SINGAPORE – Hours spent playing computer games as a boy fuelled his curiosity about technology that eventually led Chew Shou Zi to become TikTok chief executive.In a speech to Nanyang Technological University (NTU) PhD graduates on Aug 1, the Singaporean said he built his career on this curiosity, and the belief that impact often means doing things differently from what everyone expects.Chew, 43, who was born in Singapore in 1983, said these ideas started early in life, with countless hours spent on a computer his father bought when he was a child.He was speaking at the first of two ceremonies at which 575 graduates received doctorates. They are part of the largest batch of graduates in NTU’s history numbering over 14,000 who will graduate in 29 ceremonies this year.Said Chew: “I would love to tell you that I was using the computer to code some brilliant software and building the future, but the reality is I was playing computer games. A lot of them.”

At its peak, an online chat group of marine foragers in Singapore had nearly 900 members.Conversations in the group revolved around the best coastal locations to catch marine life here, and the showing off of fresh hauls.The group is now no more, having been disbanded by its administrator on July 26 after a viral Douyin video of marine foragers sparked public backlash in Singapore, reported Lianhe Zaobao.Known as gan hai (chasing the sea), the Chinese trend involves catching shellfish or sea animals such as crabs at beaches or coastal areas.According to Zaobao, a man who created social media content of him participating in the activity had started the chat group to allow fellow foragers to connect.A reporter from the Chinese publication joined the group in early July, when there was about 180 members. The number quickly swelled to almost 900 people within the month.The chat group reportedly arranged at least three foraging trips each week at locations including Changi, Sembawang, Punggol and Pasir Ris.

Singapore is celebrating its 61st birthday at the National Stadium on Aug 9, and the National Day Parade (NDP) has been declared as an enhanced security special event.This means that the police will impose strict security measures to ensure public safety and security around the venue.In a statement on Saturday (Aug 1), the police said they have designated a special event area around the National Stadium, with a special zone demarcated within it where enhanced security checks will be carried out.The police said they will conduct checks on people within this area, and those found in possession of any prohibited items will be dealt with in accordance with the law.Unmanned aircraft, including drones, are prohibited within the special event area. It is also an offence if such drones, flown outside the area, disrupts, interferes with, delays or obstructs the conduct of the NDP.

A Singaporean man who became uncontactable in Vietnam was reportedly arrested after Ho Chi Minh police launched an operation against a syndicate producing and trafficking etomidate-laced vapes.Oh Jiang Fong was nabbed alongside Singaporean Melvin Tan Junjie and Malaysian Hoo Jia How on July 17, reported the Voice of Vietnam on Friday (July 31).Tan and Hoo are accused of leading the drug syndicate, and Oh is alleged to have supplied an etomidate liquid used to fill empty vape pods.In videos posted by various Vietnam news outlets, Oh is seen standing next to the pink-haired Hoo and turning his head away from cameras.Ho Chi Minh police said they have questioned a total of 76 people and charged 65 suspects over the alleged drug ring. This includes four Singaporeans, according to media outlet Dan Tri.Earlier on July 23, Oh's family and friends had made online appeals for information on his whereabouts, saying that he had gone missing after travelling to Vietnam.The posts said Oh left Singapore on July 16, and that he was supposed to return two days later. The Singapore Embassy in Ho Chi Minh City said Oh had an entry record on July 17.

A woman allegedly found a dead cockroach in soy milk she bought from a Taiwanese street food eatery in Tampines.Riley Rhonda Tay took to Facebook on July 25 to share about the incident as she felt that the response she got from the store was unsatisfactory.She had bought three cups of soy milk at Alley Wei's Tampines Mall branch on July 20 at around 2.40pm before heading off for an appointment at a nearby traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic with her parents.There, Tay discovered a cockroach at the bottom of her cup and was disgusted. After the TCM appointment, she headed back to the Alley Wei at around 5.50pm to inform them about her drink.«[The] cashier apologised and offered a refund with replacement of the same soybean milk!» Tay claimed in her post. «The chef standing at the kitchen said, 'All we can do is refund you money and replace you [with] another [of the] same soybean milk',» which she repeatedly rejected.

Three people, including two firefighters, were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a Clementi flat on Friday (July 31).According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), they were alerted to a fire at Block 309 Clementi Ave 4 at around 11.10pm.When SCDF arrived on scene, they found the living room of an eight-floor unit on fire. Firefighters forcibly entered the living room and extinguished the fire, which involved items in the room, with two water jets.They also found a person trapped in the kitchen.The resident was later taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, while the two firefighters who sustained burn injuries were conveyed to Singapore General Hospital.About 40 residents from the block were evacuated by the police and SCDF as a precaution.Member of Parliament (MP) for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Sim Ann shared an update about the fire on Saturday (Aug 1) morning.«While putting out the fire, SCDF personnel found an unconscious person trapped inside the unit,» she wrote in a Facebook post. "The person was conveyed to hospital, and unfortunately passed away.

SINGAPORE - Two members of Massive Attack were issued with stern warnings and barred from re-entering Singapore after the British band ended their performance on Wednesday (July 29) with a display of the Palestinian flag, according to local media reports.Authorities said the band were investigated for their «actions of support for a political cause and unfurling of a foreign flag», during the band's concert, reports said.The Infocomm Media Development Authority also said it is investigating the possible breach of a number of licence conditions and will take «necessary action» when investigations are completed, reports added.Singapore does not allow the public display of foreign national emblems without a permit or exemption, and the Palestinian flag is especially sensitive given the war in Gaza and Singapore's Muslim population.In 2023, the home affairs ministry said: «The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict is an emotive issue. We would like to advise against the public display and wearing of articles in relation to the conflict, given the heightened sensitivities.»

A 55-year-old man was arrested on Friday (July 31) for his suspected involvement in a case of housebreaking and theft in Bedok. The police said in a statement that they were alerted to a case of housebreaking at about 4.06am on Friday. The incident took place at a temple along Bedok North Avenue 3, where cash of $390 was stolen from the donation boxes.Officers from Bedok Police Division established the man’s identity through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from closed-circuit television (CCTV) and police cameras.According to the police, the suspect was arrested within three hours of the report being lodged, and cash amounting to $290 was recovered.Preliminary investigations revealed that the man was believed to be linked to two unreported cases of housebreaking and theft at the same temple where $1,965 in cash was stolen.The 55-year-old will be charged with the offence of housebreaking and theft on Saturday. If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to ten years, and with caning or fine. [[nid:741666]]editor@asiaone.com 

Three people, including two firefighters, were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a Clementi flat on Friday (July 31).According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), they were alerted to a fire at Block 309 Clementi Ave 4 at around 11.10pm.When SCDF arrived on scene, they found the living room of an eight-floor unit on fire. Firefighters forcibly entered the living room and extinguished the fire, which involved items in the room, with two water jets.They also found a person trapped in the kitchen.The resident was later taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, while the two firefighters who sustained burn injuries were conveyed to Singapore General Hospital.About 40 residents from the block were evacuated by the police and SCDF as a precaution.The cause of the fire is under investigation.

«I think people with cancer suffer a lot, and I would like to make them happy again.» This was what Faith, a nine-year-old girl who shaved her head at a Hair for Hope event in support of other children battling cancer, replied when she was asked about her decision to do so.Her story was shared on Facebook on July 5, in which the organisers thanked her for her courage and kindness.According to Hair for Hope, Faith had signed up for the fundraising event after seeing a promotional post, saying that she wanted cancer patients to be «less alone».«Thank you, Faith, for reminding us that courage has no age, and that even the smallest acts of kindness can make the biggest difference,» the post said.In a video accompanying the post, she was asked if she was worried about going back to school bald.«No,» was her simple reply — she instead said she wanted to tell her friends about the charity event and the reason behind her decision.

Even as technology becomes an increasingly important partner in healthcare — with artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools playing a role in patient care — what patients need from nurses will never change even as their role evolve, said Senior Minister of State for Health Tan Kiat How.«That is the heart of nursing,» he said at NHG Health's Nurses' Day celebrations on Wednesday (July 29).He grew up watching his mother who worked as a nurse for over 50 years. The senior minister of state said that he had initially thought that she was «simply looking after patients».«Only later did I realise she was also giving countless families hope and confidence during some of the most difficult moments in their lives,» he said, adding that he also grew to understand that nursing was not just a job for his mother.«It was part of who she was. She spoke about her patients with warmth and compassion. She celebrated their recoveries. She worried about those who were struggling. »Even after a difficult day, she carried with her a deep sense of responsibility for the people she cared for," Tan recounted.

A car driver and his family were shocked when their vehicle came face-to-face with a bus driving against traffic after allegedly making an illegal U-turn.The near miss occurred at the junction of Woodlands Avenue 2 and Avenue 5 at about 8.25pm on Thursday (July 30).Sameem, 45, told AsiaOne that he was turning right into Avenue 5 when bus service 901 suddenly appeared in his lane.Fortunately, he reacted in time by slowing down, preventing a collision.«Had I not been alert, I believe I will not be here now,» the private-hire driver said, revealing that his three children and brother-in-law were in the car.Dashcam footage posted by Sameem on TikTok shows that service 901 had turned into Avenue 5 instead of keeping straight on Avenue 2 to reach its next stop.The bus then makes a U-turn and goes against the flow of traffic on Avenue 5 to turn back into Avenue 2.[embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@love1111011/video/7668316947041520916[/embed]Sameem claimed that the bus captain did not sound the horn to warn oncoming vehicles.

Firms in the services sector here are upbeat about business conditions over the next six months due to upcoming major events such as the F1 Singapore Grand Prix in October and artificial intelligence (AI)-related demand, a survey has found.The Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat) polled a total of 1,600 businesses which accounted for about 70 per cent of the operating revenue in their respective industry.The poll was conducted between June and July.They were asked to indicate their expectations of the business situation and other indicators such as operating revenue and employment.The Business Expectations survey for the services sector released on Friday (July 31), found that a weighted 19 per cent of firms were upbeat about business conditions, while 6 per cent anticipated weaker conditions.Among them, companies in accommodation and wholesale trade were most positive, followed by those in recreational, community and personal services, and in administrative and support services.

In the first seven months of 2026, at least $983,000 have been lost to a scam which tricked victims into believing that they had won online «lucky draws».In a statement on Friday (July 31), police warned against the scam, saying that at least 254 cases have been reported so far.Victims were told they had to pay for various «fees» to claim their winnings from participating in quizzes, livestream scratch card or lottery promotions.One modus operandi involved the impersonation of a popular Malaysian influencer, said police.Scammers created Facebook posts or short-form videos that appeared to originate from the influencer, which promoted a quiz with a cash prize.Victims were asked to contact the influencer via WhatsApp or to provide their contact details. Once engaged, victims were told they had won, and asked to pay «processing fees», «admin fees», or other fabricated charges.In some cases, a second scammer claiming to be from Maybank would ask the victim for additional transfers, saying that the money was «stuck» or an «activation fee» was required.

A 21-year-old man will be charged in court on Saturday (August 1) after he allegedly brandished a knife at three individuals, with whom he purportedly had a dispute with. Police said in a news release on Friday evening that they were alerted to a case of dispute along Selegie Road at about 4.48am on Monday (July 27), where a man was seen holding a rod-like object.It was later established that the man had hidden a 40cm-long knife beneath the back of his shirt. He subsequently confronted three other individuals over a dispute, during which police said he allegedly retrieved the knife and brandished it at them before leaving the scene.No injuries were reported in the incident.Officers from Central Police Division identified and arrested the man through extensive ground investigations and with the aid of police cameras.The knife, which had been disposed by the man, was later recovered along Middle Road.He will be charged in court on Saturday with the offence of carrying offensive weapons in public places.

A 34-year-old man was arrested on Friday (July 31) morning for his alleged involvement in a case of snatch theft in Chinatown.Police said in a news release on the same day that they received a report of snatch theft along Chin Swee Road at about 10.45pm on Thursday.The 59-year-old victim told police that an unknown man had snatched away his gold chain valued at $1,685.Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was in a supermarket along Chin Swee Road when the man pulled the gold chain from his neck and fled the scene.Officers from Central and Ang Mo Kio Police Division identified and arrested the man within three hours of the report being made through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras and closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the supermarket.The gold chain was subsequently recovered and seized as a case exhibit.If found guilty of using criminal force in committing theft of property, the man could be jailed for up to seven years and caned. 

There are four cute additions at Mandai's River Wonders.Four capybara pups were born to mother Luna on July 10, which was also Capybara Appreciation Day, according to a Facebook post by Mandai Wildlife Reserve on Thursday (July 30).«It's quadruple the joy as things just got a whole lot cuter at Amazonia Encounters, River Wonders!» the caption said.The post featured a video of the pups roaming around their new habitat and munching on grass alongside their mother.  Luna also gave birth to two other pups on Jan 4, the first to be born at Mandai in a decade, reported The Straits Times. 

Geraldine Low Jun Ya, currently deputy secretary at the Ministry of National Development (MND), will be appointed CEO of the National Environment Agency (NEA) from Sept 1, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) announced on Friday (July 31). She takes over from interim CEO Dr Benjamin Koh, who assumed the role on June 1, following the appointment of its former CEO Wong Kang Jet as permanent secretary.Wong was appointed Second Permanent Secretary (Home Affairs) at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Second Permanent Secretary (Information) at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, and Second Permanent Secretary (Cybersecurity) at the Prime Minister's Office.

The father of a 20-year-old Singaporean girl has taken to Instagram to appeal for help after she purportedly went missing in Cambodia.According to the posts, Siti Aishah Siregar Sahat Siregar was last known to have travelled to Phnom Penh from Singapore on July 28, and the family has since lost contact with her.«Our family is very worried, and every minute that passes feels so long,» Sahat Siregar, a real estate agent, said in his caption.«As a father, I am begging for your help. I just want my daughter to come home safe.»Sahat also said that the family has made a police report and are working closely with the authorities, and thanked everyone who has tried to help him so far.He has requested the authorities in Singapore and Cambodia to find his daughter as soon as possible, stating that the family is «afraid that every hour we lose could make it harder to bring her home safely».The father also asked for the public to help by sharing the post, hoping that it can reach someone who «may have seen something or know something that can help».

Drier days are expected in the first fortnight of August, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) announced on Friday (July 31).There will likely be fair and sometimes windy conditions on some days of the two weeks, with greater likelihood in the second week.Despite the relatively drier conditions, localised short-duration thundery showers are still expected in parts of Singapore on some days in the late mornings and afternoons.On average, total rainfall is set to be below average for most parts of the island.Maximum temperatures each day will likely range between 33 deg C and 34 deg C during the day — the warm temperatures may persist on some nights, leading to warm and humid conditions with temperatures remaining above 27 deg C.Southwest Monsoon conditions are expected to stretch beyond July into the first fortnight of August, with winds blowing from the southeast or south.In the second half of July, there were similar short-duration, localised thundery showers over parts of Singapore, with heavy, thundery showers over much of Singapore in the late morning and early afternoon of July 22.

Drivers, take note: the demerit points system you're familiar with will be getting a little more strict come January 2027.Under the revised Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS), the number of demerit points that can be accumulated before suspension will drop from 24 to 18, said the Singapore Police Force on Friday (July 31).DIPS is more commonly known as the demerit points system.This comes amid an increase in road fatalities of about five per cent, front 142 deaths in 2024 to 149 in 2025 - the highest within a decade.Road injuries have also risen by 6.6 per cent from 9,342 in 2024 to 9,955 in 2025.Drivers face lower thresholdUnder the revised rules, non-probationary motorists who rack up 18 demerit points within 24 months will face licence suspension.Under the revised DIPS, the first suspension period will increase from 12 weeks to four months, while subsequent suspensions will also be increased.A third suspension will be increased from a year's duration to two, while fourth suspensions onwards will be for five years.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is doing a feasibility study on a new mode of public transport called the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Tuas South, Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said.This is part of efforts to provide those working there with faster and more reliable connections from their workplaces to existing and future MRT stations.«Tuas South has been selected for this study as it is home to major developments such as Tuas Port, and is expected to see further growth in the coming years,» LTA said following the transport minister's announcement during his visit to the Singapore Rail Test Centre on Friday (July 31).Currently, Singapore's transport network is anchored by MRT, with buses complementing the rail network by offering first-and-last mile connectivity.And BRT could further complement both the MRT and conventional buses, LTA said.What is a Bus Rapid Transit system?Around the world, BRT system varies considerably in design and technology, depending on the needs of each city.

Four new MRT stations will complete the Cross Island Line (CRL), giving greater convenience to commuters travelling to and from Singapore's western region.These stations under the Cross Island Line Phase 3 (CRL3), currently numbered CR20 to CR23, will include two interchanges.CR21 will connect to the upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL) and serve as a gateway to Jurong Island. Terminal station CR23 will link to Gul Circle station on the East-West Line (EWL).CR20 will serve residents in Taman Jurong, while CR22 will be located within Jurong Industrial Estate.Unveiling the final stage of the Republic's eighth MRT line on Friday (July 31), Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said the four new stations «will substantially improve» connectivity when they begin commercial service in the late 2030s.«Once the full Cross Island Line is open, commuters travelling to and from the western parts of Singapore can save up to 50 minutes in travelling time,» he added.Siow delivered his speech at the Singapore Rail Test Centre, which will be connected to a new CRL depot spanning approximately 23 hectares.

A man took issue with a torn Singapore flag displayed outside an HDB block in Hougang, calling it «disrespectful».The man, identified as Rayz, spotted the faded flag hanging outside Block 178B, Hougang Street 12 on July 23, according to Stomp.Rayz shared a video of the tattered flag on the yellow facade, billowing in the wind outside a window. «As the National Day period approaches, I was wondering whether this complies with the guidelines for displaying the Singapore flag,» he reportedly said.He added that the «national flag should always be displayed with dignity and respect».The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth is encouraging all organisations and households to fly the national flag during the National Day period from July 1 to Sept 30.However, it added that the flag should be treated with respect and discouraged people from displaying any worn-out or damaged flag. According to the National Heritage Board (NHB), the national flag should be replaced if faded or torn. 

SINGAPORE — Singapore sprint queen Shanti Pereira booked her place in the history books on July 30 (July 31, Singapore time), after clinching a spot in the women’s 200m final at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.At the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, the 29-year-old clocked a season-best 22.81 seconds to finish third in her semi-final and eighth out of 24 overall. She is the first Singaporean sprinter to qualify for an individual final at the quadrennial event.Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands won the same semi-final as Pereira in a Games record 22.01sec, ahead of Jamaican Ashanti Moore (22.49sec).Shaniqua Bascombe of Trinidad and Tobago won the third semi-final with the second-best overall time of 22.31sec.The top two finishers from each of the three semi-finals, along with the next two fastest athletes overall, advanced to the final, which will be staged on July 31 (Aug 1, 4.46am Singapore time).

Noticing a Personal Mobility Aid (PMA) rider in need of assistance, a bus captain stopped his vehicle mid-journey to help.It was a rainy night when SBS Transit bus captain Omri Bin Mohd Yusof had been driving Service 153 along Jalan Toa Payoh when he noticed an elderly PMA rider stranded by the roadside, according to a Facebook post by the transport operator on Thursday (July 30).The incident occurred on July 8 at around 8.15pm, based on a separate Facebook post by (buses[IN]gapore!), which also included photos of the incident.The side wheels of the PMA had slipped off the pavement, causing the device to get stuck. Pictures of the incident show the PMA tilted towards the road with oncoming traffic and unable to move forward.Another lady had stopped to assist, but was unable to move the PMA because of its weight, said SBS Transit.Omri proceeded to pull over on the roadside and help the elderly lady.He also sought help from a passenger on board the bus, anticipating that it would take more than two people to lift the device.Together, the three of them managed to lift the PMA back onto the pavement.

While on a volunteering stint, a woman said that she was «sexualised» by a few primary two boys, who allegedly made moaning noises and asked her to «bend over».In a TikTok video uploaded on Wednesday (July 29), the woman said that she was told by a group of boys that she was pretty, which she said she was okay with initially.However, the situation deteriorated when the boys went to the back of the classroom, and went under a blanket to make clapping and moaning noises, before allegedly asking the volunteer to join them.«I was like, 'what are you saying?' I am a grown woman and you are primary two kids,» she said, adding that the boys continued doing so for a while.The woman then said that one boy would keep dropping his pencil, before asking her to «bend over» pick it up for him.«How do you know these things as an eight-year-old?» the woman questioned.She proceeded to explain that these came from troubled families, but she admitted that this was a «new level» to her as a frequent volunteer.«I can handle the vulgarities, the violence... but when it comes to these things, I get a little sensitive,» she elaborated.

A dispute between several woman along a footpath in Singapore saw one woman ending up on her knees and being dragged by her hair.A clip of the fight circulating on social media since Monday (July 27) shows a woman in a red top sliding around a grass patch as a woman in a black shirt forcefully pulls at her hair.The posts claim that the fight occurred outside City Plaza in Paya Lebar.In the video, three women approach the duo, though it is unclear if they are joining or attempting to break up the fight.The woman in the black shirt is eventually pulled away by another person.But the conflict appears to carry on, with the woman in red walking across the footpath to confront a woman dressed in orange and they almost come to blows again.It is unclear what they are saying.At this moment, a female cyclist who had stopped because of the commotion urges them to stop, saying she would call the police.The women appear to disperse after the cyclist's intervention.Another video posted online shows at least two women being led to police vehicles.AsiaOne has reached out to police for more information.

Roy Chan, currently deputy chief executive for operations at the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), will be appointed as its chief executive from Sept 1, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) announced on Thursday (July 30).He takes over from Ng Chad-Son.Chan, 52, became a member of the defence technology community in 1998.Since then, he has been involved in the integration of sensor-guided systems for both the air force and navy.He also undertook a stint as deputy head at Mindef's strategic planning office between 2009 and 2012, before returning to the agency.After his return, Chan was involved in land systems project, including the Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle.He was appointed to his present role in 2021.Mindef said in its statement that Chan has developed deep experience in systems engineering and architecture, large-scale programme management and systems interoperability, having led the delivery of complex defence capabilities over the years.

A company and its director will be charged in court on Friday (July 31) for allegedly providing flag registration services to a ship sanctioned by the United Nations (UN), the police said on Thursday (July 30).The Petrel 8 was banned by the UN Security Council (UNSC) in October 2017 for transporting prohibited goods, namely coal, from North Korea.Investigations by the Commercial Affairs Department revealed that the company had allegedly provided flag registration services to the carrier on May 18, 2022, the police said.The 49-year-old male company director is accused of having reasonable grounds to believe that Petrel 8 was a UNSC-designated ship when his company provided the services.The company will be charged with one count under Regulation 8D(d)(ii) of the United Nations (Sanctions – DPRK) Regulations 2010. Meanwhile, the company director will be charged under the same Regulations for abetting the company to commit the offence.Under the United Nations Act 2001, a person who contravenes the Regulations faces a jail term of up to 10 years and, or a fine of up to $500,000.

A multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) caught fire on Tampines Expressway at about 7.40pm on Thursday (July 30) towards Seletar Expressway, after the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway exit.Videos of the incident posted on social media show flames engulfing the front bonnet of the vehicle. At one point, creepers growing on the underside of the overhead viaduct can be seen burning. At least two police fast response cars and one fire engine were present at the scene. PHOTO: Screengrab/Telegram Based on a video submitted to and posted on Singapore Road Accident's Facebook page, at least two police fast response cars and one fire engine were present at the scene.The car is also seen completely burnt down.

English trip-hop legends Massive Attack have come under scrutiny for political displays at their Singapore concert on Wednesday (July 29).Footage shared widely on social media shows members Robert «3D» Del Naja and Grant «Daddy G» Marshall holding up a Palestine flag, at what appears to be the end of the concert.The duo then walk off the stage with their backing band.One post on Reddit also claimed that, during the show, «the lead singer basically said, 'I don't give a f***'» before performing a song where «a huge part of the crowd started chanting 'Free Palestine' over and over».«The way I understood it was that he didn't care about any restrictions or consequences,» the Redditor added.They tried to report the incident through the SGSecure app but claimed it crashed repeatedly.A concertgoer, who wished to remain anonymous, told AsiaOne that the chants had started when 3D dedicated their set to the Palestinian people in the middle of the concert.«The band didn't join in [with chanting 'Free Palestine'], as far as I could tell,» the 28-year-old added.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) foiled an attempt to smuggle more than 12,800 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes at Tuas Checkpoint on July 22.In a Facebook post on Thursday (July 30), ICA said its officers had directed a Malaysia-registered lorry for enhanced checks after detecting anomalies in the scanned image of the vehicle. The cigarettes were hidden in wooden crates enclosed in metal cases in the lorry.A video accompanying the post shows officers using a variety of tools to crack open the metal cases and discovering the contraband.«Thought we 'Wooden' know,» quipped the border agency. The Malaysian lorry driver, 31, was arrested in connection with the case.The exhibits and suspect have been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation.It is an offence to buy, sell, convey, possess or deal with duty-unpaid goods.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.

Work to install a solar generation system at Marina South Pier has been completed.Announcing the sustainability milestone in a media release on Thursday (July 30), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said this also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the pier.«The solarisation project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from MPA’s shore-based operations and supports the public sector’s solarisation efforts under the GreenGov.SG sustainability movement,» the authority added.The system can generate up to 780,000 kWh of electricity annually, or the equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of about 180 four-room HDB flats. It consists of 1,092 solar photovoltaic panels installed across 3,200 sq m of rooftop and canopy space at Marina South Pier.To ensure future-proofing, the system is designed to be able to support the current and future needs of electric harbour craft operating at the pier.According to MPA, it can meet a «significant portion» of the pier's electricity requirement.

We've all read news reports about scam calls impersonating public figures, such as former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, in attempts to extort money from unsuspecting citizens.Lee, who is now Senior Minister, took to Facebook to simulate one such scam call by impersonating himself, in a bid to prevent others from falling victim to such predatory calls.In a video uploaded on Thursday (July 30), SM Lee acted out a scenario in which he picked up a phone call, only to hear a scammer impersonating him on the other end of the line.«Your bank account has been compromised. Please transfer your funds out immediately,» the mysterious caller said.After hanging up, SM Lee looked into the camera to raise awareness about such scams.«No Government official will ever ask you to transfer money or handle valuables over a phone call. Not the police, and certainly not me!» SM Lee said.