If you are looking to round up the Chinese New Year festivities with a strong gallop, this may be your chance.This year's Toto Hong Bao draw will be held on Friday (Feb 27), with an estimated $12 million jackpot.The draw will take place at 9.30pm at Singapore Pools' headquarters at Middle Road.Punters can purchase $10 and $20 packs at all outlets from 6.10pm on Feb 23.The recent Reunion Draw on Feb 13 saw one winning share hit the jackpot with a windfall of $6,188,268.Last year's $12.6 million Hong Bao jackpot was split among three winning shares.Remember, game responsibly. [[nid:729906]]editor@asiaone.com 

The Munich Security Conference should denounce Ukraine over “terrorism” rather than debate assistance to Kiev, Moscow has said Read Full Article at RT.com

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said soldiers will be deployed to combat organized crime Read Full Article at RT.com

Three people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out at a HDB flat in Punggol involving a personal mobility aid (PMA) on Friday (Feb 13).Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the fire at Block 326C Sumang Walk at about 7.05am, and that it was extinguished using a water jet.Preliminary findings indicate that the fire had likely originated from a PMA and involved contents in the living room of a 16th floor unit.Three persons were assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to Singapore General Hospital.According to annual statistics released by the SCDF on Feb 11, the overall number of fires increased by 3 per cent, from 1,990 cases in 2024 to 2,050 in 2025.Fires at residential and non-residential premises also rose by 8.6 per cent, from 968 cases in 2024 to 1,051 in 2025.

The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link reached a different sort of milestone on Thursday (Feb 12), with the passing of the RTS Link Bill 2026 in the Malaysian Parliament.Speaking at the end of the Bill’s debate on Thursday, Malaysian Deputy Home Affairs Minister Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah assured MPs that Malaysian law enforcement personnel stationed in Singapore will be immune from court prosecution for actions carried out in the course of their official duties.He emphasised that the Bill has three key areas: strengthening the legal framework around cross-border train operations, complementing existing laws, and safeguarding Malaysia’s sovereignty and security — including Malaysian law enforcement officers on duty in Singapore."An officer from Malaysia stationed at the Woodlands North station cannot be prosecuted for actions undertaken as part of his or her official functions.

A 14-year-old was taken to hospital on Friday (Feb 13) night after he was knocked down by a car in Hougang.The accident happened at about 10.50pm along Hougang Avenue 4, towards Serangoon Road. Passers-by reported seeing at least two Traffic Police expressway patrol cars and a crime scene investigation van at the scene at around 1am. In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police said that the accident involved the 14-year-old pedestrian and a car driven by a 33-year-old male driver.The boy was taken to the hospital and the driver is assisting with investigations.Police investigations are ongoing.In the first half of 2025, the number of traffic accidents resulting in injuries and fatalities increased by 8.9 per cent to 3,818 cases, up from 3,507 in the same period in 2024.To curb speeding violations and speeding-related incidents, stiffer penalties came into effect from Jan 1 this year.

US prosecutors allege that Nikhil Gupta was directed by an Indian government official to kill a Sikh separatist in the country Read Full Article at RT.com

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Assam for a day-long visit, commencing with an aerial display by the Indian Air Force. He is set to inaugurate the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, the first extradosed bridge in Northeast India, and the temporary campus of IIM Guwahati.

Rahul Gandhi slammed the India-US trade deal, calling PM Modi 'Narendra Surrender Modi' and warning of harm to cotton farmers and textile exporters. He alleged a trap where India faces an 18% tariff on garments while Bangladesh gets 0% by importing US cotton, potentially hurting Indian farmers. Minister Piyush Goyal refuted these claims, stating farmers' interests are protected.

WESTERN BUREAU: Deputy Superintendent of Police Roderick Reid, the acting operations officer for the St James Police Division, is urging the councillors at the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) to play their part in engaging the residents of their divisions in a bid to reduce the parish’s crime rate, particularly murders. Reid made the appeal while addressing Thursday’s monthly meeting of the StJMC, where he reported that St James has recorded nine murders since the start of 2026. He also noted that eight illegal firearms had been seized in the division to date.

WESTERN BUREAU: The St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) on Thursday passed a resolution during its monthly meeting to erect a statue of the late reggae icon James ‘Jimmy Cliff’ Chambers at the entrance to Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in downtown Montego Bay. The resolution, which will be sent to the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport for review, was presented and unanimously approved by the councillors in attendance.

Western Bureau: It has been more than three months since Hurricane Melissa devastated western Jamaica, but the impact is still being felt in the region with some families in Hanover, whose homes were destroyed, still being housed in shelters. Speaking at Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC), Lucea Deputy Mayor Andria Dehaney-Grant said approximately 20 persons were still occupying shelters across the parish as they have no homes to return to because of the impact of the hurricane.

Jamaica Prefects’ Association (JPA) President Nashá Patterson is calling for urgent, coordinated action to locate and re-engage students who have stopped attending school following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Patterson warned that absenteeism is deepening learning loss and contributing to growing demotivation among teachers. Reports coming out from Regions 4 (Hanover, Westmoreland and St James) and 5 (St Elizabeth and Manchester) have raised red flags for the student leadership body, with classrooms now operating at less than half their usual capacity.

The continuing oversight of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) by the Government has sparked fierce pushback from some members of the Jamaican diaspora in the United States, with a former Diaspora Advisory Board member calling for change. At the same time, an outgoing GJDC council member for the Southern region is publicly questioning why the Government retains control over the body. Former Diaspora Advisory Board member Patrick Beckford is calling for the Jamaican Government to divest itself from serving as chair of the diaspora governance structure.

Democrats refused to fund the department without new restrictions on federal immigrations agents.

The lower house of the Polish parliament has adopted legislation granting amnesty to Polish citizens who have fought as mercenaries for Kiev Read Full Article at RT.com

The 18-year-old suspect responsible for one of Canada’s deadliest school shootings created a video game on the popular platform Roblox Read Full Article at RT.com

Taxi driver Octavian Codreanu and his passenger Moyra Whelan died after being hit by Liberty Mitchell, who was travelling at 96mph in a 60mph zone in December 2022.

Under seige from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and facing separate accusations of rape and other criminal offences, the Norwegian royal family faces new alarming challenges ahead.

The latest big screen version of Emily Bronte's 1847 classic novel opened in cinemas yesterday, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as lovers Cathy and Heathcliff.

The 21-year-old, who has earned the nickname the 'Quad God' for his impressive talent for quadruple jumps, had been the standout favorite to top the Olympic podium.

US figure skater Maxim Naumov may not have won a medal but he made his late parents proud on Friday night as he competed on the Winter Olympic stage over a year on from their deaths.

Sydney's account of her rags-to-riches story has omitted some of the most extraordinary details of her rise from rock bottom - in particular the toll which America's drug crisis has taken on her wider family.

No US servicemen were harmed

The attacks caused no damage to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure sites

Ilham Aliyev emphasized that more than six months the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is calm

Matthew Whitaker also added that «it's an incredibly dangerous world right now»

US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and businessman Jared Kushner will hold bilateral talks with Iranian delegates in the morning, and will attend a trilateral meeting with Russian and Ukrainian delegations in the afternoon