A tourist was reunited with her lost 999-gold bracelet, thanks to the SBS Transit staff who helped retrieve it.She had lost it while on a train to VivoCity last month.999-gold, otherwise known as 24-karat (24K) gold, contains 99.9 per cent pure gold.On Jan 18, Facebook user Chuen Yen Liew made a post that his wife had «lost her 999-gold bracelet during her recent trip to Singapore». They reported the loss at Harbourfront MRT passenger service counter, even though they «didn’t have much hope of getting it back». At 6.30am the next day, Chuen said he received a call from the Clarke Quay station manager, who informed him that the bracelet had been found and asked him to collect it. Chuen also thanked assistant station managers (ASM) Bong and Edward «for their honesty and kindness in finding and returning the bracelet», adding that the incident «really restored our faith in humanity». 

The 25-year-old male driver of a dark-coloured saloon car seen driving against the flow of traffic along Bartley Road East in Bedok last December will be charged in court on Wednesday (Feb 25). On December 16, 2025, AsiaOne reported on the incident which happened at about 12.50am on December 14.  Analysing the video, AsiaOne noted that the vehicle was first sighted near the junction of Kaki Bukit Avenue 4 and Bartley Road East. 

SINGAPORE — Volvo has expanded its recall of electric cars in Singapore because of a battery defect that could lead to a fire, with another 58 owners of the EX30 Single Motor Extended Range now affected.The recall initially reported in January involved 143 EX30 Ultra cars. However, seven were later confirmed to be unaffected, bringing the revised figure from that initial batch to 136.Responding to queries on Feb 23, a spokesperson for Wearnes Automotive, Volvo's distributor in Singapore, confirmed that all 194 owners have been notified.As with the earlier recall, owners affected in this round have been advised to limit their car's maximum charge to 70 per cent.This is an interim fix while the owners wait for replacement parts.In January, it was reported that 33,777 cars globally were affected. Volvo informed customers of a potential hardware issue within the car's high-voltage battery. This can cause the battery to overheat if it is charged to above the 70 per cent threshold, which, in very rare cases, could lead to a fire.

A dog has died after allegedly falling from a HDB unit in Choa Chu Kang, according to a Facebook post on Thursday (Feb 19). The post, uploaded by Faizal Bulat to the Lost and found pets in Singapore group, has since garnered over 900 reactions and more than 120 comments. The Facebook post contained a photo of a white dog, which appears to be a maltese, lying on the concrete floor. Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the National Parks Board (NParks) said it was alerted by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to an incident involving a pet dog which allegedly fell from height and died in Choa Chu Kang on Feb 19.«We are in contact with the dog owner and are looking into the matter,» NParks group director for enforcement and investigation Jessica Kwok said. She advised pet owners to secure their house to keep their pets safely indoors and prevent them from escaping or falling from height. Windows and gates should be secured with mesh or grilles that pets cannot squeeze through, and cats and dogs need to be microchipped and licensed. 

Fresh information has emerged regarding the alleged home intrusion in Upper Thomson on Saturday (Feb 21). Residents in the landed enclave told AsiaOne on Monday (Feb 23) that a similar case happened on the first day of Chinese New Year (Feb 17) at a private residential property along Taman Permata, also in Upper Thomson, some 500m away. AsiaOne understands that residents living in the affected property returned home to find what appeared to be shoe marks in the living room and called the police. Similar to the case at Marigold Drive, some houses along Taman Permata also have backyards bordering the dense forested area of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. 

Singapore's present peace, at a time of significant uncertainties and tensions around the world, makes it a «small oasis of peace» that is precious, said Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam.Shanmugam, who is also the Minister for Home Affairs, was speaking at a breaking of fast event on Monday (Feb 23) evening, organised by the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) — formed in 2003 to rehabilitate detained Jemaah Islamiyah members and their families through counselling. The RRG has since broadened its scope to include countering misinterpretations promoted by self-radicalised individuals and those in support of ISIS. Referring to the economic uncertainties, political stresses and conflicts around the world, Shanmugam pointed out that Singapore's peace was one of careful design.«In the middle of all of this, we remain a small oasis of peace. That is because we focus on a number of fundamentals,» the minister said.

The National Parks Board (NParks) announced on Monday (Feb 23) that it will resume crow shooting from the second week of March as part of its efforts to actively manage the crow population.It said that public complaints against crows have risen sharply from about 5,000 cases in 2020 to about 15,000 cases last year.Over the same period, feedback on crow aggression has surged from over 460 cases in 2020 to more than 2,000 cases in 2025.In a Facebook video posted on Monday, Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat said that if the crow population is not brought under control, there will be «more and more» crow-related attacks, thereby affecting the safety of residents.He said: «We should not wait for this to happen before we take action. »I have therefore asked NParks to bring back crow shooting as one of the measures to reduce the crow population in Singapore." NParks said it intensified its multi-pronged crow management efforts after shooting operations ceased in 2020. This includes crow trapping and removal, as well as nest removal.

Traffic along a narrow road in Sembawang came to a standstill when two heavy vehicles travelling in opposite directions got stuck.With no sign of the situation improving, a motorcyclist stepped in to resolve the jam.Tan, 51, told AsiaOne the incident occurred at about noon on Saturday (Feb 21) on Admiralty Street, which leads to the Sembawang God of Wealth Temple.A double decker bus and trailer were sandwiched between the line of cars parked on both sides of the street, and there was no traffic marshall in sight.«I saw a lot of people waiting for the bus at the bus stop. After waiting for some time, I thought maybe I should try to help,» said the motorcyclist, who works as a teacher.A video which Tan uploaded on TikTok shows him beckoning bus service 962 forward while making sure the vehicle does not bump into the trailer or parked cars.The camera mounted on his bike pans to show over 10 people at the bus stop peering at the situation.Under his careful guidance, the bus and trailer finally made out of the tight space, and Tan mounted his motorcycle with a smile.

Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers, though welcomed, should not be the only fix by the Government to help Singaporeans cope with living expenses.This is one of the sentiments shared by social media users after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered Singapore's Budget 2026 statement on Feb 12.PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister, announced in Parliament that about 1.4 million Singaporean households will each get $500 in CDC vouchers that can be used at heartland merchants, hawkers and supermarkets.They will be disbursed in January 2027 and are valid till Dec 31 that year.«Although inflation has eased in recent years, we know that many Singaporeans still face anxieties and pressures. So, we will continue to provide additional support this year,» said PM Wong.

A 40-year-old Chinese national has been arrested for his alleged offences relating to duty-unpaid cigarettes amounting to more than $1.5 million.Singapore Customs said in a media release on Monday (Feb 23) that its officers seized 14,550 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes following two operations on Feb 7 and Feb 11.During the first operation on Feb 7, officers seized 7,306 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes which were found concealed inside three air cooler units in a unit within an industrial building at Jalan Buroh in Pioneer.Through follow-up investigations, another operation was launched on Feb 11 at another industrial building at Tuas Bay Close, where they uncovered an additional 7,244 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes, also hidden within three air cooler units.Investigations revealed that an unknown person had allegedly engaged the arrested man to retrieve the duty-unpaid cigarettes from the air coolers and pack them for local distributions. Court proceedings against the suspect are ongoing.

The police are investigating four male teenagers, all aged 13, for their alleged involvement in two cases of rash acts in Punggol.The police said in a media release on Monday (Feb 23) that the two cases happened in December 2025.The first case, which happened at about 12.15am on Dec 19, took place at the park connectors near Punggol Waterway Point. They allegedly threw a plastic bag filled with clear liquid and an empty plastic bottle at members of the public. Four days later, on Dec 22, several traffic cones were placed across three lanes at Punggol Drive in a manner which obstructed vehicular traffic.Police officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division identified the four teenagers through follow-up investigations.The offence of rash act carries an imprisonment term of up to six months and a fine, although minors under 16 are usually charged in the Youth Courts, which focus on rehabilitation. Earlier in February, a 14-year-old male was arrested for alleged mischief and causing disruption to key services by forcefully adjusting a police mobile camera in Punggol on two occasions. [[nid:729509]]

Upper Thomson resident X N had just returned home on Saturday (Feb 21) night when she noticed the doorknob of her ground floor room slowly rotating.Puzzled, she thought it was the domestic helper and called out to alert them of her presence.«As the doorknob was turning, I saw a masked man looking back at me,» she recounted to AsiaOne.The resident, who wanted to be known only by her initials, said the intruder «disappeared into darkness» after she asked who the person was and screamed for help.«The whole house was pitch black except for my room, so the person actually knew that I was inside the room and still decided to open my door while I asked if it was the helper,» she said.She immediately called the police and waited outside with the two other people at home at that time.The police told AsiaOne on Sunday (Feb 22) that it received a call for assistance at a residential estate along Marigold Drive at about 9.40pm on Saturday.

SINGAPORE — When a young, smartly dressed Indonesian man approached Mr Mohamed in a dimly lit nightclub and asked him if he wanted «Nike» or «Superman», it confused the Singaporean.The 53-year-old, who gave his name only as Mr Mohamed, had visited the club in Nagoya town, Batam, with other Singaporeans after a round of golf earlier in the day.Mr Mohamed said: «I couldn't really hear what he was saying but he opened a small tin box with tablets placed on a bed of sponge.»I thought they were sweets but he told me he was selling Ecstasy pills (embossed with Nike and Superman logos).«Mr Mohamed said he repeatedly declined the offer, but was then shown »Batu" (rock in Bahasa Indonesia), also known as crystal methamphetamine, in a small clear plastic bag. He turned that down as well.Mr Mohamed continues to play golf in Batam, at least four times a year, but now visits only nightclubs recommended by the golf tournament organisers.He recounted the July 2025 incident to The Straits Times after learning about the Central Narcotics Bureau's (CNB) participation in an anti-drug blitz at a Batam nightclub on Jan 18.

SINGAPORE — Standing at just 1.51m tall, with her hair tied up in a high ponytail, Ms Neo Hui Qin is not your typical fishmonger.After graduating from ITE in 2012, she worked as a dental assistant for 10 years but left the job in 2023 after her beloved boss, a dentist, passed away.Ms Neo, now 32, knew that she could not work for anyone else, and so she began to look for a job that both excited her and pushed her out of her comfort zone.She liked the idea of becoming a fishmonger as she had helped out at her friend's fish stall in Hougang during the Covid-19 pandemic and enjoyed the experience.«Why not try the market, try being a fishmonger? Everything is hands-on, and I am good with hands-on,» said Ms Neo.With lots of moral support from her husband, family and friends, she took the plunge and opened a stall in Tiong Bahru Market in April 2024.Her husband, who used to be in the navy, also became a fishmonger in November 2025 and runs a stall in Kovan Market.At first, Ms Neo sold only prawns.

More than 244 million travellers passed through Singapore's checkpoints in 2025, up from around 230 million in 2024.The number constituted a 6.3 per cent increase, said the ICA in a statement on Monday (Feb 23).The rise was largely due to an increase in land checkpoint crossings, which accounted for about 76 per cent of the total traveller volume.On Dec 19 last year, nearly 589,000 travellers passed through the Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints, setting a new single-day record.  QR code clearance, which was fully implemented at both land checkpoints in January 2025, was used by 134 million travellers since its roll-out in March 2024, according to ICA.The take-up rate for QR code clearance across all types of travellers also increased in 2025.

Singapore will likely be subjected to US president Donald Trump's new global tariff rate of 15 per cent, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, highlighting the need for the country to prepare for its impact.Speaking to media at a doorstop interview on Sunday (Feb 22), DPM Gan noted that the increase is «a stark reminder... that [Singapore is] now facing a very unpredictable and uncertain operating environment», describing the situation as «very fluid».Elaborating on the element of «uncertainty» around the tariffs, DPM Gan said the government will monitor developments to assess its next steps and explore alternatives, and possible exemptions on the levies.«We will continue to work with our counterparts in the US to seek greater clarification on how the tariff will be implemented...because Section 122 has a time limit and therefore we can expect there will continue to be changes in time to come,» he told the media.

Eleven men, aged between 32 and 58, were arrested on Sunday (Feb 22) morning for their alleged involvement in the illegal transaction of marine gas oil in Singapore waters.The police said in a news release on Sunday afternoon that Police Coast Guard officers arrested four crew members from a Singapore-registered tugboat and seven crew members from a foreign-registered tugboat in the waters off Selat Puah — a stretch of waterway to the south of Jurong Island, between Pulau Bukom and Pulau Sudong. 

Diners at a food court in Lucky Plaza shopping centre were joined by an unexpected guest — a hungry rat — during their meal.In a Facebook video posted on Feb 19, a rat can be seen on a yellow plate with food as diners scrambled away from the table.The rodent could be seen climbing across the table while diners hastily removed their belongings.Ten seconds into the video, a staff in red appears and calmly picks up the rat with a tablecloth before walking away. A staff caught the rat smoothly with a table cloth. (PHOTO: Screengrab/Reddit/uandurfader) The video posted by Facebook user Sheryle O. Oro has garnered over 70,000 views and reactions from netizens.However, it is not clear when the video was taken.Many commenters appeared to be tickled by the scene.

A person allegedly entered a private residence in Upper Thomson without permission on Saturday (Feb 21) night.The police said in response to AsiaOne's queries that they received a call for assistance at an estate along Marigold Drive at about 9.40pm.Officers responding to the call learnt that the individual had allegedly entered the house and had left before their arrival.Efforts to trace the suspect are underway, and investigations are ongoing, the police said.According to The Straits Times, five Special Operations Command police vehicles were spotted along Upper Thomson Road at about 11pm.Lianhe Zaobao reported that the suspect is a man, and that he had been discovered by the homeowner who called the police upon seeing the stranger.No one was injured and there was no loss of property, stated the report.Anyone with information relating to this incident is advised to contact the police at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.All information received will be kept strictly confidential.

A 31-year-old motorcyclist died in hospital on Sunday (Feb 22) after an accident with a tipper truck on the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE).The police said they were alerted to the traffic accident before the Lower Delta Road exit at about 4.10am.The male motorcyclist was unconscious when he was taken to hospital and subsequently succumbed to his injuries.A video uploaded to Facebook group Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossers showed at least five police vehicles along the expressway, which had two lanes cordoned off with traffic cones.Several officers are seen near an upright motorcycle, with the truck parked further ahead.The police said a 38-year-old male tipper truck driver is assisting with ongoing investigations.[[nid:730232]]lim.kewei@aisaone.com

Mistakenly undercharged $198 for a lobster dish at a Siglap eatery, a family returned the next day to pay the correct amount.In a heartwarming Facebook post on Thursday (Feb 19), the owner of Cheng Ji Seafood Restaurant thanked the diners for their honesty.Owner Dai Xingying (transliteration) told Shin Min Daily News that she had wrongly keyed in the price of two small Australian lobsters as $2 instead of $200 when calculating the bill for the family of four.The error went unnoticed due to the bustling Chinese New Year (CNY) crowd, and Dai did not find any discrepancies when recording their sales at the end of the day.To her surprise, two teenagers from the family returned on Thursday night to inform her that they had been undercharged.

SINGAPORE - The family of Ms Audrey Fang, who was killed in Spain in 2024, has asked a Spanish court to keep suspected perpetrator Mitchell Ong in custody for another two years.Ms Fang, a Singaporean who had travelled to Spain alone, was found dead with 30 stab wounds on April 10, 2024, in a field in the town of Abanilla. Ong, also a Singaporean, was arrested in Spain on April 16 that year.Lawyer Manuel Martinez, who is representing Ms Fang's family as a private prosecutor, noted that Ong's pre-trial detention will soon be up, according to a document seen by Spanish media outlet La Verdad.A private prosecutor allows victims to actively participate in criminal proceedings by presenting evidence and seeking compensation alongside or independently of the public prosecutor.Citing a possibility that Ong might try to evade justice if released, Mr Martinez asked the judge to keep Ong detained for longer.The document viewed by La Verdad stated that Ong has no financial resources or ties to Spain, and warned of the risk that he could try to influence the investigation.

SINGAPORE - A passenger on board a ship where a fire broke out early on Feb 20, killing a crew member, has described the incident as «a truly terrible and traumatising experience».The World Legacy cruise ship, which had 271 passengers - including 139 Singaporeans - and 388 crew members on board, was en route to Singapore when a fire broke out in the lounge area on deck nine at about 4am. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said an Indonesian crew member died. He was a 23-year-old laundry attendant aboard the ship, said the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore in a statement on Feb 21.Identified only by his initials PL, he was found collapsed in the lobby of deck nine by firefighters, the embassy said in response to queries by The Straits Times.Despite medical assistance, the crew member was pronounced dead at 4.30am with the cause of death determined as cardiopulmonary arrest secondary to asphyxiation.

A taxi driver was spotted opening their car door while driving along Bartley Road East, raising safety concerns.The incident occurred on Feb 19 around 6pm, according to a Facebook post shared by SG Road Vigilante on Feb 20. In the video, the driver of a yellow Toyota Prius taxi can be seen opening the door while the vehicle was in motion. He was reportedly alone in the car when the incident happened. A voice in the clip can be heard saying: «He's driving very fast.» Witnesses shared that the car almost crashed into the road divider a couple of times. At the end of the video, the driver can be seen closing the vehicle door. Speaking to ComfortDelGro, a spokesperson told Lianhe Zaobao that the company is aware of the incident and is conducting investigations. «The safety of our taxi drivers is our top priority,» they added. AsiaOne has reached out to ComfortDelGro for more details. [[nid:729886]]melissateo@asiaone.com

SINGAPORE – When Charmaine Tan turned 16, she was eager to follow in her parents' footsteps and be a regular blood donor.She also wanted to spread the word, and began volunteering with the Singapore Red Cross' youth donor recruitment initiative YouthInspire.Now 18, and having donated blood three times, the soon-to-be university student hopes to inspire her peers to do the same.Her role is an important one, as new figures show the proportion of youth blood donors  aged 16 to 25 – continuing on its downward trend.In 2025, there were more than 9,600 youth donors, making up about 12 per cent of the donor pool, according to Health Sciences Authority (HSA) figures released in January 2026. This is down from 28 per cent in 2015.Blood donors made up 1.3 per cent of Singapore's population in 2025. On the whole, the total number of blood donors grew nearly nine per cent – from 71,277 in 2015, to 77,567 in 2025.In the same period, total blood donations rose almost 12 per cent, from 122,048 units to 136,172 units.

A two-room HDB resale flat at SkyParc @ Dawson has been sold for $695,000, setting the highest price ever for this type of unit.The 505 sq ft unit - which has recently completed its minimum occupation period - is located at Block 95 Dawson Road between the 34th and 36th storeys, according to data from HDB's website.It has a remaining lease of 94 years and nine months. This sale makes it the most expensive two-room HDB resale transaction in Singapore that has officially been recorded, according to 99.coThe last two-room resale flat from that same block was sold at $540,000 last December, based on HDB's data. That unit is located between the 7th and 9th storeys. Before the recent $695,000 sale, the national record for a two-room resale flat was $585,000, set by a unit at Ghim Moh in August 2023 that held the top spot for nearly three years, reported 99.coSkyParc @ Dawson, which was completed in December 2020, is located near Queenstown and Commonwealth MRT stations. 

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong visited his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur on Friday (Feb 20).In a Facebook post, PM Wong shared that Anwar had invited him to buka puasa (break fast) at the historic Carcosa Seri Negara.«I deeply appreciate the warm hospitality, and the opportunity for a candid exchange on a wide range of issues,» he added. «Wishing you and all Malaysians a blessed Ramadan. I look forward to our next meeting.» Friday marked the second day of Ramadan 2026.

A person was rescued from a HDB flat in Tampines after a fire broke out late at night on Feb 19. In response to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to the incident at Block 267 Tampines Street 21 at about 11.25pm. The fire involved the contents of a bedroom of an 11th floor unit and was extinguished with a water jet. SCDF conducted forcible entry and rescued a person from the unit, who was taken to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation.About 40 residents from the affected block were evacuated by the police and SCDF as a precautionary measure.The cause of the fire is under investigation.A resident living in the affected building told Shin Min Daily News that she only learned of the fire after hearing the sirens of fire trucks. She shared that there were at least five fire trucks, three police cars, and one ambulance on site. Firefighters were also seen rushing upstairs carrying water hoses. «I saw a large fire in the bedroom of that unit, with thick smoke billowing out,» she recounted. 

SINGAPORE – A 53-year-old man who sexually assaulted his girlfriend's daughter, who was then 10 to 11 years old, was sentenced to 24 years' jail on Feb 20.The girl's mother was in court with other family members and broke down in tears on hearing his sentence.He cannot be named under a gag order imposed to protect the victim's identity.The sexual acts, which were committed between February 2021 and February 2022, took place at home and in a van parked at cemeteries.The girl told her mother about the abuse in December 2021, but the woman chose to believe the man when he denied that he had assaulted the girl.In sentencing, Justice Aidan Xu considered the harm caused to a very young victim and that the man had taken advantage of his relationship with the girl's mother.However, the judge added that it was not necessary to impose additional jail time in lieu of caning.The man cannot be caned as he is more than 50 years old.Deputy Public Prosecutor Tay Jia En had sought 22 to 24 years' jail, and 12 months' jail in lieu of the maximum 24 strokes of the cane.

A total of 59 motorists were caught for various traffic violations or engaging in dangerous road behaviour during a five-day stepped-up traffic enforcement operations at Woodlands Checkpoint, said the police and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in a joint statement on Friday (Feb 20) night.On Feb 12, the agencies had warned motorists that they will be conducting enforcement operations from Feb 13 to the first day of the Chinese New Year on Feb 17.The law enforcement agencies said that the operations at Woodlands Checkpoint were aimed at deterring and detecting motorists who commit traffic violations and engage in queue cutting at the checkpoint.«The 59 motorists were detected for committing traffic offences such as driving against the flow of traffic, crossing double white lines, and leaving vehicles in positions likely to cause danger, obstruction or undue inconvenience. Some of these drivers were also found to have cut queues,» the agencies added.

If you find yourself receiving unsolicited calls from scammers claiming that you have outstanding insurance premiums or had performed bank card transactions, do not hand over your valuables for purported «investigation purposes».In this scam variant, victims who deny the claims would be transferred to other scammers impersonating as government officials from the Monetary Authority (MAS) of Singapore or Ministry of Law, said the Singapore Police Force in an advisory on Feb 20.These victims would then be accused of being involved in criminal activities such as money laundering, and provided with fake documents such as a «warrant of arrest» or «financial inspection order». The victims were then instructed to hand over their valuables to unknown subjects, purportedly for «investigation purposes».These items were either newly purchased by the victims, acting on the scammers' instructions, or owned by them.They would only realise that they have been scammed when the scammers become uncontactable, or when they sought verification with the relevant agencies.

A 30-year-old male motorcyclist was taken to hospital on Friday (Feb 20) afternoon after an accident with a car in Tampines.The accident happened at about 1.45pm along Tampines Central 7, outside the entrance of The Premiere @ Tampines — a Design-Build and Sell Scheme project.A picture of the aftermath seen by AsiaOne showed paramedics treating the motorcyclist on the road. Beside them, a man was seen directing traffic as a woman stood beside the paramedics. Meanwhile, a blue multi-purpose vehicle was seen stopped on the leftmost lane of the road.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force said that the 30-year-old male motorcyclist was conveyed conscious to Changi General Hospital.Police investigations are ongoing. [[nid:730207]]editor@asiaone.com 

The police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of a 16-year-old male teenager, Boey Xiang Le.In a news release on Friday (Feb 20) night, the police said Boey Xiang Le was last seen at about 11.33am on Thursday, in the vicinity of Block 10 Buangkok View.Checks by AsiaOne indicate that this is the address of the Institute of Mental Health.Anyone with information is urged to contact the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.All information will be kept strictly confidential, said the police.[[nid:729516]]editor@asiaone.com  

Hours after a fire broke out onboard the Liberia-flagged cruise ship World Legacy on Friday (Feb 20) morning, which resulted in the death of an Indonesian crew member, several members —who are not part of the core crew left behind for essential duties — disembarked in Singapore.Two members, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AsiaOne that while they did not know the dead crew member, the experience was a stressful one.One member, who has been working onboard World Legacy for only a few months, said this was the first incident he encountered onboard.«I panicked for a moment,» he admitted, citing the short time he had spent onboard.The crew member, a Southeast Asian, said the non-core crew will be going to a hotel provided for them, but was unsure of the plans for them in the coming days.Another crew member, also a Southeast Asian, told AsiaOne that he was «very stressed» when the fire broke out at the lounge on deck nine at about 4am as he was on duty.He claimed that he was not aware that a fellow crew member had died, until he found out from others while they were being ferried to HarbourFront Terminal on Friday evening.

Singapore will be progressively easing some Nipah virus public health measures from Monday (Feb 23) as no cases have been reported in the country in connection to the two reported in the Indian state of West Bengal or the case in Bangladesh.In a statement on Friday (Feb 20), the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said that it will remain vigilant against the virus even as the country returns to baseline surveillance levels.The agency said: «The Nipah virus situation in West Bengal has stabilised, with no new cases reported. No human to human Nipah virus transmission has been detected in Bangladesh.»Hence, CDA will cease temperature screening at the airport and seaports for flights and ships arriving from affected areas in India and also stop disseminating Nipah virus health advisories for travellers at Singapore's points of entry.To maintain surveillance levels, Nipah virus will continue to be covered by the SG Arrival health declarations and Maritime Declaration of Health.Incoming travellers will still have to declare if they are arriving from affected areas in their arrival cards, the agency said.