A 23-year-old Malaysian man was arrested on April 14 for attempting to smuggle drugs into Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint in the boot of his car.In a joint statement on Thursday (April 23), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said the drugs seized — 5,127g of cannabis and 2,072g of methamphetamine, also known as Ice — have an estimated value of $547,000.ICA officers had directed the car for enhanced checks and found two plastic bags believed to contain controlled drugs in the boot.CNB officers were immediately alerted and conducted further checks.Through follow-up investigations, CNB officers launched an operation in the vicinity of Woodlands Industrial Park on the same day.Two Bangladeshi men, aged 42 and 36, were arrested for suspected drug offences.«The drugs seized have an estimated worth of more than $547,000 and could potentially feed the addiction of about 1,900 abusers for a week,» said ICA and CNB.Investigations are ongoing.

Singapore has blocked six websites masquerading as local mainstream news sources, but which are actually operated by foreign actors.The inauthentic sites were identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which assessed that they could be used to launch hostile information campaigns.In such campaigns, foreign attackers use sophisticated online tools and tactics in a coordinated manner to advance a country's interests, such as by influencing domestic political discourse.In a joint statement on Thursday (April 23), MHA and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said the websites use spoofing or Singapore-associated terms in their domain name, and carry local news.«They are associated with other websites and networks which had previously been flagged by various international analysts as being inauthentic and carrying out mis- and dis-information activities,» the authorities added.Directions to Internet Access Service Providers (IASPs) to disable access to the six sites for Singapore users were issued by IMDA after it assessed MHA's findings.The blocked sites are:

A secondary school student seen bowing to motorists at a zebra crossing in a viral interaction simply wants to show her thanks, she told Lianhe Zaobao.Earlier in April, a Reddit user shared dashcam footage of a Bartley Secondary School student performing a deep bow as she crossed the road and waving at the car with a wide smile.The act of stopping and bow in front of cars at crossings — inspired from a Japanese greeting rooted in respect — had become an internet trend.Many netizens welcomed the culture and praised the schoolgirl for her courtesy and good manners.@asiaoneOthers wondered if she was doing the «bringing Japanese culture to Singapore» trend from TikTok. #sgnews #singapore #zebracrossing #pedestrians #car

A 15-year-old is among 239 persons being investigated by the police for their alleged involvement in scams following an islandwide operation between April 9 and 22.In a statement on Thursday (April 23), police said the operation, involving officers from their Commercial Affairs Department and the seven Police Land Divisions, resulted in the arrest of 162 men and 77 women, aged between 15 and 85.They are believed to be involved in more than 676 cases of scams, including e-commerce, friend impersonation, job, government official impersonation, investment and rental. Victims reportedly lost over $8.9 million.The alleged offenders are being investigated for cheating, money laundering, and providing payment services without a licence.The offence of cheating carries up to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine, while money laundering carries up to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to $500,000, or both.Since Dec 30 last year, scammers and members or recruiters of scam syndicates face mandatory caning of at least six strokes, up to 24 strokes. 

Supermarket chain FairPrice will expand its price freeze initiative to include more than 300 staples, up from 100, in a move aimed at easing the financial burden on Singaporeans amid supply chain disruptions due to the war in the Middle East.In a statement on Thursday (April 23), FairPrice Group (FPG) said the price freeze will take effect from April 23 to May 31.The original list of 100 daily essentials was first announced on April 8.The expansion comes as more than 30 suppliers have joined FPG in this initiative to help stabilise costs.The expanded list includes items such as Nestlé cereals and coffee mixes, Kang Kang packaged noodles by TSK Foods, Lee Kum Kee sauces and condiments, Colgate toothpaste, Head & Shoulders shampoo, among others.

SINGAPORE — Supermarket and minimart chain Hao Mart has shrunk its network of outlets as it sinks further into the red, according to checks by The Straits Times.Hao Mart’s website on April 22 lists 20 outlets in Singapore, but only seven were operating when ST visited all the listed locations over a two-week period in the second half of March.The latest records filed with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) obtained by ST also show the company’s losses have worsened for three consecutive years.The home-grown chain reported a $49.6 million loss for the financial year ending March 31, 2025 — the latest available figure belatedly provided to ACRA in January. This amount is up from $32.8 million in the preceding year and $23.2 million in the year before.ACRA said in response to ST queries in March that it has taken enforcement action against Hao Mart for failing to submit its annual returns within six months of the end of its financial year.While the regulator did not specify the penalty, its website states that late submissions could incur fines of $300 or $600, depending on the length of delay.

A cat lover has lamented about the lack of compassion towards a beloved feline in Tampines after nasi lemak and sambal were placed on its feeding tray.In a post on the Facebook page Support Tampines Cat Caregivers on Monday (April 20), a user who identified as Madeline Goh said: «Come on human, I believe we can do better than this.»An accompanying photo showed a feeding bowl filled with rice, a packet of sambal and a slice of cucumber. Another feeding bowl on the same tray was filled with kibble. «By feeding the community cat nasi lemak and sambal, this is causing more harm to the cat than helping,» wrote Goh.«Don't let me run into you doing that!»The post has since garnered over 300 reactions and more than 90 comments, with most netizens outraged at the culprit's action. «I don’t think he's feeding. More like want to create a mess for feeders to clean.. like purposely!» wrote one user.«I would rather they don't feed than giving them this human food that will make them sick,» said another.«Cats won't eat that and it is potentially toxic to cats to eat such things,» added a commenter. 

Singapore Customs is investigating a parcel containing contraband cigarettes that were flown into Singapore through airmail. In a Facebook reel shared on Thursday (April 23), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said that its officers detected anomalies in a scanned image of a postal article at Airmail Transit Centre in the Changi Airfreight Centre.After physically examining the parcel, they discovered more than 30 cartons and over 300 packets of duly-unpaid cigarettes concealed within metal frames and plywood.«The exhibits were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigation,» said ICA. Under the Customs Act and the GST Act, buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, possessing and dealing in duty-unpaid goods are serious offences.

A total of 15 motorists, aged between 32 and 70, will be charged in court for drink driving offences on Thursday (April 23).Police said in a media release on Wednesday night that they were arrested between February and April this year after failing breathalyser tests. A 70-year-old male van driver was stopped for checks along Jurong West Street 93 on March 4. He failed the breathalyser test and was placed under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. PHOTO: Singapore Police Force For the offence of drink driving, motorists can be fined between $2,000 and $10,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both.

Online personality Kurt Tay was sentenced to 14 months in jail and fined $3,000 on April 22 for distributing intimate material and sending threatening messages.He will spend an additional 10 days in jail as he was unable to pay the fine.The 43-year-old, whose real name is Tay Foo Wei, is known for his antics including carrying a World Wrestling Entertainment belt and getting breast implants.He pleaded guilty to one count of distributing intimate videos and photos of a woman, and another charge for making threatening, abusive or insulting communication. Nine other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.The court heard that Tay contacted the woman in June 2023, after he learnt that she was providing bondage and discipline, dominance and submission (BDSM) services.In July 2023, the woman asked Tay to perform several degrading tasks.Between July and August 2023, Tay filmed himself performing them and sent the videos to the woman, who uploaded some of them to her social media feeds.

SINGAPORE — A woman who lied about her home address to enrol her daughter in a primary school lost her appeal to the High Court on April 22 against her one-week jail term.Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon dismissed the woman’s appeal for a $9,100 fine and upheld the sentence handed down by a district judge in November 2025.He said that if he had heard the case at the start, he would have imposed a lengthier jail term.The 42-year-old woman pleaded guilty in September 2025 to a charge of giving false information to public servants and another charge of giving false information when reporting her change of address.She cannot be named due to a gag order to protect her daughter’s identity. The order covers the name of the school and the personnel involved.In 2025, both the prosecution and the woman, who was then unrepresented, sought a fine before the district court.On April 22, she engaged a lawyer to argue her case at the appeal hearing.

Just a month before his marriage, a 31-year-old Singaporean male motorcyclist died after being involved in an accident involving a car and a pickup truck on the North-South Expressway in Johor on Monday (April 20). Fung Hanren (transliteration) was on his way back to Singapore from vacation when the accident occurred around 3am, reported China Press. His body has since been repatriated to Singapore.Fung's fiancée, who wished to be known only as Lydia, told Shin Min Daily News that she was on a flight from the US to Singapore when the incident occurred.The 33-year-old flight attendant added that upon landing, she turned on her phone and saw numerous missed calls and messages and was shocked to learn that Fung was involved in a accident. «We’ve been together for six years and were going to register our marriage next month, but now I’m all alone,» she was quoted as saying.Lydia noted that they had recently moved into a new home and were planning to get married in Ipoh in two weeks.

A child was taken to the hospital after their footwear became trapped in an escalator at Bugis Junction on Wednesday (April 22) afternoon.In a video shared on Xiaohongshu on Wednesday (April 22), a group of people can be seen gathered around an escalator, with some using torchlights, while security personnel appeared to be rendering assistance.According to the video, the injured child is believed to be Caucasian.Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received a call for assistance from 20, Victoria Street at about 12.30pm. Upon arrival, a child's right foot was seen trapped at the side of an escalator.Using rescue equipment, SCDF freed the foot and send the child to KK Women's and Children's Hospital. In a statement on Wednesday, a Bugis Junction spokesperson confirmed the incident, saying that a shopper’s footwear was caught while riding one of the mall's escalators. 

A couple in Bukit Batok had a surprising encounter with nature when they spotted a baby owl sitting atop a car and took care of it until NParks officers arrived to collect the little bird on April 18. The incident took place at a carpark near Block 213 Bukit Batok Street 21. Dyah, a marketing manager, told AsiaOne that her husband Fazrin first spotted the owlet from a distance perched atop a car at around 11.55am. He quickly contacted Dyah and asked her to report the incident to NParks. Dyah, who was home at the time, hurried downstairs to check on the owlet as she was «worried it might get injured or dehydrated». She carefully approached the bird and contacted NParks through their hotline. An officer asked if she could send photos of the owlet and place the raptor in a box or safe container. Dyah, who said she would go dumpster diving to «save the fluffy cute baby owl», saw a blue recycling bin nearby and searched for a suitable cardboard box. 

A 51-year-old man will be charged in court on Thursday (April 23) for his alleged involvement in deceiving an insurance company of more than $12,000 by submitting fake medical invoices.Police said in a news release on Wednesday that he was employed as a principal consultant with a local company between 2023 and 2025.He had allegedly submitted 48 forged medical invoices to an insurance company to make fraudulent claims on reimbursements, including for his dependents who were covered by his employer's group insurance policy.Using original invoices from medical institutions as templates, he is said to have forged subsequent invoices using his office laptop.According to the police, he successfully defrauded the insurance company of over $12,000 in claims over the three-year period of his employment.Last year, he attempted to make additional fraudulent claims of more than $2,500 through nine forged invoices but were unsuccessful.

A Malaysian couple's ambition to secure a better future for their children resulted in losses of over $80,000 when they fell victim to a scam that promised them permanent residency in Singapore.The couple, originally from Johor Bahru, had been working in Singapore for several years and told Shin Min Daily News they wanted to obtain Permanent Resident (PR) status.Tan, the 28-year-old-wife, said that she had come across a Facebook listing that claimed to help with Singapore PR applications last April.The advertisement used phrases like «career planning» and «stable path», which drew Tan's attention and caused her to contact the advertiser.Tan and her husband were initially asked to provide their work permits and identification cards to verify their eligibility for the application.After receiving confirmation, they were given an «Application Process and Fee List», which required them to pay an application fee of $100, a deposit of $200, and a «document verification fee» of $1,200 each.

SINGAPORE —A man who promised to marry a Singaporean woman, only to make her perform sex work in Dubai later, has been convicted of human trafficking.The woman contracted an undisclosed sexually transmitted disease and flew back to Singapore.On April 22, District Judge Eugene Teo found Italian citizen Achraf Arjaouy, 31, guilty of the offence following a trial.In convicting Achraf, the judge said that the woman’s evidence was “backed up by incriminating WhatsApp messages”, some of which were from the offender.Judge Teo also noted that Achraf had denied trafficking the victim, identified as V1 in court documents.Achraf had earlier said that the evidence she gave was “incredible”, given her physical appearance, and that it was simply not believable that she would have successfully become a sex worker.In response to this, Judge Teo said that the nature of this argument was “objectionable”, adding: “It is objectively an argument that draws its strength from standing on top of the proposition that only particular physical properties are capable of being attractive.”

A 25-year-old Portuguese man was arrested at Changi Airport Terminal 2 for attempting to smuggle approximately 36.3kg of cannabis into Singapore.In a press release on Wednesday (April 22), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the man had arrived on April 14 and was scheduled to depart the following day.On the evening of his arrival, the man was directed for further checks by K-9 officers from the Singapore Police Force, who were conducting operations at Changi Airport Terminal 2's baggage screening channels.During the checks, ICA officers found multiple packets believed to contain controlled drugs in his luggage. Officers from the Central Narcotics Bureau were immediately alerted and carried out further checks.A total of 68 packets of drugs were subsequently found and these packets were later determined to contain approximately 36.3kg of cannabis, said ICA. Investigations are ongoing. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, those who import or export more than 500g of cannabis into or from Singapore may face the death penalty.[[nid:733974]]xingying.koh@asiaone.com

A 54-year-old Singapore permanent resident was fined after being convicted on one count of carrying out unauthorised works to a conserved shophouse at 32 Desker Road.The man, Manickam Nagarajan, was fined $250,000 according to a press release by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on Wednesday (April 22).Layan Management, the owner of the shophouse, was also fined $150,000 for allowing Nagarajan to carry out the unauthorised works.Layan was also handed an additional charge for failing to appoint a qualified person to supervise works on-site, and is required to reinstate and restore the building at its own cost.According to URA, Nagarajan had purchased the shophouse through Layan in October 2022.The shophouse is located in Little India, which is one of four historic districts in Singapore where the strictest form of building conservation is practised. At the time of purchase, the shophouse was in its original form with key architectural features intact.

A motorcyclist was rear-ended by a Toyota Sienta on the expressway after it veered between lanes and nicked the multi-purpose vehicle with its rear wheel. According to a Facebook post by SGRV Admin on Monday (April 20), the accident occurred along the PIE at 1.45pm that day. Dashcam footage from a vehicle on the second lane showed the motorcyclist initially riding on the second lane with his right signal light on, before filtering left to the third lane. The rider then swerves from the third lane to the first lane. The dashcam driver immediately brakes to avoid a collision but the Toyota Sienta on the first lane was unable to do so in time.  

The number of dengue infections in Singapore has continued to fall, with a 29.2 per cent drop in the opening quarter of the year.There were 410 cases reported from January to March, down from 579 cases from October to December last year, according to figures by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Tuesday (April 21).Dengue cases fell by about 66 per cent from 1,222 in the same period last year.One death was reported in the last three months, the agency said.It also identified 24 clusters from January to March, a decrease of about 56 per cent from the previous quarter.Among the 24 clusters, 22 were closed in the same period.The number of mosquito breeding habitats fell by about 36 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.NEA had announced in March that Project Wolbachia — an effort to prevent the spread of dengue by controlling the mosquito population — will expand to five more areas in Singapore.The programme, which will see the release of male mosquitoes carrying the Wolbachia bacteria, will be rolled out to Bukit Panjang, Little India, Pioneer, Toa Payoh and Ang Mo Kio between April and October.

A netizen was amused when he spotted one little feline dressed and ready for duty early in the morning at a Shell petrol station in Malaysia. Photos of the cat made its way onto a Threads post on Sunday (April 19) with the caption: «At six in the morning, when I was refuelling on the way to work, I saw this Shell staff ready to serve customers.» The post has since garnered over 270,000 views and nearly 38,000 likes as of Wednesday afternoon. Netizens were amused by the feline employee, with many praising its good work ethic. «He's good, he knows his job scope,» wrote one user.«I want to show my cat. Tell her to be a little proactive and find a job to buy kibbles and wet food, don't just expect it  from me,» wrote another. «Omg he has a uniform eh. Hahaha. Only no name tag. The economy is so bad, even the boss is forced to work to support their human,» teased one netizen. Others shared photos of cats dressed in similar outfits, including an orange cat named Jit Jit, who previously went viral for being the official mascot of a petrol station in Johor Bahru. 

The police have alerted the public on a scam variant involving fraudulent advertisements and posts on social media which allegedly claim to be able to assist with applications for Singapore permanent residency (PR). There have been about 24 such cases reported since January this year with losses amounting to about $397,000.In an advisory issued on Wednesday (April 22), the police said that victims would encounter such advertisements or posts on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. These advertisements/posts would offer services to obtain PR in Singapore. Victims would be misled by scammers into paying application fees and additional charges under the pretext of improving their chances of success through investment in companies, purchases of academic certifications and donations.Scammers may also provide forged shareholder certificates purportedly issued by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, school certificates and donation receipts to enhance their deception.They would then instruct the victims to make bank transfers or physically meet up with unknown persons to hand over cash.

SINGAPORE — Azalea, a unit of Singapore-based asset manager Seviora Holdings and indirectly owned by state investor Temasek, plans to launch an evergreen private equity fund later this year depending on market conditions, its top executive told Reuters.CEO and Chief Investment Officer Chue En Yaw said in a recent interview that the plan is part of the asset manager's mission to broaden access to private equity. Evergreen private equity funds are open-ended vehicles without a fixed end date, unlike traditional private equity funds that typically have a set lifespan.Under current Singapore regulations, only institutional and accredited investors, meaning investors who meet specified income, net worth or asset thresholds, can invest in private assets, according to Chue.Azalea was set up in 2015 to make private equity available to a wider pool of investors.Chue said Azalea is developing the product amid possible regulatory changes in Singapore that could eventually allow wider retail participation in long-term private market products.Retail access in Singapore would depend on future regulatory developments, he added.

A man from Singapore who accepted a video phone call from «Cid Police» was asked to present his bank card for «verification».Having realised that it was a con, the man deftly evaded the request and strung the fake cop along for another minute before the call was eventually cut.Facebook user Sunny Toh said last Saturday (April 18) that the scam call had come in as he was filming a separate, personal content for his TikTok account.A clip he shared online begins with him showing an incoming Google Meet call from an account with the email «cidpolice859@gmail.com», using the Singapore Police Force logo as their display picture.Toh answers the call, and the fraudster subsequently toggles on his camera to show himself in a police uniform and police cap against a blue backdrop.The caller introduces himself as «Michael from Singapore CID police» and claims that «some people» have used the man's bank account and are attempting to transfer out $1,000.«Your Singapore bank account is not safe, that's why we are calling to you,» the fake cop says.

The police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of 16-year-old Siti Nur Fatin Binte Abdullah. In a news release on Wednesday (April 22) morning, the police said she was last seen in the vicinity of Upper Thomson Road at about 8am on April 14.Siti was wearing a white T-shirt, black shorts, white shoes and carrying a black backpack. Those with information are urged to contact the police hotline at 999 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.All information will be kept strictly confidential.[[nid:733763]]editor@asiaone.com

Durian lovers in Singapore and Malaysia can get ready to tuck into their king of fruits with the durian season now underway in Malaysia following prolonged hot weather and dry spells earlier this year.According to Malaysian media reports, the varieties which have hit the streets are the D604, Lipan and the Musang King. The D604 is a popular hybrid durian, also known to be one of the earliest to drop. For the uninitiated, the D604 is a fairly young variant originating from Balik Pulau in Penang. It purportedly hit the market in 1987 and often weighs more than 2kg. 

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and PSA Singapore are calling for proposals to develop and test autonomous inter-gateway feeder vessel operations within the Port of Singapore.In a joint press release on Wednesday (April 22), Singapore's port developer and operator said they have launched an expression of interest as part of efforts to explore autonomous technologies and assess their technological readiness, operational feasibility, and safety for use in port operations. These vessels will be used to move containers between terminals within the Port of Singapore, such as between Tuas and Pasir Panjang terminals.

A single phone call was all it took for a woman to lose $16,000 from her savings account.The 37-year-old, Yan (transliterated), had received a call on Feb 27 from someone claiming to be an employee at HSBC Bank, she told Shin Min Daily News.The employee told her that her account had been flagged for suspicious transactions on a new credit card, though Yan insisted that she had not applied for any new credit cards.The employee subsequently claimed that Yan's Singpass information must have been stolen and that the authorities would contact her for a follow-up investigation.Yan also told Shin Min that the supposed HSBC employee spoke fluent English with a local accent, and was even able to recall her full name and identification number, which made her more inclined to believe him.She later received another call from a man purporting to be a police officer, who told her that she was involved in a $2 million money laundering case.The man claimed the case was «highly confidential», and told Yan that she would be arrested if she released any information.

Even though the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in litigation is at an early stage, its pace of evolution, client expectations and global competition are coalescing to bring the legal industry to an inflexion point, said Minister for Law Edwin Tong on Tuesday (April 21). He was speaking at the 2026 Litigation Conference organised by the Law Society, themed «The human essence of advocacy in an AI-enhanced world».Tong, who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs, was formerly co-head of Allen and Gledhill's litigation and dispute resolution department, and concurrently head of its restructuring and insolvency practice. He was appointed a senior counsel in 2015. 

Good policies do not emerge on their own and require a strong public service working closely with political leaders, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.Speaking at the Administrative Service Dinner 2026 on Tuesday (April 21) at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, SM Lee said a high-quality public service is needed to develop and implement policies effectively, alongside ministers who are familiar with policy issues to provide both political input and guidance.He stressed that while civil servants must remain apolitical, this does not mean being neutral about policy direction. «You cannot be indifferent as to whether ultimately a policy is decided upon or its opposite,» he said, adding that civil servants must have conviction in the policies they help develop and implement. SM Lee noted that Singapore's system also depends on the stability and consistency in policy direction, which has allowed the civil service and political leadership to develop a close yet proper working relationship over time.

A 47-year-old man will be charged in court on Wednesday (April 22) for allegedly assaulting a woman in Lucky Plaza in February.In a press release on Tuesday, the police said that they received a report regarding the alleged assault on a 33-year-old woman on Feb 8 from 304 Orchard Road, where Lucky Plaza is located.She suffered injuries and experienced body pain after allegedly being hit and kicked by the man. He also allegedly damaged her personal property during the altercation, said the police.Videos of the incident had gone viral at the time, showing the man chasing after a woman on the sixth floor of Lucky Plaza. 

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and South Korea's television and radio network Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly develop media content for global audiences and strengthen capabilities across both countries' media industries.In a joint statement released on Tuesday (April 21), IMDA said the partnership aligns SBS' ambition to produce globally appealing content with Singapore's push to create high-quality productions for international audiences.Projects may include long-form dramas, variety shows, micro-dramas, non-fiction content and other entertainment formats, the statement said. The agreement was witnessed by Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How during an industry learning trip to Seoul.Under the MOU, media companies and professionals from both countries will collaborate across the entire media value chain — from development and production to post-production and cross-border distribution. 

Global maritime order has become «increasingly fragile» in recent times, and hubs like Singapore which offer connectivity, standards and trust are critical, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on Tuesday (April 21).He was delivering the Singapore Maritime Lecture at the opening of Singapore Maritime Week, which is being held at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre from Monday (April 21) to Friday (April 24).DPM Gan pointed to the «broadly stable» maritime system which operated based off the legal order laid down in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.«But what was once a multilateral system underpinned by shared commitment is now increasingly fragile,» he said, highlighting how the blockage at the Strait of Hormuz from the Middle East conflict has «quickly cascaded across the global economy» and affected industries including energy and transport, as well as production chains.He said the global system has seen three structural changes: greater strategic and security considerations, the fragmentation of shared rules, as well as increasing digitalisation and decarbonisation.

The police are putting an end to licensing exemptions for massage establishments as new set of regulations come into effect from the second half of this year.This means that open-concept massage establishments — presently exempted from licensing — will soon need to comply with «fit and proper» requirements under a new «Category 3» licensing regime.Category 1 licences are granted to those which operate in HDB shop houses, shopping centres and hotels, while Category 2 licences are given to those operating away from residential areas, schools and places of worship.Among the requirements: ensuring that rooms, partitions or cubicles are not set up within the establishment, and obtaining land use approval from HDB and Urban Redevelopment Authority before the premises can be used as an open-concept massage establishment.Police said in a news release on Tuesday (April 21) that they have observed a steady rise in public unhappiness over the system, which they said came from the increase in number of open-concept massage establishments and the social disamenities they create.