Heavy rains caused a tree branch to snap and fall onto a car at Lavender Street on Tuesday (Dec 2).The incident occurred at 12pm, according to a post on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page, which included photos of the car.In the pictures, a white Toyota Sienta is seen sandwiched beneath a large tree branch, though it appears to be undamaged. Smaller branches are also seen littering the road around the car.The National Parks Board (NParks) confirmed the incident and said that the Angsana tree branch had snapped during a period of heavy rain and strong winds brought about by a Sumatra squall, in response to queries from the Straits Times.According to the Meteorological Service Singapore, a Sumatra squall is a line of thunderstorms that originate over Indonesia's Sumatra island that typically move towards Singapore and the surrounding region under the influence of southwesterly or westerly winds.NParks said that no injuries were reported and that the road obstruction was cleared at around 1pm.The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) also told Straits Times it did not receive a call for assistance over the incident.

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today.1. 3 in 5 employers plan to freeze hiring in 2026: SNEF surveyAmid a more volatile business environment, close to three in five employers (58 per cent) plan to freeze hiring in 2026 - up from 50 per cent in 2025 - a survey by the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) showed... » READ MORE2. 'Could we award 2 winners?' Anita Yuen faces dilemma as jury at Singapore's inaugural Golden Singa Awards

The founder and former director of Agritrade International, Ng Say Peck, was arrested on Monday (Dec 1) after five years on the run and charged in court with 10 counts of cheating the next day.The 72-year-old Singaporean allegedly cheated digital financing platform Funding Societies after entering a credit facility arrangement in 2019, according to a statement by the police.At the time, Funding Societies was issued finance invoices assigned to Agritrade International.The platform made over 10 transactions between August and November 2019, and subsequently transferred a cumulative sum of $8 million to Agritrade International.According to the police, the invoices were only discovered to be fictitious after investigations.Investigations by the Commercial Affairs Department into Agritrade International for trade financing fraud commenced in January 2020 after the police received multiple reports lodged by various entities, including banks and finance companies that had extended credit facilities to Agritrade International for the purposes of trade financing.Ng fled the country shortly before the commencement of police investigations.

Amid a more volatile business environment, close to three in five employers (58 per cent) plan to freeze hiring in 2026 — up from 50 per cent in 2025 — a survey by the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) showed.The survey, conducted between June 25 and Aug 15, received responses from around 240 employers and found that over 70 per cent of them expect greater uncertainty in the coming year — a spike from 58 per cent in the previous survey.The proportion of employers planning to reduce headcount is similar to that in 2024, with large employers being more likely to do so.Additionally, close to half of the respondents (48 per cent) plan to implement wage moderation or wage freezes, up from 38 per cent in 2024.Firms planning to raise salaries will be giving lower increments than previous years, according to the survey.On the bright side, 96 per cent of respondents who employ lower wage workers have planned built-in wage increases for them next year.Employers, especially small and medium-sized firms, plan to be more cautious in the coming months.

A 37-year-old male tipper truck driver was taken conscious to hospital after an accident along Tuas Viaduct in the early hours of Tuesday (Dec 2). The accident involved two heavy vehicles — a tipper truck and a cement mixer. The police told AsiaOne that they were alerted to the accident along Tuas Viaduct, towards Tuas South Avenue 3, at about 3.35am. Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force said the driver was conveyed to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. A video of the aftermath of the accident posted on Facebook by SG Road Vigilante shows the tipper truck lying on its right side with what appears to be soil spilt onto the road. The truck's front bumper and the viaduct's railings also appear to be damaged. A short distance away, behind the truck, the cement mixer was stopped with some damage seen on the right side of its front bumper. The video also shows an excavator at the scene after sunrise, working in the rain to remove the soil and debris scattered on the road shoulder of the two-lane road. Police investigations are ongoing. 

A fire broke out in a bedroom of a 10th floor HDB flat in Sengkang on Monday (Dec 1) morning. The incident took place at about 2.55am at Block 415A Fernvale Link. In a Facebook post on the same day, Ang Mo Kio GRC member of parliament Victor Lye said the fire may have been caused by an electronic device being charged. «Woken up by the crackling fire, the resident tried putting out the fire with four fire extinguisher canisters that he had, but it was not enough,» added Lye, who represents the Buangkok-Fernvale South ward. He also thanked the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) for their quick response, and the town council team which assisted to clean up the place before residents in the block left for work. Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the SCDF said the fire involved the contents of a bedroom in the unit and was extinguished using a hose reel. One person was assessed by an SCDF paramedic for minor injuries but the person declined to be sent to hospital, added the SCDF. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

Singaporeans are invited to share their views for Budget 2026 over a six-week period from Tuesday (Dec 2) until Jan 12, announced the Ministry of Finance (MOF).Individuals, organisations and businesses can provide their views and suggestions under three themes: advancing our economy; securing good jobs; and uplifting Singaporeans to progress together.The 2026 budget is scheduled to be presented in February 2026.Advancing our economyIn its media release on Dec 2, MOF said that a vibrant and dynamic economy is essential for creating good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans.It added that Singapore will continue to invest in innovation and expand productive capacity to drive new areas of growth, but must carefully manage its limited land and resources, while addressing climate change-related threats.MOF listed the following themes and questions for the public's feedback and suggestions: 

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has expressed his deep sadness by the devastation caused by widespread flooding across South-east Asia. Over the past week, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have been battered by monsoons exacerbated by tropical storms, leading to some of the worst flooding in years across the three countries. As of Monday (Dec 1), nearly 800 people have died — 604 in Indonesia, three in Malaysia, and 176 in Thailand — with hundreds still missing, according to official figures.In a Facebook post on Dec 2, PM Lawrence Wong said he was «deeply saddened» by how communities across South-east Asia were devastated, calling the images of displacement and loss «heartbreaking». «To all those affected, and to the brave responders battling the waters to keep others safe, our thoughts and prayers are within you,» PM Wong added.

The government will release land for 4,575 private residential units in the first half of 2026 under its land sales programme, said the Ministry of National Development (MND) on Tuesday (Dec 2). This brings the overall number of new private homes in the pipeline to about 58,600 units, it added. “The supply will be from a good spread of sites across various locations, supporting the development of both conventional private residential units and long-stay serviced apartments to cater to both owner-occupation and rental housing demand,” said MND. The nine sites in the confirmed list earmarked for residential use are: Holland Plain: 280 unitsRiver Valley Green: 470 unitsPeck Hay Road: 315 unitsBerlayar Drive: 415 unitsCanberra Drive: 185 unitsNew Upper Changi Road: 1,040 unitsLorong Puntong: 140 unitsSembawang Drive: 450 unitsA site in Bayshore Drive, slated for commercial and residential use, is expected to yield 1,280 private homes and around 22,500 sqm of commercial space. 

SINGAPORE — Eight companies in Singapore have been blacklisted and barred from business dealings over their links to two fugitives who allegedly played key roles in the $3 billion money laundering case.In a reply to queries from The Straits Times, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) said regulatory or enforcement actions have been taken against companies owned by Su Binghai from September 2023, and those linked to Xu Haika from April 2024.«As these eight companies have been blacklisted, and their assets have been frozen since regulatory or enforcement actions commenced against them, it is not possible for them to have any more business dealings or financial transactions in Singapore,» said SPF and ACRA in a joint statement.Su and Xu Haika were among 17 suspects who evaded arrest during the police operation which saw 10 foreigners arrested on Aug 15, 2023, in the worst money laundering case in Singapore.Checks on the business registry show that Xu Haika is listed as the sole director of holding company Rong Hai Development, a role he has held since December 2020.

More than 800 Singaporeans affected by the Hat Yai floods in southern Thailand have reached Singapore safely, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.The 822 Singaporeans had e-registered with or reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).In a Facebook post on Monday (Dec 1), Dr Balakrishnan said that MFA's consular response teams have «worked tirelessly» on the ground to reach Singaporeans and help bring them home. He thanked the Thai government, the Royal Thai Armed Forces, non-governmental organisations and volunteers — acknowledging that their «swift support» had enabled MFA to assist Singaporeans effectively. Dr Balakrishnan also expressed gratitude to the Malaysian government, which helped to receive Singaporeans where possible and provided timely support during evacuation efforts.In an earlier update on Nov 28, MFA said that 893 Singaporeans had reached out to them. 

SINGAPORE — More than 52ha of forested land and streams near Nanyang Technological University is slated to be cleared for the expansion of an industrial district in Jurong.JTC Corporation said on Dec 1 that the clearance is for the development of the CleanTech Park and Bahar precincts of the 620ha Jurong Innovation District, a five-precinct advanced manufacturing hub that is being progressively built since 2019.The 116ha project site for the CleanTech Park, which will be Singapore's first eco-business park, and Bahar is located along Jalan Bahar, near the PIE intersection.Larger than Thomson Nature Park, the forested area comprises a mix of mature forest patches, vegetation that has recolonised abandoned kampungs and plantations, as well as forest streams, a rare habitat here that cannot be easily re-created.A total of 56 flora and fauna species significant for conservation are expected to be affected, including the heavily trafficked Sunda pangolin and the harlequin butterfly, a reddish brown insect adorned with silver spots on the brink of extinction in Singapore.

Six days after a section of the roof at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery along Bright Hill Road partially collapsed, initial investigations and checks have been completed and parts of the building allowed to reopen. In the aftermath of incident, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) had closed off two buildings from public access for safety reasons.  Kong Meng San Pork Kark See Monastery was then ordered to appoint a professional engineer to investigate the collapse, advise on the necessary precautionary measures, and recommend permanent rectification works. 

Singapore and Malaysia will hold their 12th annual leaders' retreat at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore hotel on Thursday (Dec 4).The Singapore-Malaysia leaders' retreat is a platform for the two prime ministers to set the overall direction for bilateral cooperation, and identify new ways to deliver tangible benefits to Singaporeans and Malaysians.During the last retreat held from Jan 6 to 7 in Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim discussed the progress of the Johor-Singapore Economic Zone and the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link project. In a media statement on Monday (Dec 1), the police said that they will conduct security checks in the vicinity of the hotel.Members of the public are advised to comply strictly with the instructions of the police. Any non-compliance will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law, police added.

High-rise littering incidents have been back in the spotlight after recent incidents at a HDB estate in Choa Chu Kang, and now in MacPherson. In a Facebook post on Sunday (Nov 30), Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC member of parliament Tin Peiling shared about a recent incident involving a beer bottle thrown from height at a new BTO estate in MacPherson. Based on the photographs shown in Tin's post, the BTO estate is MacPherson Blossom which was completed in 2024. Calling the incident «abhorrent» and «unacceptable», Tin revealed that there is a childcare centre in the area. «Most recently, a beer bottle was thrown from a high floor, causing glass pieces to be shattered everywhere. This is dangerous and could cause very serious injuries. »Worse, there is a childcare centre nearby. Such callous and antisocial behaviour is abhorrent and unacceptable!", Tin said. A police report has been made and the relevant agencies such as the National Environment Agency (NEA) have been alerted. 

A wealthy Singaporean widow, who almost lost $40 million of her assets to her former tour guide nearly a decade ago, has died at the age of 98. Retired physiotherapist Chung Khin Chun died on Oct 25 and was cremated three days later, reported 8world. The woman’s niece confirmed to the Chinese news outlet on Monday (Dec 1) that Chung died peacefully without illness. Chung had been embroiled in a bitter dispute against former tour guide Yang Yin, who was later jailed for misappropriating $1.1 million from her. The pair met in 2008, when Yang acted as her private tour guide during a trip in China. A year later, Yang then 35, moved into Chung’s bungalow in Yio Chu Kang after her husband died and claimed she wanted him to be her “grandson”. Yang, who obtained Singapore permanent residency, also brought his wife and two young children into the country.The childless widow in 2010 made a will leaving Yang with all of her assets, estimated to be worth $40 million.