CNA938 Rewind - Michelin Bib Gourmand award: Boon or bane for Singapore hawkers?
Hazwady Nazran, a singer-songwriter and music teacher, shares his road to recovery from an exceedingly rare autoimmune condition — anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, which upended his world. Delusions, seizures, and personality changes almost led doctors to diagnose him with a psychiatric condition. But his wife, who's a doctor, suspected something deeper and insisted on further tests that eventually led to the correct diagnosis and effective treatment. The road to recovery was long — but it was paved by the unwavering love and persistence of his wife. Hazwady also shares the remarkable story of how they fell in love, including how he proposed to her just one day after their first meeting.
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Straits Times
4 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Feeling extra patriotic? Here are 7 other SG60 songs beyond official NDP theme Here We Are
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – The official National Day Parade (NDP) theme Here We Are, sung by Kit Chan and Charlie Lim, is not the only song that celebrates National Day in 2025. The SG60 spirit has inspired many local singers, songwriters and musicians to come up with their own tunes. Here are seven new ones that will get you in the National Day mood. I Will Walk With You – Linying Singer-songwriter Linying, co-singer and co-writer of the much-loved 2021 NDP anthem The Road Ahead, will perform her new song, I Will Walk With You, at the National Day Parade 2025. It is also part of a national movement that celebrates the joy of walking together and keeping one another company. The music video, inspired by real-life stories, features Singaporeans from various backgrounds lending a helping hand to fellow residents in need. Linying says in an Instagram post: 'I feel blessed and privileged to have this song of mine, written while I was far away from home, give rise to such a meaningful social movement thanks to the tireless, talented team around it.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Singapore PUB investigating wastewater discharge in Eunos: Pritam Singapore Water gel guns among newer tools NParks uses to manage monkeys in estates World Trump eyes 100% chips tariff, but 0% for US investors like Apple World Trump's 100% semiconductor tariffs may hit chipmakers in Singapore, other SEA nations Singapore Afraid of small talk? Scared to make a phone call? How social skills workshops are helping young people Singapore ST and Uniqlo launch design contest for Singapore stories T-shirt collection Business DBS shares hit record-high after Q2 profit beats forecast on strong wealth fees, trading income Way Back Home – Shazza Singer-songwriter Shazza's National Day song and music video pay tribute to Singaporeans making their mark on the world and who still call the island nation home. 'It is no secret that it has always been a dream of mine to write the official National Day song and that truth remains,' she writes in an Instagram post. 'But more than anything, this year, I just wanted to do what I love for a city that I love. I wanted to write something new, something for the people who are venturing bravely out of Singapore to put our flag on the world map with all sorts of different endeavours.' Singer-songwriter Shazza released a new song, Way Back Home, to mark Singapore's 60th National Day. PHOTO: SHAZZA/YOUTUBE Besides familiar landmarks like the Esplanade and CBD (Central Business District) cityscape, the music video also features spots that recently made the news, like the mural of a young samsui woman in South Bridge Road. For Singapore – Music & Drama Company The SG60 offering by Music & Drama Company (MDC), the professional performing arts group within the Singapore Armed Forces, features something missing from recent official NDP anthems – the word 'Singapore'. Written by MDC artistes Dominic Chin, Gail Belmonte and RINES, it is performed by a large group of singers that include MDC alumni such as pop singers lullaboy, Lily Rahmat-Hargrove, Aaron Bunac and Frances Lee. The Music & Drama Company's National Day album Celebrating Singapore: Volume 2 includes For Singapore, an original track written by MDC artistes Dominic Chin, Gail Belmonte and RINES. PHOTO: SO DRAMA! ENTERTAINMENT For Singapore is found on Celebrating Singapore: Volume 2, a five-track album released in July. This follow-up to 2024's Celebrating Singapore: Volume 1 includes an alternate version of Here We Are, done in the style of retro doo-wop and R&B. Head of MDC Chandra Mohan says in a press statement: 'National Day is a time when we come together to celebrate our shared heritage and legacies. We hope our music and melodies help weave together a tapestry of national pride, spirit and resilience that resides in the heart of every Singaporean.' Dream Big, Singapore – McCann Singapore One of the OGs of National Day songs, 1986's Count On Me Singapore, has a sequel of sorts. Dream Big, Singapore, a song produced by advertising agency McCann Singapore, is written and composed by Count On Me Singapore's songwriter Hugh Harrison. The Canadian, who was based in Singapore from the 1980s to the early 2010s, was formerly McCann's creative director and now lives in Canada. He also composed NDP songs Stand Up For Singapore (1984) and We Are Singapore (1987). Harrison tells ST that while Count On Me Singapore focused on hard work and nation-building, Dream Big, Singapore – performed by local singers Fathin Amira and Kevin Tan – encourages Singaporeans to embrace imagination and bold ideas in facing global challenges. Canadian Hugh Harrison, composer of Singaporean National Day classic Count On Me Singapore, has written a follow-up to the tune titled Dream Big, Singapore. PHOTO: MCCANN 'We live in a world facing complex, borderless challenges. Climate, technology, inequality, peace. These aren't just issues for governments, they're invitations for imagination. And Singapore, with all its talent, creativity and clarity of vision, has so much to offer. 'A nation that once dreamed of surviving must now dream of leading. Not with loud voices, but with bold ideas. 'The time has come to move from certainty to possibility. To shift from 'what is' to 'what if'. To remember that dreaming big isn't about being naive, it's about being brave enough to shape the future.' This Is Where I Belong – Jeff Ng Busker and singer-songwriter Jeff Ng's song for SG60 is a tribute to his home, his roots and the stories that shape Singaporeans. Sung in English, the piano-led, Mandopop-style ballad is accompanied by a music video featuring Ng and his band performing at Nomads, a camping-themed cafe in Seletar. Singer-songwriter and busker Jeff Ng has released a song and music video for Singapore's 60th National Day titled This Is Where I Belong. PHOTO: THE DAILY CREATIVE SINGAPORE/YOUTUBE 'Writing this song was my way of reflecting on what home means to me and I'm so grateful to share it with all of you,' he writes in an Instagram post. Singapu-Rah – Code Raid featuring OmarKENOBI For those who feel that Here We Are is not upbeat enough, the high-energy alternative would be Singapu-Rah by the cast of local online variety show Code Raid. The musical-style music video sees content creators Fauzi Aziz, Quah Siyu, Aida Johan and Isaac Ang perform skits and execute synchronised dance moves in locations such as Commonwealth Secondary School and the distinctive red-brick HDB blocks in Tampines Street 45. Watch out too for the familiar sounds of the koel, better known as the 'uwu' bird due to its distinctive call. Singapu-Rah is a musical-style National Day song and music video by various local content creators from online variety show Code Red. PHOTO: YOU GOT WATCH | YGW/YOUTUBE The hip-hop track is produced by rapper-producer OmarKENOBI, who makes a cameo in the video and drops a few rap verses. Patriot – Kelvin Tan featuring Patrick Chng Patriot is a bluesy ode to Singapore by singer-songwriter Kelvin Tan, a member of home-grown indie and alternative rock pioneers The Oddfellows. 'I give people the benefit of doubt, but I step away from the norm, don't mean I don't love my country, in fact I might be loving her more,' he sings in this contemplation on patriotism that also references local neighbourhoods such as Ghim Moh. Singer, songwriter and alternative rock pioneer Kelvin Tan's song, Patriot, was written for Singapore's National Day. PHOTO: METIOKOS KELVIN TAN/YOUTUBE 'You can say that the song expresses an alternative view to the nation's birthday,' Tan tells ST. Patriot was recorded by The Oddfellows frontman Patrick Chng, who played all the instruments on it with Tan. Chng also directed the music video, which was shot in locations such as the Rail Corridor and Holland Village.
CNA
4 minutes ago
- CNA
Meet Singapore's 'yo-yo boy'
Xavier Ng, 22, has been yo-yoing since he was 12. He was hooked on a series called Blazing Teens and got his first yo-yo from the show's merchandise. Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long He entered his first contest in 2017, and is now a four-time national yo-yo champion. Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long Over the years, he's amassed a large collection of yo-yos. Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long He cleans and maintains all of them by hand. Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long In the lead up to competitions, he practises every day. 'It's not that fun,' he admits, since he's practising the same moves on repeat, but he knows that's the only way to nail it on competition day. Photo: CNA/Faith Ho Sometimes his cat joins in too! Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long From friendships to discipline, yo-yoing has given Xavier many things over the past decade. But its greatest gift has been the conviction to do what he loves, even when it isn't popular. Photo: CNA/Faith Ho "It may be perceived as 'childish', but it's something I'm proud of. It's a skill I've worked very hard for. So if people call me yo-yo boy, I'll be like, yeah that's me," he said. Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long Next Story
Asia News Network
an hour ago
- Asia News Network
Singapore-made bot matchmakes strangers virtually
August 7, 2025 SINGAPORE – Undergraduate Mia, 26, has been chatting with potential dates on Telegram, but she has never seen their faces. It is only when they meet for their first date that she knows what they look like. She is among thousands who have been using amble, a Singapore-made bot that operates much like a virtual matchmaker. Introduced as a bot on Telegram – as @ambleprojectbot – in April 2023, amble is now also available as an app. On amble, users start out completely anonymous to each other, and do not have any idea what the other person looks like. This is in stark contrast to popular dating apps like Tinder, Hinge and Bumble, where details like a person's appearance, height and occupation are often made visible. For Mia, this has been a great pull. She told The Straits Times that her previous experience using Bumble made her feel as though she was 'a tomato on display' at a Sunday market. With looks out of the equation on amble, Mia said she has been able to better determine her compatibility with her matches. '(A person's appearance) just isn't that high on my list in comparison with values or personality,' she said. As the conversation between two users progresses, 'milestones' are unlocked and more is revealed about the parties. This can include fun facts about them or a picture of them – the latter only if both users have chosen to share a photo. Mia said she and her matches chose not to reveal what they look like, and instead went on 'fun, blind meet-ups'. She has gone on two such meet-ups and said they were both enjoyable. 'Not rushed, not transactional' Ms Alyssa Chua, 27, co-founder of amble, told ST she began experimenting with the idea of the bot in 2023 as she felt that conversations, particularly those on dating apps, were beginning to feel more fleeting than before. 'We swipe, we judge, we expect instant chemistry. If sparks don't fly in the first few seconds, we move on,' she said. 'And yet, when we do find something real… it's because of a conversation that made us pause, think and see someone beyond the surface.' Ms Chua said she chose to name the bot 'amble' to reflect how she felt a conversation should feel. 'Not rushed, not transactional, but like taking a walk in the park with someone, one step at a time,' she said. That sentiment has resonated with enough users for Ms Chua and fellow co-founder Cayden Gwee, 27, to decide to release an app version of the bot in April. Ms Chua said there are now about 6,000 people using amble, both on Telegram and the app. Users can join for free, but need to pay for additional features. On Telegram, they can pay $10 a month for features such as faster matches and the ability to send videos, GIFs and voice messages. On the amble app, users can pay for benefits that include the ability to view their matches' online status, and receive up to six prompts or questions a day posed by the bot. The payment plans start from $12 a week to $48 for six months. The prompts, which are sent by the bot intermittently during the conversation, aim to help users find common ground. These can range from simple ones like whether they have unusual hobbies or talents to ones that provoke deeper thought such as: 'Do you think there's any sort of scenario which makes it fair to reveal a secret?' Mr Mac Healy, 27, who began using amble in 2024, told ST the 'brainwork' needed to answer most questions has helped him strike up 'pretty good' conversations and led to meaningful matches and dates. This is in comparison to popular dating apps, where conversations are 'the same… rinse-and-repeat', said the financial analyst. 'It's not like 'What's your favourite colour?' – I get sick hearing that every single time I enter a new talking phase… amble adds a good twist,' he added. Users can also filter the people they will be matched with based on their intention – whether they are looking for something romantic or platonic. Ms Chua said users have found all kinds of connections through amble. 'Some have met romantic partners – we've received very cute photos – while others have discovered shared passions with like-minded hobbyists,' she said. But with the online dating scene increasingly filled with scammy profiles and bots generated by artificial intelligence (AI), how sure can users be that the person they are chatting with is real? Ms Chua said that on Telegram, bots – like amble – are not allowed to engage with other bots, as part of the messaging app's security measure to prevent potential abuse. On the amble app, every profile is verified through the user's e-mail and phone number. The phone numbers are then cross-checked against databases of fraudulent numbers to prevent abuse, added Ms Chua. AI is also used on the app to assess users' answers to questions set out by amble during onboarding. 'Behind the scenes, we use AI to evaluate these responses by looking for indicators of intent, sincerity and alignment with the kind of meaningful conversations amble is built for,' said Ms Chua. 'This helps us ensure that the people on the platform are real and genuinely here to connect.' App not the end for Telegram bot Ms Chua said Telegram was chosen as the platform to first roll out amble as it gave the bot's creators the flexibility to test ideas, and without requiring users to download something that was new. Mr Ryan, who wanted to be known by only one name, said he found it convenient that he did not have to download yet another app onto his phone. '(It) definitely pulled me to using amble,' said the 29-year-old commercial pilot, who has been using the bot since early 2025. Ms Chua said Telegram also 'felt like a natural place for real conversations to happen'. However, the messaging platform also limited what Ms Chua and Mr Gwee could do with amble. For example, the bot is only able to let users speak to one match at a time. 'With an app, we are able to introduce concurrent matches, letting people explore multiple connections at once,' said Ms Chua. While users can experience only a simple chat interface on Telegram, an app allows for custom interfaces that could stimulate more thoughtful conversations, and even introduce game-like elements to inspire more playful interactions. The app, though, does not spell the end of the amble Telegram bot. Noting that some users preferred the bot's simplicity on Telegram, Ms Chua said she is exploring ways to keep it as an option alongside the app. 'But moving forward, the app will be our focus – because it allows us to build amble the way we've always envisioned it, without compromises,' said Ms Chua.
