The Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) on Friday (Aug 28) launched a set of guidelines for animal shelters — establishing benchmarks and examples of best operational practices — to safeguard animal welfare.Sharing this on Friday at Paws in the City — AVS' first adoption drive held in the city — the agency said the guidelines were developed with inputs from animal groups, veterinarians, trainers and members of the public.More than 600 responses were received during the public consultation, AVS added.Acknowledging that animal groups and shelters have established themselves as key stakeholders in the pet sector, AVS said the 15 animal groups operating shelters in Singapore — known to AVS — play an important role in the care and rehoming of pets. However, while they have developed their respective welfare practices over the years for the housing, care and rehoming of animals, there are no benchmarks for shelter operational practices in Singapore, AVS noted.

The Singapore Government has pledged US$100,000 (S$127,000) to the Singapore Red Cross' public fundraising efforts in the Nepal-Tibet floods, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Friday (Aug 28).The amount is expected to support humanitarian relief efforts and address urgent needs among those affected, MFA stated.The ministry explained that this contribution was made in response to the severe floods along the Nepal-China border — the natural disaster has resulted in the confirmed deaths of 469 people as at Friday evening, The Guardian reported.More than 1,500 have also been reported missing, including nine Singaporeans, the Nepal Tourism Board said.Footage of the incident on Wednesday showed a tsunami of mud and debris engulfing the area as many were seen attempting to flee on foot.A resulting lake formed by the landslide overflowed on Friday, forcing rescue efforts to come to a temporary standstill due to the increased risks, Reuters reported.

The 60-year-old man who assaulted local actor Huang Yiliang at his hawker stall on May 10 has been issued a 12-month conditional warning, the police told AsiaOne on Friday (Aug 28).Yiliang, 64, who runs seafood zichar stall Old Fisherman at Circuit Road Hawker Centre, previously told local media that he was attacked by the husband of the woman who runs the neighbouring Enah Hainanese Chicken Rice stall.He alleged that on May 10, Lihua had called his female assistant over to her stall, where she and her husband were waiting.As there were already tensions between them, Yiliang told his assistant to ignore them. He claimed Lihua and her husband swore at them, and he retaliated by shouting back. When he stepped out of his stall to confront them, he claimed that Lihua's husband struck his right ear from the back, causing him to fall forward.Yiliang was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital where he was given three days of medical leave and painkillers before being discharged that night.

Traffic Police (TP) is trialling the use of average speed enforcement on Singapore's expressways as more accidents resulting in injuries were recorded in the first half of 2026, even as traffic accident-related deaths fell in the same period.In its mid-year traffic situation update released on Friday (Aug 28), TP highlighted that the overall traffic situation remains worrying. From January to June, Singapore recorded a total of 60 fatal road accidents, with 61 people killed, while there were 78 fatal accidents and 79 deaths in the first half of 2025.The dip was largely due to fewer deaths among motorcyclists and pillion riders.But the authority said the overall accident and casualty counts have continued to increase, with the number of accidents resulting in injuries increasing by 3.2 per cent to 3,869 in the first half of 2026 — up from 3,748 in the same period last year.«The trends above underscore the need for sustained enforcement and public education,» TP said in its report.«Speed remains a key factor in road safety.»

Travellers departing Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint are advised that there is currently heavy departure traffic.In an update posted on its social media at 5.26pm on Friday (Aug 28), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) informed motorists that delays are expected.They are also advised to check traffic conditions before departure.Checks by AsiaOne on the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) traffic cameras indicate that the heavy traffic is not due to tailback from Malaysia.The queue is seen stretching past Woodlands Crossing, to the Woodlands Avenue 3 exit (Exit 10A) on the Bukit Timah Expressway. 

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.