Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Government of Singapore

17 August 2026 – Southwest Monsoon conditions are prevailing over Singapore and the surrounding region, and are expected to persist in the coming fortnight, with winds blowing from the southeast or southwest.

2            Localised short-duration thundery showers are expected over parts of the island during the late morning and afternoon on some days. There may also be several fair and occasionally windy days. The total rainfall for the second fortnight of August 2026 is forecast to be below average over most parts of the island.

3            In the second fortnight of August 2026, the daily maximum temperatures are likely to range between 33 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days. On a few days, the daily maximum temperature could reach a high of 35 degrees Celsius. Most nights may also be warm and humid, with temperatures staying above 27 degrees Celsius.

4            With the dry conditions in the surrounding region, hotspots with smoke plumes have been observed, mostly in the southern and central parts of Sumatra and various parts of Kalimantan. The dry conditions are expected to persist in the coming days. Under the prevailing southeasterly or southwesterly winds, Singapore may experience hazy conditions should the fires intensify. The National Environment Agency (NEA) will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide updates if the situation changes. Should the 24-hour PSI enter the Unhealthy range, NEA will provide daily haze advisories.

5            For updates of the daily weather forecast, please visit the MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or download the myENV app.

 REVIEW OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (1 – 16 August 2026)

 6            Southwest Monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region in the first half of August 2026, with winds blowing mostly from the southeast or south.

7            The first half of August 2026 was mostly dry, with only a few days of brief showers over Singapore. These conditions were attributed to suppressed rain cloud formation caused by a dry air mass over Singapore and the surrounding region. Thundery showers affected parts of the island on a few days during this period. The highest rainfall recorded in the first half of August 2026 was a daily total of 39.2mm, registered at Seraya Road on 2 August 2026 and Paya Lebar on 15 August 2026.

 8        In the first half of August 2026, daily maximum temperatures exceeded 33 degrees Celsius on all but one day. The highest daily maximum temperature of 34.9 degree Celsius was recorded at Pulau Ubin on 14 August 2026. The nights were warm, with minimum night-time temperatures remaining above 27 degrees Celsius across many parts of the island.

9     Well-below-average rainfall was recorded across the island in the first half of August 2026. The highest anomaly of 100 per cent below-average was recorded at Changi.

CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

Long-term Statistics for August   (Climatological reference period: 1991-2020)
Average daily maximum temperature:	31.4	°C
Average daily minimum temperature:	25.3	°C
Average monthly temperature:	28.1	°C
Average rainfall:	146.9	mm
Average number of rain days:	14
Historical Extremes for August   (Rainfall since 1869 and temperature since 1929)
Highest monthly mean daily maximum temperature:	32.7	°C (2019)
Lowest monthly mean daily minimum temperature:	23.0	°C (1962)
Highest monthly rainfall ever recorded:	526.8	mm (1878)
Lowest monthly rainfall ever recorded:	11.8	mm (2019)

METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE SINGAPORE

17 Aug 2026

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Following reports of recalls in the United States involving rechargeable hand warmers due to lithium batteries overheating, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI), today (August 6) posted the relevant information on its Product Safety Information Website under the “Foreign Defective Product Information” section to alert consumers. The affected products include OCOOPA rechargeable hand warmers, models UT3053, UT3056, ZLS-118, ZLS-118S, ZLS-118D, H01, and H01 (PD). The BSMI has also requested domestic online platforms and distributors to proactively remove the affected products from sale as a precautionary measure.

The BSMI urges consumers to check whether they have any of the above-mentioned models at home and to stop using them immediately. It has also instructed domestic distributors to verify whether the affected products have been imported into Taiwan. If any products are confirmed to be covered by the recall, the distributors will be required to initiate a recall. Relevant details will be published under the “Product Recall Information” section of the Product Safety Information website.

The BSMI further noted that, in response to the growing popularity of portable rechargeable electrical appliances, it has progressively expanded the scope of mandatory inspection since 2023 to include 14 types of rechargeable electrical products, including handheld fans, curling irons, and rechargeable hand warmers. Manufacturers and importers are required to complete the applicable inspection procedures before such products may be imported or released from the production premises. Rechargeable hand warmers were officially announced as products subject to mandatory inspection in 2025, with the requirements taking effect on July 1, 2026. The inspection covers key electrical safety requirements, including heating, insulation, construction, as well as electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing, to help ensure product safety.

The BSMI also reminds consumers to purchase only products bearing the Commodity Inspection Mark and to check the required Chinese-language labeling, including the manufacturer’s name and address, rated voltage, power consumption or current, and model number. Consumers should also follow the instructions provided in the user manual, including avoiding charging the product unattended, using it in wet or humid environments, or subjecting it to strong drops or impacts, to ensure safe use.

Business Contact: Ching-Hong Cheng, Deputy Director, Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI)
Tel. (O): +886-2343-1700 ext.1211

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Invest Hong Kong today (August 13) announced that S-GAME, a leading Chinese Mainland game and content developer, has established a new Hong Kong office dedicated to game publishing and distribution, promotion, trading, and cross-media intellectual property (IP) business. Using Hong Kong as its base, the company will drive the overseas expansion of its soon-to-be-launched AAA martial-arts action game Phantom Blade Zero.

     Hailed as the most anticipated Chinese AAA game of 2026, Phantom Blade Zero has attracted keen attention from players worldwide. The martial-arts action title blends Eastern wuxia elements with dark fantasy aesthetics to form its distinctive “Kungfupunk” style. Phantom Blade Zero’s art centre is also based in Hong Kong, with the art team bringing together creative talent from across Greater China. Several veteran Hong Kong film martial-arts choreographers took part in the game’s action production, and as a result, the high-speed combat and action design within the game are rich with the flavour of Hong Kong’s martial-arts cinema. The game opened for global pre-order starting yesterday (August 12). In its latest trailer, S-GAME announced that renowned Hong Kong kung fu film star and director Donnie Yen has served as the Creative Consultant of Phantom Blade Zero since 2023, and personally performed both the motion captures and facial captures for a major in-game character, “Mó Yuan”. The game is scheduled to launch worldwide simultaneously on Steam, Epic Games Store, and PlayStation on October 29 this year.

     Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Mr Arnold Lau said, “China is not only a vast IP consumer market, but has also become a globally recognised base for creative exports. As a hub connecting the world, Hong Kong, with its mature professional services, bilingual talent, media networks and a robust intellectual property protection regime, will provide crucial support for S-GAME’s overseas distribution and IP internationalisation. Meanwhile, Phantom Blade Zero has drawn on Hong Kong’s rich pool of international film talent and resources, fusing the martial-arts aesthetics of classic Hong Kong cinema into a next-generation video game, achieving cross-border and cross-media cultural inheritance. We look forward to enterprises leveraging Hong Kong as a base for global promotion so that outstanding works can extend their influence far and wide.”

     The Marketing Director of S-GAME, Mr Julius Li, said, “Hong Kong is the natural choice for S-GAME’s journey into international markets. Hong Kong is not only a top-tier global financial and business centre, but also a storied hub for international film and publishing – an inspiration for Phantom Blade Zero and a strategic vantage point for taking ‘Kungfupunk’ game culture global. The talent, legal and business environment, media influence and urban culture here all meet our global distribution needs and align closely with the creative roots of Phantom Blade Zero. The newly established Hong Kong office will support us in advancing international business liaisons, international advertising, IP licensing, as well as the possible future production and distribution of film and television spin-offs, bringing this work rooted in the East onto the world stage.”

     S-GAME was founded by Mr Liang Qiwei (Soulframe) in 2011, with original IPs including the Rainblood series and the Phantom Blade series of mobile games. Phantom Blade Zero, the title being launched, drew an enthusiastic response at a large-scale offline trial event held in Beijing in July 2025, capturing the attention of players at home and abroad, with cumulative views surpassing 100 million and livestream viewership exceeding 20 million.

     For more information about Phantom Blade Zero, please visit pbz.s-game.cn.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, will depart for a visit to Shanghai and Zhejiang tomorrow morning (August 17).

During the visit, Mr Tse will meet with the leadership of the International Cooperation Department of the State Grid Corporation of China, as well as representatives of the State Grid International Development Company Limited and the State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company. He will also visit electricity facilities including the Power Dispatching and Control Center and Superconductivity Engineering Demonstration Project display center of the State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company to learn about the latest technology and developments of local electricity networks and power transmission infrastructure.

In addition, Mr Tse will attend part of the activities of the “Green Dreams Come True: HK Electric Green Energy, Innovation, Technology and Cultural Study Tour” organised by the Hongkong Electric Company Limited, and meet with students from Hong Kong. They will also visit the “Two Mountains” scenic area in Anji County of Zhejiang Province, which is the birthplace of the concept of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”, to learn about the successful experience in green development impetus in the fields of eco-tourism and conservation.

A representative from the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department will also join the trip.

Mr Tse will return to Hong Kong on August 19. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, will be the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government Property Agency (GPA) is inviting tenders for a three-year tenancy of the government canteen on portions of the First Floor, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department Headquarters, No. 3 Kai Shing Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong, subject to the provisions for renewal for a further term of three years.
 
     The premises should only be used to operate a canteen that supplies meals, light refreshments, beverages (excluding alcoholic beverages and plastic bottled water) and other food commodities to government employees working at the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department Headquarters and such other persons as may be authorised by the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services.
 
     The tender notice was uploaded today (August 17) to the GPA Property Portal. Tender documents are available for collection at the GPA, 9/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, from 9am to 6pm, from Monday to Friday, except public holidays. The documents can also be downloaded from the GPA Property Portal.
 
     Interested tenderers who wish to conduct a site inspection of the premises should make a prior appointment with the GPA by calling 3842 6783 by August 25.

     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box located on the Ground Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, before noon on September 8. Late tenders will not be accepted.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association, the 6th Hong Kong Game Enhancement and Promotion Scheme (GEPS) held its launch ceremony today (August 14). Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries Miss Yvonne Ip attended the ceremony as the officiating guest.
 
     A total of five local start-up game companies were selected this year, covering game genres such as role-playing, simulation management, tower defense strategy and more. Some content also integrates elements of local culture, showcasing the diverse creativity of the local game design teams.
 
     This year’s GEPS will continue to arrange for experienced industry professionals to provide professional guidance to the selected companies, and will organise a series of practical workshops on marketing, game testing and capital introduction, thereby enhancing their capabilities in game operation and marketing. GEPS will also sponsor each company to engage young graduates as interns to assist with the content optimisation and testing prior to the launch of the games and to provide the interns with on-the-job training. Additionally, GEPS will further enhance the public exposure and international visibility of the selected companies and their games through various online and offline promotional channels.
 
     GEPS aims to nurture local game development talent and drive the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s game industry as well as the digital entertainment creative ecosystem. Since its launch, GEPS has subsidised nearly 60 local start-up games, with some funded companies having generated over $10 million in revenue and more than 1 million downloads, fully demonstrating the development potential of Hong Kong’s game entertainment industry. For more information on GEPS, please visit www.geps.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) said today (August 14) that the Government has received and completed the review of the full investigation report submitted by Cathay Pacific Airways (CPA) in regard to an incident on July 4, in which a CPA flight from Hong Kong to London’s Heathrow experienced a loss of communication with the local air traffic control unit during its flight.

The report indicated that the aircraft’s communication equipment operated normally. The incident involved the incorrect selection of radio frequency by the concerned flight crew due to a mistaken response to air traffic controllers’ instructions for another flight, and the flight crew did not subsequently realise the loss of communication.

After the incident, CPA has implemented a host of improvement measures, including enhancing the operational and monitoring procedures for the flight crew regarding the communication system, and reminding the flight crew to be more vigilant at all times.

     CAD expressed serious concern over the communication loss incident and has instructed CPA to robustly follow up on the relevant improvement measures, including providing additional training and assessment for the concerned flight crew. CAD reiterated the importance of maintaining good communications between the flight crew and air traffic controllers at all times to ensure aviation safety. CAD has also instructed CPA to enhance the reporting mechanism on aviation safety incidents. CPA implemented the related improvement measures in mid-July and CAD will continue to closely monitor the effectiveness of the measures implemented by CPA.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region