are Singaporeans.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has cautioned Singaporeans in areas affected by the flood along the Nepal-China border to stay vigilant, a spokesperson said on Thursday evening (Aug 27).This warning comes as Nepali authorities highlighted that a blockage remains upstream on the Nepal-China border river, potentially creating the risk of a second flood. «We strongly encourage Singaporeans in the affected areas to remain vigilant, monitor local news, and follow the instructions of local authorities. »Singaporeans should also avoid flood-affected areas, rivers, riverbanks, and low-lying areas,« the MFA spokesperson said, advising Singaporeans to eRegister with MFA to be contacted on the latest developments.The spokesperson also stated that the Singapore Government is »deeply saddened" by the loss of lives, extending condolences to the loved ones of those who have died.As at Thursday evening, the death toll has risen to more than 350 with more than 1,500 missing, BBC reported.Nine Singaporeans are also among the missing, according to the latest update by the Nepal Tourism Board.

Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers foiled an attempt to smuggle duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint on Aug 16.Photographs posted by ICA on its Facebook page on Thursday (Aug 27) show several cartons of cigarettes stashed away in a Malaysia-registered car's engine compartment.Black trash bags are also seen taped over the compartment.ICA said its search and examination officers had directed the vehicle for enhanced checks.There, over 100 cartons and 400 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found concealed within the bonnet.The 28-year-old male Malaysian car driver was arrested and the case referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigation.Buying, selling, conveying, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the Goods and Services Tax Act. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded, jailed for up to six years, or both. Vehicles used to commit such offences, as well as proceeds from the sale of duty-unpaid goods, may also be forfeited.[[nid:743491]]

The police are looking for the driver of a blue Toyota saloon car after a hit-and-run in Sengkang on Thursday (Aug 27) morning.The incident happened at about 6.20am on Sengkang East Road towards Buangkok Road, just opposite Sengkang Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) and Sengkang General Hospital. Map showing where the incident happened on Thursday (Aug 27). GRAPHIC: Google Maps, Social media Photographs and a video of the incident circulating on social media show the car stopped on the traffic island at the junction of Sengkang East Way and Sengkang East Road.A traffic light was knocked over, possibly from the impact of the accident.

SINGAPORE — Young people in Singapore who want a listening ear but are reluctant to step into a counsellor’s office can turn to a new initiative.Called Chat Circles, the programme matches them with a trained volunteer to have an hour-long conversation about things weighing on their minds.Social enterprise Empact, which launched the initiative on Aug 26, promises a space “free from clinical assessments, unsolicited advice or expectations”.Up to 20 young people can join each session, which will run monthly from August through to July 2027. Empact plans to work with tertiary institutions to hold sessions on campus, as well as other community partners such as charities serving underprivileged youth.Chat Circles is part of a new series of mental well-being and resilience programmes aimed at supporting youth through life transitions, under the five-year SG Youth Plan launched by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the National Youth Council (NYC).

The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) on Thursday (Aug 27) pledged $50,000 in humanitarian aid to its Red Cross and Red Crescent partners following deadly floods that struck near the Nepal-China border a day earlier.More than 270 people have been killed and about 1,500 are still unaccounted for as search efforts continue.At least 700 foreign tourists, including nine Singaporeans, are reportedly missing.Rescuers are using helicopters in search operations, dropping tents, food and other emergency supplies to thousands cut off in towns and valleys.The flooding is said to have been possibly triggered by a glacier collapse, experts say. 

Services sector turnover in the second quarter of 2026 rose 25.5 per cent from a year earlier, data from the Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat) showed.Compared to the previous quarter, non-seasonally adjusted business receipts grew by 16.9 per cent, the department reported on Thursday (Aug 27).The data, which excludes accommodation, finance and insurance and real estate developers, showed that receipts in the second quarter stood at about $1.58 trillion.The quarterly indicator released by SingStat tracks the income earned by firms across Singapore's services sector.It is intended to provide insights on the short-term performances of the services industries, helping to guide business decisions and policy choices, SingStat said.Business receipts stood at about $283 billion, if wholesale trade, which reported a 27.8 per cent growth — mainly attributed to wholesale trade of electronic components, petroleum, and petroleum products — is excluded.With the exception of recreation and personal services and food and beverage, all other industries recorded year-on-year growth in the second quarter.

SINGAPORE — When senior citizen Goh Kim Inn hit his father’s head with an umbrella while crossing a road, Jimmy Yar Hock Long, 37, turned around and shoved the 78-year-old assailant to the ground.Goh hit his head on the ground and died two days later at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.On Aug 27, Yar was sentenced to nine months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to an assault charge.His 70-year-old father and Goh had a history of altercations over reasons that were not disclosed in court documents.Goh had previously assaulted Yar’s father in January and March 2024, which saw Goh receiving police warnings on Aug 20 that year.Yar’s father was also issued a warning for fighting with Goh in a public place on March 21, 2024.The fatal incident happened just before 9am on May 25, 2025.Yar and his father were at a pedestrian crossing at the junction of Upper Serangoon Road and Wolskel Road when Goh approached them from behind and used an umbrella to hit Yar’s father on the head.Deputy Public Prosecutor Timotheus Koh said that Yar then rushed towards Goh and pushed him. Goh fell, hit his head on the ground and stopped moving.

A total of 18 bus services will be affected by the Adidas Orchard Ignition event taking place in Orchard over the coming weekend, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced on Thursday (Aug 27). On Sunday, the affected bus services will skip three bus stops along Orchard Road and Paterson Road from 10am to 8.30pm, LTA said.Bus services 36, 77, 124, 143, 167, 174, 190, 518, and 972/972M will skip bus stop 0947 outside Orchard MRT station and Tang Plaza, while services 7, 14, 16, 65, 106, 111, 123, 175 and 502 will skip bus stop 09048 outside Orchard MRT station and Lucky Plaza.Meanwhile, bus services 14, 16, 65 and 175 will skip bus stop 13191 opposite Orchard MRT station's Exit 12. The bus stop is located along Paterson Road.Adidas Orchard IgnitionA collaboration between Adidas and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team, Adidas Orchard Ignition will feature a garage display at the Adidas Brand Centre Orchard on Aug 29.

Three individuals, all Indian nationals, were charged by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Thursday (Aug 27) for harbouring immigration offenders in separate cases.The trio — Patil Shubham Bhagwan, 27; Laddi, 31; and, Chumber Dheeraj Kumar, 37 — were accused of harbouring immigration offenders, in three separate cases, with reckless disregard as to whether the offenders' respective stay in Singapore was valid.Patil allegedly harboured 19-year-old Indian national Sharma Kartik in his Chai Chee Road residential unit from September 2025 till April this year.This was despite Sharma's visit pass having expired on September 8 last year.Laddi committed the same offence by allegedly harbouring 31-year-old Indian national Gulshan in a unit in Yishun Ring Road from December 2025 until May this year.The 31-year-old had remained unlawfully in Singapore after the expiry of his visit pass in April 2023.Meanwhile, Chumber, is accused of harbouring 36-year-old Sidhu Harpreet Singh in a unit in Jalan Rumah Tinggu from May to August this year.Sidhu's visit pass expired on April 30 this year.

Senior Minister (SM) Lee Hsien Loong took a break from his official engagements in Kazakhstan to experience a few local activities, including holding an eagle and trying his hand at archery.He also donned traditional Kazakh attire during his time in Almaty which is the largest city in Kazakhstan, as seen in a video shared on his Instagram (IG) on Wednesday (August 26).In the video, he can be seen holding the eagle while asking, «How many kilos is the eagle?», to which the handler replied that it weighed five kilogrammes.SM Lee, smiling broadly, exclaimed, «Wow!» as the eagle perched on his right arm.In his IG post, SM Lee also shared glimpses of his time in Almaty, including the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains, as he took some time to explore the city.The lighter moments came alongside a packed schedule of meetings, including one with Almaty Mayor Darkhan Satybaldy.SM Lee is on an official visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from August 24 to 31, his first visit to Central Asia. 

A total of 231 people, including a 15-year-old, are being investigated by the police for their alleged involvement in scams as scammers or money mules, following a two-week operation between Aug 13 and Aug 26.The latest operation comes immediately after an earlier two-week operation from July 30 to Aug 12.The August operation involved officers from the police's Cyber Command and the seven police land divisions.Police said in a news release on Thursday (Aug 27) that the 149 men and 82 women being investigated are aged between 15 and 76.They are believed to be involved in more than 721 scam cases comprising mainly e-commerce scams, phishing scams, job scams, government official impersonation scams, investment scams and lucky draw scams, where victims reportedly lost about $4.1 million.They are now being investigated for various alleged offences including cheating, money laundering, or providing payment services without a licence.

The police have raided iron ore trader Radiant World's premises in Singapore amid ongoing investigations.Its corporate address is at 6 Battery Road.Radiant World has come under scrutiny from counterparties in recent weeks over invoices provided to its banks.The US Justice Department is also probing transactions around Radiant World, with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission said to be examining trades involving the company and its creditors, Bloomberg reported. Meanwhile Deutsche Bank and KBC Group NV have frozen some of Radiant's Singapore bank accounts, while other lenders have suspended credit lines.Both banks declined to comment at the time of earlier reports on Aug 20.Earlier on Aug 20, the police had said in response to media queries that they received reports about Radiant World.In an updated statement to AsiaOne on Aug 27, the police confirmed that investigations are ongoing.

A man called several Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPC) over 1,000 times in the span of one week and stayed silent when officers picked up the phone.Foo Jia Hong, a 37-year-old Singaporean, was handed a jail sentence of 23 days on Wednesday (Aug 26) after he pleaded guilty to one charge of obstructing police officers at Yishun NPC from carrying out their duties by making silent calls.Three other charges for similarly making silent calls to Bedok NPC, Geylang NPC and Ang Mo Kio North NPC were taken into consideration during sentencing.The court heard that Foo had dialled the NPCs between April 21 and 29 for «fun and enjoyment», reported The Straits Times.He reportedly used a SIM card which he found in a second-hand mobile phone cover he bought earlier this year. He then used the card to make calls to the NPCs, but remained silent when officers answered.425 calls to Yishun NPCA total of 1,035 silent calls were made, of which 425 were to Yishun NPC, according to court documents.

Two Singaporeans travelling with a tour group are missing in Nepal following flooding near the country's border with Tibet, according to their tour company, reported AFP. The 47-member group also included 15 Australians, 10 Canadians, nine Nepalese, eight Americans, two Britons and one Russian-American dual citizen.Among the 15 Australians missing are two teenage boys.The group, which was travelling with tour company Himalayan Glacier, was reported missing after flooding hit the area, the company's managing director Sanket Pandey told AFP on Thursday (Aug 27).«At this time they are still missing. Our team is checking hospitals where victims are coming in,» he said.Pandey added that most of the group were staying in the Rasuwagadhi area, which was hit by the flooding, with several others travelling into the town. AsiaOne has reached out to Himalayan Glacier and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for further information.