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Sellers' windfall? 3-room Bidadari HDB flat transacts for nearly $1 million

A 3-room HDB flat in Bidadari has just been sold for a record price of $930,000.According to property news portal EdgeProp, the transacted price in October is the highest for three-room flats in Toa Payoh, which the Bidadari estate is part of.The 764 sq ft un
Singapore

Sellers' windfall? 3-room Bidadari HDB flat transacts for nearly $1 million

A 3-room HDB flat in Bidadari has just been sold for a record price of $930,000.According to property news portal EdgeProp, the transacted price in October is the highest for three-room flats in Toa Payoh, which the Bidadari estate is part of.The 764 sq ft unit at Block 115C Alkaff Crescent began its lease in 2020 and has since fulfilled its five-year minimum occupation period (MOP), with approximately 94 years left on its lease to date.The selling price for the unit, located around the 16th to 18th floor, surpassed the $920,000 fetched by a unit on a lower floor in July this year.According to HDB data, another unit within the same block and located around the 13th to 15th floors changed hands for $900,000 in December last year.Potential windfallWhen it was first launched in the November 2015 Build-To-Order exercise, the indicative starting price for a 3-room HDB flat in the Bidadari estate was from $297,000, excluding grants.

Residents cover body of 66-year-old woman found below Toa Payoh block

A 66-year-old woman died after falling from a Toa Payoh HDB block on Wednesday (Oct 8).The police said in response to media queries that they were alerted to the case at Block 195 Kim Keat Avenue at about 10.20am.The woman was found lying motionless at the fo
Singapore

Residents cover body of 66-year-old woman found below Toa Payoh block

A 66-year-old woman died after falling from a Toa Payoh HDB block on Wednesday (Oct 8).The police said in response to media queries that they were alerted to the case at Block 195 Kim Keat Avenue at about 10.20am.The woman was found lying motionless at the foot of the block and pronounced dead at scene by a paramedic from the Singapore Civil Defence Force.A photo shared with Stomp showed three individuals — two of whom were holding cloths — standing by a body covered with a white sheet. An object that appears to be a black shoe can be seen on the pavement.The police said that foul play is not suspected, based on their preliminary investigations.Police investigations are ongoing.

Man crashes after speeding in Yishun; migrant workers step in to help

A car crashed into a road barrier in Yishun after speeding and attempting to overtake another vehicle on Oct 4.In a video posted to the Facebook page SGRV, a white Honda Civic can be seen accelerating and moving from the rightmost lane to the left in attempt
Singapore

Man crashes after speeding in Yishun; migrant workers step in to help

A car crashed into a road barrier in Yishun after speeding and attempting to overtake another vehicle on Oct 4.In a video posted to the Facebook page SGRV, a white Honda Civic can be seen accelerating and moving from the rightmost lane to the left in attempt to overtake a car.The car being overtaken was simultaneously moving towards the left lane, causing the Honda Civic to swerve.The Honda driver then hit a road barrier on the left, bumped into the car in the next lane and crashed into the road barriers.A netizen in the comments noted that the street has been undergoing construction for a period of time, while another added that there are often roadblocks due to the construction works.In response to queries from AsiaOne, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that the traffic accident occurred at around 3.10pm along Lentor Avenue.SCDF also said that one person was conveyed to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.Migrant workers help driverThe aftermath of the accident can be seen in a separate video posted to TikTok on Oct 5. 

'It was in a lot of pain': Dog in Serangoon dies in hit-and-run after neighbour says she saw it roaming freely

A dog died in a hit-and-run accident in Serangoon on Monday (Oct 6), after its owner had allegedly allowed it to roam freely.In a Facebook post uploaded on Oct 6, a neighbour who recognised the dog said the accident occurred along Serangoon Avenue 1, outside
Singapore

'It was in a lot of pain': Dog in Serangoon dies in hit-and-run after neighbour says she saw it roaming freely

A dog died in a hit-and-run accident in Serangoon on Monday (Oct 6), after its owner had allegedly allowed it to roam freely.In a Facebook post uploaded on Oct 6, a neighbour who recognised the dog said the accident occurred along Serangoon Avenue 1, outside Serangoon Terrace.A video shared in the post showed animal paramedics performing CPR on the dog, which appeared unresponsive. Speaking to AsiaOne, the neighbour, who wished to be known only as Adeline, said she was walking her two dogs at around 11.40pm when the incident happened.«As I was walking, I heard a loud thud, like something had fallen, and saw a van, so I thought something might have fallen from the vehicle,» she said.She added that as the van drove off, she noticed something lying on the road and felt that something was amiss.

Income Insurance could have 'done better': Ng Chee Meng after court criticism on 'wholly unreasonable' conduct

National Trade Unions Congress (NTUC) chief Ng Chee Meng has expressed «deep concern» over a civil suit where the district court expressed its «unmixed dissatisfaction» at Income Insurance over its «wholly unreasonable behaviour&
Singapore

Income Insurance could have 'done better': Ng Chee Meng after court criticism on 'wholly unreasonable' conduct

National Trade Unions Congress (NTUC) chief Ng Chee Meng has expressed «deep concern» over a civil suit where the district court expressed its «unmixed dissatisfaction» at Income Insurance over its «wholly unreasonable behaviour». The court expressed its disappointment at how Income Insurance had handled claims by the family of a man who died five years after a traffic accident. In a Facebook post on Wednesday (Oct 8), Ng extended his sympathy to the late Ko Wah.«I wish to express my sincere sympathy to the family of the late Mr Ko Wah for the grief and the emotional distress they have had to go through in the past year,» said the labour chief. Court chides Income Insurance Ko was left bedridden and mentally incapacitated after he was knocked down by a van at the basement carpark of an industrial building in Toh Guan Road East in June 2019. He died in October 2024.Ko's son sued the driver of the van and the building contractor to seek damages for his father's disabilities, loss of income and medical and other related expenses in 2021.

Accident, not assault, says River Valley Primary principal after video of incident goes viral

The principal of River Valley Primary School has denied a parent's allegation that his son was assaulted by a fellow pupil during recess on Oct 6.In a TikTok clip that has since garnered over 750,000 views overnight, the Primary 3 pupil's father, Adrod, recou
Singapore

Accident, not assault, says River Valley Primary principal after video of incident goes viral

The principal of River Valley Primary School has denied a parent's allegation that his son was assaulted by a fellow pupil during recess on Oct 6.In a TikTok clip that has since garnered over 750,000 views overnight, the Primary 3 pupil's father, Adrod, recounted the incident that happened earlier that day.In response to queries from AsiaOne, Jennifer Pang said on Wednesday (Oct 8) their investigation established that the incident involved three students, aged between eight and nine years old, instead of only two students as recounted by Adrod.Referring to the alleged bully as Pupil A and Adrod's son as Pupil B, Pang said that the third student, Pupil C, was a friend ofPupil B's.She said Pupil A had not punched Pupil B during the incident, as was alleged in the video.Pupil B and C chased down Pupil A to retrieve B's stolen wallet, when Pupil C «accidentally hit Pupil B's lips with the wallet during the tussle», she added.Pang also said that the school will help the students learn from the incident and work towards a positive resolution of the matter.  

FairPrice Group first in Singapore to operate driverless vehicles on public roads

FairPrice Group has received approval from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to operate driverless vehicles on public roads to transport goods.In a statement on Wednesday (Oct 8), the company said it is the first organisation in Singapore to receive approva
Singapore

FairPrice Group first in Singapore to operate driverless vehicles on public roads

FairPrice Group has received approval from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to operate driverless vehicles on public roads to transport goods.In a statement on Wednesday (Oct 8), the company said it is the first organisation in Singapore to receive approval from LTA to operate such vehicles.The group, which operates supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice, partnered with autonomous driving technology company Zelos Technology (Zelos) to conduct cargo transportation trials in October 2024, and obtained approval to transition to remote operations with the autonomous vehicles (AVs) in 2025, the statement said.The group aims to add about 30 such vehicles to its fleet.The Zelos Z10 AVs are the first fully driverless vehicles designed for logistics. It has a load capacity of up to 1.5 tonnes and a range of up to 210 km, and will be used for move goods between FairPrice's distribution centres, enhancing operational efficiency.

'Free meal while we bear the cost': Eatery accuses customer of removing items from Grab delivery to seek refund

An eatery in Ang Mo Kio has accused a customer of trying to cheat his way to free meals by submitting dubious refund claims through food delivery platform Grab.Speaking to AsiaOne, Eleanor Ng, the owner of Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee, said that they have encounter
Singapore

'Free meal while we bear the cost': Eatery accuses customer of removing items from Grab delivery to seek refund

An eatery in Ang Mo Kio has accused a customer of trying to cheat his way to free meals by submitting dubious refund claims through food delivery platform Grab.Speaking to AsiaOne, Eleanor Ng, the owner of Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee, said that they have encountered the same customer more than once — in June, August and the latest on Oct 1. His modus operandi was to make an order through the Grab app indicating special requests, but later claimed that items were missing from his delivery after they were delivered. Ng, 44, added that Grab then deducted the full amount from the eatery’s earnings after the customer made the complaint through the delivery platform. The eatery’s boss said that she had make two appeals to Grab through the app before the payments were released to her a week later. “That’s where we found [it was] unfair and started to take notice of the customer’s name,” she said. In a Facebook post on Oct 1,  the eatery said that the same customer had ordered from them again — but this time, the eatery was prepared.

97% of Singapore Pools' record $12.7b turnover returned to benefit Singaporeans, says operator

Singapore Pools generated $12.7 billion in turnover for the financial year 2024/2025, according to its annual report, which was released on Wednesday (Oct 8).The amount surpassed the record $12.2 billion the previous year.Singapore Pools added that 97 per cen
Singapore

97% of Singapore Pools' record $12.7b turnover returned to benefit Singaporeans, says operator

Singapore Pools generated $12.7 billion in turnover for the financial year 2024/2025, according to its annual report, which was released on Wednesday (Oct 8).The amount surpassed the record $12.2 billion the previous year.Singapore Pools added that 97 per cent of the amount, amounting to $12.3 billion, was «dedicated to benefiting Singaporeans and the broader community» in the form of prize payouts ($9.45 billion), taxes ($2.28 billion) and Tote Board contributions ($575 million).«The Tote Board, in turn, uses these funds to support impactful causes in the arts, community development, charity, education, health and sports,» said Singapore Pools Chairman Kai S. Nargolwala and Chief Executive Officer Lam Chee Weng in their joint message.They added that the remaining three per cent ($353 million) was reinvested in business operations as well as technological upgrades «aimed at strengthening capabilities and improving customer experience».

Police looking into Singapore firm luring jobseekers to scam-linked Cambodian resort

SINGAPORE — The police are looking into a Singapore-based firm that has advertised online for jobs based here, only to later tell interviewees they would be working full-time in a Cambodian resort instead.The facility — Koh Kong Resort — has been sancti
Singapore

Police looking into Singapore firm luring jobseekers to scam-linked Cambodian resort

SINGAPORE — The police are looking into a Singapore-based firm that has advertised online for jobs based here, only to later tell interviewees they would be working full-time in a Cambodian resort instead.The facility — Koh Kong Resort — has been sanctioned by the United States Treasury Department for its links to its owner, a Cambodian businessman sanctioned in the US for ill-treating trafficked workers at online scam centres. The resort is also cited by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in a scam-related report.The Singapore firm, Changting Network Technology, positions itself as a technology firm. It had advertised for various roles both on local and overseas job sites, with the purported roles supposedly based in Singapore.However, after securing the job, a hiring manager would inform candidates that they would be based at Koh Kong Resort instead.When contacted, the police said reports against the company had been filed, and that they are looking into the matter.

Dr Anjani Sinha confirmed as Trump's ambassador to Singapore in an 'en bloc' vote

AUSTIN — The United States Senate confirmed Dr Anjani Sinha, an orthopaedic surgeon from President Donald Trump's home state of Florida, as the United States ambassador to Singapore in an en bloc vote on Oct 7.Dr Sinha was among a group of more than 100 nom
Singapore

Dr Anjani Sinha confirmed as Trump's ambassador to Singapore in an 'en bloc' vote

AUSTIN — The United States Senate confirmed Dr Anjani Sinha, an orthopaedic surgeon from President Donald Trump's home state of Florida, as the United States ambassador to Singapore in an en bloc vote on Oct 7.Dr Sinha was among a group of more than 100 nominees voted in with a simple majority after the Republicans changed Senate rules to end Democratic attempts to slowwalk the confirmation of Trump's appointees with a process that dramatically accelerated their confirmation.Several other appointees critical to Trump's Asia diplomacy were also confirmed in the 51-47 vote. These included nominees for senior State Department positions like Michael DeSombre as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Dr Paul Kapur as his counterpart in charge of South Asian Affairs.Sergio Gor was confirmed as the Ambassador to India while Sean O'Neill was voted in as Ambassador to Thailand.Some Democratic Senators objected to the fast-tracking of nominees, naming some as «blindly loyal» to Trump and «unqualified» for the job in speeches in the days leading up to the vote,

Man and daughter found dead in Sengkang flat after unit below reported bodily fluids dripping from ceiling

Bodies of a man and a woman were found in a Sengkang HDB flat on Monday (Oct 6), after a resident downstairs reportedly noticed a foul-smelling fluid dripping from her ceiling.The deceased were father and daughter, according to a Shin Min Daily News report.Th
Singapore

Man and daughter found dead in Sengkang flat after unit below reported bodily fluids dripping from ceiling

Bodies of a man and a woman were found in a Sengkang HDB flat on Monday (Oct 6), after a resident downstairs reportedly noticed a foul-smelling fluid dripping from her ceiling.The deceased were father and daughter, according to a Shin Min Daily News report.The Chinese evening daily stated that the woman was discovered in the living room while the man's body was found in the bedroom, in a badly decomposed state.In response to media queries, the police said it was alerted to a case of unnatural death at Block 324D Sengkang East Way at 1.35pm on Monday. A man, whose age is not known, and a 47-year-old woman were pronounced dead at the scene.A neighbour on the same floor as the deceased told The Straits Times that the woman appeared to be mentally unwell, and the family rarely left their home.The deaths were discovered after an elderly neighbour living in the unit below noticed liquid dripping from her ceiling on Monday morning, reported Shin Min.Her son, surnamed Zeng, said he visited his mother at about 9am to help clean the red-coloured fluid, which he described as «sticky» and «pungent».

Authorities investigating after 15 students at Raffles Girls' Primary School suffered gastroenteritis symptoms

Authorities are investigating cases of gastroenteritis at Raffles Girls' Primary School (RGPS) after 15 students developed symptoms on Oct 1.Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in a joint statement with RGPS and the Commun
Singapore

Authorities investigating after 15 students at Raffles Girls' Primary School suffered gastroenteritis symptoms

Authorities are investigating cases of gastroenteritis at Raffles Girls' Primary School (RGPS) after 15 students developed symptoms on Oct 1.Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in a joint statement with RGPS and the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) today (Oct 7) that they are aware of the incident and are investigating it.The statement noted that RGPS immediately suspended the sale of the potentially implicated canteen food item as a precautionary measure, and staff closely monitored the well-being of all affected individuals.«RGPS also conducted a check with all students in the school immediately and observed that the rest of the students remained well,» the statement read. None of the students were hospitalised and all of them returned to school by Oct 2.According to The Straits Times, the affected students had consumed noodles.The statement also revealed that RGPS had informed all parents of the cohort about the situation, and that the school is currently working with CDA and SFA on investigations.

SMEs see 52% cost savings from using AI; IMDA to offer more tailored support

Local businesses hoping to digitalise and adopt artificial intelligence (AI) can find tailored solutions with support from the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and partnerships with industry stakeholders.Speaking at the inaugural SMEs Go Digital Da
Singapore

SMEs see 52% cost savings from using AI; IMDA to offer more tailored support

Local businesses hoping to digitalise and adopt artificial intelligence (AI) can find tailored solutions with support from the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and partnerships with industry stakeholders.Speaking at the inaugural SMEs Go Digital Day held at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre on Tuesday (Oct 7), Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, Tan Kiat How said that «SMEs can punch above their weight» with the effective use of AI.«We cannot stand still. Technology developments, especially AI is advancing rapidly. Customer expectations are increasing, demanding quicker responses and more personalised services,» he said.According to the Singapore Digital Economy (SGDE) report by the IMDA, the number of local SMEs adopting AI has tripled to around 15 per cent between 2023 and 2024 — resulting in cost savings of 52 per cent on average.Go Digital AdvisorAt the event, Tan launched Go Digital Advisor, a new tool in the IMDA's Chief Technology Officer-as-a-Service (CTO-as-a-Service).

US trial of Singaporean Malone Lam involved in alleged $340m crypto heist delayed

The trial of Malone Lam, a Singaporean accused of carrying out a cryptocurrency heist involving hundreds of millions of dollars, was delayed at the last minute on Monday (Oct 6).The postponement was due to the case being «superseded with 11 more defenda
Singapore

US trial of Singaporean Malone Lam involved in alleged $340m crypto heist delayed

The trial of Malone Lam, a Singaporean accused of carrying out a cryptocurrency heist involving hundreds of millions of dollars, was delayed at the last minute on Monday (Oct 6).The postponement was due to the case being «superseded with 11 more defendants and an additional RICO conspiracy count», they told CNA.«We have a status conference at the end of October and we anticipate a trial date being set at that hearing,» a spokesperson said.Lam, 20, faces multiple charges which include wire fraud, money laundering and RICO conspiracy. His trial date was initially set for Oct 6.According to the US Department of Justice, RICO refers to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act. It is a law which was designed to target mafia bosses, reported The Economist.RICO conspiracy is a felony and the most serious charge Lam faces. It carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Wire fraud and money laundering each carry up to 20 years' jail.Lam and 12 of his associates had formed a «Social Engineering Enterprise» in late 2023 via online gaming platforms, according to prosecutors.

Grant of up to $100k for businesses to cope with US tariffs available from Oct 7

A two-year government grant of up to $100,000 will be available to local businesses that export or operate in overseas markets, amid concerns over the impact of the recent trade tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump.The Business Adaptation Grant (Biz
Singapore

Grant of up to $100k for businesses to cope with US tariffs available from Oct 7

A two-year government grant of up to $100,000 will be available to local businesses that export or operate in overseas markets, amid concerns over the impact of the recent trade tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump.The Business Adaptation Grant (BizAdapt) will support up to 50 per cent of eligible costs for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and up to 30 per cent for non-SMEs, Enterprise Singapore said in a factsheet on Tuesday (Oct 7).The grant will be available from Oct 7 until Oct 6, 2027, and will cover two categories of businesses.The first group includes companies that export to or operate in overseas markets and are affected by the tariffs, and the second group includes businesses with manufacturing facilities locally or overseas that support to reconfigure their operations.  For the first group, the grant will help them conduct free trade agreements, trade compliance assessments, legal and contractual advisory and supply chain optimisation and market diversification advisory.

At least $362k lost since September: Police warn against scammers impersonating M1, MAS employees

The police have warned members of the public to be wary of calls from people claiming to be M1 or Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) employees as they could be scammers.At least 13 cases of government official impersonation scams involving MAS and M1 have
Singapore

At least $362k lost since September: Police warn against scammers impersonating M1, MAS employees

The police have warned members of the public to be wary of calls from people claiming to be M1 or Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) employees as they could be scammers.At least 13 cases of government official impersonation scams involving MAS and M1 have been reported since September, with total losses amounting to at least $362,000, said the police in an advisory issued on Monday (Oct 6).Victims would usually receive unsolicited calls, including on WhatsApp, from scammers posing as M1 employees.The callers would then claim the victims had outstanding payments or mobile phone deliveries linked to existing mobile plans. Upon denying having such subscriptions, victims would be told to contact «customer service» via WhatsApp to terminate them.Their calls would be connected to another scammer pretending to be an MAS officer, who claimed their personal details had been misused for criminal activities such as money laundering or fraud.Victims were then instructed to transfer money to what the scammers referred to as «safety accounts», make payments via PayNow or cryptocurrency, or hand over cash to strangers. 

Global survey finds Singapore teachers spend less time teaching and marking, but work longer hours

SINGAPORE — Teachers in Singapore schools are spending fewer hours teaching and marking, but they are clocking more work time overall due to non-teaching tasks.These include lesson planning, student counselling, co-curricular activities and communicating wi
Singapore

Global survey finds Singapore teachers spend less time teaching and marking, but work longer hours

SINGAPORE — Teachers in Singapore schools are spending fewer hours teaching and marking, but they are clocking more work time overall due to non-teaching tasks.These include lesson planning, student counselling, co-curricular activities and communicating with parents, a new global survey has found.Singapore's teachers reported working an average of 47.3 hours a week, higher than the OECD average of 41, according to the Teaching and Learning International Survey (Talis) released on Oct 7.In the previous edition of the survey in 2018, teachers here said they put in 46 hours a week.The survey's findings also indicate that Singapore teachers are quick to adopt digital technologies, with three in four using artificial intelligence (AI) to teach or facilitate student learning. This is more than double the global average of 36 per cent.The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development study polled 194,000 teachers worldwide, with a total of 55 education systems joining the latest round.

First of 3 supermoons in Singapore for 2025 to rise tonight

Remember to look up on Tuesday (Oct 7) evening for the first of three supermoons of the year — the Harvest Moon. Its appearance comes right after the Mid-Autumn Festival on Monday (Oct 6), the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
Singapore

First of 3 supermoons in Singapore for 2025 to rise tonight

Remember to look up on Tuesday (Oct 7) evening for the first of three supermoons of the year — the Harvest Moon. Its appearance comes right after the Mid-Autumn Festival on Monday (Oct 6), the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. In the past, the Harvest Moon gave farmers in the Northern Hemisphere extra hours to gather crops with its evening glow.The supermoon on Oct 7 will begin rising around 7pm and will be visible in the sky from around 8pm onwards in Singapore.Keen observers can visit open public areas such as East Coast Park, Marina Barrage, and the Southern Ridges. Supermoons occur when the moon's orbit is closer to the earth, making the moon appear larger and brighter than usual. It will be visible to the naked eye as long as the skies remain clear.According to the weatherman, the 24-hour forecast for tonight will be partly cloudy.The next supermoons after Tuesday's are the Beaver Moon on Nov 5 and the Cold Moon on Dec 4, symbolising the onset of winter.

Malaysian drivers' group wants authorities to bar entry for Singapore-registered PHVs

A drivers' association in Malaysia is calling for Singapore-registered private-hire vehicles (PHV) to be barred from entering the country.The Southern Private Hire Vehicle Association made this demand in a Facebook post on Monday (Oct 6) night, urging Malaysi
Singapore

Malaysian drivers' group wants authorities to bar entry for Singapore-registered PHVs

A drivers' association in Malaysia is calling for Singapore-registered private-hire vehicles (PHV) to be barred from entering the country.The Southern Private Hire Vehicle Association made this demand in a Facebook post on Monday (Oct 6) night, urging Malaysian authorities to act on their requests immediately.In addition to stopping Singapore PHVs from entering Malaysia, the group is asking for the government to start legalising local cross-border point-to-point services, as well as to strictly penalise Singapore PHVs operating illegally in Malaysia.«End the vague 'let's not harm each other' stance and shift towards concrete action,» states another request.The association said that the list of demands was created with agreement from group members and industry stakeholders.«Our industry is not demanding special privileges — we are merely calling for a fair and level playing field,» it added.«If no action is taken soon, local operators will be pushed to the brink of survival, and the industry's order and stability will become increasingly difficult to sustain.»

LTA-led task force convenes independent panel of international experts to advise on improving rail reliability

The task force formed by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and train operators SMRT and SBS Transit has convened an independent advisory panel of rail experts to assist in improving rail reliability in Singapore.The task force, chaired by LTA chief executiv
Singapore

LTA-led task force convenes independent panel of international experts to advise on improving rail reliability

The task force formed by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and train operators SMRT and SBS Transit has convened an independent advisory panel of rail experts to assist in improving rail reliability in Singapore.The task force, chaired by LTA chief executive Ng Lang and includes the CEOs of SMRT Group and SBS Transit Group, aims to address the recent spate of train service disruptions.This will be done by reviewing the incidents to identify worn out components and conducting full audits of the maintenance and operation of critical systems.It will also look at reducing the impact of service delays to commuters, LTA, SMRT and SBS Transit said previously.On Monday (Oct 6), the task force, formed in September 2025, said the independent panel will review the findings of the technical audits and share international best practices that can improve rail reliability.The five-member panel consists of Ir Dr Tony Lee Kar Yun, Patrick Bauchart, Dr Cai Chang Jun, Professor Tsay Huel-Sheng and Kon Shinichiro, who each have different expertise in areas including operations and maintenance, signalling technology and power supply systems.

How Kwang Hwee appointed Commissioner of Singapore Police Force from Jan 6

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) will be getting a new leader after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced a leadership change on Monday (Oct 6).How Kwang Hwee, 46, will be appointed Commissioner of Police on Jan 6. He will take over from Hoong We
Singapore

How Kwang Hwee appointed Commissioner of Singapore Police Force from Jan 6

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) will be getting a new leader after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced a leadership change on Monday (Oct 6).How Kwang Hwee, 46, will be appointed Commissioner of Police on Jan 6. He will take over from Hoong Wee Teck, 62, who is retiring after 10 years in the role.How joined the SPF in 1998 and rose to his present post as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Policy) in 2024.He had previously led the Operations Department as its director and was also the Deputy Commissioner for Investigation and Intelligence. How is credited with leading the planning and execution of several major operations, including the security operations of the Trump-Kim Summit in 2018 and the anti-money laundering cases which resulted in the arrest of 10 foreign nationals. 

Police appeal for information on missing 18-year-old woman

The police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of an 18-year-old woman who was reported missing on Oct 3.In a news release on Monday (Oct 6), the police said Nurin Huraiyah Binte Hasnizam was last seen on Oct 3 at around 5pm in the vicinity of Bl
Singapore

Police appeal for information on missing 18-year-old woman

The police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of an 18-year-old woman who was reported missing on Oct 3.In a news release on Monday (Oct 6), the police said Nurin Huraiyah Binte Hasnizam was last seen on Oct 3 at around 5pm in the vicinity of Block 556 Bedok North Street 3.Anyone with information is urged to contact the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness. All information will be kept strictly confidential, said the police. [[nid:723311]]editor@asiaone.com 

'I hope they get to the bottom of it': PM Wong extends condolences to families of Optus outage victims

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has extended his condolences to the families of those who died in the Optus outage.The Australian telco is wholly owned by Singtel.In an interview with Australian broadcaster ABC on Thursday (Oct 2) and released on Monday (Oct 6)
Singapore

'I hope they get to the bottom of it': PM Wong extends condolences to families of Optus outage victims

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has extended his condolences to the families of those who died in the Optus outage.The Australian telco is wholly owned by Singtel.In an interview with Australian broadcaster ABC on Thursday (Oct 2) and released on Monday (Oct 6), PM Wong noted that he fully understands the anger and frustration caused by the incident.«I would like to extend my condolences to everyone who has been impacted by the outage, especially the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives.» A 68-year-old woman and two men, aged 74 and 49, died and more than 600 customers were affected across Australia after Optus' emergency call services suffered an outage for about 13 hours on Sept 18. This was Optus' second major outage since 2023.

PM Wong to visit Australia, New Zealand from Oct 6 to 11, marking 60 years of diplomatic ties

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will be making his first official visit to Australia and New Zealand as head of government from Oct 6 to 11.His visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with both countries, and also reaffirms the excellen
Singapore

PM Wong to visit Australia, New Zealand from Oct 6 to 11, marking 60 years of diplomatic ties

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will be making his first official visit to Australia and New Zealand as head of government from Oct 6 to 11.His visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with both countries, and also reaffirms the excellent state of bilateral ties, said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in a statement on Oct 6. PM Wong will visit Australia from Oct 6 to 9, and will hold the 10th Singapore-Australia leaders' meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.The leaders will also participate in the signing of the joint declaration to launch the upgraded Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. PM Wong will also call on Governor-General Sam Mostyn and meet with leader of the opposition Sussan Ley.He will then leave Canberra for Sydney where will meet with New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, senior business leaders, and have a dialogue at the Lowly Institute. 

3 taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat, 50 residents evacuated

Three people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a HDB flat kitchen in Toa Payoh on Monday (Oct 6).Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to a fire at Block 63, Lorong 5 Toa Payoh at aroun
Singapore

3 taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat, 50 residents evacuated

Three people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a HDB flat kitchen in Toa Payoh on Monday (Oct 6).Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to a fire at Block 63, Lorong 5 Toa Payoh at around 9.45am.Upon arrival, SCDF found that the kitchen of a third-floor unit was on fire and that the blaze was extinguished using a water jet.As a precaution, about 50 residents from the affected block were evacuated by the SCDF and the police.Two people were assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to Singapore General Hospital, while another person who felt unwell was sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.SCDF added that preliminary findings indicate that the cause of the fire is likely from an electrical origin in the kitchen.

Flu vaccination to be available at more retail pharmacies as service continues at least another year

SINGAPORE — A sandbox pilot to offer influenza vaccination at retail pharmacies has proven so popular that more outlets will soon offer this service to the public.The three major retail pharmacy chains participating in the sandbox — Guardian Health &
Singapore

Flu vaccination to be available at more retail pharmacies as service continues at least another year

SINGAPORE — A sandbox pilot to offer influenza vaccination at retail pharmacies has proven so popular that more outlets will soon offer this service to the public.The three major retail pharmacy chains participating in the sandbox — Guardian Health & Beauty, Unity Pharmacy, and Watsons Singapore — will expand the service after obtaining approval from the Ministry of Health (MOH).While a regulatory decision has not been made whether to mainstream this service, MOH will run this sandbox for at least another year.Influenza vaccination has traditionally been offered at private general practitioner (GP) clinics, travel clinics and polyclinics.In October 2024, MOH launched a trial allowing the public to be vaccinated at three retail pharmacies — Guardian at Nex in Serangoon, Unity at Parkway Parade in Marine Parade, and Watsons at Paragon in Orchard.It was initially targeted to minimally run for a year before MOH licenses such community services under the Healthcare Services Act.

Yishun murder: 66-year-old suspect taken back to crime scene

The man suspected of murdering a 30-year-old Vietnamese woman outside a HDB flat in Yishun was taken back to the crime scene by the police on Monday (Oct 6).Koh Ah Hwee, 66, arrived at Block 323 Yishun Central just before 10am in an unmarked police vehicle, d
Singapore

Yishun murder: 66-year-old suspect taken back to crime scene

The man suspected of murdering a 30-year-old Vietnamese woman outside a HDB flat in Yishun was taken back to the crime scene by the police on Monday (Oct 6).Koh Ah Hwee, 66, arrived at Block 323 Yishun Central just before 10am in an unmarked police vehicle, dressed in a red polo T-shirt, navy blue shorts and clear slippers. The Singaporean was restrained at his wrists and ankles and led up by about five police investigators to the fifth floor of the block, where he resides.Koh, who appeared stoic, was questioned there for about an hour before being taken to the sixth floor, where the deceased Nguyen Phuong Tra and her husband lived.

7 men arrested in global betting syndicate operation involving police, FBI and Meta

The police has nabbed seven men - aged between 28 and 53 - for their suspected involvement in a transnational illegal betting syndicate.The arrests occurred during an operation which was made possible by a collaboration with the US Federal Bureau of Investiga
Singapore

7 men arrested in global betting syndicate operation involving police, FBI and Meta

The police has nabbed seven men - aged between 28 and 53 - for their suspected involvement in a transnational illegal betting syndicate.The arrests occurred during an operation which was made possible by a collaboration with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Meta, said the police in a news release on Monday (Oct 6).The police stated that they had received several reports of victims in Singapore being enticed to open accounts with an online gambling website since March 2023. These victims would then be asked to transfer money to anonymous bank accounts in exchange for gambling credits. They could initially redeem their winnings through bank transfers from these anonymous bank accounts. However, after these victims continued to gamble and attempt to redeem more winnings, the syndicate would inform them they need to either accumulate more winnings or purchase more credits in order to redeem the funds they won. Several victims lost more than $175,000 as a result of this scam, said the police.

Couple set up 24-hour pet rescue service with ambulance after their dog was attacked

SINGAPORE - Ms Rinchen Koh and Mr Benjamin Burke were on their usual walk in the neighbourhood with their shih tzu, Casper, when a German shepherd dashed out and attacked the smaller dog.As Casper was bleeding profusely from a ripped jaw, the couple could no
Singapore

Couple set up 24-hour pet rescue service with ambulance after their dog was attacked

SINGAPORE - Ms Rinchen Koh and Mr Benjamin Burke were on their usual walk in the neighbourhood with their shih tzu, Casper, when a German shepherd dashed out and attacked the smaller dog.As Casper was bleeding profusely from a ripped jaw, the couple could not get any taxis to take them to an animal hospital. Thankfully, a neighbour stepped in and sent them to Beecroft Animal Specialist & Emergency Hospital, where Casper underwent surgery to stop the bleeding. They arrived at the hospital about an hour after the incident occurred.The horrifying ordeal in June 2023 left Casper with a ripped jaw, and he had to have his lower jaw replaced.Ms Koh and Mr Burke were then working in veterinary clinics as a vet nurse and a vet technician respectively. The couple wondered if the response time could have been shortened if there had been an emergency service available.Thus, in September 2023, together with a private investor, Ms Koh and Mr Burke pooled together $10,000 and set up Royal Animal Rescue (Rar). The goal is to provide swift pre-hospital care for all pets and transport them to a pet hospital as quickly as possible in an emergency.

Man taken to hospital after accident in Hougang involving GetGo Car

A 33-year-old man was taken to hospital after an accident involving two cars and a lorry in Hougang just after midnight on Oct 5.The police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to the accident along Hougang Avenue 8 and the junc
Singapore

Man taken to hospital after accident in Hougang involving GetGo Car

A 33-year-old man was taken to hospital after an accident involving two cars and a lorry in Hougang just after midnight on Oct 5.The police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to the accident along Hougang Avenue 8 and the junction of Hougang Avenue 7 and Hougang Street 52 at about 12.05am on that day.A 29-year-old male car driver is assisting with investigations, the police said.Another male car driver, 33, was taken conscious to Sengkang General Hospital, the authorities said. SCDF added that it assessed a person for injuries, but the person declined to be taken to hospital.A photo uploaded to social media platform Reddit by user Various_Bluejay_1004 showed the aftermath of the accident.A white GetGo car with a damaged bonnet can be seen facing the flow of traffic on the right of a two-lane road.Several onlookers can be seen gathered on a nearby grass patch.In another video posted on TikTok by user annaphylaxisb, a black car with its back part severely damaged can be seen stationary in the yellow box on the road. Debris can be seen strewn across the ground.

Mercedes' George Russell wins Singapore Grand Prix, McLaren claim Constructors' title

Mercedes driver George Russell claimed the chequered flag in dominant fashion at the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix on Oct 5, as the Briton crossed the finish line in 1hr 36 min 45.5 sec to set off celebratory fireworks at the Marina Bay
Singapore

Mercedes' George Russell wins Singapore Grand Prix, McLaren claim Constructors' title

Mercedes driver George Russell claimed the chequered flag in dominant fashion at the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix on Oct 5, as the Briton crossed the finish line in 1hr 36 min 45.5 sec to set off celebratory fireworks at the Marina Bay street circuit.He is the sixth different winner in six editions of the night race since 2018.Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was second in his Red Bull and McLaren's Lando Norris rounded up the podium in F1's first «heat hazard» race. Championship leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren finished the 62-lap race in fourth.While Russell was quickest in Singapore, the champagne will be flowing in the McLaren garage on Oct 5, after the team sealed the Constructors' title for back-to-back wins after Norris and Piastri's results.The Woking-based outfit needed just 13 points in Singapore to confirm their 10th Constructors' title.But the night belonged to Russell, 27, who stayed cool in a «heat hazard» race in 33 deg C heat and 81 per cent humidity to convert from pole position for his first race victory in Singapore.

Couple set up Singapore's only pet ambulance service after their dog was attacked

SINGAPORE - Ms Rinchen Koh and Mr Benjamin Burke were on their usual walk in the neighbourhood with their shih tzu, Casper, when a German shepherd dashed out and attacked the smaller dog.As Casper was bleeding profusely from a ripped jaw, the couple could no
Singapore

Couple set up Singapore's only pet ambulance service after their dog was attacked

SINGAPORE - Ms Rinchen Koh and Mr Benjamin Burke were on their usual walk in the neighbourhood with their shih tzu, Casper, when a German shepherd dashed out and attacked the smaller dog.As Casper was bleeding profusely from a ripped jaw, the couple could not get any taxis to take them to an animal hospital. Thankfully, a neighbour stepped in and sent them to Beecroft Animal Specialist & Emergency Hospital, where Casper underwent surgery to stop the bleeding. They arrived at the hospital about an hour after the incident occurred.The horrifying ordeal in June 2023 left Casper with a ripped jaw, and he had to have his lower jaw replaced.Ms Koh and Mr Burke were then working in veterinary clinics as a vet nurse and a vet technician respectively. The couple wondered if the response time could have been shortened if there had been an emergency service available.Thus, in September 2023, together with a private investor, Ms Koh and Mr Burke pooled together $10,000 and set up Royal Animal Rescue (Rar). The goal is to provide swift pre-hospital care for all pets and transport them to a pet hospital as quickly as possible in an emergency.

'Is this a Singapore thing?' Dutch biker moved by motorcyclist giving food to migrant workers at Thomson Road junction

As they say, one good turn deserves another. A foreigner living in Singapore has been inspired to give back after witnessing a motorcyclist's kind act while on the road. TikTok user @annieinasia posted a video on Friday (Oct 3) about seeing a fello
Singapore

'Is this a Singapore thing?' Dutch biker moved by motorcyclist giving food to migrant workers at Thomson Road junction

As they say, one good turn deserves another. A foreigner living in Singapore has been inspired to give back after witnessing a motorcyclist's kind act while on the road. TikTok user @annieinasia posted a video on Friday (Oct 3) about seeing a fellow motorcyclist giving out food to some construction workers near a junction along Thomson Road.In the 15-second clip, the woman was initially puzzled as to why the male biker was signalling to the workers while waiting at the red light.«He is calling the workers? He has something for them?» she wrote.She then realised that he was actually giving them a container of food.«So nice... is this a Singapore thing?» she wondered.[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DPaIgq6FGkQ/[/embed]'Heartwarming'In her replies to AsiaOne's queries, the female biker, who gave her name as Annie, said that the incident had happened in mid-September.The Dutch national in her late twenties shared that the kind act has inspired her to give to others as well.

'He's the best co-pilot': Singapore paralympic champ Yip Pin Xiu ties the knot with pilot boyfriend of 2 years

Just over a week after clinching gold for Singapore at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships, national paralympian Yip Pin Xiu has yet another reason to celebrate.The 33-year-old swim queen tied the knot with her pilot boyfriend Bruce Boo, 34, on Saturda
Singapore

'He's the best co-pilot': Singapore paralympic champ Yip Pin Xiu ties the knot with pilot boyfriend of 2 years

Just over a week after clinching gold for Singapore at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships, national paralympian Yip Pin Xiu has yet another reason to celebrate.The 33-year-old swim queen tied the knot with her pilot boyfriend Bruce Boo, 34, on Saturday (Oct 4).The event was held at the Jurong Lake Gardens Guesthouse with 228 guests in attendance, reported The Straits Times. Yip and Boo had reportedly met in a dating app in 2023, and announced their engagement in December 2024.According to The Straits Times, Yip shared a sweet message in the wedding programme, offering guests a glimpse into what makes their relationship tick.«I love his vibe and how goal-oriented he is. He's never once been intimidated by my success.»He leads the relationship with confidence — but somehow always makes sure I'm supported in all my goals too. Basically, he's the best co-pilot.«Boo shared too, that he knew she was »the one« just two months into their relationship. »Just being with her felt right," he noted.