Smoke Rises from Marina Bay Sands Rooftop After Minor Fire
A minor fire broke out at the rooftop of Marina Bay Sands on Tuesday afternoon (October 28), causing smoke to be seen billowing from the top of the iconic hotel. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received an alert at around 3:40 pm about a fire at 1 Bayfront Avenue. The blaze reportedly involved a plastic mat located on the 55th floor of the building. When firefighters arrived at the scene, the flames had already been extinguished by on-site staff using a hose reel. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been sparked by welding works carried out nearby. Videos circulating on social media showed smoke rising from the rooftop of the hotel, prompting concern among passers-by and tourists in the Marina Bay area. Fire engines were also seen heading towards the scene during the incident. The SCDF confirmed that the situation was swiftly brought under control and there was no need for evacuation. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Singapore Government Support Boosts Local Farms and Job Opportunities
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) says that Singapore’s high-productivity farms are helping to create quality employment opportunities — particularly for younger workers — by offering modern agricultural roles that appeal to tech-savvy talent. One indoor farm operator told the media that over the past five years they have more than doubled their workforce; they now employ 15 people, about one-third of whom are aged under 25. The farm’s indoor-plant-factory manager, Lee Yuanhao, said the most important attributes they look for in new recruits are strong work-ethic and observational skills. He emphasised that while technical skills can be taught, the attitude must already be there: “If they bring the right attitude, anything can be learned. If they don’t bring seriousness then no matter how we teach, it’s the same.” According to the SFA, high-productivity farms require talents with multidisciplinary expertise — covering agriculture and aquaculture, engineering, and data analysis. They are working together with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), the Agency for Skills Development, employers and higher-education institutions to develop a skills framework for the agri-food industry, offering training courses and funding at various levels to nurture these talents. One farm founder, Wang Xueli, said that many of the young recruits are recent graduates or interns. She pointed out that one employee is currently studying for a Work-Study Diploma in agriculture and aquaculture at ITE, which she believes will give a solid foundation: “Many Singaporeans are used to structured learning; this lets them begin thinking and exploring the whole industry by themselves.” Farmers say local demand for home-grown vegetables is increasing year by year, but more needs to be done to lift market-demand further. They are already prepared in terms of equipment and manpower — and once demand increases, they will scale up production accordingly.
Former preschool cook pleads guilty to molesting toddler during nap times
A 61-year-old permanent resident originally from Malaysia, Teo Guan Huat, has admitted guilt in court to three charges of molesting young children at a preschool in Singapore. He faces a further five charges which will be taken into account during sentencing. According to the court’s record, Teo was employed at the preschool for around one year in 2023. Although his official role was as the cook, he also assisted with child-care tasks such as helping children during nap time or bath time. Between May and November 2023, he is alleged to have repeatedly exploited his access to three approximately two-year-old girls with whom he was closer, carrying out molestation acts while they were being settled for nap or were asleep. He reportedly committed these acts two to three times a week during that period. On 16 November 2023, a staff member reviewing CCTV footage observed Teo inserting his hand into a toddler’s diaper and performing at least nine separate molestation acts within about an hour. Following the revelation, Teo resigned from his post on 23 November after being questioned by the preschool’s management. The employer only alerted the police after some delay, during which CCTV footage was deleted and the system was reformatted by other staff, who were later charged. The police retrieved the deleted recordings and arrested Teo on 4 December. The prosecution described the case as “one of the most horrifying sexual abuse incidents ever in a preschool setting”, emphasising that parents entrust their children to such institutions and expect them to be safe. They are seeking a 10-year prison sentence. Teo’s defence lawyer argued that although Teo deeply regrets his actions, the preschool allowed him to be in such a position of trust with children. They requested a six-year prison term and no caning. Due to Teo’s age (over 50), he is not eligible for caning under Singapore’s current legislation. The judge has reserved the sentencing decision to allow time for full consideration. A gag order is in place to protect the identities of the toddler victims and prohibits publication of any identifying preschool details.
PM Lawrence Wong: ASEAN+3 Must Strengthen Cooperation to Tackle Global Challenges
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has called on ASEAN and its three East Asian partners — China, Japan and South Korea — to deepen collaboration and enhance regional resilience in the face of mounting global uncertainties. Speaking at the ASEAN Plus Three (ASEAN+3) Summit, Mr Wong emphasised that the partnership has been instrumental in promoting economic integration and stability across the region, but must now evolve to address new and complex challenges such as climate change, food security and technological transformation. He noted that the ASEAN+3 cooperation framework, established more than two decades ago in response to the Asian financial crisis, continues to play a vital role in safeguarding regional financial stability. The initiative, he said, demonstrates how countries can work together to overcome crises and sustain growth. Mr Wong urged member states to further strengthen supply-chain resilience, expand cooperation in the digital and green economies, and ensure that economic growth remains inclusive and sustainable. He added that close coordination between ASEAN and its three partners will be key to maintaining regional peace and prosperity amid a more fragmented global environment. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to working with ASEAN+3 partners to uphold multilateralism, strengthen connectivity, and advance shared development goals.
Five Hospitalised After Multi-Vehicle Crash Near Kovan MRT Station
A multi-vehicle crash near Kovan MRT Station along the upper stretch of Serangoon Road on Thursday afternoon left five people injured and sent to hospital, including a bus driver. The collision involved a bus, several cars, and lorries. Five Hospitalised in Kovan MRT Station Accident In response to media queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that it was alerted to the incident at around 4:35 p.m. today (October 24). SCDF officers conveyed five injured individuals to Sengkang General Hospital. Two others sustained minor injuries but declined hospitalisation after being assessed on site. Details of the Injured Police said the five hospitalised were a 57-year-old male bus driver, a 47-year-old male lorry driver, his 33-year-old female passenger, a 29-year-old male car driver, and a 66-year-old male car driver. The two who refused hospital treatment were a 48-year-old lorry driver and a 31-year-old car driver. Six Vehicles Involved According to police, the accident involved one bus, two lorries, and three cars.Videos circulating online show a white sedan positioned sideways in the middle of the road, its front heavily damaged with liquid — possibly coolant or fuel — spilled on the ground. Several SCDF and police officers were seen at the scene assisting with rescue and traffic control. Investigation Ongoing Police investigations into the multi-vehicle crash near Kovan MRT Station are still underway.
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