Whether you are headed out for last-minute shopping, or simply staying out with friends to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, you can do so with a peace of mind.Public transport operators SBS Transit and SMRT will extend the operating hours of train services on the eve of Hari Raya Puasa (March 20). In addition, the operating hours of 53 bus services will also be extended to complement the extension of train operating hours. Commuters are advised to plan their journeys early and to note the changes. NSL, EWL, CCL and TELThe last train will depart North-South Line's City Hall MRT station for Marina South Pier and Jurong East at 12.30amMeanwhile, the last train to depart from the East-West Line's City Hall MRT station for Tuas Link and Pasir Ris will also be at 12.30am.On the Circle Line, the last train leaving from Dhoby Ghaut and HarbourFront MRT stations will be at 11.55pm and 11.30pm respectively.The last train departing from Bayshore and Woodlands North MRT stations are at 12am and 12.12am respectively.There will be no extension for Bukit Panjang LRT and Changi Airport services.

Officers with Singapore's national water agency PUB may soon have powers to forcibly enter a landowner's premises to address coastal flood risks. These powers are part of the Coastal Protection and Other Amendments Bill, which was tabled for Second Reading in Parliament on Friday (March 6). Should the Bill be passed, these powers will help PUB officers carry out coastal protection functions, deter undesirable behaviours and provide immunities for officers carrying out their duties. In particular, the power to conduct forced entry can only be used as a last resort, such as in the event of an imminent coastal flooding event. «This power of forced entry will only be used judiciously, and only where there is an imminent coastal flooding event,» Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu told the House. «I would like to assure Members that we have set a high bar to activate this clause.» Immunities for authorised officers will also only apply if they have acted in good faith and with reasonable care.

Derek Tan, Chief Infrastructure Planning Officer at the Ministry of National Development (MND), will be appointed chief executive officer of the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) effective May 1, on Friday (March 6).Tan will be appointed chief executive officer (designate) on April 1.He will take over from Kelvin Wong Wee Siong, who was appointed to the role on Nov 2, 2020,  MND and BCA said.A HDB scholar, Tan joined the Housing Board in 1999 and served as the board's group director of housing management from June 2017 to July 2022.The incoming CEO is credited with leading the group to effectively address multiple challenges, including revamping processes and procedures during the Covid-19 pandemic to minimise service disruptions, while maintaining high service standards.He assumed his current role at MND in 2024 and later took on the concurrent role of executive director of planning in December 2025.In his present role, Tan is responsible for driving and coordinating the pro-enterprise work areas and inter-agency infrastructure coordination across the ministry.

In a move to clamp down on vaping and etomidate abuse, a new law was passed in Parliament on Friday (March 6) which will see users, sellers and smugglers face stiffer fines.Under amendments to the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sales) Act, vape users can be fined up to $10,000 from May 1, five times the current amount.Fines for sellers have been raised by 20 times of up to $200,000, while smugglers can be slapped with fines of up to $300,000, 30 times the current amount.They can also be jailed up to six years and nine years respectively.The Bill, which includes a name change to the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (TVCA), will also target adults who recklessly leave etomidate-laced vapes, or K-pods, where children can access them.Adults who do not take «reasonable steps» to prevent children from using K-pods can be jailed for up to 10 years for the first offence.Onus will be on owners of entertainment venues such as bars and nightclubs to exercise due care to prevent the use and storage of vapes in their premises.

SINGAPORE/DUBAI - Soon after the first Iranian missile and drone attacks on Dubai last week, two Indian entrepreneurs based there tried to move more than $100,000 each from their local bank accounts to Singapore to hedge risk.Technological glitches in the aftermath of the Iranian attacks initially scuppered those plans, the entrepreneurs, who did not wish to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters.One of them said he managed to subsequently transfer the sum to his Singapore bank account via another Emirates-based bank.Scores of other wealthy Asians are making enquiries or taking similar steps to move their Dubai-parked assets to the regional financial hubs of Singapore and Hong Kong, industry advisers and lawyers said, as the US-Israel war on Iran clouds the Gulf's safe-haven aura and rattles investors.While the rich typically diversify their investments across regions and asset classes, they choose where to be based depending on tax, regulatory, privacy and operational considerations.

Investigations into a private ambulance are ongoing after footage showing it driving recklessly near Stadium Road went viral online.The incident occurred on March 3 at around 11am, according to footage uploaded to the SG Road Vigilante Facebook group which has since garnered over 150,000 views.In the video, a Goodwill Ambulance Services van is seen speeding and overtaking another van after turning into Kallang Airport Way.The ambulance subsequently speeds up and even drives over the chevron markings to overtake the camcar while filtering onto the road towards the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE).The ambulance can then be seen driving over the kerb and stopping, narrowly missing oncoming traffic.In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police said that they received a report and that an investigation is ongoing.AsiaOne has reached out to Goodwill Ambulance Services Group for more information.[[nid:730930]]dana.leong@asiaone.com 

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will assist foreign visitors in Singapore affected by the Middle East airspace closure to travel to Oman. In a media statement on Friday (March 6), STB said the special flight will depart Changi Airport for Muscat in Oman at 5.30am on Sunday.The board urged affected such non-resident travellers — whose travel arrangements between Feb 28 to March 8 have been cancelled by an airline due to the closure of airspace in the Middle East — to express their interest by 9am on Saturday, via its website. Tickets for flight SQ8002, operated by Singapore's national carrier, Singapore Airlines, are priced at S$600 per seat.Children aged two and above are required to have their own seat and will be charged the same fare.STB sought travellers' understanding that seating will be assigned at random, although efforts will be made to group families together.

Budget 2026's Committee of Supply debates have ended with the passing of the largest annual budget in Singapore to date of over $207.9 billion.This is amid the backdrop of a changed world global uncertainty, Leader of the House Indranee Rajah said in Parliament on Friday (March 6).«The international order that underpinned stability and prosperity for over nearly eight decades is breaking down,» she said.«Geopolitical tensions have increased, the multilateral system that had served us well has weakened. More countries are resorting to unilateral action. The rule of law is under strain with the resurgence of a might is right approach.»Budget 2026 is therefore presented as an action plan for Singaporeans to navigate this changed world and secure their future, she added.In order to do so, Singaporeans must make use of the resources available.One key aspect discussed in Budget 2026 was artificial intelligence (AI).

A married couple were hauled to court on Friday (March 6) after they allegedly carried out a plan to avoid paying overseas customs tax on gold jewellery by claiming to be victims of snatch theft.The couple, Hewa Sahabanduge Waruna Kanishka, 30, and Jayasekara Gamlath Ralalage Yehelichathurika, 29, were charged with obstruction of justice with common intention.Hewa, who had lodged a police report over the fake theft, was handed another charge of providing false information to a public servant.In a media release, the police said Hewa had made a report on March 4, alleging that a stranger had stolen his black sling bag containing gold jewellery, a phone, and $400 in cash along Queen Street in Bugis.The «stolen» items were worth an estimated $21,668.«In view of the seriousness of the report, the police deployed significant resources to investigate the alleged offence and to search for the perpetrator,» it said.But officers discovered discrepancies in Hewa's account, and he allegedly admitted to having lodged a false report to evade overseas customs tax.

FairPrice Group will be handing over operations of its convenience retail operations at all Esso stations to Cold Storage over the next few months.Announced on Thursday (March 5) in a joint statement by Aster Mobility Solutions 1 and Cold Storage, the new partnership will introduce «new in-station experiences that enriches everyday living conveniences and evolving mobility needs».Aster, a subsidiary of Indonesia's Chandra Asri Group, bought over ExxonMobil's network of 60 Esso petrol stations in Singapore in October 2025. «Aster's partnership with Cold Storage reflects our shared commitment in Singapore – our people, our progress, and our everyday moments. Together, we are reimagining what the service station experience can be,» said Andre Khor, Deputy CEO of Aster.Cold Storage will roll out a refreshed convenience retail concept «designed to complement Esso's fuel and mobility services, offering a thoughtfully curated range of everyday essentials, fresh and ready-to-eat options tailored for customers on the move», according to the statement. 

The gross monthly household income ceiling for the Additional Subsidy for childcare and Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme, or KiFAS, will be raised to $15,000, from January 2027 said Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming on Friday (March 6).Speaking during the Committee of Supply debate in Parliament, Goh said that income thresholds for all subsidy tiers will also be increased to reflect household income changes, helping to further reduce fees for more families.«This will further improve affordability of pre-schools for more than 60,000 lower- and middle-income families with young children,» Goh said.He added, «For example, a median income household earning $12,500, with two children in Anchor Operator childcare, will see their total out-of-pocket fees for both children reduce by 35 per cent from $730 in 2026 to $470 in 2027.»Goh highlighted that, since the start of the year, full-day childcare fees have been capped at $610 for anchor operator pre-schools and $650 for partner operator pre-schools, representing a 15 per cent reduction since 2020.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam made a working visit to Rome, Italy, from March 4 to 5, where he co-chaired a World Bank meeting, and had bilateral meetings with leaders from Italy and the Holy See.On Wednesday (March 4), President Tharman met Italian President Sergio Mattarella where the two leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments. They also welcomed the growing cooperation between Singapore and Italy in areas including culture, defence, economy and science.

Accounts manager Gillian Khor, a mother of three, was driving home during the evening peak period on Wednesday (March 4) when she encountered a traffic jam along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 near Lorong Chuan.Suspecting it was due to an accident, the 45-year-old got the «shock of her life» when she saw a familiar face lying on the road — her dad. Khor, whose husband and children were with her in the car, told AsiaOne she immediately parked her vehicle at the side of the road. She said: «I was on my way home facing a huge traffic jam. I did think it was an accident and feared it might be my dad as this road was really near my house. Got the shock of my life to see his bike and then him lying on the floor.» She then asked her husband to drive the car home while she accompanied her 66-year-old father, Khor Tong Peng, in the ambulance to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. The Grabfood rider had been on his way to pick up an order at New Tech Park when he was involved in a multi-vehicle collision along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 towards Boundary Road. 

A 50-year-old man will be charged in court on Friday (March 6) for allegedly disrupting the National Parks Board’s (NParks) crow population management operations.The police said on Thursday (March 5) that they were alerted three days ago about a man who had allegedly damaged crow traps at a grass patch near Block 51 Havelock Road on two separate occasions.  As a result, the trapped crows escaped.«Through investigations and with the aid of CCTV footage, the identity of the man was established and arrested on March 4,» added the police.He will be charged for two cases of mischief that disrupted a public agency's function.If convicted, he could be jailed for up to 10 years, fined, or both.In Singapore, house crows are deemed an invasive species that pose a threat to native biodiversity. The highly intelligent species is protective of its young and can attack upon sensing threats.The Municipal Services Office received about 15,000 reports on crow-related issues in 2025, triple that of 2020, when there were nearly 5,000 reports. These include complaints about noise, feeding and soiling.

A brood of four peregrine falcon chicks hatched in Singapore on Feb 20 and 22, marking the second recorded hatching of the species here.Their birth was announced by the National Parks Board (NParks) on Thursday (March 5). The four peregrine falcons being fed by a parent. PHOTO: NParks  Describing the species as «possibly Singapore's rarest breeding bird», NParks noted that this year's hatching was two more than last year.The chick's parents, now fondly referred to as Singapore's «resident pair of peregrine falcons», were first observed to be nesting at OCBC Centre in 2024, the first local record of the species breeding in Singapore.According to NParks, last year's research revealed a diverse range of prey species, including invasive birds such as feral pigeons. 

Two men and a woman will face forgery charges on Friday (March 6) for allegedly creating false quotations for a Housing Board project.The police said on Thursday that a 47-year-old man was a manager of a company engaged by the HDB project’s contractor between June 2016 and February 2020.The company was a sub-contractor hired to carry out mechanical work.The man allegedly instigated two of his staff — a 39-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman — to create 46 false quotations using the names of two other contractors.She will face an additional charge for allegedly instigating an employee of one of the contractors to falsely confirm to HDB that the two quotations were issued by their company, said the police. Those found guilty of forgery they can be jailed for up to four years or fined, or both.If convicted, the woman may be jailed for up to two years, or fined, or both for her additional charge.chingshijie@asiaone.com 

The new Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) campus on Coney Island will be officially opened in the second half of 2026, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth, Goh Hanyan on Thursday (March 5).With the new campus, OBS will be able to offer the MOE-OBS Challenge (MOC) programme to all Secondary 3 students by 2030, Goh said during the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth's (MCCY) Committee of Supply debate in Parliament.Construction of OBS Coney began in June 2021, and it will be OBS' third campus, in addition to its existing Pulau Ubin and East Coast campuses.Prior to OBS Coney, about 65 per cent of the Secondary 3 cohort from across 90 schools — 18,000 students — took part in MOC last year, Goh said. MOC is a five-day residential programme, where students are grouped into teams of 12 and embark on outdoor challenges meant to build up physical and mental ruggedness, while providing them with opportunities to interact with peers from diverse backgrounds.

SINGAPORE — Graduates fresh out of local universities saw a further drop in employment, especially among those who found full-time roles, though salaries held steady.Results from the latest graduate employment survey, which were released on March 5, showed that 74.4 per cent of graduates secured full-time positions in 2025, down from 79.4 per cent in 2024.Overall, a higher proportion of graduates entered the labour force, from 90.7 per cent in 2024 to 92.2 per cent in 2025. This refers to those who are either working or unemployed but actively looking for a job.Among those who did find full-time jobs, the median gross monthly salary stayed at $4,500 in 2025, the same as in 2024.A higher proportion of graduates applied for jobs but did not get any offers in 2025, rising to 8.5 per cent, from 5.7 per cent in 2024 and 4.1 per cent in 2023. At the same time, more graduates took on part-time or temporary employment, with 7.2 per cent doing so in 2025, from six per cent in 2024 and 4.1 per cent in 2023.

Many Singaporeans are complacent about terrorism, said Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong on Thursday (March 5).«The SGSecure social experiments conducted last year showed that many of us are not as vigilant as we think, perhaps because many Singaporeans don't think that a terrorist attack is likely to happen in Singapore,» he said.Through the Play Your Role campaign as part of SGSecure, Singaporeans are encouraged to take action in keeping the country safe, instead of simply being aware of threats.Speaking to reporters at the launch of the new SGSecure campaign and roadshow at Bishan's Junction 8, Tong said: «A terror attack in Singapore is not unimaginable. With the new series of the SGSecure roadshow, we hope to drive home the point that terrorism is perhaps closer than we think, and it is really not a question of 'if', but 'when'.»

A total of 50 multipurpose courts for badminton or pickleball will be built over the next five years as part of plans by Sport Singapore (SportSG) to democratise sports in the community, said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo.Neo, who is also Senior Minister for Education, made the announcement at the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth's (MCCY) Committee of Supply debate on Thursday (March 5).The 50 courts include the recently opened eight dual-use pickleball courts at The Kallang and soon-to-be completed eight pickleball courts at the Little India Bus Terminal.The acting minister acknowledged that there may be issues relating to noise levels at courts near residential estates, adding that SportSG will work with community stakeholders to mitigate this.

A new high-performance entity to support athletes and help them stay longer in competitive sport will be launched on April 1, said David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.Speaking during the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth's (MCCY) Committee of Supply debate in Parliament on Thursday (March 5), Neo said that the High Performance Sport Institute, Singapore Sports School (SSP) and Unleash the Roar! will be consolidated into Sport Excellence Singapore, or SpexSG, from April.By combining the expertise and capabilities across the three entities, the ministry will be able to optimise resources, enhance athletes' daily training environment and strengthen governance of Singapore's high-performance sport system.«This consolidation will materially transform the sporting ecosystem for the better,» Neo said.Comprehensive athlete support systemAthletes can look forward to enhanced support through a dedicated Athlete Life Management system and receive holistic guidance from a team of athlete life performance managers, said Acting Minister Neo.

Singaporean students studying in the Middle East are safe and experienced «minimal disruptions» to their studies, said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim.The status of these students was shared in a Facebook post on Thursday (March 5) by Assoc Prof Faishal Ibrahim after he held an online meeting with over 40 student leaders and representatives on Wednesday night.During the meeting, students shared their concerns on the ongoing situation in the Middle East, but also expressed their resilience amidst the uncertainty, Assoc Prof Faishal wrote.«I was reassured to hear that they are keeping safe and continuing to focus on their studies. »I assured them that their safety, welfare and well-being remains our priority, and we stand ready to assist where needed," the acting minister said.

The Government is planning a flight from Oman's capital city Muscat on Saturday (March 7) to bring back Singaporeans stranded in the Middle East.Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Gan Siow Huang said about a quarter of Singaporeans who have e-registered with her ministry have sought assistance to return home since the war broke out between Israel and the United States, and Iran. She said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has deployed crisis response teams to the Middle East — three officers are in Muscat and two more will be in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.The government-planned repatriation flight will serve Singaporeans who are currently in Oman and the United Arab Emirates, where about 60 per cent of e-registered Singaporeans are located.Gan added that over the next few days, MFA will also launch assisted overland trips for Singaporeans in Bahrain and Qatar to Riyadh, where there are commercial flights available to Singapore.

By moving forward together with one heart, every member of the Malay/Muslim community can be the best version of themselves at every stage of their lives, said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim.Assoc Prof Faishal, who is also Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, set out this vision for the community during the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth's Committee of Supply debate on Thursday (March 5). Elaborating on his plan, Assoc Prof Faishal said this can be achieved through three key pillars: uplifting individuals across all life stages; developing trusted religious institutions; and nurturing a vibrant cultural sector.Uplifting social, economic outcomesNoting that families are the bedrock of the community and society, the acting minister said its face-to-face interaction programme for newly solemnised couples will be expanded to include parenthood support to allow for «more seamless assistance from marriage to parenthood». 

A Singaporean family of three spent nearly $5,000 to rebook their flight tickets after they found themselves stranded following a two-week trip to Antarctica, when several airports were shut due to rising tensions in the Middle East.The family spent three days travelling across four flights, with more than 34 hours in transit, before finally arriving in Singapore on Wednesday (March 4), reported Shin Min Daily News.Speaking to the Chinese daily, Liu Shanglai (transliteration), 66, said he, his wife and their daughter had joined an Antarctic tour organised by EU Holidays on Feb 14 and were scheduled to return to Singapore on March 3.However, due to the escalation of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, airports across the Middle East were closed and flights suspended. As a result, the 26 members of the tour group were unable to transit through Dubai and have been stranded in Argentina since Feb 28. Flight prices rose by $500–$1,000Liu shared that, as his daughter needed to return to work and could not delay her trip, he and his wife decided to accompany her back to Singapore.

Singaporeans diagnosed with complex chronic conditions will soon be able to withdraw up to $1,000 from their MediSave accounts annually to pay for their treatments.This is up from the present annual withdrawal limit of $500 for patients with non-complex chronic conditions, $700 for those with more complex conditions.From Jan 1, 2027, the limits will be raised to $700 and $1,000 respectively, announced Health Minister Ong Ye Kung at his ministry's Committee of Supply debate on Thursday (March 5).«This will benefit over 910,000 patients who currently tap on the scheme, roughly 20 per cent of whom have annual bills exceeding the current limits,» he told Parliament.The scheme, which has been renamed from MediSave500/700 to MediSave Chronic and Preventive Care scheme, helps Singaporeans pay for outpatient treatment of chronic conditions on the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) and selected vaccinations and preventive tests at polyclinics.

A 65-year-old man was found dead at the foot of a Housing and Development Board (HDB) block in Tampines on Wednesday (March 4) night.The incident happened at about 11.35pm at Block 381 Tampines Street 32.When AsiaOne reached the scene at about 2.10am, a police cordon was in place around an area near the lift lobby. In response to AsiaOne's queries, police said the man is believed to have fallen from height.  A police cordon was in place at an area off the block's lift lobby. PHOTO: AsiaOne/Shafiq Apandi He was found lying motionless at the foot of the said block and pronounced dead at the scene by a Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedic.Based on preliminary investigations, no foul play is suspected, the police added.Police investigations are ongoing.

Singapore's query to the Israeli government on allegations of Singaporeans fighting for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has yet to be met with a response, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister of Home Affairs K Shanmugam said in Parliament on Thursday (March 5). He was responding to a supplementary question from Workers' Party MP Dennis Tan, who asked if the Government has sought clarification with Israel on these allegations. «We have not received a response, and one must understand that there are obviously difficulties that other governments may face in complying with this request,» Shanmugam said. «While it's an offence under Singapore law, and we consider it to be contrary to our national interest, it may not be an offence in Israel, nor may be it an offence in other countries,» he added. Should the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) get «any credible information», action will be taken.

An artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can predict the risk one has for developing diabetes or high cholesterol will be made available to healthcare providers from early 2027, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Thursday (March 5).By assessing factors including the age and medical history of a patient, the Assisted Chronic Disease Explanation using AI (ACE-AI) tool could help detect such health conditions earlier, he told Parliament during the Ministry of Health's (MOH) Committee of Supply debate.A person detected to be at high risk for diabetes and/or hyperlipidaemia by ACE-AI has more than a 75 per cent chance of being diagnosed within the next three years.The tool will be rolled out to Healthier SG general practitioner (GP) clinics and polyclinics from 2027. There are about 1,100 Healthier SG clinics as at February, said an MOH spokesperson.Care providers will be able to view the tool's risk assessment of their patients enrolled in Healthier SG, and use the result to recommend and adjust personalised care plans.

A 29-year-old man, who was arrested for driving under influence after the car he was driving crashed into two elderly pedestrians in Choa Chu Kang in November last year, is among three persons to be charged in court on Thursday (March 5).The trio, aged between 29 and 36, are allegedly accused of driving under the influence of etomidate. They ended up in separate accidents between August 2025 and January this year.2 similar offences in 3 monthsAsiaOne reported on the fatal Teck Whye accident, which happened along Teck Whye Lane at about 2.50pm on November 8, 2025.Two elderly women, aged 83 and 84, were standing on the pavement preparing to cross the road when the 29-year-old male driver mounted the pavement and crashed into them.

A total of 14 Indian nationals, aged between 19 and 44, were arrested on Tuesday (March 3) for alleged immigration offences following an enforcement operation in Hougang. In a news release on Wednesday, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the suspects who were rounded up comprised 13 overstayers and one harbourer. The alleged overstayers — 11 men and two women — are purported to have remained in Singapore after their visit passes had expired. Meanwhile, the suspected harbourer — a 26-year-old man — allegedly provided the 13 overstayers with lodging. The offence of overstaying carries a penalty of up to six months' jail, along with caning of at least three strokes or a fine of up to $6,000. Overstayers will also be deported and barred from re-entering Singapore after their sentencing and/or payment of fines. Meanwhile, anyone found guilty of recklessly or knowingly harbouring overstayers and/or illegal immigrants faces a jail term of between six months and two years, along with a fine of up to $6,000.

Two truck drivers were taken to separate hospitals after an accident involving their trucks along Jurong Island Highway on Tuesday (March 3) afternoon. Videos posted on social media show debris and broken tree branches strewn across two of four lanes of the highway. The trucks, a trailer and a waste collection truck operated by Stream Environment, were stopped across three lanes of the highway. In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police and SCDF said they were alerted to the accident at about 2pm, adding that the two 41-year-old male truck drivers were conveyed conscious to National University Hospital and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. A SCDF spokesperson told AsiaOne that the trailer driver was trapped in his seat and had to be rescued by officers using hydraulic equipment.AsiaOne understands that the 41-year-old trailer driver is assisting with police investigations, which are ongoing.[[nid:730685]]editor@asiaone.com 

A 60-year-old man has been arrested for his suspected involvement in a case of housebreaking at a landed home in Paya Lebar.The alleged crime took place at about 9.12pm on Feb 28 at a house in How Sun Estate.Checks by AsiaOne indicate that the estate is a freehold landed housing enclave.Police said the man allegedly broke into the unit and stole cash amounting to $400 and a luxury watch valued at $38,900. The watch has since been recovered and seized as a case exhibit. The 60-year-old suspect was identified and arrested by officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division on Tuesday (March 3) through ground enquiries and with the aid of police cameras and closed-circuit television footage.He will be charged in court on Thursday with housebreaking.If found guilty, he faces up to 10 years' jail and a fine.[[nid:730747]]editor@asiaone.com 

The police have disrupted more than 300 scam attempts during a two-month-long operation which ended on Feb 28, preventing potential losses of over $24 million.In a news release on Wednesday (March 4), the police said they partnered with five banks — DBS, GXS, OCBC, Standard Chartered Bank, and UOB — for the operation which began on New Year's Day (Jan 1).Calling it an «innovative system», the police said the use robotic process automation (RPA) allowed rapid information exchange between the police's Anti-Scam Centre (ASC) and partnering banks, thereby enabling quick identification of potential victims and timely intervention to safeguard the potential victims' finances.RPA is the technology that enables computer software to emulate and integrate actions typically performed by humans interacting with digital systems. The use of RPA has enabled the police to automate information sharing and processing, and the mass distribution of SMS alerts. 

For the first time in 40 years, new public housing flats will be built on Pearl's Hill in Outram. At over 60 storeys high and comprising around 1,700 units, the Build-To-Order (BTO) project will be the tallest public housing development in Singapore upon completion, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat in Parliament on Wednesday (March 4).The project will surpass The Pinnacle@Duxton, which currently holds the record as Singapore's tallest public residential complex, by more than 10 storeys.Chee said that building taller HDB flats «where possible» is part of his ministry's plans to find more ways to build more public housing by «intensifying» land usage.This comes after the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore in August last year updated its rules in line with how tall buildings and structures can be near airports, paving the way for residential developments to be taller by up to 15 storeys.«A 60-storey block can provide 50 per cent more flats compared to a 40-storey block, the height of most of our tallest HDB blocks today,» said Chee in a speech laying out his ministry's spending plans in the coming year.