SINGAPORE - Wang Dehai, the last of 10 foreigners to plead guilty in the $3 billion money laundering case, has been deported to the UK. He was deported on July 6 after serving about 11 months of his 16-month jail term. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) told The Straits Times on July 8 that Wang, 35, has been barred from re-entering Singapore. The Cypriot national, who was originally from China, was sentenced to 16 months’ jail in June after pleading guilty to one money laundering charge. He agreed to forfeit more than $49 million of his assets to the state. On July 2, Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling said in Parliament that, while those with multiple passports can indicate which country they would like to be deported to, Singapore will deport them to countries most likely to accept them. Wang’s deportation means that nine of the 10 convicted in Singapore’s largest money laundering case have left the country.

Cracks in the ceiling, flat car tyres, dead fishes. A homeowner in Eunos has had enough of the damage he has to suffer because of his neighbour's renovation works.  Local philanthropist Lim Ah Boy, who lives in a landed estate at Jalan Kechot, told Shin Min Daily that his neighbour started renovation works more than a year ago.  The 60-year-old claimed that no protective barriers were put up, resulting in cement and gravel falling into his yard. The debris polluted his carp pond, causing the death of his eight fishes, he alleged. Explaining that carps are sensitive creatures, he said: «When the water is polluted, they become uncomfortable and jump out.» Lim, who has been raising his Japanese carps for five to seven years, paid $5,000 to $6,000 for them. One died in February, four more died in March, and the rest are also dead now, he said. «I'll stop rearing carps for now, until my neighbour has completed his renovation. It breaks my heart to see my fishes die.» 

For the past three years, a Marine Parade resident has been frustrated by the wall of plants outside his neighbour's flat. Gulam Rasul aired his gripes about the «neglected garden» on the seventh floor of Block 19 Marine Terrace on Facebook group Complaint Singapore last Wednesday (July 3).  In his post, he pointed out that the «overgrown garden» was causing «significant» health and safety issues for the community, such as providing «a breeding ground for mosquitoes» and encroaching on the common corridor space. Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the 44-year-old said his neighbour, a woman, moved into the unit next door about 10 years ago and started placing plants outside the flat about three years ago. The number of plants has since grown to cover an entire stretch of wall, including her corridor-facing windows.  «Some of the potted plants have dried up and become flammable,» said Gulam, who has been living at the block for 17 years. «There are also a lot of plastic bottles and cups piled up outside, and it's a breeding ground for mosquitoes.» 

SINGAPORE — Fancy some lychee balls with crispy chilli crickets or sushi with superworms? The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on July 8 that it has approved some 16 species of insects for consumption, much to the delight of industry players who have been gearing up for this long-awaited moment. The insects include various species of crickets, grasshoppers, locusts, mealworms and silkworms. House of Seafood restaurant's chief executive Francis Ng is cooking up a menu of 30 insect-infused dishes. Of the 16 approved species, the restaurant will be offering superworms, crickets and silkworm pupae on its menu. The insects will be added to some of its seafood dishes, such as salted egg crab, for example. Prior to the approval, the restaurant had been getting five to six calls daily inquiring about its insect-based dishes, and when customers can start ordering them, Ng said. «Many of our customers, especially young people who are under 30 years old, are very daring. They want to be able to see the whole insect in the dish. So I'm giving them many options to choose from,» he said.

Singapore — Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Candy Ko, 32, overcame multiple challenges, such as building up her fitness after piling on 27kg during her second pregnancy and raising a child who had kidney cancer, to become the first and only woman to join the Police Tactical Unit (PTU). The PTU responds to public order and public security incidents, such as riots and terrorist threats, and is under the Special Operations Command (SOC). The SOC has been described as the Singapore police's elite force. Officers have to complete a rigorous three-month-long Police Tactical Course, which equips them with the skills and capabilities to deal with public order and public security incidents, to join the PTU. ASP Ko is the first woman to complete the course and was the parade commander during the graduation ceremony in April. She said: «I was happy and proud of myself. It was quite tough for me as the course was tiring and intense.» ASP Ko also has the distinction of being the first female officer to be given the SOC red beret, a symbol of «bravery and sacrifice».

SINGAPORE — Shortly after she asked a senior executive at work for career guidance, Clarissa (not her real name) received two calls from an anonymous person informing her that the colleague was a married man. The 40-year-old sales executive said their relationship was a professional one, and she was offended by the caller's insinuation that she was having an affair with him. The calls marked the start of two years of torment when she was harassed and stalked online by a person who assumed false identities in various social media accounts. She later realised that the harasser was her colleague's wife. Clarissa, who is single, said: «I was very spooked. I didn't know what she was capable of and what falsehoods she could spread. »I was afraid she would spread false­hoods and kill my career opportunities." Among other acts of harassment, the wife started about a dozen social media accounts under fake identities, at times using the names of Clarissa's colleagues, presumably so that Clarissa would accept her friend request.

Quality art demands a high price - but this TikToker has expressed doubts that what she was recruited to model for is really art to begin with. A woman in Singapore has put up a warning on TikTok after she received an email inviting her to model for a sexually suggestive photoshoot, she said in a video uploaded to her TikTok on July 2. Lai Yi Jing, 21, was contacted by an email address under the name of Gavin Choo, who claimed to be a freelance photographer working on a «unique project» that required the use of models. «He was offering a compensation of $8,000 - indoor shoot, two hours, and it's a clothed shoot,» the junior designer said in her video. At that point, she felt it sounded too good to be true and reached out to Choo out of curiosity. She requested for Choo's portfolio which he did not provide, but in his reply he revealed that his photoshoot would be sexually themed.  Shoot will involve 50 men As someone who respects art, however, Lai also humoured the photographer and continued to consider the details of the shoot, letting Choo know about her interest.

SINGAPORE – A 50-year-old woman was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital on July 6 after she got into an accident involving a car while riding a personal mobility device (PMD). The police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force were alerted to the accident, which happened at the junction of Yishun Avenue 4 and Yishun Street 51, at about 11.35am. A dashcam video of the incident, shared on social media, shows the PMD rider attempting to cross on one side of the junction as the collision takes place. After being thrown to the road by the impact, the PMD rider gets back on her feet. The driver of the car can also be seen emerging from his vehicle. The police said that the PMD rider was taken to the hospital conscious, and that the 46-year-old male car driver is assisting with investigations, which are ongoing. The number of traffic accidents resulting in injuries increased from 6,779 cases in 2022 to 6,944 in 2023, but remained below the pre-pandemic figure of 7,705 cases in 2019. The number of those injured increased from 8,441 in 2022 to 8,931 in 2023, but also stayed below the pre-pandemic figure of 9,833 in 2019.

It has become predictable. Netizens are once again mocking the latest batch of Singapore beauty contestants hopefuls. The 10 finalists of Miss Singapore Beauty Pageant were unveiled in a 3½-minute video posted online on July 1. The next day, a Redditor shared a shorter version of the video asking: «Chio or not?» As expected, the comments were mostly unkind as netizens attempt to outdo one another with their put-downs:

19-year-old Dorothy Tan wanted to be a lawyer just like her dad. But the first-year law student was struck and killed in an accident last month before that dream could be fulfilled.  Tan was hit by a van along Joo Chiat Road as she was crossing the road. She later died in hospital. The accident occurred on June 8 at around 8am near the i12 Katong shopping mall, Shin Min Daily News reported. It added that a 24-year-old van driver is assisting police with investigations. Tan's parents, however, are still searching for answers. Social media posts on July 4 and 5 showed posters stuck onto lamp posts in the area, appealing for eye-witnesses to come forward with more information. https://www.facebook.com/juricia/posts/pfbid0R8azpa9fhDGwpVHXdvLdqzFEF8Kji14eAbeaouQdZpLbPFQPa7sHna85nUTR1TEMl A line from the notice bearing Tan's face read: «If you have any CCTV footage or if you saw anything helpful, please could you tell the police?»

When Pearl Pegram found out that she wouldn't be able to attend the National Day Parade (NDP) National Education (NE) show as a Primary 5 student back in 2020, she was disappointed. «I was let down because that was one of the things I was looking forward to during the school year,» the Secondary 3 student from North Vista Secondary School said. This year, the 15-year-old girl as well as those who missed out on the NE shows during the Covid-19 pandemic finally got the chance to catch the performances. At the second NE show on Saturday (July 6), Pegram sat at the Padang with her friends, soaking in the atmosphere. Speaking to AsiaOne before the show started, Pegram said that she was looking forward to spending time with her friends at the NE Show despite the heat that day. «It's like a make-up for the time I couldn't watch the show,» she added. Although she was there with her friends, she wouldn't mind watching the show with her family, either. «[The show] gives us an opportunity to bond with our family and celebrate Singapore's birthday.»

$5.10 might seem a reasonable price for a bowl of fish soup these days, but what if that portion comes with less than four slices of fish? That was the situation encountered by one disgruntled customer. In a Facebook post on Complaint Singapore, user Yong Tow Hu described how he'd ordered a meal at the Koufu food court located within Singapore General Hospital on Thursday (July 4). He shared that he'd ordered a small bowl priced at $5.10 instead of the $7.50 option as he'd never patronised the stall before. He was then allegedly met with a reply from an unhappy-looking stall assistant that «for $5.10, there are very few slices of fish». The customer then retorted: «So be it, I want to see just how few there are!'» In his post, Yong stated that he later took photos of the «three and a half slices of fish» in his bowl. Seeing this, the stall assistant allegedly rushed over to remind him of how she'd warned him beforehand about the portion size.

SINGAPORE - A 710 sq ft two-bedroom condominium unit at Pasir Ris 8 was sold at $1.49 million - or $2,101 per sq ft (psf) - in November 2023, a price almost 37 per cent higher than the launch price in 2021. The unit was the last two-bedder to go in the fully sold 99-year leasehold integrated development, one of a number of mixed-use projects that saw handsome price hikes shortly after they were launched, checks by The Straits Times found. ST looked at the sales transactions of 11 leasehold condominiums launched in 2021 across different districts and found that mixed-use developments generally saw stronger median unit price growth, compared with purely residential developments. In the case of the Pasir Ris 8 condominium, which is integrated into the recently opened Pasir Ris Mall, a two-bedroom unit was sold at $1.09 million, or $1,537 psf, at its launch in 2021. But there was such strong demand from the outset that the developer raised the selling price for the units six times in a single day during its launch weekend.

NEW DELHI - Ms Carolyne Marak's family has faced financial difficulties since the death of her father four years ago. But a nursing job in Singapore may help change things for the family of four. The 29-year-old, who has six years of nursing experience, passed the Singapore Nursing Board (SNB) licence exam in April. She has a job offer from a nursing home in Singapore and is waiting for registration from the board. She will then apply for a work permit, according to her recruitment agency, Ajith Enterprises. Singapore was her top choice when she attended a Meghalaya state government job fair for nurses in 2023, at which international recruiters from other countries such as Japan and Britain were also present. «I chose Singapore because I heard the place is safe and the weather is good. There is also no need to learn another language,» said Ms Marak, who has been offered seven times the salary she currently earns at a private hospital in Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, a state in north-eastern India. «My family is very excited. Let's see how much I can save,» she added.

SINGAPORE - The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is in talks with motorcycle retailers on the feasibility of requiring all new two-wheelers here to be fitted with an anti-lock braking system (ABS). ABS is an electronic feature that prevents wheels from locking up, thereby enhancing stopping power and control. All new cars here are already equipped with it, even though it has never been a legal requirement. The Straits Times understands that the LTA has proposed rolling out the new requirement from Jan 1, 2025, starting with Class 2A (201cc to 400cc) and Class 2 (401cc and above) motorcycles. In response to requests for details, an LTA spokeswoman confirmed that the authority was in consultation with the industry. Asked why the proposal does not include Class 2B (200cc and below) motorbikes, the spokeswoman would only say that the authority “will share more details when available”. The majority of motorcycles here belong to Class 2B, and industry players estimate that less than a third of such new two-wheelers are equipped with ABS, compared with half of Class 2A motorbikes and most Class 2 machines.

The former Chief Executive Officer of Swiber Holdings, Yeo Chee Neng, has been convicted and fined $310,000 on Thursday (July 4) for four counts of offences under the Securities and Futures Act (SFA). The 51-year-old, who held the roles of Group President and executive director, faced charges related to insider trading, false statements, and disclosure breaches. Why this matters This case highlights the critical importance of corporate transparency and accountability, particularly for young professionals entering the business world. What happened Swiber Holdings, an offshore oil and gas company, announced in 2014 that it had secured a US$710 million (S$958 million) project in West Africa. However, police investigations revealed the project was only in preliminary stages, and the announcement significantly overstated Swiber's business prospects. Insider trading explained Yeo became Swiber's CEO and Group President in June 2016. In these roles, he knew about the company's financial troubles due to a slowdown in the oil and gas sector.

The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has granted two-time world kitefoiling champion Maximilian Maeder a deferment from full-time national service until Aug 31, 2028. This was announced by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong at the official flag presentation ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games on Saturday (July 6). «We always look at the long-term trajectory and development potential of our athletes. In fact, we look at it beyond just the next Olympic cycle, we look to two cycles at least,» said Minister Tong. «In the case of Max Maeder, he has done very well. He's now double world champion, the European Champion, won Asian Games gold last year.» In a statement on the same day, Mindef confirmed that Maeder met the criteria for deferment, which «may be granted to exceptional sportsmen who are assessed to be potential medal winners for Singapore at top-tier international competitions such as the Olympic Games.» Each case is assessed in consultation with MCCY, Mindef said.

While a notice saying «vulgar activities are prohibited» was plastered on the wall, items such as sexy lingerie and emergency contraceptives lay behind closed doors of a 'spa'. On June 25, four women aged between 29 and 50 were arrested on suspicion of providing sexual services in the massage parlour during an anti-crime blitz. Nestled in a cluster of food and beverage establishments in Holland Village, the 'spa' appeared inconspicuous, reported Lianhe Zaobao. Beyond the shelves of nail art and healthcare products, a curtain hid two massage beds, a sofa and two other partitions. Sexy outfits and lingerie were also seen hanging on the wall next to the massage beds. Two women each sat on a massage bed as they waited to be questioned by the police. One of them told the police she recently started work in the 'spa'.

SINGAPORE — As he set off from Tampines on a bicycle trip that was going to take him across six countries, the last thing Ramadhan Rajab thought he would encounter after thousands of kilometres of travel was another Singaporean pedalling on two wheels. But the improbable happened, when Ramadhan, 27, met Chong Lezhen, 28, on the 124th day of his journey, after travelling some 5,090km. The two Singaporeans had embarked on separate «bikepacking» trips almost a month apart — Ramadhan on Feb 17 and Chong on March 10 — and had taken different routes across parts of South-east Asia, only to later cycle across each other’s path in China. Bikepacking, a combination of cycling and backpacking, involves travelling long distances over several days on a bicycle. The two Singaporeans first communicated in May, after Chong reached out on Instagram, where Ramadhan documents his bikepacking adventures. Ramadhan now has more than 57,000 followers on the platform. He had fewer than 300 at the start of his trip.

The pillars at a new bus stop near Parkway Parade has drawn flak from commuters, who said the structures block their view of incoming buses. A photo of the bus stop outside Marine Parade MRT station's exit 2, shared by a netizen on Reddit on Wednesday (July 3), shows some commuters standing in between the pillars. «Which genius designed this? No one can see incoming buses thanks to the row of pillars obscuring the view,» wrote Redditor Outrageous_Horse_157. Commenting on the post, one netizen wondered if the structure «is really needed». «Imagine the elderly travelling alone, then they need to get up from their seat, stick their head out to check and see if the bus is coming or not,» they wrote. «Stupid design,» said another netizen. «Bus cannot see passengers. Passengers cannot see bus.» Marine Parade resident Michelle Tng told AsiaOne that «bad visibility» at the bus stop is making commuters stand near the columns when looking out for their bus. The 21-year-old student said it is «a bit difficult» to alight at the bus stop, as people waiting at the pillars «are blocking the doors of the bus».

Retiree Aziz Shariff, 76, would drive his wife every Saturday from their home in Johor Bahru to Jamiyah in Singapore, where Madam Zaleha Maksum, 74, taught Quran reading to the blind. But June 1 spelt the end to the couple's routine after the car Mr Aziz was driving crashed into a walkway at Yishun Street 81. Mr Aziz suffered severe brain injury, broken ribs and internal bleeding. Madam Zaleha died just before 4pm on the same day. A black car crashed into the sheltered walkway at Block 820, Yishun Street 81. PHOTO: Lianhe Zaobao The couple's youngest son Mohammad Hanif Aziz told Berita Harian his dad had suffered a stroke while driving and is still in the intensive care unit at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. The 36-year-old explained that his father, who was born in Singapore but became a permanent resident in Malaysia after marriage, is hooked up to a ventilator.

Although August 9 is a day of significance for Singaporeans, it's an extra special occasion for Major Ervin Ng, whose wedding anniversary also falls on the same day.  «I got together with my wife on National Day back in 2013, and we got married on the same day in 2015,» the 36-year-old told reporters during an interview at Tengah Air Base on Thursday (July 4).  However, their yearly celebrations have to be put on ice this year as Ng will be among six pilots flying the F-16 Fighting Falcons over the island as part of this year's parade. Ng is also involved in the planning of the flight routes for the F-16s, a delicate process which requires navigating the air space around urban areas including Padang and the heartlands.  «It's very special this year, because both my children will be celebrating our anniversary together as they see me on the flight path. They have been very supportive and excited,» said Ng. 

After a 20-year-old motorcyclist refused to stop along the Bukit Timah Expressway for a routine check by the traffic police, he ended up self-skidding near a junction in Bukit Panjang. The rider then fled on foot, but did not get far before a traffic police officer caught up to him. A clip of the incident circulating online shows the man, clad in a black shirt and blue jeans with a grey helmet on, putting up a struggle against the officer along a footpath. The man eventually concedes and sits down as other auxiliary police officers arrive. A small crowd of curious onlookers have also gathered. https://www.tiktok.com/@_xredsicezx_/video/7387684958363585800 The drama unfolded near the junction of Petir Road and Gangsa Road at about 3.45pm on Thursday (July 4). An eyewitness named Fandi told Shin Min Daily News that a signboard nearby had been knocked over, and a motorbike was fallen on its side on the grass verge. A traffic police motorcycle was parked next to the kerb. The 20-year-old student, who was on his way home, reckoned that the man managed to run about 50 metres before being nabbed.

A hopeful man from Bangladesh found himself without a job and a place to stay after paying $7,000 to come to Singapore for a better-paying job. A post made on June 11 by the Facebook page of community organisation Migrant Workers Singapore (MWS) detailed the story of a migrant worker who was unable to contact his employer and was then left homeless after the agent who brought him to Singapore returned to Bangladesh without warning. The worker is 25-year-old Jaynal MD, a former auto-rickshaw driver from Bangladesh, reported CNA.

With the season in full swing, the king of fruits is very much in demand — so much so that one school invited a durian seller to set up a one-day pop-up stall on campus.   In just two hours, staff of the primary school in Serangoon snapped up 400kg of Musang King, Shin Min Daily News reported on Thursday (July 4). Wang, a 60-year-old driver, told the Chinese evening daily that he was at the school at noon on Wednesday to pick up students when he caught a whiff of the fruit. It led him to the canteen, where he saw banners and several employees from a durian vendor. «This is the first time I'm seeing durians being sold in the school, so I was curious.» For seller Durian Heroes, it is also a first for them. Owner Sabrina Lim, 46, told AsiaOne that she received the invitation from the school two weeks ago. «One of the teachers had bought durians from us and recommended us to the school management,» she said. She added that her team prepared 400kg of Black Gold and regular Musang King varieties after discussing the number of interested buyers with the school.

SINGAPORE — Five constituencies have seen their voter numbers increase by more than 10,000 since the 2020 General Election, the latest figures from Singapore's updated voter rolls show. They are Pasir Ris-Punggol, Sembawang and Tampines GRCs, and the two single-seat wards of Hong Kah North and Potong Pasir. Hong Kah North SMC now has 38,883 voters, a 65.33 per cent increase from 23,519 in 2020. One contributing factor is the growing development of Tengah New Town. The keys to 2,908 of the 3,753 units in the first three Build-To-Order (BTO) projects in Tengah had been collected by Jan 18, the Housing Board said earlier in 2024. There are another 20 BTO projects still under construction in Tengah. From the third quarter of 2024 to the fourth quarter of 2027, about 19,100 units will be delivered progressively to flat buyers, HDB added. Potong Pasir registered a 68.38 per cent increase from 18,551 to 31,236 voters, largely due to the influx of voters from Bidadari estate.

A father alleged that his 17-year-old son with myelitis was assaulted by a classmate in school on June 26 at around 9am. Stomp contributor N said his son was pushed onto the floor and punched several times. «As my son is still recovering since being hospitalised, he is very vulnerable and wasn't able to defend himself at all,» said the father, who works as a part-time security guard. «He was diagnosed with myelitis in 2018 and he ended up in hospital for almost one year. He still needs the support of a leg splint to walk.»

A Yishun resident was surprised when he recently discovered that his neighbours were rearing chickens. The man surnamed Chen, who lives in Block 429A in Orchid Spring @ Yishun, told Lianhe Zaobao that he heard chickens crowing while he was at home on June 18. He did not find any chickens when he went downstairs to investigate. The next day, the 41-year-old technician discovered the source of the noise — a makeshift chicken coop in the nearby community garden, which is on the roof of a multi-story car park. Photos taken by Chen show that the coop, made up of several wooden boards, is placed inside a fenced area. It houses at least five Silkie chickens. A signboard attached to the fence reads «Uncle and auntie's chicken farm, everyone is welcomed to come and visit». It also includes instructions for visitors to help replenish the animals' water and feed, as well as reminders to keep their hands clean and avoid touching items in the chicken coop. Two regular chickens can also be seen inside a storage container beside the coop.

The owner of the “Polite Car” – which was easily mistaken for a police patrol vehicle from a distance – has removed most of the livery on it after being advised by the police to do so. The police, in consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, have given the 32-year-old man a stern warning on July 2 under the Police Force Act 2004. Under the Police Force Act 2004, it is an offence for a person who is not a police officer to wear or possess any police uniform, or to use any police insignia, knowing that any member of the public may believe that he or she is a police officer. If found guilty, the person can be jailed for up to six months, or fined up to $2,500, or both. The Straits Times reported on June 18 that a white multi-purpose vehicle had decals with the word “polite” instead of “police”. Anyone who scans the QR code printed on the side of the car will be taken to the website of an ice-cream shop belonging to the car owner.

When durian claw machines appeared at night markets last year, many people flocked there to try their hand at grabbing the fruit. A YouTube video of content creators attempting to snag the durians also went viral. Now that the durian season is in full swing this year, the claw machines have made a comeback at a few locations across Singapore. Run by local arcade operator Play United, the machines were installed last week at its outlet in Hougang Mall, as well as two night markets near Yishun MRT station and Fajar LRT station in Bukit Panjang. For every two tokens, which cost $2, players get one shot at catching the thorny fruit. For $10 and $50, you get 15 tokens and 100 tokens respectively. They can be used at all the claw machines operated by Play United. Some players have already landed themselves bountiful loots. A content creator called Valentino said in his video that he and his friend managed to grab nine durians at the Yishun pasar malam. The clip, which was posted to his Instagram and TikTok accounts on Sunday (June 30), has since gone viral, garnering 2.4 million views and 500,000 views on the respective platforms. 

At 30, Rezaa Mohammad Salim has been through much more than others his age.  As the only son in a family of four, Rezaa travelled to Singapore in 2012 to work so that he could support his family in Bangladesh.  In 2016, however, he suffered a devastating injury after he was crushed between a crane and an iron pipe at the shipyard where he worked.  The freak accident destroyed the migrant worker's abdomen, and nearly killed him.  He was admitted to the National University Hospital (NUH), where he would spend the next seven years in a high-dependency ward.  «When he came to us, he was losing blood very rapidly in the stomach, and the entire lot of his intestines was severely damaged,» Adjunct Assistant Professor Raj Menon, Centre Director of National University Centre for Trauma, told AsiaOne in an interview on Wednesday (July 3). The young man was immediately rushed into the operating theatre, where Dr Raj and a team of surgeons helped to stop the bleeding.  «It was a catastrophic injury to his abdomen. In many cases, not many could have survived that kind of injury,» said Dr Raj. 

SINGAPORE — A woman who died while kayaking off Sentosa Island in 2023 could have been wearing a personal flotation device that was faulty, a Maritime Port Authority investigator said on July 4. Captain Cheong Kwee Thiam was speaking at a coroner's inquiry into the death of Chew Jia Tian, 33, that was attended by her parents. Chew went missing at sea during a kayaking trip with three other kayakers on the morning of Oct 22, 2023, and her body was found two days later following a search-and-rescue mission. Captain Cheong, who is a principal marine investigator, said in court on July 4 that when he opened up a back pocket of Chew's personal flotation device, he found the crotch strap neatly folded. Part of the strap's buckle was found to be missing, and Captain Cheong said that his resultant finding was that she had bought a personal floating device that was defective. Earlier in the proceedings, Station Inspector Muhammad Ruzaini Osman, the investigating officer from the Police Coast Guard, said Chew, Lee Kuok Ming and Loh Kin Huat had planned to set off from Sentosa on the day of the incident and kayak to the Southern Islands.

SINGAPORE - Allowing MPs to have a full-time job is a pragmatic arrangement, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at a dialogue with students on July 2. Responding to a question on why this is permitted, he noted that all political office-holders, such as ministers, also have to balance between their full-time job governing and their duties as MP. «In the same way, just to be pragmatic about it, we recognise that some people have other private sector commitments,» he said. «We let them do it, but we fully expect them to discharge their MP duties well.» There are consequences when MPs fail to do so, he said. Either the party decides not to renew them, or voters do so. «Voters will know if their MP is working hard or not. And voters can decide,» said PM Wong. Here are PM Wong's responses to some questions that students asked. On conflicts of interest The same student also asked if Singapore deems it a conflict of interest if politicians push the agenda of their backers or corporate interests ahead of the state's interest, as is the norm in some countries.

[UPDATE: 8.27AM] Regular train services have progressively resumed and free regular and bridging bus services have ceased. SINGAPORE — Services have resumed along the East-West Line (EWL) after a three-hour delay caused by a track fault at Jurong East station on July 4. The delays were a result of a faulty point machine, said train operator SMRT in a Facebook post at 8.18am. «A point machine controls train movements at rail junctions when trains switch tracks. It is crucial for the point machine to be fully functional for the safe operation of trains,» it added. Due to safety reasons, trains travelled at a speed of 5kmh after the fault was detected, said SMRT. «To rectify the fault, our staff went onto the track to investigate the issue.» Free regular bus and bridging bus services, which were available between Clementi and Boon Lay stations at designated bus stops, have now ceased. SMRT first announced the track fault, which occurred at the station at around 5am, at 7.25am.

Singaporeans can look forward to cash payouts and Medisave top-ups in August. About 1.5 million citizens will receive up to $850 in cash as part of the enhanced GST Voucher (GSTV) scheme, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in a press release on Thursday (July 4). Those living in homes with annual values of up to $21,000 will get $850, while residents of homes with annual values of more than $21,000, and up to $25,000, will receive $450. If you own more than one property, you are not eligible for the payout. About 650,000 Singaporeans aged 65 and above will also enjoy top-ups of up to $450 to their MediSave accounts. The 2024 GSTV disbursements were first announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during Budget 2023 and will amount to $1.4 billion - around $200 million more than the sum paid out to Singaporeans in 2023, said MOF. You can check your eligibility for the GSTV benefits at govbenefits.gov.sg by logging in with your Singpass. Those who have yet to sign up for the GSTV Scheme will be notified to do so by end-August via the Singpass app, SMS or hardcopy letters.