The body of a 34-year-old woman was discovered on a ledge of a HDB block in Hougang on Monday (Jan 5) morning.The police said they were alerted to a case of unnatural death at Block 375 Hougang Street 31 at 8.30am.The woman was found lying motionless and pronounced dead by a paramedic from the Singapore Civil Defence Force.According to Mothership, the woman was found on the ledge above the waste collection centre.Based on preliminary investigations, the police said foul play is not suspected.Police investigations are ongoing.SINGAPORE HELPLINESSamaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800Institute of Mental Health's national mindline: 1771 (24 hours)/ 6669-1771 (via WhatsApp)Silver Ribbon: 6386-1928We Care Community Services: 3165-8017[[nid:727072]]lim.kewei@asiaone.com

A family will be able to have their reunion dinner at their childhood home in Boon Lay after volunteers pitched in to clean up the five-room flat filled with clutter.The 76-year-old resident, surnamed Guo, told Shin Min Daily News she did not have the strength to clear the stuff she had accumulated over the years.The unit had been overflowing with stacks of household items, bags, containers and more, sparking concern from her children, who had moved out some 10 years ago.Guo's two daughters told Shin Min they were worried that the flat might be a fire hazard or that items piled high could fall and pose a danger to their elderly parents.They hence approached volunteer organisation AMKSS Social Move, which agreed to help.To ensure that the decluttering effort would not be hindered, the daughters reportedly told their mother a white lie — that the items had been «sold» to someone for $1,000. On Sunday (Jan 4) morning, volunteers gathered at Block 268A Boon Lay Drive, spending about eight hours to clear the mess in the flat and along the corridor. 

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) bade farewell to Commissioner of Police (CP) Hoong Wee Teck in a ceremony on Monday (Jan 5), as the force welcomed their new top cop, How Kwang Hwee.Hoong Wee Teck, 62, has served 38 years in the SPF, leading it for 11 years — since 2015. He is credited for having significantly strengthened the capabilities of the police, particularly in the adoption of new technological capabilities which have enabled the force to carry out its mission of crime fighting and prevention.In his farewell speech, Hoong paid tribute to the «strong trust and shared responsibilities» from its partners and the public for making Singapore a safe country.«A safe country is not built by police officers alone. It is built by a community that believes in the common purpose, anchored by the strong trust and shared responsibilities.»To our partners, including our fellow Home Team and public service agencies, volunteers, community stakeholders and overseas counterparts, thank you for your collaboration, your vigilance and your unwavering support," he said.

The male driver of a Singapore-registered car who is alleged to have refuelled his vehicle with Ron95 petrol by partially concealing his licence plate has been identified by the Malaysian police as a Singapore permanent resident.Assistant Commissioner of Police Tan Seng Lee from the Kulai district police headquarters said the man, who is currently in Singapore, has been instructed to report to the authorities immediately , Bernama reported.Tan also warned the public not to «arbitrarily alter or attempt to conceal vehicle registration numbers», adding that this is against the law.Ron95 petrol is heavily subsidised in Malaysia. All foreign-registered vehicles, including those from Singapore, can buy only unsubsidised Ron97 or higher-grade fuel since 2010. This includes Malaysians who are driving Singapore-registered cars.

Operators offering battery-operated go-karts will now be able to save at least $7,000 under a pro-enterprise regulatory change announced by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) on Monday (Jan 5).An exemption order for such rides under the Amusement Rides Safety Act 2011 was issued and came into effect on Jan 2, BCA said.«This move stems from a periodical review of existing regulations, ensuring public safety while adapting to the evolving needs of the amusement ride industry,» the authority said.Prior to this, all amusement rides, including go-karts of any speed or power, required permits for installation, modification and operation.The application fees for installation permits and associated professional costs may run up to $5,000, while operating permit renewals can cost $2,000.In a Facebook post on Monday, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said that the move arose from an appeal he received from young entrepreneurs operating kiddy rides in a shopping mall, and is part of the Ministry of National Development's pro-enterprise rules review exercise.

A 30-year-old Malaysian man has been arrested by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers for attempting to smuggle 150 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore via a Malaysia-registered lorry.The incident happened on Dec 1 at Tuas Checkpoint.In a Facebook post on Monday (Jan 5), ICA said the lorry was directed for enhanced checks, where search and examination officers found 150 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in the cabin area of the vehicle.He was arrested and the case referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigation.In an advisory on Nov 17, ICA had warned travellers that it will be conducting more intensified checks against the smuggling of e-vaporisers and contraband items during the year-end school holidays.A similar warning was also issued ahead of the year-end festive period on Dec 18. 

A jaywalker was caught on camera grimacing in «pain» after being honked at by a car that had stopped in time. Flashing his middle finger, the man also allegedly claimed that he had twisted his knee as he was «scared» by the honk. Dashcam footage shared on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook on Sunday (Jan 4) showed the pedestrian jaywalking with a woman near 34 Cassia Crescent in Dakota. After being alerted by the oncoming car when it honked at them, the man confronted the driver near his front windscreen. The man was later seen grimacing, touching his knee, and then kneeling on the ground.  In the Facebook post, the driver said the man's partner called an ambulance.

Anyone caught taking away food from its buffet will be banned from all outlets, Family Mookata has warned.In a Facebook post on Jan 3, the local buffet chain wrote: «We have zero tolerance towards customers who take away food from our buffet using personal containers.»The Thai barbecue restaurant said it will take «firm action against anyone found violating rules» and reiterated that the buffet food is «for dine-in only». Any footage or evidence of offenders would be shared online to raise awareness and keep a record of the incident, it added. Since opening for business in 2023, Family Mookata has encountered four such incidents, owner Fiona Lim told 8world.Two of them took place in its Jurong West branch which opened in November 2025. [[nid:725888]]The most recent incident happened on Dec 31, Lim told the Chinese daily.«A mother came to eat with her son and a friend. My supplier was making a delivery at the time and saw the woman packing buffet ingredients in a takeout box. They called to alert me,» she said.

A home-based fried chicken seller has come under renewed scrutiny after a customer said she found two strands of hair in her order, following previous concerns over the owner's hygiene practices last October.Sofyan bin Nur Mohammad, a full-time foreign exchange trader, runs Chef Fyan, a home-based fried chicken business, on the side. The 24-year-old first made headlines last October when a TikTok Live showed him handling cooked chicken with his bare hands.Another complaint surfaced on New Year's Day, documented by TikTok user @naivanderwaal. The video, garnering over 87,100 views, shows the customer's reaction to the food.While a woman spoons food onto her plate, another diner points to it and says: «There's hair.»

Members of the public will get a first glimpse into the future of aviation at Changi Airport's upcoming Terminal 5 in an interactive exhibition opening on Tuesday (Jan 6). The exhibition, titled T5 in the Making, is located at Terminal 3's arrival hall and will be open until March. Speaking at the launch on Monday (Jan 5), Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow said, «I have no doubt that the world is watching to see what T5 represents for the future of aviation.» He added: «The decision to build T5 was one of confidence and conviction. Confidence in our future, and conviction in our ability to secure our place in a competitive world.» In addition to its focus on innovation and sustainability, the new terminal will also create new job opportunities in fields such as data science and systems operations. Jointly organised by the Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, and Changi Airport Group (CAG), the exhibition showcases the bold journey and future vision for aviation in Singapore.

SINGAPORE — Taking lessons to seek a driving licence has become more expensive, with the three driving centres in Singapore raising fees from Jan 1.At Singapore Safety Driving Centre (SSDC) in Woodlands, the cost for mandated simulator training has risen by 25.2 per cent, from $24.38 to $30.52 per session.Theory lessons saw a 23.1 per cent cost spike, from $17.71 per 100-minute session in 2025 to $21.80 in 2026.At Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC), a 100-minute practical driving lesson during peak time slots, such as 7.20pm to 9pm on weekdays, now costs $86.11, a 6.8 per cent hike from the previous $80.66.The price for a peak-period practical driving lesson at ComfortDelGro Driving Centre (CDC) in Ubi has gone up by 9.3 per cent, from $81.75 to $89.38 per session. Peak periods at CDC are from 10.20am to noon and 4.25pm to 10.20pm on weekdays, and all time slots on Saturdays and Sundays.A CDC spokesperson told The Straits Times that the rate for practical lessons was last updated in April 2024.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) will continue to «listen and act» on feedback from teachers said Minister for Education Desmond Lee on Monday (Jan 5). «We are making headway in recalibrating what teachers do and rethinking how teachers work. This includes implementing recommendations from the Reimagining the Teaching Profession Taskforce,» said Lee in a video post on social media to welcome educators back on the first day of the new school year. School leaders have identified key priorities and are working to streamline programmes and simplify administrative processes, he added. Among the measures to support teachers is the use of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce time spent on administrative tasks. For instance, the collection of consent forms and medical certificates is now done online. Administrative teams from schools have also started to take over procurement duties from teachers. In his video, Lee also encouraged teachers to be familiar with AI tools such as HeyTalia, which helps draft messages to parents. 

Along a busy stretch of the expressway, a car abruptly comes to a complete halt in the middle of the road, nearly causing an accident. In a video posted to the Facebook group SG Road Vigilante on Saturday (Jan 3), the white Honda can be seen switching on its hazard lights on the second lane and coming to a stop ahead of an active ERP gantry. According to the post, the incident occurred along the Ayer Rajah Expressway towards Tuas on Friday evening. The time indicated on the ERP gantry was 5.36pm. «White Honda Vezel came to a complete stop in the middle of the expressway to avoid ERP, causing a near collision. After multiple honking from the vehicles around, the vehicle then decided to drive on,» the post stated.In the video, which has since garnered more than 87,000 views, about a dozen motorcycles were also seen stopped on the road shoulder.  

SINGAPORE — Vape peddlers are now pushing devices with Bluetooth connectivity and digital screens to entice the young to buy them as keepsakes.Some of these vapes can even function as phones.The Straits Times has also found that despite a clampdown, which has seen dozens of people arrested and scores of vapes and their components seized, sellers are still claiming that they have «ready stock» in Singapore.Salim, who has a son in Primary 4, said: «We parents are just learning about the dangers of vapes, and reminding our children how harmful these can be to their development.»«Most of us are still finding it hard to tell the difference between a vape and stationery items, and now you have these new devices which are meant to look cool to the young,» added the 41-year-old, who did not want to be identified by his full name.These new devices are harder to spot because they do not resemble traditional vapes. Some «smart» models are designed to look like and can be mistaken for everyday items, such as mobile phones.

SINGAPORE — Two people were taken to hospital after the car they were travelling in was believed to have skidded and crashed into gas equipment in Adam Road on Jan 4.In a video circulating online, firefighters can be seen hosing down the car, which was ablaze. At least one fire engine and a police vehicle can be seen nearby.Photos of the aftermath of the incident show the charred car at a stop next to the gas equipment, which appears to be dislodged.The police, which were alerted to an accident at about 3.50pm, said it involved a car which was believed to have skidded in Adam Road towards Lornie Highway.The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to a fire in Adam Road, near the slip road to Arcadia Road, at 3.55pm.The fire involved a car and gas equipment on the side of the slip road, and was extinguished with two water jets.A 27-year-old driver and her 30-year-old passenger were taken conscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

About 20 people were evacuated by the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) after a fire broke out at People's Park Complex on Sunday (Jan 4) afternoon.SCDF said in a Facebook post on the same day that they were alerted to the fire at about 1.55pm.The fire, which happened in the living room of a residential unit on the 21st floor of the mixed-use development in Chinatown, was put out with two water jets after SCDF conducted forcible entry into the unit. According to SCDF, no one was inside the unit at the time of the fire.Videos posted on social media show at least three fire engines along Park Road, where People's Park Complex is located. Smoke is also seen bellowing out from the unit's windows.There were no reported injuries in the fire and the cause of the fire is under investigation.In April 2025, another fire also happened in a storage area on the sixth floor of the same development. Six persons were taken to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation then.