No government e-services can be used with only a person's NRIC number and its date of issue, said the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) on Tuesday (Feb 4). In a written reply to questions raised by several MPs during Parliament, Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo said that government agencies have conducted checks on the potential impact on online services. These checks came after scammers used compromised Singpass accounts to change the addresses of victims via the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority's (ICA) e-service platform last month. «So far, there have been no transactional services identified that can be completed in the same manner,» she said. Teo explained that government agencies are required to conduct regular risk assessments of their tech systems, including risks arising from systems managed by other agencies, adding that vulnerabilities must be addressed immediately.

A backpack containing over $14,000 in cash was returned to its rightful owner, thanks to an honest passenger and bus captain. The incident was shared on the SBS Transit Facebook page on Tuesday (Feb 4). Bus captain Chen Long was driving bus service 58 when a passenger handed over a backpack that had been left behind. The 42-year-old bus captain immediately contacted the operations control centre, and learnt that a passenger had reported the missing backpack 25 minutes prior.  He brought the misplaced backpack to Bishan Interchange after his shift and handed it over to the staff, who discovered that it contained more than $14,000 in cash. «I was overjoyed to see everything intact! Deeply grateful to the staff who helped recover my belongings, and I wish the bus captain all the best in his work,» said the owner, who was relieved after picking up her backpack. The money was intended to open a bank account, she added. «It's about doing the right thing,» said Chen, sympathetic to the owner's anxiety.

Rather than starting the new year on the right foot, these men appear to have chosen to use their fists instead. A volunteer was allegedly attacked by three devotees at the Sheng Hong Temple in Jurong East, according to a Facebook post by the temple's management on Monday (Feb 3). According to them, the incident occurred during the early hours of Jan 29, the first day of Chinese New Year. It is known to be a time where many devotees rush to be the first to plant their incense offerings, believing that it would bring them good fortune. Prior to the worship hall opening to the public for prayers, one devotee purportedly attempted to rush in, accidentally tripping and falling, the post read. Clamouring to his feet, they stated that the devotee then began attacking a volunteer dressed in the temple's uniform. Two other devotees also got involved, attacking the volunteer, said the temple's management. They added that a fourth person wanted to «talk with [the volunteer] outside», to which the volunteer declined, expressing that he did not want there to be any trouble on the first day of Chinese New Year.

The Chinese-Malay-Indian-Others (CMIO) framework has worked well for Singapore, and helped forge and preserve racial harmony, said Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam on Wednesday (Feb 5). He was responding to a parliamentary question by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Leong Mun Wai on when the Government plans to review the CMIO model. During an Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) conference last month, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said that the CMIO framework should be constantly reviewed to reflect Singapore's increasingly complex multicultural landscape.  In his reply during Parliament, Shanmugam said the CMIO framework helps the Government administer race-based policies and programmes which promote social cohesion, provide targeted interventions within the various racial communities, and safeguard the rights of minorities. This includes the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) which draws from the CMIO framework to ensure a good mix of races in public housing estates. 

SINGAPORE — Singapore has passed a law designed to protect against foreign interference in its race-based clans and business associations, as the government looks to limit outsiders from undermining racial harmony in the multicultural city-state. Under the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill, which was passed late on Tuesday (Feb 4), if an organisation is designated as a race-based entity, they will have to disclose foreign and anonymous donations, foreign affiliations and their leadership. The government can also impose a restraining order to stop an entity from accepting donations from a foreign principal, prohibit anonymous donations or require the entity to return or dispose of donations. The new law also empowers the home affairs minister to issue restraining orders against individuals involved in «content that prejudices the maintenance of racial harmony in Singapore». Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam told parliament the bill was not a panacea for all racial issues and could not prevent insensitivity or racial slights in everyday dealings.

SINGAPORE — A 32-year-old woman has sued her former obstetrician and gynaecologist over an injury she suffered during childbirth in 2020, alleging that his negligence had impacted her marital, social and professional life. The woman is seeking unspecified damages from Dr Khoo Chong Kiat, who practises at CK Khoo Clinic for Women & Laparoscopy. She was working in the funeral business when she had her baby and is now a housewife. Her identity is not disclosed in this story for her privacy. The trial opened in the High Court on Feb 4. The woman, a first-time mother, had a healthy baby girl via vaginal birth on May 3, 2020. Her medical negligence suit, filed in April 2023, levied a host of allegations against the doctor over his treatment of a tear in the tissue wall separating the vagina and the rectum that she suffered during childbirth. The tear led to a rectovaginal fistula, an abnormal connection that allows bowel contents to pass through the vagina. It also caused inflammation and infection in the area. The woman alleged that Dr Khoo did not tell her about the tear before he stitched her up in the delivery suite.

A former police officer convicted of the murder of two men in 2013 has been executed on Wednesday (Feb 5). Iskandar bin Rahmat was sentenced to capital punishment on Dec 4, 2015 for killing Tan Boon Sin, 67, and his elder son, Tan Chee Heong, 42, on July 10, 2013. Iskandar had previously appealed against his conviction but was rejected by the Court of Appeal in 2017. His petitions to the president for clemency were also denied. According to a statement from the Singapore Police Force on Wednesday, the 46-year-old was accorded full due process under the law and was represented by legal counsel both during the trial and at the appeal. «Capital punishment is imposed only for the most serious crimes, including murder,» they added. Kovan double murder During the time of the killings, Iskandar had been facing financial troubles and imminent bankruptcy with over $60,000 in debt.

SINGAPORE - More than 100 Singaporeans have been marked for deportation by the United States authorities since November 2024. The 111 Singaporeans are among more than 1.4 million foreign nationals who were issued deportation orders and are on the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) non-detained docket. That means they are not being held by ICE but may be detained by other agencies for running afoul of the law. The ICE list, with about seven million individuals, includes foreign nationals who came to the US seeking asylum and are waiting for immigration proceedings. They could also be US permanent residents who have been convicted of a crime or are under a programme called Alternatives to Detention, which means they may be free to move around but are required to report regularly to the authorities or wear an ankle monitor, among other things. Out of the seven million people, only about a fifth have got “final orders of removal”, which means they will be deported within 90 days of receiving the order, according to latest figures from November 2024. However, there are exceptions.

A fast moving boat cuts steadily across the busy Singapore Strait, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Unknown to the four men onboard, a sleek grey hull vessel along the strait had turned around towards them.  In an instant, the grey vessel lit up its strobe light and siren and sped steadily towards the fast moving boat, deemed to be suspicious. The grey vessel skillfully manoeuvred through other maritime traffic in the vicinity, and the pursuit ended in seconds when the boat stopped in the water.

When it comes to cases of bullying and violence in schools, vigilantism from adults can complicate the situation, Chan Chun Sing said on Tuesday (Feb 4). He was responding to parliamentary questions filed by Non-Constituency MP Hazel Poa, who asked about two incidents at Admiralty Secondary School that surfaced online in January. «No one should be bullied, no one wants to be bullied, and no one should bully,» the education minister said. MOE monitors cases of bullying within and outside schools, as well as online and offline, Chan added. While cases of physical bullying are relatively stable and manageable, he pointed out that other associated issues that have emerged online are worrying. The virality of social media posts has «heightened sensitivities» and increased «social media vigilante actions», which could normalise extreme behaviour and hinder rehabilitative actions. «The unhelpful involvement of even a minority of adults can complicate the situation and compound the challenges faced in guiding our students,» Chan said.

Singapore is not expected to be hit by trade tariffs from the United States but still stands to be indirectly impacted as it is a small and open economy, said Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 4), Dr Balakrishnan noted how the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has contributed to a tripling of bilateral trade since 2004, allowing the US to consistently maintain a trade surplus with Singapore. «I do not anticipate us being on the hit list for direct tariffs, because… the United States has a surplus as far as the trade balance with us is concerned,» said Dr Balakrishnan. But Singapore still needs to be careful and prepared for how turbulent the economic situation can be, he said.

It's time to shed your old luck and slither into the new year, possibly with heavier pockets. This year's Toto Hong Bao Draw will be held on Feb 7, with an estimated $12 million jackpot. The draw will take place at 9.30pm at the Singapore Pools Building at Middle Road. All betting outlets have started selling $10 and $20 ticket packs as of 6.10 pm on Monday (Feb 3).

Sustainability is a key element in helping Singapore create a better future for everyone, and Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP)'s new sustainability masterplan aims to drive sustainable change for the next generation. The masterplan comprises a pivotal component, NYP X, a series of plug-and-play sustainability initiatives and activities to involve and help catalyse positive change in different communities and neighbourhoods across Singapore, starting with NYP's immediate neighbourhood - Teck Ghee. From Project Rejuven-Aid, a home refurbishment initiative that supports vulnerable households, to the vibrant Freecycle Market that breathes new life into pre-loved items, NYP aims to expand these programmes through partnerships beyond their campus.

Singapore’s oldest living artist Lim Tze Peng, best known for his Chinese ink scenes of old Chinatown and the Singapore River, as well as his distinct calligraphic idiom termed “muddled writing”, has died at 103. According to a report in Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao, he died on Feb 3 at 6pm. His eldest son, Mr Lim Su Kok, told Zaobao that his father was hospitalised for pneumonia in January. Lim is the subject of a major ongoing solo exhibition at the National Gallery Singapore (NGS), along with at least three recently concluded exhibitions in private galleries. Ms Jazz Chong – owner of Ode To Art gallery, which has represented Lim for 17 years – said: “He is like a grandfather to me, one of the most compassionate and inspiring people in my life. His dedication to his art was unwavering, and even in his final months, it was a joy to see him still painting happily.” Gallerist Goh Chee Keong, who ran a solo exhibition by Lim titled Elan at Confluence Art Space until January, said Lim’s death was “a significant loss to our art scene”.

A shophouse along Norris Road in Little India caught fire on Monday (Feb 3) morning, damaging at least one car. Some shophouses in the area — including a spa and a clinic — were also affected, according to netizen Rafiqul Islam Mamun who posted a video of the incident on Facebook group Complaint Singapore. The shophouse, located at 31 Norris Road, could be seen smothered in thick smoke that blanketed two neighbouring units. Loud, sharp sounds could then be heard as the windows suddenly shatter, sending glass shards flying everywhere as the flames grew. Multiple police officers could also be seen fighting the fire with fire extinguishers. Several vehicles were also seen in front of the affected shophouse, which Rafiqul said sustained damages. In an update from Rafiqul at around 11.30am on Feb 3, he shared that SCDF firefighters were using a hose to extinguish the flames at the shophouse. The police had cordoned off the scene with tape and evacuated those in the immediate vicinity, watching the firefighting efforts from a distance.

Some luxury vehicles were allegedly vandalised at an open carpark in Teck Whye Lane on Jan 31. In a video posted to TikTok by user Engr.unclekiko on the same day, the vehicles in question can be seen covered in a while liquid — seemingly paint. The affected cars include a Ferrari sports car, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota Alphard, according to the TikTok post. The clip also shows a man exiting the sports car while on the phone. According to the post, he had called the police and officers arrived at the scene shortly afterwards. https://www.tiktok.com/@engr.unclekiko/video/7465923062135819528 A second video posted by the same user on Sunday (Feb 2) showed that the windscreen of the Mercedes-Benz had been smashed in yet another alleged act of vandalism. «Car owners who park in this area must be feeling uneasy. I sincerely hope the authorities will catch the person responsible soon,» said the post. AsiaOne has reached out to the TikTok user for more information. Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the police stated that they received a call for assistance at about 7.05am at the open carpark at Block 103 Teck Whye Lane.

«It's like an enforced time to study,» Andrew Koh, a parent, said of private tuition. Koh, a 45-year-old father of two, reckoned he spends between $700 and $800 a month on tuition classes for his Primary 4 daughter. On average, his daughter attends five hours of classes per week after Koh noticed that her grades were dropping. Koh told AsiaOne: «The problem was that [my daughter] spends a lot of time watching TV or YouTube.» «That's confirmed,» his daughter interjected, leading to laughter from Koh. He continued: «[They also] play with their devices - if they go for tuition, I think that will help them to spend their time more meaningfully.» $1.8 billion spent on private tuition in 2023 Koh is one of many Singaporean parents who have contributed to the $1.8 billion spent on tuition in 2023, according to a report by The Straits Times on Jan 20, citing the Singapore Department of Statistics's Household Expenditure Survey 2023. The survey, which polled 13,100 households between December 2022 and December 2023, is conducted every five years.

A Singaporean man recently sustained injuries while defending his in-laws from attackers at their Johor home. He had accompanied his wife, a 42-year-old hairdresser surnamed Fang, to her hometown in Kluang to celebrate Chinese New Year. During the festive season, however, two men harassed her family for three days, China Press reported. The pair set off firecrackers and splashed paint outside Fang's family home, and even smashed the windows of two cars, forcing the family to fight back with sticks. During the fight on Friday (Jan 31) morning, one of the attackers slashed Fang's husband with a parang, injuring the latter's head, chest, and left arm, reported The Star.

The authorities have urged stallholders at Beauty World Food Centre to step up hygiene and food safety measures following a suspected rodent infestation there. In a joint statement on Saturday (Feb 1), the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and National Environment Agency (NEA) instructed stallholders to properly dispose of food and keep their stalls clean of food scraps to prevent easy access to food by rats. Recent reports of rat sightings in the food centre prompted NEA to carry out an inspection of the premises, reported The Straits Times. On Jan 23, the building management sent a letter to stallholders, saying that NEA had discovered «extensive rodent droppings» all around the property. «This poses a serious hygiene risk, especially since food is being served in the hawker centre,» they explained. The building management also instructed stall owners to «eliminate potential food sources and breeding grounds» and remove all their items from common areas in order to stop any rodent activity.

SINGAPORE — Several residents in a housing estate in the Lavender area experienced a disruption to their water supply after a nearby underground pipe burst on Feb 1. One of them, part-time Grabfood delivery rider Ramdhan Sab’an, said he was heading to his home in Block 811 French Road at about 9pm when he found water gushing from the ground near his block. He said: «I asked my wife to check whether still we had water at home, but she said the supply was cut off.» Ramdhan, 39, who lives on the second floor, said the water supply to his home was yet to be restored at 11.30pm. In video footage seen by The Straits Times, water can be seen gushing from the ground near a block of flats. The water run-off can also be seen flooding a section of the nearby road.

A passenger at Gardens by the Bay MRT station was recently filmed attempting to board a train when the doors were already closing. This caused her walking stick to be momentarily trapped between platform screen doors. A 15-second clip of the incident circulating online shows the woman trying to squeeze through the closing platform screen doors. A man on the platform attempts to keep the screen doors open, while another man on board the train, presumably their companion, tries to force-open the train doors. But the doors close, causing the woman's walking stick to become stuck. When both doors open again after a few seconds, the woman retrieves her walking stick. The man in the train holds open the train doors for the woman and the man to enter the cabin. Netizens slammed the trio for their reckless behaviour. «I don't know why but is it difficult to board the next available train? It's not like one train has left and the other takes forever to wait for arrival,» said one Reddit user.

Most have seen the Mercedes-Benz public buses plying Singapore roads, but what about Mercedes-Benz waste collection trucks? Xiaohongshu user Xiao Wen Ge (transliteration), who appears to be from China, recently shared his sighting of the SembCorp vehicle at a HDB estate. «Singapore is indeed a rich country, even their waste collection truck is a Mercedes-Benz,» read his video caption. The post has since attracted over 3,000 likes, with a few netizens intrigued by the design. «The front looks like a bus, while the back is a truck. What is this 'hybrid style'?» commented one user. «It looks like the front of a bus, and the driver's cabin is low,» pointed out another. The waste collection truck is called the Mercedes-Benz Econic and has been around since 2020.

Singapore expects Nvidia to comply with United States export controls and Singapore’s laws, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has said in response to queries about Chinese start-up DeepSeek possibly acquiring advanced Nvidia chips through intermediaries in Singapore. In a statement on Feb 1, the ministry noted that Nvidia, a leading AI (artificial intelligence) chip designer, has stated that “there is no reason to believe that DeepSeek obtained any export-controlled products from Singapore”. “We expect US companies, like Nvidia, to comply with US export controls and our domestic legislation. Our customs and law enforcement agencies will continue to work closely with their US counterparts,” it said.  “We have always upheld the rule of law and acted decisively and firmly against individuals and companies that flout the rules,” the ministry added. Singapore has come under the spotlight in a US investigation into whether DeepSeek, whose AI model’s performance has made headlines worldwide, had circumvented US restrictions on advanced Nvidia chips by buying them from third parties in other countries, including Singapore.

A diner received an injury to his head after a dragon dance performance went awry in a restaurant located at Sin Ming Drive. In a 17-second video posted to the Sgfollowsall Instagram account on Wednesday (Jan 29), a dragon dance can be seen taking place on stage at Gim Seng Heng Seafood Restaurant, as diners looked on while having their meals. However, just as the performers attempted a corkscrew-like manoeuvre with the dragon puppet's body, a part of the puppet caught the large whirling fan above their heads. This launched the prop into the air, as poles that the performers were holding onto were ripped from their hands. In an instant, the crowd cried out in shock as both the puppet and rod were seen hurtling towards them. «It's bleeding,» a voice could be heard saying as the video ends abruptly. According to the Instagram post, the performance occurred on Tuesday (Jan 28). «They had a dragon dance performance on a very small stage with the ceiling fan still on,» said a purported diner who shared the incident with Sgfollowsall.