Singapore's welcoming vibes for visitors; Allianz-Income Insurance deal defended in Parliament: Singapore live news

What was supposed to be a well-intentioned National Day display took a dirty spin after vandals messed with it.

The display, made up of red and white roses, was arranged to read "SG 59 PGRN" (Pandan Gardens Residents’ Network). It was displayed at Block 404 Pandan Gardens Road.

However, a TikToker discovered that someone had changed it to read "SG 59 PORN". They tried to fix the display, but found it "funny" as the 'G' still looked like an 'O' from afar.

To know more about this act of vandalism, read here.

The Singapore High Commission in London and Embassy to Ireland and Iceland has issued a travel warning for Singaporeans due to recent riots in the UK.

This advisory follows similar warnings from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Nigeria and other countries.

The unrest was triggered by the stabbing deaths of three young girls in Stockport on 29 July, which has led to widespread anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim riots.

The Singapore High Commission has urged Singaporeans to register on e-Register and to contact the High Commission for consular assistance if needed. The advisory stresses vigilance and the avoidance of affected areas.

Passengers on a flight to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia caught a suspected hand luggage thief in the act.

A passenger noticed another traveller on Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET639 behaving suspiciously, taking bags from the overhead compartments.

This prompted the concerned passenger to alert the cabin crew.

The cabin crew discreetly identified the suspect and, after reviewing video evidence provided by the alert passenger, confronted the individual.

The suspect tried to explain that he mistakenly took another passenger’s bag, but the police were called in.

The ground staff and other passengers confirmed the theft.

The suspect was eventually escorted off the plane and detained for questioning.

Find out how the chaos on the flight to Singapore unfolded.

A fire at Changi Airport’s Terminal 1 caused by an overheated battery in an X-ray machine led to a delayed flight and an evacuation on Tuesday (6 Aug), according to media reports.

Scoot flight TR280 to Bali was delayed by about two hours as a result of the fire.

The incident caused smoke to fill the departure area, prompting an immediate response from airport staff and emergency services.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Changi Airport Group (CAG) and Scoot issued statements addressing the situation and assuring prompt safety measures.

A spokesperson for the CAG told Yahoo Singapore that the fire, caused by an electrical fault in an X-ray machine at gate holdroom D46 at Terminal 1, was promptly put out by two airport staff.

Passengers in the gate holdroom waiting to board their flight were redirected to another gate holdroom. No passengers were injured.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, according to the SCDF.

Singapore's welcoming nature and high English proficiency earn it the title of the second-friendliest city in Asia.

This is according to the findings of online language learning marketplace Preply.

With 14 per cent of visitors returning, Singapore scored high in visitor acceptance and diversity.

The city-state's multicultural environment, with English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil as official languages, facilitates interaction and fosters a welcoming atmosphere.

Taipei, Taiwan, tops the list as the friendliest city in Asia, thanks to its diversity acceptance and safety.

It boasted the highest diversity acceptance and a perfect friendliness score for foreigners.

Taipei also got an impressive safety score, second only to its friendliness.

The city's vibrant street food scene, public transport, and cultural attractions make it a favourite among visitors.

In stark contrast, Mandalay in Myanmar is the least-friendly city, with low scores in friendliness to foreigners and diversity acceptance.

Mandalay's visitor return rate is the lowest at just 5 per cent, highlighting its unwelcoming environment despite its rich cultural heritage.

Other cities that ranked low in friendliness are Riyadh, Jakarta, Karachi, and Amman.

Discover why Singapore ranks high in friendliness here.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has supported Allianz SE’s planned $2.2 billion acquisition of a majority stake in Income Insurance.

During a parliamentary session, MAS board member Chee Hong Tat and Minister of State for Culture, Community, and Youth Alvin Tan addressed concerns about the deal's impact on competition and the cooperative nature of Income Insurance.

Chee assured that the acquisition would not adversely affect competition due to the minimal overlap between Allianz and Income Insurance in Singapore.

He emphasised that fostering a competitive insurance market with financially robust insurers is central to MAS's strategy for ensuring sustainable operations and public service.

Tan acknowledged the emotional responses to the transaction, particularly given Income Insurance's history as a cooperative founded to provide affordable insurance.

He pointed out that the insurer's capital buffers are under pressure from increased competition

Tan explained that NTUC Enterprise, the primary stakeholder in Income Insurance, preferred retaining a majority local ownership but couldn't find a suitable partner.

Despite public concerns and opposition, NTUC Enterprise and Income Insurance argue that the acquisition will benefit the company and its policyholders in the long term.

MAS assured that it would hold both Income Insurance and Allianz accountable for their commitments, stressing the importance of a well-regulated, competitive insurance market to ensure consumer protection and sustainability.

Read on to find out why MAS is backing Allianz's $2.2 billion acquisition of Income Insurance.