A joint operation targeting a transnational scam syndicate saw the arrest of 11 individuals aged between 24 and 48 across Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.The operation, which took place from April to June this year, involved the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) and Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), said SPF in a statement released on Tuesday (June 17).During the operation, officers from SPF's Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), Criminal Investigation Department and Police Intelligence Department worked closely with their counterparts from HKPF and RMP to target multiple locations across the three jurisdictions.Investigations revealed that the syndicate had established a sophisticated criminal network spanning Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.The syndicate utilised Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Global System for Mobile (GSM) gateway devices, allowing scam calls to be placed from computers and laptops to mobile phones.It was also discovered that the syndicate employed an advanced, cloud-based remote operating system.

The Workers' Party (WP) has co-opted four rookie MPs into its central executive committee (CEC), the party said in a statement on Wednesday (June 18).Sengkang GRC's new face Abdul Muhaimin Bin Abdul Malik becomes deputy organising secretary, while Aljunied GRC's Kenneth Tiong is deputy treasurer.Non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Andre Low is now the deputy head of the party's media team.Eileen Chong, who was earlier chosen as an NCMP, will lead the party's youth wing as president, taking over from Dr Jamus Lim who was leading the youth wing since 2024.«We wish to extend our appreciation to Dr Jamus Lim for his contributions to the development of our youth wing,» the party said.WP will continue to be led by secretary-general Pritam Singh and chairperson Sylvia Lim, who had been elected at the party's Cadre Members' Conference on June 30, 2024.

SINGAPORE - Insurance group Great Eastern (GE) has temporarily stopped issuing pre-authorisation certificates for policyholders admitted to Mount Elizabeth hospitals from June 17.The insurer said in a message to its panel doctors that high costs from both Mount Elizabeth and Mount Elizabeth Novena hospitals, compared to other private hospitals, were the reason for this decision.Pre-authorisation confirms that the insurer has approved the medical treatment, including the costs, before the treatment begins.It may cover the cost of the procedure, medications, and other related expenses. Patients who are policyholders have a clear understanding of the costs that will be covered, reducing the risk of unexpected medical bills.GE told doctors its decision was not a reflection of their clinical quality, but the insurer was “prioritising facilities that deliver the same high-quality care with greater cost transparency and cost-effectiveness”.It said its policyholders can still seek care from the two hospitals with no change to their benefits and claims, and that claims would be processed according to the usual procedures.

An eight-year-old girl was among three people who were taken to hospital after being involved in a three-vehicle collision in Boon Lay.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that they were alerted to the accident at the junction of Upper Jurong Road and Pioneer Road North on Monday (June 16) at 9.50am.The accident involved two cars and a motorcycle. The motorcyclist is a 31-year-old man, and one of the cars was driven by a 34-year-old woman with her eight-year-old daughter as a passenger.All three of them were taken to National University Hospital.The woman is assisting with investigations.Photos posted on SG Road Vigilante shows paramedics attending to a person on the ground, and a motorcycle helmet is seen lying beside the front right wheel of a car with a severely damaged front bumper.In a separate incident on the same day, a 53-year-old man died after the car he was driving skidded and crashed into a tree along Paya Lebar Road.SCDF and the police said that they were alerted to the accident at about 12.05pm.

A Malaysian man has been sentenced to jail after he attempted to touch an auxiliary officer's gun at Woodlands Checkpoint, according to Lianhe Zaobao on Tuesday (June 17).Fazli (transliterated), an SMRT bus driver at the time, had approached an auxiliary officer at Woodlands Checkpoint's bus area around 3.50pm recently.The 28-year-old Malaysian tried to speak to the officer in Malay, which the officer couldn't understand, the Chinese publication reported.Fazli then asked in English: «Does your gun have bullets?»He then reached for the officer's weapon, prompting the auxiliary officer to use both hands to protect the gun, preventing Fazli from touching it.The officer also called for assistance and a second auxiliary officer arrived to help. But Fazli attempted to reach for the second officer's weapon as well in an episode that was captured on security camera footage.Fazli was arrested and charged on two counts of using criminal force to voluntarily obstruct a public servant in the discharge of their duty.

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today.1. Happily fur-ever after: Poodles wow internet with $5,000 garden wedding ceremonyLove was in the air for Cupid and Tofu on the afternoon of June 14, as the couple went down the aisle to seal their union... » READ MORE2. Bukit Merah hawker slams 'unacceptable' utensil theft after losing more than 40 forks, 10 plates in just over 2 weeks

A 43-year-old man allegedly drove a van at 132kmh along PIE, which exceeded both the imposed speed limit of 70kmh of the vehicle and the imposed speed limit on the expressway.He was driving along PIE towards Tuas on Sunday (April 13).He is among eight motorists who will be charged in court on June 17 for allegedly exceeding the imposed road speed limit by more than 40kmh.Of the eight, two motorists were allegedly caught speeding by more than 60kmh over the limit, while the other six exceeded the speed limit by just over 40kmh. Seven of the eight motorists committed their alleged offences during March and April in 2025, while one allegedly committed the offence on Dec 28, 2024.Among them, two allegedly exceeded the speed limit by 60kmh — a van driver and a 56-year-old man who was driving along Sheares Avenue at twice the speed limit on March 30.Speeding is an offence which carries a fine of up to $1,000, a jail term of up to three months, or both.

Travel platform Agoda has modified certain design features on its website and app after the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) raised issues with them.The platform's accommodation search and booking features may have misled customers, said the competition watchdog.CCCS also listed five such issues and the actions taken by Agoda to rectify them in its news release on Monday (June 16).Firstly, Agoda's «Best Match» search results were presented in a way that suggested they were based solely on the search criteria such as the travel dates or guest ratings.In reality, these results also take into account the platform's potential earnings. 

A 30-year-old Malaysian man was arrested on Saturday (June 14) evening for attempting to smuggle drugs in a Malaysian-registered car at Woodlands Checkpoint.In a joint statement released by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on June 17, the authorities said that ICA officers had directed the car for enhanced checks. Following the inspection, a bundle believed to contain controlled drugs was found behind the glove compartment.CNB officers were immediately alerted, and further checks uncovered two more bundles from the same location within the car.The bundles were later found to contain about 1,402g of heroin, 495g of cannabis, and 115g of 'Ice'.The drugs seized have an estimated worth of more than $173,000 and could potentially feed the addiction of about 800 abusers for a week.Under Section 7 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973, those who import into or export from Singapore more than 15g of diamorphine, or «pure heroin,» may face the death penalty.Investigations are ongoing.[[nid:719068]]xingying.koh@asiaone.com

He chose stainless steel utensils for his stall to care for the environment, but who's looking out for him?The owner of burger stall Kine at ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre has claimed that customers have been stealing their cutlery, with 41 forks and 10 plates going missing in just 16 days.In a Facebook video posted on June 11, a sign at the front of the stall drew attention to the situation showing the number of forks and plates taken from their stall.[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DKwSjJwvqu6/[/embed]«As a small Singapore business promoting sustainability, we kindly request their return,» the sign reads. «Authorities will be involved soon.»It also highlighted the unique plate that Kine uses for their business — a flat, square slate with rounded edges.The video ended with a plea: «Can anyone out there please help us?»Speaking with AsiaOne, Kine's owner Ray Chen shared that he started noticing his utensils disappearing four days after introducing them to customers.«I was stunned to discover that 10 plates and 16 forks had vanished within a mere three days,» said Chen, 38.

Six male passengers were taken to the hospital after a lorry overturned on Monday (June 16) along Tuas South Avenue 5, towards Tuas Avenue 11.In a video posted to the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page the same day, a lorry is seen lying on its side in the outermost right lane after a road junction, with an ambulance parked behind it.Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers can be seen attending to the injured on the left pedestrian walkway.[embed]https://www.facebook.com/trafficspore/videos/1168207281743380[/embed]Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the police and SCDF confirmed that a call for assistance was made at about 7.20am. The police were alerted to the accident along Tuas South Avenue 5 involving a lorry which was believed to have self-skidded.According to SCDF, the incident occurred at the junction of Tuas South Avenue 5 and Tuas South Avenue 10.The six passengers, aged between 36 and 50, were conveyed conscious to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. Another two persons were assessed for minor injuries but declined conveyance to the hospital.

An estimated jackpot of $10 million is up for grabs at this Thursday's (June 19) Toto jackpot draw after the past three draws saw no winners.According to Singapore Pools' website, the prize money snowballed from nearly $1.3 million on June 9 to $2.9 million on June 12 and $5.6 million on June 16 with no winner for the Group 1 prize. A Group 1 prize was last won on June 5 with a sole winner taking home the prize money of $1.2 million. This is the sixth time in 2025 that the Toto jackpot prize has crossed the $10 million mark. The last time the prize money snowballed above $10 million was on April 29 when $12.9 million was split between two winners. This Thursday's Toto cascade draw will take place at 9.30pm. [[nid:718705]]editor@asiaone.com

Breakdowns, delays, and accidents — these issues have plagued Singapore’s rail and bus systems and caused many sleepless nights for former transport ministers.Now, Jeffrey Siow, 47, a first-time parliamentarian who is helming the Ministry of Transport (MOT), finds himself in a «politically intense» position with significant public interest.That is because everybody in Singapore «care» about the fortunes of the transportation system here, he said.Siow was speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Transport's (MOT) headquarters in Queenstown — his first sit-down interview since being appointed to the role on May 21.The Acting Transport Minister replaces Chee Hong Tat, who is now the Minster for National Development.Siow was a former second permanent secretary at the Manpower Ministry and Ministry of Trade and Industry, before resigning to contest the General Election on May 3.He was also a director at the Ministry of Transport from 2012 to 2017 where he was involved in planning the Thomson-East Coast MRT line and the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.

Indonesia has taken inspiration from Singapore's successful policies, implementing them for its own benefit, Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto said at the joint press conference with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday (June 16).President Prabowo, 73, said that he spent «some years» as a child in Singapore, where he witnessed its development in the early days.«To be very frank, I've always admired the success of Singapore and especially the success of the early leaders of Singapore,» the Indonesian leader said.This is his first visit to the Republic since taking office in October.«In real life, we are allowed to copy... it's called 'copy with pride',» he said. «I learned this, and I think Singapore has initiated many successful policies.»He highlighted how Singapore has implemented policies that provide Singaporeans with low-cost housing, which Indonesia has copied and intends to continue pursuing «full speed ahead».

A 42-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound while cycling with his friends in a forested area of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve on Sunday (June 15), at around 11.40am.The incident occurred between Upper Seletar Reservoir and Upper Peirce Reservoir — an area that is restricted to the public and gazetted for Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) live-firing activities.In a news release, the police said that they were alerted by National University Hospital (NUH) at about 11.55pm on the same day, after a man with a gunshot wound was admitted.A bullet slug was lodged in the man's left lower back, but the injury was not life-threatening.He underwent a surgery to remove the bullet slug, and is reportedly in a stable condition.The Ministry of Defence and SAF said they are aware of the incident.According to the police, the forested area where the man had been cycling is marked with signage warning against unauthorised entry into a live-firing zone.

About 300,000 Pioneer Generation Singaporeans will receive MediSave top-ups amounting to over $160 million in July.In a statement released on Monday (June 16), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced that the annual Pioneer Generation MediSave top-ups are provided on top of the regular GST Voucher for eligible Singaporeans aged 65 and above.Eligible Pioneers will receive enhanced annual top-ups ranging from $300 to $1,200 in July, up from $250 to $900 in 2024.Older Pioneers born in 1939 or earlier with serious pre-existing conditions will also receive additional top-ups of $50 or $200 to help cover higher MediShield Life premiums.«Pioneers born earlier generally receive larger MediSave top-ups as they typically have less savings than younger members of the generation and may need more support with their annual health insurance premiums,» the ministry said. The top-up will be automatically credited to the CPF MediSave Accounts of eligible Pioneers.MediSave funds can be used to pay premiums for MediShield Life, CareShield Life, ElderShield, and other MediSave-approved insurance plans. 

A 48-year-old woman has been arrested for her suspected involvement in using another person's credit card details to make over $262,000 worth of unauthorised transactions.In a statement on Sunday (June 15), the police said they received multiple reports on June 11 from victims of scammers posing as staff members from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.According to the police, money belonging to the victims were purportedly transferred to a credit card, which was then used to make unauthorised transactions. Follow-up investigations by officers from the Commercial Affairs Department established the identity of the credit cardholder, who was found to be another victim of a government official impersonating scam.He had been instructed by the scammers to apply for a credit card and provide them with the credit card credentials. The card was eventually traced to the 48-year-old woman, who was arrested on June 14 while attempting to make a purchase at a jewellery store.

A new quay crane has tipped over at Tuas Port, according to a joint statement by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and port operator PSA Singapore (PSA) on Sunday (June 15).In a video of the incident shared on Facebook group Safety Watch, the fallen crane kicks up a billowing dust cloud.A person can be heard repeatedly commenting in Mandarin: «The crane has collapsed!» MPA and PSA said that the incident took place around 1.20pm on Sunday as the new crane was being delivered to a non-operational berth.«There were no injuries or fatalities,» they said. «No damage has been assessed to port equipment and facilities.»All of PSA's currently operation berths are fully accessible, while port operations and development works are unaffected.

After an increase in Covid-19 cases in April, Singapore is finally seeing a dip in weekly cases and hospitalisation numbers.  Sharing the news in a Facebook post on Saturday (June 14), Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung said:  «I am happy to update that our recent Covid-19 wave is subsiding. »When the wave started in late April, we saw estimated weekly infections climb to about 26,400 cases.

An accident between a cyclist and a tipper truck along Tanah Merah Coast Road on Saturday (June 14) left the former lying face-down on the road, as seen in videos circulating online and on WhatsApp.According to videos posted by users on TikTok, the incident occurred along that road.The clips appeared to show the aftermath of an accident, with a man in a red top and black cycling shorts lying face down by the side of the road, next to a bicycle. A tipper truck is seen parked haphazardly, metres away.[embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@badboy198211/video/7515618414111689992[/embed]Another photo showed a group of fellow cyclists standing next to the man.In a statement to AsiaOne, police stated that they were alerted to the accident involving a bicycle and a tipper truck on June 14 at about 8.55am.The incident occurred along Tanah Merah Coast Road towards Xilin Avenue.A 54-year-old male cyclist was taken conscious to the hospital and investigations are ongoing, police said.

SINGAPORE - TikTokers advertising themselves as debt consultants are charging debtors thousands of dollars to exploit a government bankruptcy avoidance scheme.Checks by The Straits Times showed that there are at least a dozen such consultants on the social media platform.One consultant said that for a fee, he can guide debtors through the Debt Repayment Scheme (DRS) to help them secure a discount on their debt.He said he had helped a client clear a debt of more than $100,000 with a repayment of only one-third of what he owed, or $35,000.«That's $65,000 savings, no shiok meh? (sic),» the man added.ST understands such firms charge debtors between $1,000 and $5,000 for their services.Credit Counselling Singapore (CCS), a non-profit organisation and registered charity, said it has seen a number of debtors falling prey to exploitative debt consultancy firms.CCS general manager Tan Huey Min said it had a debtor who approached the organisation after he paid a consultancy firm in hopes of getting on the DRS.The man had debts of more than $150,000, above the threshold for the bankruptcy avoidance scheme.

SINGAPORE - Singaporean students bound for Harvard University are still pressing ahead with their plans despite uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's ban on foreign students, even as some still do not have their visas.Ms Welly Tantono, the president of its Singapore alumni club, told The Straits Times on June 14 that as far as she is aware, none of the prospective Singaporean students have relinquished their offers.The Harvard Club of Singapore on June 14 organised a pre-departure meeting for the Republic's Harvard hopefuls, which ST understands was attended by more than 10 matriculating undergraduates and postgraduates.Among them, about half have yet to obtain their visas, said a Harvard Club Board member, who declined to be named.Some existing visa appointments at the local US embassy have also been cancelled, and new appointments are difficult to make, he added.A total of 22 people had indicated on the club's website that they would attend the annual event, which was held at Monk's Brew Club in Katong.Ms Tantono said the event had hoped to «offer comfort» to matriculating students.

A Malaysian teacher was found dead in her home in Johor on Friday (June 13) after reportedly missing work for several months.According to Lianhe Zaobao, the body of Lo Kwan Fong was found in an advanced state of decomposition.Her colleagues are now hoping to find her only relative who had migrated to Singapore some time ago.Lo, 39, lived in the Iskandar Puteri district and was a vice-principal at a primary school in Johor, reported Guang Ming Daily and Sin Chew Daily.One colleague who did not want to be named revealed that Lo had not reported to work for an extended period.The colleague also shared that Lo had lived alone after her parents died over 15 years ago, describing Lo as an introvert.Neighbours also noted that they had not seen Lo for a long time.They said that according to another co-worker who had worked with Lo for a longer time, her only known relative is her maternal aunt who migrated to Singapore many years ago and is estimated to be around 74 years old.

Singapore's 15th Parliament will hold its first session on Sept 5 at 5pm.The sitting would commence with the election of the Speaker and the swearing-in of Members of the Parliament (MP) who were elected during General Election 2025, said Leader of the House Indranee Rajah in a media release on Friday (June 13).Seah Kian Peng has been serving as Speaker since 2023.President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will then deliver his opening address, where he will outline the priorities, policies and programmes of the Government.Debates on the President's Address will subsequently occur between Sept 22 and 26.The 14th Parliament was dissolved on April 15 ahead of the General Election on May 3.The 15th Parliament will have 99 MPs consisting of 97 elected MPs and two Non-Constituency MPs comprising Andre Low and Eileen Chong from the Workers' Party.

Cashless payments are meant to offer convenience but for one customer at a porridge stall in Westgate, it led to a pricey mistake.While paying for his $5.40 meal at Mung Zuk in Westgate, a Caucasian customer accidentally transferred $540 instead, Shin Min Daily News reported.The transaction occurred on Tuesday (June 10) at around 2pm but it wasn't until later that staff realised the overpayment.In a Facebook post shared a few hours later, the eatery appealed for help locating the customer. «As soon as we realised the overpayment, our team searched around the mall to try and find him, but unfortunately, we could not locate him,» the Facebook caption read.

A Malaysian man's attempt to depart Singapore illegally was thwarted by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Thursday (June 12).Hiding in a Malaysia-registered grey lorry, the man was looking to exit the country via Tuas Checkpoint, said ICA in a Facebook post on June 13.However, ICA officers carried out enhanced checks at the checkpoint and discovered him lying flat in a corner of the lorry's cargo compartment.The man as well as the vehicle's driver and attendant have since been arrested and referred to ICA's Enforcement Division for further investigation. In the Facebook post, ICA stated that it takes attempts to enter or depart Singapore illegally as a serious matter.

A 63-year-old man has been rescued by the Police Coast Guard after ending up in the waters off East Coast Park on Thursday (June 12). According to Shin Min Daily, witnesses said that the man often swam there, and it was believed that the strong wind and waves pushed him away from the shore. It is understood that the man was clinging to the edge of a concrete structure near the jetty before the Police Coast Guard threw him a life buoy and pulled him towards their boat.Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that a call for assistance was made at about 8.10am, alerting them to a man in distress in the waters near East Coast Park.The 63-year-old man was rescued from the waters by officers from the Police Coast Guard.The man has been assessed by SCDF for minor injuries but has declined to be sent to the hospital.[[nid:662493]]xingying.koh@asiaone.com

SINGAPORE — A cultural group has released footage to clear the air over a handshake incident that led to online criticism of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang.Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng said it had invited Gan for a Cantonese cultural festival held at Peck San Theng in Bishan Lane on Saturday (May 17).Representatives of the 155-year-old cultural institution, which is managed by 16 Cantonese clan associations, were waiting to greet her when she arrived alone.The footage shows her alighting from the car, with a mobile phone in her right hand. She then slips the phone into her rear right trousers pocket as representatives of the group approach her.Among those who extended their hand was Leong Chee Leng.The 72-year-old is a member of the Kong Chow Wui Koon lion dance troupe, which was scheduled to perform at the Cantonese cultural festival.Leong can be seen extending his hand to greet her, but Gan is also approached by Edward Leong, the chairman of the cultural festival’s organising committee.

Tobacco enforcement officers from the the Health Sciences Authority's (HSA) raided Club Slim, a nightclub in Excelsior Shopping Centre at Coleman Street, on May 15 and uncovered an active trade in illegal e-vaporisers and related accessories.This comes as the authority steps up enforcement and continues to combat the unauthorised sale and use of e-vaporisers at nightlife establishments, it said in a statement on Friday (June 13).The club's manager admitted to selling e-vaporisers to staff members and HSA linked him to an illegal distribution network after they searched his vehicle and residence. The 45-year-old man is currently assisting the authority in investigations.Three men and two women aged between 22 and 40, who were patrons of the nightclub, were also found to have e-vaporisers and components in their possession. They were issued fines by the HSA on the spot.Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, the possession, use or purchase of e-vaporisers carries a maximum fine of $2,000.

Unable to reschedule flights and receive refunds, many Jetstar Asia passengers are voicing their frustrations as they try to adjust their travel plans.Jetstar Asia announced on Wednesday (June 11) morning that it will be ceasing operations effective July 31 after years of financial losses, and will be operating on a «progressively reduced schedule» for the next few weeks.In a statement on Wednesday, it said that customers with bookings after July 31 would be offered full refunds for their flights, but many are facing difficulties in claiming refunds.'Can't get through to anyone'Speaking to AsiaOne, an affected passenger, who wanted to be known as Megan, said that she has been unable to get help from customer service.The 27-year-old had booked a flight to Bangkok in August and received an email on Wednesday afternoon that provided a form to apply for a refund.

She was preparing for a flight on June 11 when news came in that Jetstar Asia will be ending its operations on July 31.Speaking to AsiaOne, the stewardess who declined to be named, said the news came as a «total shock».The 23-year-old who has been with the airline for over a year and a half, said: «It was very disheartening. To be honest, most of us lost the mood to fly.»She said that despite the relatively short time with the airline, she had built close friendships with many colleagues, making the sudden parting especially difficult.«One of the hardest parts for me is knowing that I had to part ways with my cabin crew colleagues earlier than expected. My heart was not prepared for it,» she said.Despite the devastating news, she expressed gratitude for having a part-time job as a personal assistant on the side.«I'm thankful that at least I have a part-time job. It's going to be difficult for my other colleagues who now have to start looking for jobs,» she said.

This year's National Day Parade (NDP) marks 60 years since Singapore gained independence and will feature 40 marching contingents — the largest number for a parade in the Padang since 1990, where there were 70.NDP 2025 parade and ceremony chairman, Colonel Lim Yu Sing said this during a media event at the National Gallery on Thursday (June 12).The parade and ceremony segment, led by parade commander Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Firdaus Ghazali, will comprise about 2,100 participants from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds, including 18 civilian contingents, he added.Also speaking to media at the National Gallery, LTC Firdaus said that being a parade commander had always been his childhood dream.While participating in NDP 2002 as a performer, he remembered catching a glimpse of the parade and ceremony segment during rehearsals.«I developed a deep appreciation for parades and their significance as the heart and core of our NDPs,» he said.

Travellers will not be significantly impacted with the impending closure of Singapore-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Jetstar Asia, aviation analysts have said.The Qantas subsidiary announced on June 11 that will be ceasing operations, effective July 31. Speaking to AsiaOne, V. Mathivaanan, Covering Programme Chair for Diploma in Aviation Management, School of Engineering, Republic Polytechnic, said that Jetstar Asia's closure does not signal a downturn for the larger aviation industry.«In fact, the global aviation industry is experiencing solid growth, both in passenger travel and financial performance,» he said, citing International Air Transport Association (IATA) data which revealed that global passenger demand for April rose by eight per cent year-on-year.The data also found that international travel demand rose by 10.8 per cent year-on-year, with a record load factor of 84.1 per cent.Escalating cost pressures on LCCsMathivaanan highlighted the competitive environment that LCCs face, especially as they grapple with «tight financial margins while having to balance rising operational costs». 

What was meant to be a dream «French cream style» makeover for a Sentosa flat has turned into a costly nightmare for a homeowner.Luo now finds himself dealing with uneven cabinetry, long delays, the lingering smell of formaldehyde and his daughter's bedroom looking like what he describes as «tombstone style».He told Shin Min Daily News he paid $55,000 to a Malaysian contractor he found on Facebook to renovate the unit at Ocean Way. He also spent an additional $18,000 on electrical wiring and $22,000 on Ziptrak blinds.His decision to go with a Malaysian company stemmed from previous experiences with Singapore-based firms that outsourced work across the Causeway.«I thought it would be more straightforward to deal with them directly,» he said.Instead, the project dragged on for nearly a year and remains incomplete. Construction officially began only after Chinese New Year this year, despite an original move-in date set for November.«There was delay after delay,» he said. «Once, we agreed to meet at 10am and I waited until 5pm. He didn't show up.»

Rental costs are often a major deterrent to aspiring entrepreneurs, especially for young business owners who often opt to run home-based businesses in order to avoid the financial burden of paying rent.Reports emerged last week that I-Health Medical Holdings had successfully bid $52,188 for a unit at Block 954C Tampines Street 96 in March — the highest per square foot rent HDB has ever received for a clinic of that size.Cases of skyrocketing rental fees are becoming an increasing concern for young business owners with physical stores, and Cakeinspiration, a specialty cake shop, is facing the same challenge.Speaking to AsiaOne, 25-year-old Chan Kai Yang, the second-generation owner of Cakeinspiration, said that they'd recently renewed their lease and now have to fork out 40 per cent more in rent to keep their store, located in the heart of Joo Chiat.