SINGAPORE – The Lions suffered a sickening blow on Boxing Day when they conceded a debatable 101st-minute penalty before what looked to be a 104th-minute knockout punch as they lost 2-0 to Vietnam in the first leg of the Asean Championship semi-finals at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Dec 26. After a resolute display in regulation time, the match turned on a controversial video assistant referee (VAR) decision in added time. Following a defensive miscommunication between goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud and Shakir Hamzah, the VAR adjudged the defender to have handled the ball in the box, and Nguyen Tien Linh successfully dispatched the spot-kick. Three minutes later, Nguyen Hoang Duc’s corner was flicked on by Pham Xuan Manh for Brazil-born Rafaelson to help his adopted country bring home a two-goal advantage for the second leg at the Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho on Dec 29, with the away goals rule not applicable. The first leg was played at the Jalan Besar as a late schedule change meant the National Stadium was unavailable for the game and the rest of the tournament, having already been booked for concerts in this period.

A couple broke into a bar on Neil Road, smiled and waved at the CCTV cameras before leaving the premises on December 12.   Speaking to 8days, the 36-year-old owner of the bar, Side Door, Tryson Quek recounted how he was shocked when he returned to find his door broken.  «We installed a blind so no one could reach the glass door, but [the couple] went in from the side to jiggle the door handle with pressure,» said Quek.  According to a CCTV footage, a man can be seen pulling at the door handle before breaking in and leaving, reported Shin Min Daily News.  A police report was made the next day after a clerk noticed the unlocked door and suspected a break-in. Quek also pointed out that another man who was outside the bar peeked behind the blind before gesturing to the couple.    The couple later checked their phones outside the bar, and the woman looked up at the CCTV cameras, smiled and waved before departing. 'They even made silly faces' The couple, believed to be in their 30s, was later identified after a video of their antics was posted on social media.

SINGAPORE — For fans who did not manage to get a ticket to the Asean Championship semi-final, first leg between Singapore and Vietnam, there are now more options to watch the match in a communal setting. The People's Association and HomeTeamNS will be organising 'live' watch parties that are open to the public for both legs of the semi-final. The first leg will be played at the Jalan Besar Stadium today (Dec 26), while the return leg will be held at the Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho on Dec 29. Both matches kick off at 9pm. On Tuesday, PA announced it will host watch parties at 11 community clubs and centres — Our Tampines Hub, Heartbeat @ Bedok, One Punggol, Wisma Geylang Serai, Kaki Bukit CC, Keat Hong CC, Jurong Spring CC, Pek Kio CC, Radin Mas CC, Tampines West CC and Buangkok CC. HomeTeamNS will do likewise at their JOM Balestier, Khatib and Bedok Reservoir outlets. On its website, it promoted a big-screen experience, free-flow snacks and drinks (while stocks last) for all and free parking for its members.

Two passengers got into a fist fight while disembarking from a Scoot flight. In a 20-second video posted to Reddit on Tuesday (Dec 24), the two men were seen in a heated conflict while waiting to get off the plane. The men exchanged punches with each other, as other passengers pleaded with them to stop fighting.  One of the passengers can be heard repeatedly shouting: «Stop fighting! There are kids here!» A spokesperson from Scoot told 8world the conflict occurred on the Dec 24 flight TR135 from Xi'an to Singapore. Crew members later intervened to stop the fight, following safety protocols, said the spokesperson, adding that there were no further disruptions to the passengers disembarking.  Scoot also reiterated its commitment to the safety and well-being of passengers and crew, and apologised for any inconvenience caused. AsiaOne has reached out to Scoot for more information.  

2024 was an exceptionally busy year for Singapore. Aside from the swearing-in of our fourth Prime Minster Lawrence Wong, Singapore also saw several international acts performing on our shores — including Taylor Swift, Coldplay and most recently, 2NE1.  And who can forget the major train breakdown, which affected some 2.1 million commuters, including students who were taking their PSLE examinations?  To wrap up the year, here’s a look at some highlights from 2024. 

SNGAPORE - A 24-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly voluntarily causing grievous hurt to a 25-year-old man on Christmas Eve. In a statement on Dec 25, the police said the suspect allegedly assaulted the 25-year-old with a knife along Jalan Besar Road at about 3.40am on Dec 24. The victim suffered laceration wounds and was later taken conscious to the hospital. The suspect fled the scene after the attack. Preliminary investigations showed that both men knew each other and had a dispute previously. Officers from Central Police Division later established the identity of the suspect and arrested him on the same day in a residential unit at Keat Hong Close. During the man’s arrest, a 19-year-old woman was also arrested for harbouring an offender, the police said. The man is expected to be charged in court on Dec 26. If found guilty, he can be sentenced to life imprisonment, or a term which may extend to 15 years. He can be also be fined or caned.

A toddler suffered a cut after she was struck on the head by a falling item in Sengkang on Tuesday (Dec 24). In a note addressed to Rivervale Shores residents, a person who appears to be the girl's parent, described how a metal object «flew out of nowhere» and hit the two-year-old at the Riverdale Shores playground. This left the girl bleeding from the head. «There was no one else at the playground at the time so it could have been high-rise litter. We have lodged a police report and they are investigating [the incident].» The social media post on Sgfollowsall.backup was to remind everyone to be careful, especially children, the parent explained. In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police said they received a call for assistance at the ground floor between Block 172D and Block 173A of Sengkang East Drive at about 11.15am. They also confirmed that the two-year-old child was conveyed conscious to hospital. The case is still under investigation.

SINGAPORE - The third executive who was fired by Singapore Post on Dec 21 following investigations over a whistle-blower’s report will contest his termination, saying the move is undue, unfair and without merit. In a statement posted on LinkedIn on Dec 24, Mr Li Yu, the former chief executive of the SingPost international business unit involved in a data falsification case, said he will contest the termination of his employment, the alleged reasons for the decision and the disciplinary proceedings. “I will seek to enforce my legal rights and vindicate my personal reputation,” he wrote. “I disagree with the alleged reasons given and will robustly defend my position in the proper forum.” Mr Yu, group CEO Vincent Phang and group chief financial officer Vincent Yik were sacked with immediate effect on Dec 21 after investigations stemming from a whistle-blower’s report sent to SingPost and the Infocomm Media and Development Authority in February were concluded. The report was not disclosed to shareholders until December 2024.

Two Singaporeans died a day apart while travelling along Malaysia's North-South Expressway this week. A 66-year-old Singaporean woman was killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Monday (Dec 23), which resulted in the deaths of six others. 33 people were also injured. On Tuesday, a 29-year-old Singaporean woman, and a Malaysian man died in a motorcycle accident on the expressway, New Straits Times reported. The first accident took place on the northbound route at Ayer Keloh rest and service area near Melaka. It involved a trailer lorry, a tour bus, a Toyota Estima MPV, a Nissan trailer and a Perodua Bezza sedan. Initial investigations found that the dislodged tyre of the trailer lorry caused a tour bus to crash into three other vehicles, said Malaysian transport minister Anthony Loke on Tuesday. According to Alor Gajah police chief Ashari Abu Samah, the dislodged tyre landed in the middle lane. «The tour bus then hit the detached tyre, causing the driver to lose control and swerve into the opposite lane [and hit other vehicles],» he said.

Taiwanese authorities have issued death certificates for a Singaporean couple who went missing after a massive earthquake struck Hualien in April. The pair should be presumed dead as they have not been found for over eight months, said the Hualien District Court. According to a Taiwan News report on Tuesday (Dec 24), the court issued death certificates for Sim Hwee Kok and Neo Siew Choo, with the time of death marked as noon on April 3. The couple's relatives, who recently visited Hualien, asked prosecutors to file a request for the death certificates, reported Central News Agency. However, they expressed their wishes to Hualien authorities for the search to resume so they may seek closure. In April, the family agreed to halt the search for the bodies after multiple attempts over 12 days did not yield any results, Taiwan News reported.

SINGAPORE - The authorities are looking into a case of jobs offered on LinkedIn, supposedly by a branch of the Communist Party of China and its Communist Youth League. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told The Straits Times on Dec 24 that it is aware of the matter and that police reports have been received. Two job listings had been posted on the online platform on Dec 20 by an account that named itself the Communist Youth League of China. The Communist Youth League of China is the youth wing of the Communist Party of China. The listings were for a party branch secretary and deputy branch secretary for a supposed Ngee Ann Polytechnic branch of the youth league. The account that made the listings, and the listings themselves, have since been taken down. MHA warned that the Singapore Government will not tolerate the importation of the politics of other countries into the Republic. «Foreigners visiting, studying, working or living in Singapore should not carry out their political agendas or activities here. We will deal firmly with any individual or group found to be doing so,» it said.

SINGAPORE - Passengers who use ride-hailing apps Grab, Gojek, Tada and ComfortDelGro's CDG Zig will pay more per trip from 2025 when the four operators hike platform fees, a move they say is meant to cover costs arising from the upcoming Platform Workers Act. Grab, the largest ride-hailing firm here, will raise its platform fee by 20 cents from 70 cents to 90 cents per trip from Jan 1, 2025. In an e-mail announcement to its users on Dec 24, Grab said this increase in platform fee will account for contributions to its workers' Central Provident Fund (CPF) accounts, work injury compensation and other welfare initiatives. Similarly, Gojek will raise its platform fee by 30 cents to 50 cents per trip starting from Jan 1, 2025. This is up from the current 60 cents to $1 per trip. The operator, which announced this on its website, said the revised platform fee will range from 90 cents to $1.50 for every trip. ComfortDelGro, the largest taxi operator in Singapore, will follow suit and raise its platform fee by 30 cents to 50 cents, from a flat rate of 70 cents to a range of $1 to $1.20 based on distance travelled and travel time.

Lim Cheng Cheng has stepped down from the board of directors of Singapore Post (SingPost), with effect from Monday (Dec 23). She resigned as a non-executive, non-independent director of the company, according to a bourse filing on the Singapore Exchange. «Ms Lim Cheng Cheng has served on the SingPost board for more than seven and a half years since her appointment on April 1, 2017,» said SingPost. This comes after telco Singtel's announcement last month that the 53-year-old, who is its group chief corporate officer, is leaving the company for a new professional opportunity. She will be succeeded by Mark Chong, 60, who previously served as Singtel's chief technology officer from 2017 to 2022. With Lim's resignation from Singtel and consequently the SingPost board, the telco has nominated a new non-independent and non-executive director in her stead.  «Consequent to Ms Lim's resignation, she will also cease to be a member of the finance and investment committee,» said SingPost in announcement on Monday. Singtel is a substantial shareholder of SingPost.

The brother of renowned local food critic KF Seetoh was killed and his 52-year-old Taiwanese wife missing following an explosion at their villa in Tuscany, Italy, on Saturday (Dec 21). Singaporean Seetoh Kwok Meng, 68, was with his wife Chang Kai En at his villa in the Italian town of Molazzana when the tragedy occurred shortly before midnight.  The couple had reportedly just returned home after having dinner with friends. Seetoh's body was found under the rubble outside his house at 9:40am on Sunday, while the search for his missing wife is currently ongoing. According to local news outlet Corriere Fiorentino, dozens of people, including firefighters and 118 volunteers, rushed to the scene to assist.  

Local banks OCBC and UOB will be giving one-off payments to their junior staff to help them cope with the cost-of-living pressures. In a media release on Monday (Dec 23), OCBC announced that about 4,000 Singapore-based junior employees across OCBC and its subsidiaries will receive a payout of $1,000 each. These employees comprise about 40 per cent of the group's workforce in Singapore. The initiative is part of an estimated $7.5 million plan to help close to 11,000 employees across the bank and its subsidiaries across 17 markets cope with cost-of-living pressures. The staff will receive the amount from February to April 2025. For staff outside Singapore, the support amount takes into consideration the respective local market conditions. This is the second one-off payout that the bank has provided to junior staff members. OCBC's head of group human resources Lee Hwee Boon said although inflation is expected to moderate in 2025, the bank acknowledges that cost-of-living concerns persist.

Two new ride-hail service operators — Geo Lah and Trans-cab Services — will enter the Singapore market in 2025. The news comes as licensed operators of point-to-point (P2P) transport services were announced by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Monday (Dec 23), ahead of rule updates to the sector that come into force in 2025. LTA said that Geo Lah and Trans-cab Services will be awarded one-year provisional licences. This will allow the operators to fine-tune their operational capabilities to meet regulatory standards for safety and service provision before they are considered for a full Ride-Hail Service Operator Licence, said the regulator. Existing licencees, including major players in ride-hailing and taxis, will have their respective licences renewed. More details on the updates were also revealed, which include less stringent requirements in obtaining a taxi driver's vocational licence and a move to help drivers compare trip data across various platforms. Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.

Twelve people were arrested during an island-wide police enforcement operation against drink driving which took place between last Friday (Dec 20) night and early Saturday morning.  This operation involved roadblocks set up on expressways, the first time this was done in over 10 years, said the police in a statement on Tuesday (Dec 24). Ten men and a woman, aged between 31 and 58, were arrested for drink driving, said the police. Among them, the highest Breath Evidential Analyser result was 60 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath - close to twice the prescribed legal limit of 35 micrograms.  Police officers conducting a breathalyser test on a motorist. PHOTO: Singapore Police Force On top of his drink driving offence, a 45-year-old man was also apprehended for driving while under disqualification. 

SINGAPORE - Singapore Post's dismissal of three senior executives, including its group chief executive and group chief financial officer, is unprecedented for a major Singapore-listed company, and highlights the importance of corporate governance, analysts said. However, the company's handling of the whistle-blower's report that led to these dismissals has also left shareholders with unresolved questions. For example, details have not been provided on when the board received the whistle-blower's report and what safeguards were put in place while investigations took place. Disclosures surrounding the terminations are «insufficiently clear» to SingPost shareholders at this point, said Mr David Gerald, president and chief executive of the Securities Investors Association (Singapore), or Sias. SingPost's latest annual report for the 2024 financial year also did not specifically mention the whistle-blowing issue.

SINGAPORE - A 21-year-old man has been arrested for his suspected involvement in a case of voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons. The police said they received a call for assistance at 214 Marsiling Lane on Dec 22 at about 10.35pm. According to preliminary investigations, the suspect purportedly got into a dispute with a 25-year-old male victim, and had allegedly used a Swiss army knife to attack him. The suspect was eventually detained by two passers-by and subsequently arrested by the police. The victim is believed to be a GrabFood delivery rider. In a Facebook post on December 23, user Daniel Redha recounted how his younger brother, a GrabFood delivery rider, was attacked the night before at 214 Marsiling Lane following a dispute with a customer over whether the change could be transferred via Paynow, instead of being given in cash as requested. Speaking to The Straits Times, Daniel said his brother met the customer at the lift lobby as no unit number was stated in the delivery address.

Visitors planning to tour the National University of Singapore (NUS) campus will need to register and book tour slots from January 2025.  Each guided tour will last about an hour and this will take place during the peak period from Jan 13 to Feb 21, 2025. This is to effectively manage visitor traffic on campus during this peak period, said the university.  Singapore Tourism Board-licensed travel agents and tourist guides may choose to book a group tour guided by a NUS student ambassador or engage a registered student docent to give them a tour of the campus, said an NUS spokesman in response to queries from AsiaOne. Tourists who are not accompanied by a student ambassador or student docent will be asked to leave the premises. These tours will be conducted primarily in English and each group can accommodate between 20 to 40 visitors, according to the NUS website. «All tour groups will also need to submit their bus plate details prior to their visit, as part of the registration requirements,» said the spokesperson. 

A 69-year-old man died in hospital on Sunday (Dec 22) following an alleged fight with his 71-year-old neighbour. The deceased was identified as Cai Jintong (transliteration) by Shin Min Daily News, which reported that both parties had an argument on the ground floor of Block 805 King George's Avenue that morning. According to Shin Min, Cai had visited the neighbour's flat while armed with a pole as he was unhappy that the latter did not apologise earlier. The two started fighting, with the neighbour allegedly armed with a knife. Cai was injured in the fight and headed downstairs, where he reportedly lost consciousness at the lift lobby. He is believed to have a heart condition, reported Shin Min. The police told AsiaOne they attended to the incident at about 11.35am that day. Preliminary investigations revealed that a 69-year-old man and a 71-year-old man had gotten into a dispute and allegedly fought with each other. The younger man was conveyed unconscious to the hospital, where he subsequently died.

When Singapore secured a spot in the Asean Championship semi-finals after drawing with Malaysia on Dec 20, not all fans present at the match were thrilled at the result. A particular group believed to be supporters of Malaysia's football team seemingly took a photo after the match while holding Singapore's flag upside down. Various versions of the picture were shared across social media platforms and drew significant criticism from Singaporeans. One such picture posted to TikTok on Dec 21 shows about 30 to 40 people posing while holding two Singapore flags upside down. A zoomed-in version of the same photo was also posted on Reddit. It shows multiple men flashing their middle fingers next to the flag. A banner next to the flags, also being held upside down, reads «Singapore». Many Singaporean netizens expressed their anger, stating that the photo was disrespectful to Singapore and its national flag.

SINGAPORE — Singapore's key consumer price gauge rose 1.9 per cent in November on a yearly basis, lower than economists' forecasts and the smallest rise in nearly three years, official data showed on Monday. The core inflation rate — which excludes private road transport and accommodation costs — was lower than the 2.1 per cent forecast by a Reuters poll of economists and compared with a 2.1 per cent rise seen in October. It was the smallest rise since November 2021, when it climbed by 1.6 per cent. Headline inflation was 1.6 per cent in annual terms in November, lower than the 1.8 per cent expected in the poll. The Monetary Authority of Singapore had forecast core inflation to be around 2 per cent in the fourth quarter. Slowing inflation has created room for Singapore's central bank to ease monetary policy in January but analysts have said the MAS might wait until later in 2025 on the back of incoming US President Donald Trump's policies.

Buyers and ultimate beneficial owners of all landed residential property transactions, including those of good class bungalows (GCB), are required to disclose their identities and citizenship. «This is regardless of whether a caveat is lodged for the transaction, and regardless of whether the purchase is made by an individual, an entity, or through a vehicle such as a trust or company, including a shell company,» said the Ministry of Law on Monday (Dec 23). As part of the sale process for landed homes, including GCBs, the Singapore Land Authority requires buyers to declare their identities and citizenship when lodging the instrument of transfer at the Land Titles Registry, it added. The ministry was responding to media reports published two weeks ago. Bloomberg, The Edge Singapore, The Independent Singapore and The Online Citizen had reported that there are no publicly available government records of GCB sale transactions if caveats were not lodged.

Visitors planning to tour the National University of Singapore (NUS) campus will need to register and book tour slots from January 2025.  Each guided tour will last about an hour and this will take place during the peak period from Jan 13 to Feb 21, 2025. This is to effectively manage visitor traffic on campus during this peak period, said the university.  Singapore Tourism Board-licensed travel agents and tourist guides may choose to book a group tour guided by a NUS student ambassador or engage a registered student docent to give them a tour of the campus, said an NUS spokesman in response to queries from AsiaOne. Tourists who are not accompanied by a student ambassador or student docent will be asked to leave the premises. These tours will be conducted primarily in English and each group can accommodate between 20 to 40 visitors, according to the NUS website. «All tour groups will also need to submit their bus plate details prior to their visit, as part of the registration requirements,» said the spokesperson. 

SINGAPORE - The former chief executive and chief financial officer of Singapore Post (SingPost), who were both fired on Dec 21 over a whistleblower's report, said the reasons provided for their termination are without substantive grounds and that the process leading to the move was not conducted fairly. «It is our position that the termination is without merits, and was also procedurally unfair,» former CEO Vincent Phang and former CFO Vincent Yik said in an official statement sent to the media on Dec 23. They added: «We vigorously contest the termination of our employment, both on merits and on the grounds of procedural unfairness. »We categorically reject any suggestion that we were grossly negligent, had behaved inappropriately or had sought to misrepresent facts at any point." Mr Phang, Mr Yik and a third official, Mr Li Yu, who was CEO of an international business unit at the company, were terminated from employment with immediate effect on Dec 21 after investigations stemming from a whistleblower's report were concluded.