A man begging for money along Waterloo Street was arrested by the police after some members of the public raised doubts about his behaviour.  The man, who has a 7cm tumour on his jaw, was seen sitting outside Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple on Dec 31, reported Shin Min Daily News. With legs of different lengths, he relied on crutches to walk. Seated in front of a lamppost, the man would hold two to three packets of tissue in his hand, attempting to sell them to passers-by.  Upon seeing his disabilities, several people handed him cash, ranging from $2 to $10. They did not take any tissues from him.  According to Shin Min, the man received about $50 in the span of 10 minutes.  His actions eventually caught the attention of member of the public who called the police on him.  Officers arrived at the scene and took the man aside for questioning. When asked for his identification, the man pulled out a passport believed to be from China.  The questioning continued for about half an hour before the man was taken away in a police car. 

Singaporean households will receive $300 worth of Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers on Friday (Jan 3) to help with cost of living. In a video posted to his social media pages, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that the vouchers are available for redemption on Friday, and are valid till Dec 31. «I hope this will go some way in supporting you and your family,» said PM Wong. The latest tranche of CDC vouchers are part of the $1.9 billion enhancement to the Assurance Package which were announced during Budget 2024.  Singaporeans would get $600 in CDC vouchers — which would be split into two disbursements in June 2024 and January 2025. 

The results of the 2024 GCE O-level examinations will be released next Friday (Jan 10).  School candidates will receive their results from their secondary schools from 2.30pm on Jan 10, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) on Friday (Jan 3). Details on the specific collection arrangements will be shared by the respective schools.  School candidates who are unable to collect their results in person can appoint a proxy to collect a physical copy of the results on their behalf. To do so, the proxies must produce relevant documents for the school's verification when collecting results.  School candidates may also approach their respective schools if they are unable to appoint a proxy.  Private candidates with a Singpass account may retrieve their results online via the SEAB's candidates portal from 3.15pm on Jan 10 to 11pm on Jan 24.  Those without a Singpass account can view their results on the portal with the account they created when during registration for the exams. 

Seniors in Singapore spend an average of $2,278 annually on lottery tickets, one study has found, with about half of those surveyed reporting net winnings in the past year. These findings were based on a paper titled «Consumption Responses to Income Shocks through Lottery Winning: Evidence from Older Adults in Singapore» published in 2024 by Koh Kanghyock and Kim Seonghoon, reported Lianhe Zaobao. The latter is an Associate Professor of Economics at Singapore Management University, as well as the Deputy Director at the Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (ROSA), according to the university's website, while Kang is an Associate Professor at the Department of Economics at Korea University. Based on data from 58.9 per cent of those surveyed, the average lottery expenditure in the last 12 months was $2,278. About 51 per cent of them reported that they had won a net positive amount in the last 12 months, with the average prize money at $1,090. This survey involved 6,212 individuals aged between 50 and 70.

SINGAPORE — In the heat of an argument over parenting styles, a woman threatened her husband that she would tell the police he had raped her, and told their teenage son she was going to kill his father in his sleep. Jessinta Tan Suat Lin, 50, also hit a female neighbour with a mop until its aluminium handle broke into three because the latter did not stop skipping rope in a common area after Tan asked her to. On Jan 2, Tan pleaded guilty to three charges — one each for committing a rash act, voluntarily causing hurt and harassment. Two other charges — for harassment and another rash act — will be taken into consideration for sentencing. The housewife is a former journalist who previously worked with news platforms including Today. On the evening of Feb 16, 2024, Tan was at home at Westmont condominium in West Coast Road when her neighbour began exercising with a skipping rope at the common area near the swimming pool. Frustrated because her son wanted to rest, Tan approached her neighbour and asked her to stop exercising, but she refused.

Some Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) officers were in for a treat yesterday (Jan 1) when they received a cake from their Malaysian counterpart at the ICA Woodlands checkpoint. In a Facebook post on the same day, the Malaysian immigration authorities wrote: «In conjunction with this new year's celebration, the Sultan Iskandar Building Immigration Office is pleased to hand over [our] gift in the form of a cake to our colleagues at ICA Woodlands.» «We thank you and may this practice continue every year as a symbol of the goodwill relationship between the authorities of the two countries. Happy New Year 2025.» Photos uploaded together with the post show Sultan Iskandar Building's Deputy Chief of Immigration Vimala Ramalinggam smiling as she handed the confectionery to Senior Assistant Commander Superintendent Lee Lai Yen. The rainbow cake received by ICA was adorned with red and white cream roses with well-wishes «Happy New Year 2025. Peace, prosperity, safety!» written on it. 

It takes 50 minutes to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, but for one woman recently, it took two days. She boarded her Scoot flight at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Dec 28 evening and after a series of unfortunate circumstances, Stomp contributor Annah landed at Changi Airport only two days later on a different airline. Her original Scoot flight TR469 was scheduled to depart at 7.10pm on Dec 28, but a technical fault was detected. «We remained on the aircraft until they asked us to deplane at about 9pm,» recounted the Stomp contributor. «The new scheduled departure was an hour later. So we just hung around in the airport. They boarded us again at 10.30pm, but they couldn't take off due to same technical issues »Around 12:15am, they declared the flight cancelled and offered to two options: cancel and get 100 per cent refund or wait for them to work on hotels and a new flight." She said there were many children and elderly people on the flight and the passengers started getting upset as the ground staff were not providing information such as the time of the new flight.

A motorist was so astounded by the behaviour of a woman that he likened it to something you see on National Geographic. Stomp contributor Lee alerted Stomp to the videos of the incident in the carpark behind Ang Mo Kio Hub on the afternoon of New Year's Eve posted by Facebook user Ma Jian Ting, who was the motorist. He was waiting for a car to leave a lot before reversing into it, but as soon as the car departed, a red Byd Atto drove forward and a woman in a red top got out of the passenger side. Stepping forward, she raised her right hand to stop Ma from reversing into the lot so that the Byd could park there instead. After parking, the Byd driver got out of the car and both women took out their phones and appeared to take photos or videos of Ma's vehicle. Ma posted on Facebook: "Never in my life have I witnessed someone claim parking spaces like they were defending a sacred relic. Apparently, the entire street was her personal empire, and I was foolish enough to think I could park there.

A woman has penned an open letter to a boy's parents, after allegedly witnessing their domestic helper slapping him. The incident occurred at Kinex Mall located at Tanjong Katong last Saturday evening (Dec 28), according to a post submitted to the Complaint Singapore Instagram page on Thursday. «Hi mummy/daddy, if this is your helper, I just want to let you know that my family witnessed her slapping your son (wearing red) yesterday,» the user wrote, stating that it happened after they had just arrived at the indoor playground Wan To Play Space at about 6.50pm. She alleged that the boy had pushed the helper out of mischief, to which the helper swiftly retaliated. «She quickly turned around and gave him a very hard loud slap at his neck/face,» added the eyewitness who shared that the helper had «probably missed» his face. The eyewitness stated that she then voiced her displeasure and shock that the other woman had hit the child before leaving the area.

SINGAPORE - As he looked back on a year of robust debates in Parliament covering topics such as digital safety and anti-money laundering laws, Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh said the party would continue to work hard and secure the people's support ahead of the general election in 2025. In his New Year message posted on the WP Facebook page on Dec 31, the Leader of the Opposition said the WP firmly believes that «constructive parliamentary debates and the diligent responsiveness of policymakers to inquiries» result in improved policy outcomes for Singapore and Singaporeans. «Towards this aim, we worked and played our part as a loyal opposition in Parliament in 2024,» said Singh. His party has eight MPs in the House. In his message, he cited former president and People's Action Party (PAP) deputy prime minister Tony Tan, who in his memoirs launched in March said he felt Singapore was moving towards a two-party system. Singh said: "The Workers' Party has played its part to promote a more stable political arrangement for Singapore, where alternative views do not just have a voice, but a vote in Parliament.

A Singapore-registered car drove off after colliding with a motorcycle in Johor Bahru on Dec 29. Dashcam footage of the incident shared on X show a white sedan switching lanes to head in the direction of the Causeway towards Woodlands at 5.39pm. It knocks over a motorcycle and briefly stops ahead of the bike but drives off once the motorcyclist gets back up. The car, however, gets stuck in traffic, which allows a policeman to reach it on foot just two minutes after the collision. PHOTO: Screengrab/X/Update11111 Some Malaysian netizens were enraged by the incident, accusing Singaporeans of being disrespectful while in other countries. One X user tagged Singapore's police, government agencies and even Singapore Airlines to complain: «The country is rich but poor in manners.»

Two bulk carriers collided in China's Yangtze river, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Tuesday (Dec 31), adding that no injuries to the crew were reported. Vega Dream, owned and operated by Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, collided with Yangze 22, the bulk carrier sailing under the Singaporean flag, on Dec 30, although the vessels were in stable condition, the MPA said. Yangze 22, whose hull was damaged by the collision, was reported to have spilt about nine metric tonnes of fuel oil. It is currently stationed at Hengsha East Anchorage for damage assessment, Singapore's port authority said. Officials from Mitsui O.S.K. Lines were not immediately available for comment. The Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) has been conducting the clean-up of the fuel oil spillage along with several support craft deployed by Yangze 22's company, the MPA said in a statement. The MPA did not immediately respond to a Reuters request seeking additional details on Yangze 22.

SINGAPORE – Jubilant celebrations took place across more than 23 locations in Singapore as the country rang in 2025 with fireworks, drone shows, and even a K-pop mass dance event. While tens of thousands flocked to Marina Bay and the Kallang Basin areas to catch the fireworks display that lit up the skies every Dec 31st, many opted for locations closer to home, at 17 countdown celebrations in the heartlands organised to kick off the Republic’s diamond jubilee, dubbed SG60. They included social media executive Stephanie Tay, 25, who has a tradition of attending countdown celebrations every year with her husband and son. This year, for the first time, they joined the one at Our Tampines Hub. She was not disappointed - the Tampines countdown featured live music performances and a skating rink, though families donned rollerblades instead of ice skates and bubbles took the place of snow.

SINGAPORE — Singapore's economy grew four per cent in 2024, exceeding expectations, while median income has risen by 2.2 per cent per annum above inflation over the past decade. Unlike in many developed countries, Singapore is not plagued by unemployment and stagnant wages. Most workers have received wage increases that outpace inflation, making them better off in real terms, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who expects real incomes to rise further. In his first New Year message on Dec 31 as prime minister, he said the collective effort of Team Singapore made all the difference — be it overcoming crises, supporting one another in times of need, or striving for excellence on the global stage. This Team Singapore spirit must be carried into 2025 and beyond, said PM Wong, adding that he will set out the next steps of Forward Singapore in Budget 2025. The Budget speech will be delivered in Parliament on Feb 18. Through Forward Singapore, policies will be revised, attitudes and mindsets reset, and the Singapore Dream refreshed.

A woman was shocked to return home from holiday with her family to find that her Filipino maid had disappeared, along with $500 missing from the house. Zhang, a 40-year-old bank clerk, told Shin Min Daily News that she hired her maid, Giselle, in July this year. But a month later, she reportedly borrowed $500 from loan sharks.  «She performed well at work. In August, when I checked her chat history on her phone, I found out that she had borrowed money from loan sharks,» said Zhang. She told Shin Min that Giselle had also provided Zhang's information to the money lenders.  Zhang then reportedly brought Giselle to the police station to file a report and warned her not to repeat her actions. In December, Zhang who, was vacationing in Japan with her family, grew worried when she noticed no activity on her home's CCTV cameras. After checking the footage, she discovered that her 39-year-old maid had left their home the previous day with a small bag and has not returned since. 

Two Singaporeans were rescued on Monday (Dec 30) after they lost their way climbing a mountain in Langkawi, Malaysia. In a Facebook post on Monday, the Padang Matsirat fire and rescue department said they dispatched a team to search for the pair after receiving a call for assistance at 10.30pm on Sunday. The search for the hikers began just after midnight, starting at their last known location. Rescue personnel found Wang Cheng Kang, 23, and Li Shuen Qi, 25, at 2.48am and escorted them down the mountain, the Straits Times reported. They reached the foot of the mountain at 4.35am. «They started climbing Mount Mat Cincang at 12.02pm and are believed to have gotten lost due to the darkness,» said fire and rescue station chief Zaidi Lazim. Wang and Li were subsequently handed over to the police for further action, Bernama reported.

When the relationship between a landlady and her tenant became strained, the latter decided to move out and asked for her $600 rental deposit back. Their discussion allegedly turned physical after the landlady took offence when asked: «Do you really need this $600?» The conflict, which occurred on Dec 24, saw the police called in, reported Shin Min Daily News. The tenant from Malaysia, surnamed Chen, told the Chinese evening daily that she was renting the bedroom of a Marsiling HDB flat, and had negotiated the monthly rent from $600 to $580. Prior to moving in on Oct 31, the woman said the landlady had also agreed that she could cook in the kitchen. However, her monthly rent was reportedly raised to $600 after moving in. Chen said she uses the kitchen about four to five times a week. She claimed that the landlady would complain and shoot her dirty looks whenever she cooks, causing their relationship to become strained. On Dec 24, the tenant told her landlord she did not want to stay on and asked for her deposit back.

Amid the north-east monsoon and record rainfall events over the past few months, flash floods have hit Singapore on at least three occasions.  The most recent occurred in the evening of Dec 29, when several places including Dunearn Road, Bukit Timah Road near King Albert Park, and Balmoral Road were inundated.  Cars were stranded along many of the affected roads. The rainy north-east monsoon season, in particular, made November Singapore’s wettest since rainfall data collection began in 1980. This wet phase of the monsoon is expected to persist until late January 2025. “We are unable to predict the intensity of these showers far ahead of time, as rainstorms can develop quickly in Singapore’s climate,” said Mr Maurice Neo, director of the catchment and waterways department at national water agency PUB. “However, extremely heavy rainfall over a short period can sometimes exceed the capacity that the drains are designed for. That is when flash floods – small and localised floods that typically do not last for more than an hour – may occur,” he added.

A teen boy with special needs keeps stealing the e-bikes of food delivery riders in Woodlands and they are appealing for the authorities to do something about it. One of the delivery riders, Stomp contributor Tay, said they have been grappling with this «unique and persistent» issue since November. «A 14-year-old boy, reportedly carrying a special needs card, has been repeatedly stealing e-bikes and opening delivery bags to take the riders' belongings,» said the Stomp contributor. «Despite multiple police reports, the issue remains unresolved, leaving the riders frustrated and concerned. The boy targets e-bikes parked in the area every few days. Some of us also caught him in the act and even provided photos and videos of his actions. »However, due to the boy's condition, authorities are unable to press charges or detain him for long. Each time he is apprehended, he is released the following day, only to resume his disruptive activities."

Lucky punters will have the chance to win an estimated $8.2 million at the first Toto draw of 2025 happening this week. The Group 1 jackpot has snowballed after no winners were chosen at the past two draws on Dec 26 and Dec 30.  According to Singapore Pools' website, the prize started at $1.3 million on Dec 26 before snowballing to $3.2 million on Dec 30. The last draw occurred on Monday (Dec 30), yielding two Group 2 winners who shared the prize of $203,722. Extended operating hours for New Year Draw The 2025 TOTO New Year Draw will take place on Friday (Jan 3) at 9.30pm. All Singapore Pools' outlets will be extending their operating hours for the draw and will be open till 9pm on Friday. Authorised retailers will also be open from 8am to 8pm on Wednesday and Thursday.

A Singaporean hiker in Taiwan was rescued by a helicopter after fracturing her foot during a climb on Sunday (Dec 29). The woman, reportedly in her 30s, and her friends were trekking Xueshan (Snow Mountain) in Taichung when she fell, according to ET Today. As she was unable to walk, her friends called emergency services for help and carried her to a nearby lodge. Subsequently, a helicopter was dispatched to the lodge. Because of the steep terrain, rescuers decided to hoist the woman up to the aircraft, United Daily News reported. A clip of the operation shared online shows a crew member and the hiker being hoisted up and pulled into the cabin. After the helicopter arrived at Ching Chuan Kang air base, an ambulance took the Singaporean to hospital for medical treatment.

Households in Singapore can expect to see a dip in electricity and gas prices from January to March 2025, due to lower energy costs.  The electricity tariff will fall by 3.4 per cent or 0.98 cent per kilowatt hour (kWh) before GST, said SP Group on Monday (Dec 30). This translates to a revised pricing of 28.12 cents per kWh, down from the current 29.10 cents.   With the new tariff, the average monthly electricity bill for a family living in a four-room HDB flat, for example, will drop by $3.58. Electricity bills are calculated using four components, including the cost of energy and the cost of operating the power stations, among others. SP Group said it reviews electricity tariffs every quarter based on guidelines set by industry regulator the Energy Market Authority (EMA). Fees may also fluctuate due to global fuel prices.