Latest news with #SG60
Straits Times
11 hours ago
- General
- Straits Times
Commandos are Best Combat Unit for the 39th time
(From left) LTA Seah Zhang Qi; 2SG T Naveen, commando leader; LTC Kok Yi Long, commanding officer; and CFC Akmal Danial Rashiddin Abdul Latif, a commando fighter, from the 1st Commando Battalion, pictured on June 24. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Commandos are Best Combat Unit for the 39th time SINGAPORE – The 1st Commando Battalion is the Best Combat Unit in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) again, and it has no intention of slowing down. In a statement from the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) on June 28 announcing the win, the unit's commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Kok Yi Long, said: 'The standard is high, and that is exactly where we intend to keep it.' Winning 22 times in a row did not happen by chance, he said. He said: 'It happened because every commando believed in the mission, pushed beyond limits in a calculated manner, and refused to settle for less. 'It is about a culture built over time, sustained by teamwork, discipline, and an unyielding commitment to excellence.' The unit does not strive for awards but to be better and ready to defend Singapore, he added. The special forces unit, which wears the distinctive red berets, is trained for various missions including airborne operations, reconnaissance and raids. In all, this is their 39th win since the competition was introduced in 1969. On July 1, the SAF will honour its best units with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Defence Minister Mr Chan Chun Sing presenting the awards to the winners at the SAF Day Parade at the SAFTI Military Institute. A total of 18 active units and 12 National Service (NS) units across the SAF are being recognised for their achievements. Awards include Best Combat Support Unit – won by the 17th Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence Battalion, and the Best Air Engineering Unit, won by 811 Squadron . Some NS units that will be honoured include the 114th Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence Battalion which is the Best NS C4I Unit and 489th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment, the Best NS Armour Unit. This year's Best Fighter Squadron is 142 Squadron, for the second consecutive time. It is the unit's fourth win since it was founded in 1974. The squadron conducts a wide spectrum of missions and notably, was the one that responded to a bomb threat on Air India Express flight AXB684 in October 2024, said Mindef. Then, two F-15SG fighter jets intercepted and escorted the flight to a safe landing at Changi Airport . No bomb was found on board. The squadron's commanding officer, Major Muhammad Iskandar, said the win was a testament to the hard work, dedication, and team spirit of each of its members. He said: 'Celebrating our win on SG60, a significant milestone in our journey as a nation, makes the award even more meaningful for us. '142 Squadron stands ready to face an increasingly unpredictable world, staying committed to excellence, anchored in purpose, and taking full ownership of our mission to defend Singapore.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
AsiaOne
a day ago
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Concert featuring Stefanie Sun, festivals and more: Free events and things to do as Singapore celebrates SG60 , Lifestyle News
With Singapore's 60th birthday nearing, more festivities are popping up to celebrate SG60 and the nation's journey and milestones. From live performances by renowned local artistes to hands-on workshops, pop-ups and festivals, here are some free SG60 events and celebrations to check out. We'll continue to add more as we find them. Changi Airport Group SG60 celebrations Named Together, We Make Magic, Changi Airport Group is launching their own series of SG60 celebrations from July to August. The celebrations will include concerts like the SG60 Homecoming Concert happening at Jewel Changi Airport on Aug 1 featuring homegrown talents like Stefanie Sun, Kit Chan and Regina Song, as well as familiar National Day Parade (NDP) tunes. Tickets can be obtained by balloting, and more details will be available on Changi Airport's social media platforms in early July. Another part of the celebrations is the SG60 Outdoor Light-up taking place from Saturday (July 28) at Airport Boulevard - where drivers along the stretch will see it lit up and lined with images of familiar locations like the Merlion, Toa Payoh Dragon Playground and Gardens by the Bay. For the plant lovers, there's also going to be horticultural displays across Changi's terminals and Jewel Changi Airport throughout the celebration. Examples include a 270 square-metre floral garden celebrating Singapore's national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaqium at terminal three, which started on July 21, and a six-metre-high floral Merlion created using 60 plant types at Terminal 2. Over at Jewel Changi Airport, the Jewel Forest Valley will see a floral display of more than 1,200 orchids from Aug 1 to 31 featuring red and white blooms to match the festivities. Here, a Dendrobium (a type of orchid) Jewel Changi Airport hybrid will also be showcased. Throughout the month of August, the airport megamall's Light and Music showcase will also feature a special SG60 rendition — where visitors can enjoy projections of iconic Singaporean symbols in a hand-drawn, watercolour illustration style alongside the melody of the NDP favourite Home. More information can be found on Changi Airport's website. NTUC NDP Bay Celebrations The NTUC NDP Bay Celebrations will take place at the Promontory @ Marina Bay on July 26, Aug 2 and 9. Themed Majulah SG Youth, the celebration will focus on Singaporean youths' contributions to building the nation and includes performances by both established and budding local talents such as Shigga Shay, Regina Song and Estelle Fly. It will also include acts from local universities like Singapore Management University's Soundfoundry and Nanyang Technological University's Modern Jazz dance society. Additionally, there will also be interactive installations like The Future We Create — an AI-powered visual showcase of young Singaporeans' aspirations and visions for the nation's future, as well as Dream Exchange, a phone booth-styled space where visitors can listen to anonymous messages of hopes, dreams and encouragement from fellow youths. Other highlights include educational booths where visitors can challenge their friends to mini games like mini-golf and memory games as well as a multi-sensory experience blending light, movement and sound. Tickets are available for balloting at NTUC NDP Bay Celebration's website from now until July 4. Successful applicants will be informed by July 8. Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre SG60 Weekend: A Community Celebrates Want to learn more about Chinese arts, culture and heritage? Presented by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC), SG60 Weekend: A Community Celebrates is a two-day cultural celebration organised by Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) and SCCC's arts residents to celebrate the nation's 60th birthday. At this free open house event taking place on June 28 and 29, visitors will be able to get a rare behind-the-scenes look and interact with SCCC's arts residents like Nam Hwa Opera, Drum Feng, Reverberance and Tampines Arts Troupe. Additionally, there will also be hands-on workshops like The Story Keepers - an interactive theatre experience for children exploring Singapore's folktales of Kusu Island, Redhill and Radin Mas, as well as musical tributes like Ode to Singapore by SCO showcasing artworks by 60 children and their vision for Singapore's future. More information can be found on SCCC's website. Shaping Hearts 2025 Organised by the North East Community Development Council, Shaping Hearts 2025 is an arts festival showcasing over 700 artworks by artists with disabilities from organisations like Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA), Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped and Touch Community Services in public spaces. The first part of the festival kicked off from June 21, starting with a series of roving exhibitions at Bayfront MRT station and Gardens by the Bay featuring live painting demonstrations by featured artists with disabilities, interactive booths with hands-on art activities and inclusive merchandised designed by artists with disabilities and public showcases of artwork in transit spaces, lifestyle venues and community hubs. The artworks are themed around SG60 and reflect each artist's journey, imagination and sense of belonging to the nation. The roving exhibitions will move on to Suntec City from July 28 to Aug 3. From Sept 13 to 28, a main showcase will take place at Our Tampines Hub — where the largest collection of Shaping Hearts 2025 artworks will be displayed. More information can be found on Shaping Hearts' website. It's Giving Fest Another free SG60 event is It's Giving Fest, a music, arts and community festival taking place at *Scape on July 12 and 13. Here, visitors can enjoy a variety of performances and activities like a flea market, fitness workshop and cosplay gatherings, as well as indulging in festival grub at food trucks, capture memories at the photo booth and challenge friends at arcade games at the digital game zones. The performance line-up includes several local talents like Benjamin Kheng, Tasha Low, Lullaboy and more. The full performance schedule, list of activities and more information can be found on It's Giving Fest's website. Installation at the Glass Rotunda A multi-sensorial experience bringing visitors back in time to explore key moments in Singapore's history, the new installation at the National Museum of Singapore's Glass Rotunda experience will open this August. Here, visitors can immerse themselves in an experiential multimedia production showcasing Singapore's past, present, future and the importance of the sea in shaping the nation's identity. RFID (radio frequency identification) wristbands will also be given out at the exhibition to allow visitors a more personalised and engaging experience. This will be the museum's first permanent gallery after its revamp which is currently ongoing. More information can be found on National Heritage Board's website. Safra Bayfront National Day celebration To mark SG60, Safra is organising a celebration including live performances, a NDP screening and party at the Bayfront Event Space on Aug 2 and 9. Themed Vibrant Heartbeat, the celebration will kick off with pre-parade live performances by local groups like Jumpstart and yIn Harmony, followed by a NDP live screening on large LED screens. Participants will each receive one NDP pack at the celebration. Thanks to its location at Bayfront Event Space, the audience will also be able to witness some parade favourites like the inaugural Jump of Unity by the Republic of Singapore Navy, state flag flypast, building light projections, fireworks and more. During the post-parade party, visitors can enjoy performances by Urban Drum Crew and DJ Tinc. Tickets are available for balloting on Safra's website from now until July 4, 12pm, and is only eligible for Safra members, Singapore citizens and permanent residents. Each applicant will have one ballot chance for two or four tickets. Successful applicants will be notified by July 10 via SMS or email. Additionally, the celebration will also extend to seven Safra clubs islandwide throughout the month of August at: Choa Chu Kang Jurong Mount Faber (Telok Blangah Way) Punggol Tampines Toa Payoh Yishun On National Day itself, national servicemen and their families can enjoy live screenings of the parade at the clubs, alongside activities such as sing-along sessions, traditional games and pop-up food stalls serving local flavours. For the island-hopping lovers, Safra will also be organising tours to Kusu Island, Sister's Island, Pulau Ubin, St John's Island and Sentosa, as well as a photography competition during the month of August. More information will be available on Safra's website. Red Dot August To celebrate SG60, Esplanade will be presenting Red Dot August — a music and arts programme including intergenerational performances by veteran and budding musicians, collaborations with overseas music artists, poetry readings and screenings of local films. Part of the 60 Connections — At Home and Afar (a year-long programme spotlighting 60 live and digital works), Red Dot August will take place from Aug 1 to 31 at Esplanade's Theatres on the Bay. More information will be available on Esplanade's website. PAssionArts Festival 2025 This SG60, rediscover the beauty of Singapore's neighbourhoods with PAssionArts Festival 2025 — a festival organised by People's Association Arts and Culture Division and its network of Community Arts and Culture Clubs. The theme for this year is Our Neighbourhood Gems, and will feature over 60 festival villages including activities like art installations, workshops and performances from now until September. An example of the activities includes the Turning Stories: A Glowing Tribute to Singapore workshop taking place at Kallang Community Club on June 28, where residents can collaborate to paint the acrylic panels of a dynamic rotating structure telling the story of Singapore's journey and the Jalan Besar community. Another is the Braddell Heights PAssionArts Festival happening on July 26 beside Braddell Heights Community Club - which will feature a futuristic large-scale art installation that pays tribute to the neighbourhood's heritage - spotlighting the upcoming Serangoon Polyclinic and revamped Serangoon Market and Braddell Heights Community Club. More information can be found on the People's Association's website. The Roots You Gave Me, the Wings I've Found Taking place at LOY Contemporary Art Gallery at Tanglin Road from now until Aug 8, The Roots You Gave Me, the Wings I've Found is a solo art exhibition by local artist Benedict Yu. Exploring the themes of familial love, spiritual legacy and memory-making in the digital age, the exhibition uses a mix of VR (virtual reality) and emotional storytelling amidst other tools like 3D painting to create an immersive experience. More information can be found on the gallery's website. [[nid:718477]]
CNA
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - HYROX 2025: what to do before, during and after
CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - HYROX 2025: what to do before, during and after With the annual HYROX event around the corner, Cheryl Goh finds out how participants can best prepare, when to listen to your body to avoid overexertion, and tips to recover after the race from Sean Lee, personal trainer and HYROX participant. 17 mins CNA938 Rewind - Eat, Drink, Singapore - Sip, savour and celebrate SG60 in style The Great Palate 2025: Whisky & Spirits Edition is happening next weekend on 5 & 6 July 2025. Cheryl Goh finds out more about this year's special SG60 showcase, and how the whisky scene has evolved over time here with Michelle Lu, GM of Malt & Wine Asia and also overall in-charge of Great Palate project. 17 mins CNA938 Rewind - Mind Your Money - Budgeting for your next holiday As the June school holidays wrap up and travel bills roll in, Cheryl Goh finds out smart tips to help you keep your next holiday budget on track with Ashley Thomas, Head of Strategy & Operations for Revolut in Singapore. 17 mins CNA938 Rewind - A Letter to Myself: Using his own journey of healing, senior counsellor Gopal Mahey supports recovering addicts and their families Gopal Mahey is senior counsellor at the Centre for Psychotherapy, where he focusses on supporting individuals fighting substance abuse. In 2013, Gopal himself had been arrested for drug offences. It was a turning point. Throughout his journey of personal transformation, his family rallied around him and gave him the strength to re-embrace his calling as a counsellor with a renewed sense of mission. Gopal shares how his journey has given him a special empathy and insight into what former offenders and their families go through, and how he uses his lived experience in his clinical work. 41 mins
CNA
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Eat, Drink, Singapore - Sip, savour and celebrate SG60 in style
CNA938 Rewind The Great Palate 2025: Whisky & Spirits Edition is happening next weekend on 5 & 6 July 2025. Cheryl Goh finds out more about this year's special SG60 showcase, and how the whisky scene has evolved over time here with Michelle Lu, GM of Malt & Wine Asia and also overall in-charge of Great Palate project.
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Customise your own Barbie for a cause at charity event featuring over 1,000 dolls on a runway, Lifestyle News
Barbie dolls are taking over Marina Square for a good cause. From now until July 1, the shopping mall's central atrium has been transformed into a charity exhibition called Wings of Art 2025. The event will feature Singapore's longest Barbie doll runway at 60m long, as recognised by the Singapore Book of Records, and is made up of more than 1,000 limited-edition Barbie dolls. These dolls are available for public "adoption", as the exhibition aims to raise $100,000 for underprivileged children through the Singapore Red Cross Young Hearts Programme. A doll is priced at $75 on weekdays and $85 on weekends. Upon adopting a Barbie at the exhibition, visitors can use the art supplies available to customise their dolls. Once completed, the dolls can either be taken home as a souvenir or donated to the runway. Donated dolls will later be gifted to underprivileged children. Those interested to donate their crafted Barbies are encouraged to register at the event website ( ahead of time as slots are limited. In line with SG60 celebrations, 60 local artists have also designed their very own customised Barbies for the runway. This includes actress Jayley Woo, pastry chef Janice Wong, theatre director Selena Tan and Isaac Chang, a nine-year-old artist with autism. These dolls are available for public bidding at an online charity auction, and 100 per cent of the proceeds will go to charity. Apart from the runway and auction, visitors to Wings of Art 2025 can look forward to a custom-designed lightbox, play interactive games and booths at a carnival and participate in workshops and community showcases. [[nid:705404]] amierul@
