The Government is taking the lead to conserve energy and contribute towards Singapore's energy resilience amidst global fuel supply chains being disrupted by the Middle East conflict.«All ministries, departments, organs of state and statutory boards have been directed to adopt energy conservation measures to reduce electricity consumption across government facilities where practicable, while balancing operational needs,» said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) in a joint press release on Wednesday (April 8).The directive follows Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's message to Singaporeans on April 2.In his message, PM Wong urged Singaporeans to «stand together» to take practical steps to conserve energy and reduce unnecessary consumption and waste. PM Wong also pointed out that while these may seem like «small steps», they can make a real difference when taken together. 

Supermarket operator FairPrice Group (FPG) will implement a price freeze for 100 of its most popular daily essentials to cushion the rising cost of living amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.The price freeze will last from April 9 to May 31, and feature pantry staples such as housebrand rice, oil, eggs, fresh and frozen pork and chicken, Milo, milk and detergent, said FPG in a press release on Wednesday (April 8).Data from FPG shows that nine out of 10 Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) Blue and Orange customers purchase products from its basket of 100 essentials.«This price freeze is part of FPG's wider commitment to keep daily essentials within reach for all, amidst the growing impact of economic and geopolitical volatility on Singaporeans' daily lives,» said the group.To further support vulnerable communities, Blue and Orange CHAS cardholders will also receive double the amount of discounts — from three to six per cent — during the price freeze.The additional discounts will be supported by FairPrice Foundation, which is FPG's philanthropic arm.

Slightly over a week after the beverage container return scheme (BCRS) kicked in, the scheme's licensed operator said it has received feedback that some members of public are unable to return their containers via the Return Right machines.In a Facebook post on Wednesday (April 8), the operator said the most likely cause of containers being rejected is because they do not have a deposit mark. The deposit mark on an empty beverage container. PHOTO: AsiaOne/Ong Chin Wee Although some 1,070 Return Right machines have been deployed across Singapore since April 1, most supermarkets, shops and food centres are likely to be clearing existing stocks of beverage containers that do not have the deposit mark.

TikTokers called out netizens who made «misogynistic» comments about Naomi Neo's alleged sexual harassment incident, slamming commenters who questioned if the influencer was «pretty enough» to be targeted.On April 4, the content creator said in an Instagram post that she had been molested at a flea market event at Aperia Mall, confirming that a police report had been made.The incident drew an overwhelming response online, with many netizens expressing concern. However, others questioned whether the incident had really occurred, making disparaging remarks about the influencer.«Wear modestly and it will solve these kind of problems,» one netizen commented, while another accused her of «grabbing attention».One even asked why the person would «want to touch her».'Why is sexual assault so normalised in Singapore?': TikToker slams disparaging commentsTikToker @fu.wari slammed the netizens who made such remarks in a post, which has since been taken down.«Why is sexual assault so normalised in Singapore? I just don't get it,» she said, adding that such incidents were common in the country.

SINGAPORE — An off-duty Certis auxiliary policeman arrested at a shopping mall with a loaded service revolver in his possession in 2024 told investigators he had wanted to kill himself after his girlfriend broke up with him over his gambling habit.Heng Jun Hao, 29, who was arrested at Bugis+ mall following a police search that involved more than 100 officers, was sentenced to six years, six months and two weeks' jail and six strokes of the cane on April 8.He had pleaded guilty to two charges — unlawful possession of a firearm and a separate charge of committing mischief — in October 2025.In an earlier statement, Certis, a security company, said that Heng was suspended after he was first arrested in May 2024.Deputy Public Prosecutor Koh Yi Wen told the court that Heng had been gambling since he was 20 years old and the habit had worsened over the years. He later promised his girlfriend that he would quit gambling.Heng joined Certis as an auxiliary policeman in October 2023 and was later deployed to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore at Changi Airport.

Singapore will not engage in negotiations for safe passage of ships or on toll rates because it goes against the right of transit passage set out in international law, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan on Tuesday (April 7).He was responding to a parliamentary question by MP Fadli Fawzi (Aljunied GRC), who had asked if the Government is engaging the Iranian authorities to secure transit through the Strait of Hormuz for Singapore-flagged vessels.The MP cited the example of Malaysia, which recently confirmed that one of its seven commercial vessels has safely transited the waterway following high-level diplomatic engagements, including telephone conversations between Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian.Fadli also asked if Singapore will be open to paying a toll to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Two motorcyclists teamed up to move a small tree that had fallen due to the rainy weather on the expressway on Tuesday (April 7). The incident took place along the PIE near the Stevens road exit at about 9.30am. Dashcam footage of the incident posted on Instagram the same day shows a motorcyclist stopping before a fallen tree that was blocking the left-most lane. Another motorcyclist had also stopped to help remove the obstruction. After successfully pushing the tree off the road, the two riders continued on their journey. The post cheekily captioned: «Call me a saint cause I'm going back up to heaven after this one, all in a day's work.» The dashcam footage owner, identified as Jerry, told AsiaOne that it took them roughly three minutes to move the tree off of the road. He added that the roads were very wet and slippery due to the pouring rain, which noticeably reduced visibility. «The interesting thing was actually how there were zero words exchanged the entire time, we only said goodbyes at the end,» he said. 

More than 23,000 healthcare workers in Singapore's community care sector could see pay increases of about 7 per cent or more for most jobs, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Wednesday (April 8).Under the revised guidelines, for example, a staff nurse who earned a median monthly salary of $4,420 in 2024 would see this increase to about $4,980 in 2026.Similarly, the median monthly salary for pharmacists is projected to rise from $4,780 in 2024 to about $5,400 in 2026.MOH said the updated guidelines, first introduced in 2024, aim to help Community Care Organisations (CCOs) attract and retain talent by maintaining the sector’s market competitiveness and enhancing transparency for both jobseekers and employees.«Community care staff play an important part in Singapore's healthcare system, especially as MOH right-sites care from acute hospitals to community settings,» the ministry said. "CCOs should use the guidelines to enhance fairness in pay structures and salaries within their respective organisations and sector.

About 6 per cent of foster parents have been deregistered annually since 2023, said Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming on Wednesday (April 8). The reasons why these foster parents decline to temporarily take in children who have been abused, abandoned or neglected include new family commitments, health and age-related factors, as well as relocation, he added.Goh was responding to a series of parliamentary questions from Nominated Member of Parliament Neo Kok Beng.Besides attrition rates, Neo, who is himself a foster parent, had asked whether the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) is planning to issue guidelines for co-parenting arrangements between foster and biological parents.As of December 2024, there were 530 foster children and 633 foster families — an increase from 614 foster families in 2023. Goh replied that MSF is open to considering co-parent arrangements between foster and biological parents «where appropriate».  «Particularly to facilitate reunification of the child with the biological parents and where it is in the child’s best interests,» he added.

Preparations for this year’s haj pilgrimage are proceeding as planned with the authorities continuing to monitor latest developments in the Middle East, said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim on Wednesday (April 8).In the event that the haj is cancelled or disrupted, or if pilgrims decide to defer, they will be given priority in the following years. Associate Professor Faishal was responding to a question from Member of Parliament Wan Rizal on the status of this year’s haj arrangements for Singaporeans amid the conflict in the Middle East.All 900 haj slots for Muslim pilgrims in Singapore for 2026 have been filled, with more people aged 70 and older set to travel compared with 2025.The haj is a major Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and represents the fifth pillar of Islam. Muslims who are physically and financially able to do so must undertake the journey at least once. Responding, Assoc Prof Faishal said that the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) is in close contact with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on the arrangements.

A joint venture comprising Frasers Property and Mitsubishi Estate have submitted the top bid of $610.8 million for a government land sale site (GLS) at Kallang Close in District 14.The waterfront residential site spans 123,320 sq ft with a plot ratio of 3.5, and a maximum gross floor area (GFA) of 431,611 sq ft. The top bid translates to a land rate of $1,415 psf per plot ratio (ppr).If the top bid submitted by the Frasers Property-Mistubishi Estate JV is accepted by the government, it is possible that the average selling price of the new development could start from S$2,900 psf and average above S$3,000 psf, says Leonard Tay, head of research at Knight Frank.The expected selling price of the new development will also depend on how effectively the developer capitalises on the waterfront aspect through design, unit facing, tower layout, positioning and finishes, says Tay.Based on typical development timelines and prevailing construction costs, and if the site is awarded, the new project could launch in 2Q2027. [[nid:733132]]

A 39-year-old man was arrested for possessing prohibited weapons and offensive items after being caught firing projectiles from his Potong Pasir home on Monday (April 6). In a statement on Wednesday, the police said that they were alerted to the incident along Potong Pasir Avenue 1 at about 10am on April 6. During investigations, officers from the Ang Mo Kio Division found a substantial cache of weapons and prohibited items in the unit.They seized items including two pre-charged pneumatic rifles, four BB guns, four gel blasters, eight bows with 36 arrows, three 3D-printed crossbows with 83 arrows, three slingshots, nine flip knives, three knives with sheaths, one stun device, one extendable baton, and various projectiles.Officers also recovered a 3D printer and 17 rolls of printing filament believed to have been used to manufacture some parts.

A 38-year-old woman who was involved in a high profile Chinatown accident in February that resulted in a death of a six-year-old tourist from Indonesia and serious injuries to her 31-year-old mother was charged in court on Wednesday (April 8). Both victims were holidaying in Singapore.The accused — who arrived at the State Courts at around 8.25am — was given one charge of driving without due care and attention causing death and another charge of driving without due care and attention resulting in grievous hurt. She cannot be named due to a gag order imposed under the Children and Young Persons Act, as her son, a minor, was in the car during the accident and is a potential witness.The accident occurred at about 11.50am on Feb 6 in an open-air carpark near the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, and the driver was arrested at the scene. She is an Indian national, according to charge sheets.

A 37-year-old Singaporean man was arrested on Tuesday (April 7) morning for attempting to evade further security checks after he arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint.The incident happened at about 6.35am at the bus hall.In a joint news release on Tuesday night, the police and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said he was directed for further checks by a security screening officer who suspected him of concealing items in his pants.After placing his bags for X-ray screening, he was about to undergo a physical pat-down inspection when he fled the bus hall with his belongings.ICA officers were alerted and he was intercepted within the checkpoint's premises, where he was found with five packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes on him.He was arrested by ICA officers and referred to the police and Singapore Customs for further investigations.The man will be charged in court on Wednesday for failing to comply with an authorised officer's request for inspection under the Infrastructure Protection Act 2017.If found guilty of the said offence, he may be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $20,000, or both.

A 60-year-old man was arrested on Monday (April 6) for his alleged involvement in two cases of loan shark harassment in Geylang and Tampines.The police said in a news release on Tuesday that they were alerted to the cases at homes along Ubi Avenue 1 and Tampines Street 22 on Monday. Photos of the alleged crime scene along Ubi Avenue 1 provided by the police show a bicycle lock used to the secure the main gate of a victim's unit, along with a debtor's note that reads: «O$P$. First warning (sic).»Officers from Bedok Police Division and the Police Operations Command Centre established the identity of the suspect through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras. He was arrested within eight hours of police being alerted. Two bicycle locks, two debtor's notes and one mobile phone were seized as case exhibits. The man will be charged in court on Wednesday for loan shark harassment.The punishment for first-time offenders is a fine of between $5,000 and $50,000, with a jail term of up to five years, along with caning of up to six strokes.Only male offenders below 50 are liable for caning.

The $200 cash relief for platform workers and taxi drivers that was announced by Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow in Parliament on Tuesday (April 7) amid rising fuel costs is a result of strong tripartite discussions, said NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Yeo Wan Ling. In a Facebook post, Yeo said the labour movement and various platform work associations have been actively engaging and pressing for relief measures, alongside support by platform operators, as workers face escalating cost pressures. «This support did not come by chance,» she said, adding that she is glad to see the efforts coming to fruition as it brings «timely help» to workers.