A customer relations officer at Marina Square has been sent to prison for fraudulently obtaining nearly $28,000 in e-vouchers to use at the shopping mall. Aravindran Vallaban, a 26-year-old Malaysian citizen, was jailed for 20 months on Friday (Jan 2) after pleading guilty to one charge of cheating, reported CNA. Between May 13, 2024, and April 3, 2025, Aravindran created 2,172 fake Marina Square membership accounts to use the mall's referral programme. As part of a promotion, new members could use a referral code from an existing member to join, and both parties would receive $5 in e-vouchers to use at the mall. New members also had to confirm their identity using a one-time password (OTP) sent to their phones. Aravindran obtained S$27,915 in e-vouchers fraudulently and spent them on personal expenses. He has since made full restitution. Used supervisor's credentials, ChatGPTAravindran's job as assistant customer relations supervisor saw him handle customer inquiries and help with promotions. 

It's the end of the year, which means it's time to look back and ask one important question: what did we spend way too much time talking about in 2025?Because in Singapore, we don't just experience things and move on. We discuss them to death: in group chats, comment sections and kopi catch-ups, until everyone is tired but no one actually stops.And yes, I've rated each topic based entirely on how unavoidable it was, how loud the discourse got and how long it refused to die.⭐☆☆☆☆ - Mentioned once, then we moved on⭐⭐☆☆☆ - Everyone had a take, then forgot⭐⭐⭐☆☆ - Hard to escape, even if you tried⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ - Group chats would not shut up⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - National-level discourse1. GE 2025 (and the memes that came with it)Even if you didn't follow politics, you followed the memes.GE 2025 wasn't just about policies and speeches. It was screenshots pulled out of context, reaction edits within minutes, and phrases that escaped rallies and interviews to take on lives of their own. The phrase «Look left, look right» became a format, remixed, reused and repurposed across platforms.

A 34-year-old private bus driver is assisting with police investigations after being involved in a chain collision along the Seletar Expressway (SLE) on Friday (Jan 2). The accident involved 5 cars and the private bus, and took place along the SLE in the direction of Bukit Timah Expressway. The police told AsiaOne that it was alerted to the accident at about 7.30pm. A 19-year-old male car driver sustained minor injuries, but declined to be taken to hospital. Dashcam footage of the accident's aftermath was uploaded to Facebook group Both Checkpoint. It showed a private bus with a shattered windshield at the back of the the pile-up. Investigations are ongoing.[[nid:727386]]bhavya.rawat@asiaone.com

The Workers' Party leadership has directed that a disciplinary panel be formed to determine if party chief Pritam Singh has contravened the constitution of the party. In a media statement on Saturday (Jan 3), the party said its central executive committee (CEC) met on Friday to deliberate on matters arising from the High Court judgment last month on Singh's failed appeal against conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee. The Friday meeting also discussed the request for a special cadre members' conference (special CMC). «The CEC has concluded that it is appropriate to call the special CMC after the disciplinary panel has completed its work, considering the need for due process,» WP said in its statement on Saturday. «To prevent undue delay, the CEC has set a timeline that the disciplinary process be concluded within three months. The notice of the special CMC will be issued within two weeks after the conclusion of the disciplinary process.» [[nid:726880]]bhavya.rawat@asiaone.com

Canned and bottled drinks will come with an additional 10-cent charge under a new scheme which will be implemented from April 1. The 10-cent container return deposit will be refunded when consumers return the empty can or bottle at designated reverse vending machines. This was announced by Senior Minister of State of Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary in a Facebook post on Saturday (Jan 3). «This initiative is a significant step towards Singapore's circular economy goals, encouraging the recycling of beverage containers like metal cans and plastic bottles,» he said. The scheme was originally set to start in April 2025, but was pushed back at the request of major beverage producers who said they needed more time to operationalise it.In response, the authorities have extended the transition period to six months — spanning April 1 to Sep 30, said Dr Janil.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) was the fourth most punctual airline in the Asia-Pacific region in 2025. It was ranked third in 2024. The national carrier's on-time performance score was 78.58 per cent, a dip from the previous year's score of 78.67 per cent, according to a report released by aviation analytics firm Cirium on Friday (Jan 2).The top spot was clinched by Philippines Airlines, which scored 83.12 per cent.The airline had an impressive climb from its number 7 spot in 2024 with a score of 76.06 per cent.The second and third place went to Air New Zealand and Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) respectively.In 2024, Air New Zealand was in fourth place — just behind Singapore — while ANA took second place.Responding to AsiaOnes queries, an SIA spokesperson said that they «remain firmly committed to operational excellence, and enhancing the end-to-end travel experience for all [their] customers.»Aeromexico is world's most punctual airlineIn global rankings, Mexico's Aeromexico retained its title as the world's most punctual airline, with a score of 90.02 per cent.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong kicked off the first working day of 2026 with a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Friday (Jan 2). In a statement on Friday night, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the two leaders noted that this year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.  The leaders reaffirmed the enduring strength of the mutually beneficial partnership that spans multiple domains, and looked forward to deepening cooperation in established areas and expanding into new ones, added MFA. Writing on his Facebook page, PM Wong said these new areas include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and civilian nuclear power. Singapore is studying the potential deployment of nuclear energy to diversify its energy mix. 

An 18-year-old male teenager was arrested on Friday (Jan 2) for his suspected involvement in a case of motorcycle theft. In a news release, the police said the alleged theft occurred at about 9.45am on Friday at a carpark in the vicinity of Hougang Street 92. Officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division arrested the suspect within six hours of the report being made. They identified him via ground enquiries and with the aid of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly did not possess a valid riding licence. He will be charged in court on Saturday. If found guilty of motor vehicle theft, the suspect may be jailed for up to seven years and also fined. [[nid:727215]]editor@asiaone.com 

A 37-year-old man will be charged in court on Saturday (Jan 3) for allegedly vandalising a crime alert signage belonging to the police. In a news release on Friday night, the police said that the purported offence occurred along Stadium Place at about 4.10pm on Dec 30. The suspect was arrested on Jan 2 by officers from Bedok Police Division following ground enquires and with the aid of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage. Based on preliminary investigations, the man is also suspected to be involved in another case of vandalising a public banner. If found guilty of vandalism, the man faces a fine of up to $2,000 or jail for up to three years, along with mandatory caning of between three and eight strokes. [[nid:727311]]editor@asiaone.com 

Thundery showers which persisted over the final two weeks of 2025 are expected to continue into the first fortnight of 2026, the Meteorological Service Singapore said on Friday (Jan 2). They are expected over parts of Singapore in the afternoon on most days, extending into the evening on some days, added the weatherman.The total rainfall is expected to be below average over most parts of the island — with daily maximum temperatures between 32 deg C and 34 deg C on most days. The second half of December also saw mostly thundery showers. Temperatures were similar — at between 32 deg C and 34 deg C, with a high of 34.7 deg C recorded at Jurong Island on Christmas Eve. On Dec 26, heavy thundery showers affected the southern, western and central parts of the island in the afternoon, with a total rainfall of 98.4mm — the highest rainfall recorded for the second half of December — at Pasir Laba. [[nid:726838]]editor@asiaone.com 

A total of 32 Singaporean men were convicted and sentenced for drug and money laundering offences in 2025, said the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) in a statement on Friday (Jan 2). The men, who were arrested by the CNB in separate anti-drug operations, were convicted and sentenced to jail terms of up to 31 years and 18 strokes of the cane. The youngest offender was 19 years old at the time of conviction.CNB said it seized about 8.8kg of heroin, 3kg of Ice, 7.8kg of cannabis, about 110g of cannabis-infused candies, 0.9kg of ketamine, 1,160 Ecstasy tablets, 447 Erimin-5 tablets and other controlled drugs during the anti-drug operations. The drugs seized are estimated to be worth about $1.5 million and can feed the addiction of about 7,000 abusers for a week. About $101,000 worth of proceeds derived from the offenders’ illegal drug activities or otherwise linked to them, were forfeited and surrendered to the state, added the police. 

A former national swimmer and a high-ranking National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) member are set to be new Nominated Members of Parliament (NMP).Darryl Lo and Jeremy Tan, the two independent candidates in the last General Election who threw their hats in the ring for consideration, will not be among the eight new faces appointed to parliament.Mark Lee Kean Phi, chief executive officer of apparel company Sing Lun Holdings, will return for a second term, according to a press release by the Clerk of Parliament on Friday (Jan 2).The nine are:

SINGAPORE – Some residents at a Sin Ming condominium were greeted by brown and yellowish water flowing from their taps on New Year’s Day, following a pipe leak near the junction of Sin Ming Avenue and Upper Thomson Road.National water agency PUB said it was alerted to the incident at 9am on Jan 1.“We immediately deployed our service crew on site to trace the source of the leak and commence repair works. Water supply to homes and businesses in the vicinity was not affected,” it said in response to queries from The Straits Times.A PUB spokesman said the agency is investigating the cause of the pipe leak.Residents of the nearby Flame Tree Park condo had reported that discoloured water was flowing from their taps. This was likely due to resuspension of mineral sediments in the water pipe network due to the leak, PUB said.Repair works are ongoing and are expected to be completed by Jan 2, it added.A 42-year-old doctor who lives in the condo told ST that at around 2am, his wife noticed the water in the toilet bowl was brown even after flushing.At around 8am, he saw discoloured water flowing from the kitchen and toilet taps.

Four people were taken to the hospital after a fire broke out in an HDB flat located along Sembawang Drive on Jan 1. In a Facebook post the same day, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to a fire at Block 462 Sembawang Drive at around 3:15pm. Firefighters extinguished the fire, which broke out on a unit on the 11th floor, with a water jet. A person from the affected unit had evacuated before SCDF’s arrival.As a precautionary measure, about 90 people from the affected block were evacuated by the police and SCDF. 4 people were assessed for smoke inhalation, with 3 taken to Singapore General Hospital and 1 taken to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.The cause of the fire is under investigation, said SCDF.[embed]https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AcH1EjX9Z/[/embed][[nid:727539]]esther.lam@asiaone.com