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Man arrested for allegedly slapping people at Singapore Life Church

A 33-year-old Malaysian Chinese man was arrested on Sunday (May 3) for allegedly slapping several people at Singapore Life Church the same morning.Police said in a news release on Sunday evening that they received a call for assistance at about 9.10am.Officer
Singapore

Man arrested for allegedly slapping people at Singapore Life Church

A 33-year-old Malaysian Chinese man was arrested on Sunday (May 3) for allegedly slapping several people at Singapore Life Church the same morning.Police said in a news release on Sunday evening that they received a call for assistance at about 9.10am.Officers later established that he had slapped several people and left prior to the police's arrival. A 66-year-old woman was taken conscious to hospital after she was found bleeding. She was allegedly slapped near the eye area by the man.Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is known to the church and had caused nuisance there «a few times».He was arrested for public nuisance. Police investigations are ongoing.[[nid:734936]]editor@asiaone.com 

SM Lee to make 4-day visit to Pahang and Terengganu

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong will visit Pahang and Terengganu from Monday (May 4) to Thursday.In a statement on Sunday, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said SM Lee's visit builds on the strong momentum of bilateral exchanges, deepening Singapore's longst
Singapore

SM Lee to make 4-day visit to Pahang and Terengganu

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong will visit Pahang and Terengganu from Monday (May 4) to Thursday.In a statement on Sunday, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said SM Lee's visit builds on the strong momentum of bilateral exchanges, deepening Singapore's longstanding and multifaceted ties with Malaysia's states and their leaders.The visit to Pahang is at the invitation of the Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and his wife, the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.SM Lee will also make a 170km trip, further north, to Terengganu on Thursday.While in Pahang, he will have an audience with Sultan Abdullah and hosted to lunch. He will also meet with Pahang Chief Minister Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and other state leaders.During SM Lee's one-day visit to Terengganu, he will meet with Chief Minister Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and other state leaders.

Firefighters among 6 taken to hospital after 2 fires break out in the same Punggol HDB block

Two fires broke out in the same Punggol HDB block on the evening of May 1, forcing about 30 residents to be evacuated. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told AsiaOne it was alerted to the fires at about 6.50pm and 7.40pm respectively at Block 223
Singapore

Firefighters among 6 taken to hospital after 2 fires break out in the same Punggol HDB block

Two fires broke out in the same Punggol HDB block on the evening of May 1, forcing about 30 residents to be evacuated. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told AsiaOne it was alerted to the fires at about 6.50pm and 7.40pm respectively at Block 223A Sumang Lane.The fires occurred at the ninth floor, involving discarded items along the ninth-floor common corridor, and a bedroom in a fourth-floor unit. Both fires were extinguished using hose reels with no injuries reported from the first blaze, said SCDF.The cause of both fires is under investigation. Four people were assessed for smoke inhalation with three of them taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital, while the other person was taken to Singapore General Hospital.Two firefighters who felt unwell during the operation were taken to Singapore General Hospital as a precautionary measure and have both been discharged, added SCDF. 

Metal beam crashes through roof of Yishun HDB block during construction works at adjacent site

A metal beam fell and crashed through the roof of a four-storey HDB block in Yishun during dismantling works at the adjacent Chong Pang Integrated Development (CPID) worksite on Saturday (May 2) night.In a social media post on Sunday, Coordinating Minister fo
Singapore

Metal beam crashes through roof of Yishun HDB block during construction works at adjacent site

A metal beam fell and crashed through the roof of a four-storey HDB block in Yishun during dismantling works at the adjacent Chong Pang Integrated Development (CPID) worksite on Saturday (May 2) night.In a social media post on Sunday, Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam, who is also MP for Nee Soon GRC, said a metal beam «slipped in an unexpected way» during dismantling works at an upper floor of the integrated development.

New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon to make three-day official visit to Singapore

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is on a three-day official visit to Singapore from Sunday (May 3) to May 5.Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement on Sunday that the visit builds on the New Zealand-Singapore Comprehensiv
Singapore

New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon to make three-day official visit to Singapore

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is on a three-day official visit to Singapore from Sunday (May 3) to May 5.Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement on Sunday that the visit builds on the New Zealand-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) launched in October 2025.The bilateral relations between both countries were elevated from an enhanced partnership in 2019, to a CSP during PM Wong's first official visit to New Zealand last year.Under the CSP, Singapore and New Zealand will broaden and strengthen existing partnerships across six pillars: trade and economics; security and defence; science, technology and innovation; people-to-people links; climate change and green economy; and supply chains and connectivity.

TEL disruption: Train services resume after 3-hour major delay due to signalling fault

[UPDATE: 10.48am on May 3] SMRT said in a Facebook post that train services between Caldecott and Orchard stations have resumed, but at a slower speed.Train services on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) have resumed after a three-hour long disruption on
Singapore

TEL disruption: Train services resume after 3-hour major delay due to signalling fault

[UPDATE: 10.48am on May 3] SMRT said in a Facebook post that train services between Caldecott and Orchard stations have resumed, but at a slower speed.Train services on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) have resumed after a three-hour long disruption on Sunday (May 3) morning due to a signalling fault.The disruption began at about 6.55am with a minor delay affecting train services between Stevens and Caldecott stations.By 7.35am, SMRT said the minor delay had grown to affect the entire stretch of TEL. About 10 minutes later, train services between Caldecott and Orchard stations were disrupted.The entire TEL became disrupted at 8.48am and took about 30 minutes to be progressively restored.Between 8.48am and 10.48am, train services remained unavailable between Caldecott and Orchard stations.Lam Sheau Kai, president of SMRT Trains said the disruption was due to a signalling fault.“This followed signalling tests carried out by our original equipment manufacturer Alstom, the night before.

'I wondered when it'd be my turn': Jurong traffic accident victim who heard others flatlining in ICU

SINGAPORE - Patrick Pereira remembers beeping monitors in National University Hospital’s (NUH) intensive care unit (ICU), where he stayed for 10 days after a road accident.He was riding his motorbike home from a family dinner when he was involved in a colli
Singapore

'I wondered when it'd be my turn': Jurong traffic accident victim who heard others flatlining in ICU

SINGAPORE - Patrick Pereira remembers beeping monitors in National University Hospital’s (NUH) intensive care unit (ICU), where he stayed for 10 days after a road accident.He was riding his motorbike home from a family dinner when he was involved in a collision with a lorry along Jurong East Avenue 1 on Sept 10, 2017.He broke both arms and suffered an open book pelvic fracture, where the pubic bones at the front of the pelvis separate, causing the two halves of the pelvis to splay outward like the pages of a book.Traffic deaths hit a 10-year high in 2025, with 149 killed, compared with 141 in 2016. There were 142 deaths in 2024. The number of injured people also increased, from 9,342 in 2024 to 9,955 in 2025.Given the dire situation on our roads, The Straits Times has been running a series of stories to call on all road users to be more careful.In their annual statistics for 2025, released in February 2026, the Traffic Police said motorcycles made up about 15 per cent of Singapore’s total vehicle population in 2025.

Cost of living in Singapore 2026: How much more are you paying due to high oil prices?

The war in the Middle East may feel a world away, but its effects are showing up much closer to home-at the petrol pump, in your grocery bill, and in just about everything that has to be shipped, flown, or made from plastic. With the Strait of Hormuz effectiv
Singapore

Cost of living in Singapore 2026: How much more are you paying due to high oil prices?

The war in the Middle East may feel a world away, but its effects are showing up much closer to home-at the petrol pump, in your grocery bill, and in just about everything that has to be shipped, flown, or made from plastic. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut since late February and roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply caught in the crossfire, the ripple effects have reached Singapore.It's easy to tune out the headlines when your feed is a blur of doomscrolling, hot takes, and AI-generated nonsense. But while we keep scrolling, the rest of us are quietly footing the bill. Here's what that's actually costing you in 2026.1. Why did oil prices increase in 2026?About 20 per cent of the world's oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which lies in between Iran and the UAE. Since there is a blockade in the Strait as ceasefires have been breached, ships are either stuck or are turning away to avoid being attacked.Put simply, there's a global shortage in the supply of oil. And when things-like oil-are scarce, prices rise as the demand for the precious resource still holds.

Emergency call for a…. pet parrot? We speak to Singaporeans who dialled 995 for the wackiest situations

What's the strangest reason you've ever considered calling an ambulance for? While we generally know that we should only dial 995 for life-threatening emergencies, these two Singaporeans dished the wackiest moments that ended in a call for the 995 emergency h
Singapore

Emergency call for a…. pet parrot? We speak to Singaporeans who dialled 995 for the wackiest situations

What's the strangest reason you've ever considered calling an ambulance for? While we generally know that we should only dial 995 for life-threatening emergencies, these two Singaporeans dished the wackiest moments that ended in a call for the 995 emergency hotline.We dive into these calls and the grey area where 'misplaced panic' is actually a 'non-emergency'.

Girl goes viral for waving at paramedics... while they attend to a patient

«Situational awareness: 1/10. Friendliness: 100/10.»That's what one netizen said about Sophie, a five-year-old girl who has gone viral for waving to paramedics at an inopportune moment.Her dad, Naem Rohman, shared a TikTok video of the duo travell
Singapore

Girl goes viral for waving at paramedics... while they attend to a patient

«Situational awareness: 1/10. Friendliness: 100/10.»That's what one netizen said about Sophie, a five-year-old girl who has gone viral for waving to paramedics at an inopportune moment.Her dad, Naem Rohman, shared a TikTok video of the duo travelling on a cargo bicycle in an undisclosed location on April 25. The girl can be seen saying «hello» and waving to three paramedics while they are moving a man in a stretcher to their ambulance.«I said hello to the doctors,» the child told her dad after one of the paramedics waved back at her.Netizens were tickled by the video, with one commenting: «Don't read the room, girl! Like, ever. Let the room adapt to you.»«At least she didn't say bye, that would've been more awkward,» another commented.One TikTok user also felt sympathy for the man who was in the midst of a health emergency.«How rude, the guy lying down can't wave back,» they joked.The endearing video has garnered over 704,000 views and 73,000 likes. 

Vivian Balakrishnan on 4-day working visit to the Middle East

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan will make a four-day working visit to the Middle East on Saturday (May 2).In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the visit, from May 2 to 5, will include the United Arab Emirate
Singapore

Vivian Balakrishnan on 4-day working visit to the Middle East

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan will make a four-day working visit to the Middle East on Saturday (May 2).In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the visit, from May 2 to 5, will include the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.MFA added that the visit will allow Dr Balakrishnan to meet his counterparts and other Gulf leaders to reaffirm Singapore's solidarity and longstanding relations with its Gulf partners.Dr Balakrishnan is also expected to express Singapore's appreciation for their assistance in ensuring the safety and well-being of Singaporeans in the region, including the facilitation of assisted departure operations in March 2026.

Adults preying on minors via Telegram bot Leomatch may face jail, caning: MHA, MDDI

SINGAPORE - Adults caught having sexual communication with minors and meeting them in real life may face sexual grooming charges, which carry a sentence of caning and imprisonment.In a joint response to queries by The Straits Times over the Leomatch bot on Te
Singapore

Adults preying on minors via Telegram bot Leomatch may face jail, caning: MHA, MDDI

SINGAPORE - Adults caught having sexual communication with minors and meeting them in real life may face sexual grooming charges, which carry a sentence of caning and imprisonment.In a joint response to queries by The Straits Times over the Leomatch bot on Telegram, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) said they are aware that young people are using the bot, and of the risks of it being misused by malicious actors to sexually groom or exploit them.“We take this matter seriously, and the Government has several measures in place to deal with online grooming or exploitation,” said the authorities.Offenders above the age of 18 convicted of sexual grooming can be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.For having sexual communication with a minor, an offender can be jailed for between two and three years and fined, depending on the age of the victim.Concerns were raised over the bot after three men were hauled to court for using it to prey on young victims.

Philippines, Singapore sign carbon trading deal to boost emission cuts, climate investment

MANILA - The Philippines and Singapore on Thursday (April 30) signed a carbon-trading deal that allows them to share emissions reductions, an agreement which Manila said is expected to lead to more investment into climate projects in the Philippines.Singapore
Singapore

Philippines, Singapore sign carbon trading deal to boost emission cuts, climate investment

MANILA - The Philippines and Singapore on Thursday (April 30) signed a carbon-trading deal that allows them to share emissions reductions, an agreement which Manila said is expected to lead to more investment into climate projects in the Philippines.Singapore's Environment Minister, Grace Fu, said in a statement the deal would deepen collaboration between the two countries, «channeling climate finance towards impactful projects in the Philippines and unlocking new opportunities in carbon markets for businesses and local communities.»The deal, signed during Asean's Climate Week, establishes a framework under the Paris Agreement for transferring verified emission reductions, or carbon credits, between Manila and Singapore.A joint committee will oversee the approval and implementation of projects, and tracking of emission reductions.Philippine Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said the deal would help Manila to attract investments in renewable energy, waste management, methane reduction, nature‑based solutions, and climate‑smart agriculture.

$10 million Toto cascade draw to be held on May 4

The next Toto cascade draw is set to be held on May 4 at 9.30pm, after the previous three straight draws yielded no winners.The prize pool has also snowballed to an estimated $10 million — from $1.2 million on April 23, to $2.9 million on April 27 and $5.7
Singapore

$10 million Toto cascade draw to be held on May 4

The next Toto cascade draw is set to be held on May 4 at 9.30pm, after the previous three straight draws yielded no winners.The prize pool has also snowballed to an estimated $10 million — from $1.2 million on April 23, to $2.9 million on April 27 and $5.7 million for the recent draw on April 30.April 30's winning numbers were 2, 6, 7, 31, 35 and 39, with 15 as the additional number.A ticket requires all six winning numbers to win the Group 1, or highest, prize.The pool can snowball four times without winners, making this May 4 draw the final one.If no one wins the Group 1 prize this time, it will be shared among the Group 2 winners.The previous cascade draw — the first of 2026 — was held on Jan 29, with six winning tickets sharing a total of $13.5 million.Three of the Group 1 winning tickets were purchased via the Singapore Pools account betting service, with one QuickPick System 7 Entry, one System 7 Entry and one Ordinary Entry.

Bus services diverted, 4 taken to hospital after 2-car accident at Old Airport Road

Four people, aged between 27 and 53, were taken to hospital after an accident involving two cars near Old Airport Road Food Centre on Thursday (April 30) night.The accident happened at the junction of Old Airport Road and Cassia Link at about 10.25pm. Map sh
Singapore

Bus services diverted, 4 taken to hospital after 2-car accident at Old Airport Road

Four people, aged between 27 and 53, were taken to hospital after an accident involving two cars near Old Airport Road Food Centre on Thursday (April 30) night.The accident happened at the junction of Old Airport Road and Cassia Link at about 10.25pm. Map showing where the accident happened on Thursday (April 30) night. GRAPHIC: Google Maps, Social media A video of the accident posted on TikTok by user Jerries shows two cars stopped across both lanes of Old Airport Road towards Dunman Road.Two fire engines, an ambulance and a Traffic Police motorcycle are seen in the video, with traffic along Old Airport Road diverted to Cassia Link. Rescuers and paramedics from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) are seen near the driver and front passenger doors of one vehicle.

Man to be charged for disrupting ATM services at 7 locations by placing tissue paper into card slot

A 37-year-old man will be charged in court on Saturday (May 2) for allegedly disrupting key services provided by several Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) at multiple locations across Singapore, the police said in a news release on Friday.Between April 27 and
Singapore

Man to be charged for disrupting ATM services at 7 locations by placing tissue paper into card slot

A 37-year-old man will be charged in court on Saturday (May 2) for allegedly disrupting key services provided by several Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) at multiple locations across Singapore, the police said in a news release on Friday.Between April 27 and 29, the police were alerted by a bank to multiple cases of mischief.They reviewed the bank's closed circuit television (CCTV) footage and found that the man had placed a piece of tissue paper beneath an ATM card before inserting both into the card slot of the ATM.After withdrawing the card, the left-behind tissue purportedly disrupted the functioning of ATMs along Battery Road, Chinatown, Tanjong Katong, Woodlands, Toa Payoh, Marina Bay and Paya Lebar, resulting in rectification works having to be carried out.Officers from the Central Police Division identified and arrested the man on Thursday through follow-up investigations and with the aid of CCTV footage. If found guilty of committing mischief and thereby causing disruption to key services, he could be jailed for up to 10 years, fined, or both.

Man in Bedok laments not being able to claim body of longtime partner as not legally married

A man living in Bedok is heartbroken at not being able to claim the body of his partner and arrange her funeral as they were not legally married.On April 29, the police shared in a news release that they are looking for the next-of-kin of an unidentified woma
Singapore

Man in Bedok laments not being able to claim body of longtime partner as not legally married

A man living in Bedok is heartbroken at not being able to claim the body of his partner and arrange her funeral as they were not legally married.On April 29, the police shared in a news release that they are looking for the next-of-kin of an unidentified woman in her 60s believed to be known as Tan Ah May. She died on April 15.Reporters from Shin Min Daily News visited her residence at Block 556 Bedok North Street 3 and discovered that she had lived with a man surnamed Lv for over 30 years.Neighbours told reporters that Lv and Tan referred to each other as husband and wife, and were a loving couple who never fought. However, as they were not married, Lv cannot claim the 68-year-old's body and arrange for her funeral.Lv, 67, broke down in tears thinking of his longtime partner's body being unclaimed.«She's still inside [the mortuary] and no one can claim her,» he said to reporters. «She was very sensitive to the cold and I hope we can help get her out quickly so she can leave this world with dignity.»Lv said that he and Tan had been chatting until 2am the day of her death and nothing had seemed amiss.

'Your Government will act': PM Wong promises more support to Singaporeans if energy crisis worsens in May Day Rally speech

The Government will provide more support to Singaporeans in the likely scenario of the global energy crisis worsening, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Friday (May 1).«And if that happens, we will do more to help,» he told a 1,600-strong crow
Singapore

'Your Government will act': PM Wong promises more support to Singaporeans if energy crisis worsens in May Day Rally speech

The Government will provide more support to Singaporeans in the likely scenario of the global energy crisis worsening, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Friday (May 1).«And if that happens, we will do more to help,» he told a 1,600-strong crowd of union leaders and tripartite partners at the May Day Rally at Downtown East on Labour Day.«Because in times like this, Singaporeans can count on one thing: Your Government will act. We will do so decisively, and we will stand with you, with every Singaporean, every step of the way,» he said.Delivering his keynote address as the event's guest-of-honour, PM Wong said Singapore had just weathered the «storm» of US tariffs, and another «more severe» storm is already bearing down.

'How can a man hit a woman?' Customers caught in crossfire during fight in Yishun coffee shop

Several diners at a coffee shop in Yishun were caught in the crossfire during a heated fight there on Tuesday (April 28).The incident happened at Block 848 Yishun Street 81, Shin Min Daily News reported.In a video uploaded to TikTok, an elderly man in a singl
Singapore

'How can a man hit a woman?' Customers caught in crossfire during fight in Yishun coffee shop

Several diners at a coffee shop in Yishun were caught in the crossfire during a heated fight there on Tuesday (April 28).The incident happened at Block 848 Yishun Street 81, Shin Min Daily News reported.In a video uploaded to TikTok, an elderly man in a singlet is seen holding a plastic chair and a bowl, while a woman in a polka dot blouse also picks up a chair in retaliation.Another woman with a cane is seen backing away from the man.Several diners are seen talking to the pair in an attempt to diffuse the tension.The woman who held the cane told Shin Min in an interview that the man said something offensive while she was drinking coffee. The woman in the polka dot blouse then retorted something back to the man, thus igniting the dispute.She said the man raised a chair up, striking her as a result and she had to rely on her cane for defence. The woman said that she only discovered abrasions on her arm after reaching home, and called the police.

This made my day: Bus captain holds up umbrella for commuters during downpour

It was a simple gesture, but one which warmed everyone's hearts.This was how TikTok user @singaporeproperties described their encounter with service 145 bus captain Liu Yongbin on Monday (April 27) afternoon in a video posted by them on the platform.The 20-se
Singapore

This made my day: Bus captain holds up umbrella for commuters during downpour

It was a simple gesture, but one which warmed everyone's hearts.This was how TikTok user @singaporeproperties described their encounter with service 145 bus captain Liu Yongbin on Monday (April 27) afternoon in a video posted by them on the platform.The 20-second video shows Liu standing at the bus' front doors, holding up an umbrella to shelter boarding commuters from the heavy rain at a bus stop near Tiong Bahru Plaza.Liu smiled and nodded his head at the passengers, patiently waiting for them to board the bus.The caption in the post called the gesture «a beautiful act of kindness», adding: «Everyone was smiling, hearts full of appreciation - you could feel the warmth in the air.»The way passengers smiled at him, and how he smiled back with pure joy, like he truly loves his job. It melted everyone's hearts.«In response to media queries, a SBS Transit spokesperson said Liu's actions exemplified the transport operator's culture of care and reliable service.»This also demonstrates our commitment to creating a pleasant journey for our passengers," the spokesperson added. 

Woman's legs run over by tipper truck at Bayshore, but she counts her blessings: 'They have their mummy'

A woman was badly injured and has to re-learn how to walk after being hit by a tipper truck that ran over both her legs on April 16. Cherri Wong had just sent her daughter to school when the accident occurred.In an Instagram post on Monday (April 27), th
Singapore

Woman's legs run over by tipper truck at Bayshore, but she counts her blessings: 'They have their mummy'

A woman was badly injured and has to re-learn how to walk after being hit by a tipper truck that ran over both her legs on April 16. Cherri Wong had just sent her daughter to school when the accident occurred.In an Instagram post on Monday (April 27), the founder of footwear brand Sunday Staples shared photos of the accident and her recovery process.  Aside from having surgery on her right knee and ankle, Wong wrote that she was «missing our normalcy» and has to re-learn many basic functions including standing, sitting and walking.«But most importantly, I am alive. I have my husband and children. The girls have their mummy,» added Wong.  In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force said they were alerted at about 9.45am to an accident involving a tipper truck and a pedestrian at the junction of Bayshore Road and Upper East Coast Road. The 37-year-old female pedestrian was taken to Changi General Hospital. The 43-year-old male driver is assisting with investigations. 

Passenger claims Grab driver watched pornography while driving, car swayed 'left and right'

A ride-hailing passenger claimed their driver watched pornographic materials while driving, adding that the car «kept swaying to the left and right».The passenger had apparently booked a vehicle from Grab and upon boarding, immediately noticed th
Singapore

Passenger claims Grab driver watched pornography while driving, car swayed 'left and right'

A ride-hailing passenger claimed their driver watched pornographic materials while driving, adding that the car «kept swaying to the left and right».The passenger had apparently booked a vehicle from Grab and upon boarding, immediately noticed the driver fiddling with something beside his steering wheel.In a short video, the driver can be seen driving with one hand while glancing towards his right. «I start to hear soft moaning so I decided to peak over his shoulder and I saw he had a spare phone right under his main phone, near his right knee, and there was a Japanese porn video playing,» captioned the social media post.The passenger alleged that the driver was also «very distracted while driving».  In response to media queries, a Grab spokesperson said that the company is looking into the incident and has taken action against the driver in the meantime. “Safety is our priority. We are investigating the incident and have temporarily suspended the driver-partner’s account due to safety lapses," the spokesperson told one news outlet.[[nid:733268]]

President's Challenge 2026 to support 62 programmes: Social impact requires patience, says President Tharman

A total of 62 programmes across 60 organisations will be supported by this year's President's Challenge, with a focus on uplifting aspirations and potential, to achieve sustained social impact.The programmes span a range of initiatives, including efforts in e
Singapore

President's Challenge 2026 to support 62 programmes: Social impact requires patience, says President Tharman

A total of 62 programmes across 60 organisations will be supported by this year's President's Challenge, with a focus on uplifting aspirations and potential, to achieve sustained social impact.The programmes span a range of initiatives, including efforts in early intervention, persons with disabilities, and second chances.Together with the programmes supported last year, the total number of programmes supported by the President's Challenge will grow to 122.Now in the second year of the annual fundraiser's refreshed approach, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said during a visit to Reach Community Services on Thursday (April 30) that social impact requires patience.«Social impact is something which cannot be achieved quickly. It requires patience, and that's an important shift in our whole approach. »We moved away from traditional runoff funding each year towards multi-year funding, more sustained funding, so that benefitting organisations themselves can also build up a more patient approach and achieve more lasting social impact," President Tharman added.

Singaporean man found dead in Hong Kong flat after absence from work

A 48-year-old man, believed to be Singaporean, was found dead in his Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong apartment on Thursday (April 30). The police said they were called to the scene shortly before noon and entered the unit to investigate, reported Hong Kong newspape
Singapore

Singaporean man found dead in Hong Kong flat after absence from work

A 48-year-old man, believed to be Singaporean, was found dead in his Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong apartment on Thursday (April 30). The police said they were called to the scene shortly before noon and entered the unit to investigate, reported Hong Kong newspaper The Standard. The deceased reportedly held a Hong Kong identity card and had a history of health issues. A source said that the man had a prolonged absence from work and was found by his colleagues, who were concerned and went to his residence to check on him.They alerted the authorities after making the discovery.The man was pronounced dead at the scene and his cause of death will be determined after an autopsy. [[nid:734623]]esther.lam@asiaone.com 

Only approved child protection agencies permitted to handle abuse cases: MSF

Only selected child protection agencies will be allowed to manage child abuse cases from May 1, according to a recommendation by a panel which reviewed the death of four-year-old Megan Khung.This is to ensure that child protection matters continue to be handl
Singapore

Only approved child protection agencies permitted to handle abuse cases: MSF

Only selected child protection agencies will be allowed to manage child abuse cases from May 1, according to a recommendation by a panel which reviewed the death of four-year-old Megan Khung.This is to ensure that child protection matters continue to be handled by professionals with specialised expertise and dedicated resources, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said on Thursday (April 30).The designated social service agencies will be known as Child Protection Case Management (CPCM) agencies, and the list includes Family Service Centres (FSCs), Child Protection Specialist Centres and children's homes.«MSF will stipulate the competencies and training required of CPCM agencies,» it said. More agencies may be appointed if they are found suitable after review.Agencies not selected as CPCM agencies — such as pre-schools and outreach services — should not undertake case management duties including safety and risk assessments and developing safety plans.

Drop off passengers anywhere in Singapore and parts of JB: Cross-border taxi services to be enhanced from May 4

From May 4, cross-border taxis will be allowed to drop off passengers anywhere in Singapore and in several parts of Johor, including Iskandar Puteri and Forest City.This is part of enhancements to the Cross-Border Taxi Scheme announced by the transport minist
Singapore

Drop off passengers anywhere in Singapore and parts of JB: Cross-border taxi services to be enhanced from May 4

From May 4, cross-border taxis will be allowed to drop off passengers anywhere in Singapore and in several parts of Johor, including Iskandar Puteri and Forest City.This is part of enhancements to the Cross-Border Taxi Scheme announced by the transport ministries of Singapore and Malaysia on Thursday (April 30).According to a joint statement, pick-ups for licensed taxis in a foreign country will be restricted to three new designated pick-up points via ride-hail or e-hailing bookings.They are: 

Tower Transit staff who detained man spraying commuters with fire extinguisher among 10 commended

Two Tower Transit staff were among 10 recipients of awards presented by the police on Thursday (April 30).Mohd Faisal Zakaria and Muhammad Zaki Selamat were commended for their help in stopping a man who attacked their colleague and used a fire extinguisher o
Singapore

Tower Transit staff who detained man spraying commuters with fire extinguisher among 10 commended

Two Tower Transit staff were among 10 recipients of awards presented by the police on Thursday (April 30).Mohd Faisal Zakaria and Muhammad Zaki Selamat were commended for their help in stopping a man who attacked their colleague and used a fire extinguisher on commuters in January.A total of six public transport staff received the SaferSG Partner (Individual) Award, while three members of the public received the SaferSG Public Spiritedness Award.A letter of appreciation was also given to one member of the public for assisting the police. The cases involved molestation, voyeurism and public nuisance within the public transport network.Assistant Commissioner of Police Masagoes Idris Hussain, Commander of Public Transport Security Command, expressed his appreciation to the award recipients for their public spiritedness in making the public land transport network a safer and more secure place to commute. 

Teen accused of licking iJooz straw allowed to leave Singapore for school-related trip to Manila

SINGAPORE – A teenager accused of licking a straw from a vending machine before putting it back has been allowed to leave Singapore for a school-related trip to the Philippines in May.On April 29, a district court approved Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilie
Singapore

Teen accused of licking iJooz straw allowed to leave Singapore for school-related trip to Manila

SINGAPORE – A teenager accused of licking a straw from a vending machine before putting it back has been allowed to leave Singapore for a school-related trip to the Philippines in May.On April 29, a district court approved Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien’s application to leave the country to go to Manila for a “field experience”.The trip is a requirement for him to graduate, said defence lawyer Kanthan Raghavendra from Kalidass Law Corporation.The 18-year-old French national, who is a student at ESSEC Business School located at one-north, is expected to be away from May 2 to 25.Among his conditions, he has to remain contactable by the investigating officer (IO).Maximilien must also surrender his passport to the IO, or an officer acting under the latter’s direction, within 24 hours upon returning to Singapore.An additional bail of $5,000 has to be provided and a school representative has agreed to be his bailor.His case will be mentioned again in court on May 29.On April 24, Maximilien was charged with committing mischief and being a public nuisance.

Malaysian woman to be charged over alleged scam after man seen handing her $50k in cash

A 21-year-old Malaysian woman will be charged in court on Thursday (April 30) over her alleged involvement in an investment scam.She is also the third Malaysian to be charged this week, and the 20th since March this year to be nabbed in Singapore for allegedl
Singapore

Malaysian woman to be charged over alleged scam after man seen handing her $50k in cash

A 21-year-old Malaysian woman will be charged in court on Thursday (April 30) over her alleged involvement in an investment scam.She is also the third Malaysian to be charged this week, and the 20th since March this year to be nabbed in Singapore for allegedly helping scam syndicates to collect cash and valuables. In a news release on Wednesday night, the police said they were alerted to the case on Tuesday when an alert security officer from Ang Mo Kio Hub, who was monitoring the closed circuit television (CCTV), noticed a man handing over a large sum of cash to a woman at the shopping mall.Officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division and the Anti-Scam Command who responded to the call interviewed the duo and established that the man was a victim of an investment scam, while the woman was believed to be a money mule and later arrested.Lure of more 'profits'Police said their preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was added to an «investment» group chat on WhatsApp in February this year. In the chat, there were purported investment opportunities and a web link to a trading platform.

143 summonses issued during 3-day Traffic Police operation against commercial vehicle drivers

A total of 232 commercial vehicles were checked during a three-day islandwide enforcement blitz by the Traffic Police (TP) from April 20 to 22, with 143 summonses issued. The offences included speeding, failing to wear a seatbelt and not keeping left, po
Singapore

143 summonses issued during 3-day Traffic Police operation against commercial vehicle drivers

A total of 232 commercial vehicles were checked during a three-day islandwide enforcement blitz by the Traffic Police (TP) from April 20 to 22, with 143 summonses issued. The offences included speeding, failing to wear a seatbelt and not keeping left, police said on Wednesday (April 29) night.TP officers also visited companies to carry out checks on the installation of speed limiters for commercial vehicles with maximum laden weight (MLW) exceeding 12,000kg.A speed limiter is designed to limit the maximum speed that a vehicle can travel. Heavy vehicles installed with speed limiters are required to prominently display a label on their windscreens.

Malaysian woman to be charged over alleged scam after man seen handling her $50k in cash

A 21-year-old Malaysian woman will be charged in court on Thursday (April 30) over her alleged involvement in an investment scam.She is also the third Malaysian to be charged this week, and the 20th since March this year to be nabbed in Singapore for allegedl
Singapore

Malaysian woman to be charged over alleged scam after man seen handling her $50k in cash

A 21-year-old Malaysian woman will be charged in court on Thursday (April 30) over her alleged involvement in an investment scam.She is also the third Malaysian to be charged this week, and the 20th since March this year to be nabbed in Singapore for allegedly helping scam syndicates to collect cash and valuables. In a news release on Wednesday night, the police said they were alerted to the case on Tuesday when an alert security officer from Ang Mo Kio Hub, who was monitoring the closed circuit television (CCTV), noticed a man handing over a large sum of cash to a woman at the shopping mall.Officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division and the Anti-Scam Command who responded to the call interviewed the duo and established that the man was a victim of an investment scam, while the woman was believed to be a money mule and later arrested.Lure of more 'profits'Police said their preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was added to an «investment» group chat on WhatsApp in February this year. In the chat, there were purported investment opportunities and a web link to a trading platform.

'Helper is just a job title': Maid goes viral on TikTok over dance moves with employer

A domestic helper has gone viral after posting TikTok videos with her employer, delighting netizens with their wholesome energy.A video posted on Saturday (April 25) by user @tinakhin14, identified as 30-year-old Tina Khin, shows her dancing with her employer
Singapore

'Helper is just a job title': Maid goes viral on TikTok over dance moves with employer

A domestic helper has gone viral after posting TikTok videos with her employer, delighting netizens with their wholesome energy.A video posted on Saturday (April 25) by user @tinakhin14, identified as 30-year-old Tina Khin, shows her dancing with her employer, who is dressed in all black with a hoodie covering the employer's face. The post has garnered close to 78,000 views and over 2,400 likes. Tina's most viral video, posted on April 3, amassed 450,000 views. Her employer, who only wanted to be known as Loy, a 50-year-old business owner, told AsiaOne that Tina saw her friends doing TikTok videos and wanted to follow. «I told her that you can do TikTok and you can learn English faster by making English videos,» said Loy, adding that Tina was «very happy» by the sudden surge in popularity. «Sometimes she films herself and sometimes I film for her. My daughter also helps sometimes.» 'After work, you are no longer a helper'Tina started her TikTok account in January and her posts quickly went viral. Her account now has nearly 4,000 followers and over 226,000 likes

Nursing home patient in ambulance among 4 injured in multi-vehicle crash on KJE

Four people were injured in a multi-vehicle collision along the Kranji Expressway (KJE) after a lorry collided with a private ambulance on Wednesday (April 29) morning. The victims were the ambulance driver and his three passengers — a nursing home pat
Singapore

Nursing home patient in ambulance among 4 injured in multi-vehicle crash on KJE

Four people were injured in a multi-vehicle collision along the Kranji Expressway (KJE) after a lorry collided with a private ambulance on Wednesday (April 29) morning. The victims were the ambulance driver and his three passengers — a nursing home patient and staff, as well as a medic — who were reportedly on the way to the hospital for a medical appointment.In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted at around 9.05am to the accident involving a lorry, a tipper truck, a van and a private ambulance along the KJE towards the PIE after Sungei Tengah.The 56-year-old ambulance driver told Shin Min Daily News that two vehicles first collided in front of him. Although he immediately slammed the brakes, he still hit the van in front of him while the lorry rear-ended the ambulance.

Indonesian man to be charged with molesting female passenger on board flight to Singapore

A 20-year-old Indonesian man will be charged in court on Thursday (April 30) for allegedly molesting a woman on board an aircraft. The police said in a news release on Wednesday that they were alerted to the incident, involving the man and a female passe
Singapore

Indonesian man to be charged with molesting female passenger on board flight to Singapore

A 20-year-old Indonesian man will be charged in court on Thursday (April 30) for allegedly molesting a woman on board an aircraft. The police said in a news release on Wednesday that they were alerted to the incident, involving the man and a female passenger, at about 1.30pm on April 15.Based on preliminary investigations, the man is alleged to have inappropriately touched the passenger who was seated next to him. She left her seat and sought help from cabin crew, who then reported the matter to the captain. After the aircraft landed at Changi Airport, officers from the Airport Police Division conducted follow-up investigations and arrested the man.If found guilty of using criminal force with intent to outage the woman's modesty, the 20-year-old may be jailed for up to three years, fined, caned, or receive any combination of these punishments.The police reiterated that they take a firm stance against any sexual offenders who commit indecent acts that cause alarm, distress or harassment.

Malaysian man is first money mule to be caned under updated law targeting scam syndicates

A Malaysian man has become the first money mule to be sentenced to caning since caning for scams and scam-related offences came into effect on Dec 30, 2025.On Wednesday (April 29), Yap Ching Gun, 23, was convicted of money laundering, having collected cash fr
Singapore

Malaysian man is first money mule to be caned under updated law targeting scam syndicates

A Malaysian man has become the first money mule to be sentenced to caning since caning for scams and scam-related offences came into effect on Dec 30, 2025.On Wednesday (April 29), Yap Ching Gun, 23, was convicted of money laundering, having collected cash from an elderly victim of an investment scam in Singapore. He was sentenced to seven months' jail and one stroke of the cane.Yap had been recruited via Telegram by an unknown person to collect money from the victim, who had been duped into handing over the cash. The victim believed the funds would be deposited as investment capital in a fictitious investment brokerage firm named Maplerock.Yap collected at least JPY1,000,000 (S$8,198) from the victim and handed the money over to an unknown man.The police said in a news release after his sentencing that Yap's case marks the first instance of caning being imposed on a person convicted of money laundering under the amended Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act.