Cooling spaces with air conditioning will be available to Singaporeans in the event of dangerously high temperatures. These spaces, located in community centres and residents' committees, as well as selected indoor sports halls, will be located islandwide — as part of heat response measures developed by a new inter-agency task force. The group called the Mercury Taskforce, which comprises of 37 public agencies including the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social and Family Development, unveiled the national plan to combat heat waves to the media on Wednesday (March 19). There are already existing measures to protect vulnerable groups from heat stress, such as the Ministry of Manpower's framework where workers involved in heavy physical labour should be given at least 10 minutes to rest under shade every hour. But the plan is part of a new national approach on how the various agencies would react should a heatwave occur in Singapore. A heatwave here is defined when the highest daily temperature over three consecutive days is at least 35 deg C, with the mean temperature each day being at least 29 deg C.

The National Parks Board (NParks) is continuing the search for a crocodile spotted on Lim Chu Kang Road on Tuesday (March 18). Responding to AsiaOne's queries, NParks Wildlife Management and Outreach Director Cyrena Lin said they were alerted to the crocodile sighting near Neo Tiew Crescent on Tuesday evening and immediately activated a team to search for it. Facebook user Koo Guan Heng posted two pictures of the reptile lying on the road, which is located near Long Kuan Hung crocodile farm. «Someone pet lizard sunbathing on the road,» he said in the post on Tuesday evening.  Facebook user Koo Guan Heng posted two pictures of the crocodile in the Singapore Wildlife Sightings page.  PHOTO: Screengrab/Facebook According to NParks, members of the public should stay calm and back away if they see a crocodile. They should not approach, provoke, or feed the animal.

The People's Power Party (PPP) has urged the public to «maintain basic decorum» as the «election fever» heats up. This statement comes after racist remarks were made against the party's new member Vere Nathan, who is Chinese-Indian. In a Facebook post on Monday (March 17), PPP Secretary General Goh Meng Seng said that the party had been alerted to derogatory racist remarks against Nathan. These remarks were made by a commenter by the name of Steven Lim under a video posted to 8World's Facebook page, which showed PPP members visiting Chong Pang estate in Nee Soon GRC. In the video, the 27-year-old, who is an operations executive in a landscaping company, spoke about his reason for joining politics. «Especially (after) what happened during the pandemic, I became more concerned about politics... so I thought it was necessary to get involved and see what I can do as an individual to help my country,» he said. Nathan added, while speaking in a mix of Chinese and English, that he hoped to help everyone and improve their standard of living.

More than 850 people between the ages of 15 and 77 are being investigated by the Malaysia and Singapore police following a month-long anti-scam operation. The suspects are believed to be involved in more than 2,700 such cases; mainly government official impersonation scams, investment scams, rental scams, internet love scams, friend impersonation scams and job scams and e-commerce scams. Their victims had reportedly lost over $8.1 million, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a statement on Wednesday (March 19). Led by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), the joint operation in Malaysia was conducted between Feb 10 and March 9. SPF's Anti-Scam Command (ASCom) and Malaysia's National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) detected and froze more than 3,400 bank accounts suspected to be linked to scams, seizing over $2 million in the blitz. During the operation, a 34-year-old man allegedly involved in managing a group of scammers who impersonated police officers in scam cases was arrested in Malaysia on Feb 28.

A 76-year-old man with a neurodegenerative disease that impacted his impulse control was sentenced to 15 months’ jail on March 18 for a string of molestation offences committed between 2022 and 2024. Lim See Poi, a former junior college teacher, had pleaded guilty to five molestation charges on March 11.  Deputy Principal District Judge Kessler Soh said that while he accepted Lim’s frontotemporal dementia had resulted in his loss of impulse control, Lim’s behaviour had caused harm to his victims, many of whom were very young students. The disease causes irreversible damage to the front and sides of the brain, which could lead to changes in behaviour and personality. The judge added that reports from the Institute of Mental Health in 2023 and 2024 reaffirmed that Lim had the disease, which could have contributory links to his offences. “I hope that after his sentence, his family will be able to step up supervision of him, and restrict his movements outside home to stop his reoffending,” said the judge, who also arranged for Lim to see a court counsellor.

A coffee shop in Jalan Besar has no plans to cancel its offer of free daily breakfast for students, despite a lukewarm response since its launch last November.  Taking to Facebook on March 11, Jeremy See shared a photo of a poster at Yi He Eating House announcing 10 breakfast sets daily for those «in school uniform who need a little helping hand».  The offer, available from 6am to 11am, promises a «just show up, no questions asked» policy for students looking for a free meal before classes.  «Don't go to school hungry. We welcome you to have breakfast on us at this humble coffee shop,» said Yi He Eating House in their poster, which is displayed in a centre pillar at the coffee shop. «A little gesture to brighten up your day.» See's Facebook post has since garnered over 20 comments and over 490 likes, with several netizens praising the coffee shop for their generosity and kindness.

A monsoon surge is expected to hit Singapore from March 19 to 21, marking the third such surge this year. This surge could bring windy and cooler conditions, with daily temperatures dropping to as low as 22 degrees Celsius, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) on Monday (Feb 17).  During this period, expect moderate to heavy showers over the island with subsequent daily temperatures expected to range between 24 and 34 deg C on most days.  Lower minimum temperatures of around 22 deg C may also occur. The second half of March is also expected to see above-average rainfall across most parts of the island, with short-duration thundery showers continuing in most afternoons, said MSS.   The monsoon surge is due to the strengthening of the north-eastern winds over the South China Sea, causing the development of thick cloud cover and frequent rainfall.  In a Facebook post on Monday (March 17), the Public Utilities Board (PUB) issued a warning on the intense rainfall which could potentially overwhelm drains and canals, causing flash floods. 

A 51-year-old Chinese national has been charged for theft onboard a Scoot flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.  The police were alerted to the case of alleged theft at 12.20am on Monday (March 17). According to preliminary investigations, a male passenger witnessed Zhang Kun allegedly taking the victim's bag from the overhead compartment while he was away from his seat. Zhang allegedly took the bag back to his seat, rummaged through it and hid the victim's belongings in his jacket before returning the bag to the compartment. The witness alerted the victim, who discovered that a credit card, $200 and RM100 (S$30) were missing from his wallet. The victim and the witness called the police after they landed at Changi Airport and began looking for Zhang. He was eventually located within the transit area by the witness and victim and was arrested soon after for suspected theft. Zhang, who is representing himself in court, pleaded not guilty and denied taking the items. A pre-trial conference will be held on March 27. 

SINGAPORE — After more than seven hours of drinking that included pit stops at three different locations, a man got into his car to drive home. For reasons unknown, Yoong Kok Kai, 44, ended up at Tuas Checkpoint instead on March 24, 2023, driving in excess of 100kmh. He lost control of his Lexus car before hitting an auxiliary police officer — leaving the man in a vegetative state and causing more than $37,290 in property damage. «This was a needlessly senseless and tragic accident that stemmed from the accused's decision to not only drink but drive,» said District Judge Kok Shu-En. The judge added that beyond the damage to government property, Yoong caused grave hurt to a young man. On March 17, Yoong was sentenced to three years and 10 months' jail. He will also be disqualified from holding all classes of driving licences for 10 years after his release. Yoong had pleaded guilty on Feb 27 to causing grievous hurt by dangerous driving and driving under the influence.

A 70-year-old motorcyclist has died from his injuries after being hit by a car at the junction of Bartley Road East and Airport Road on March 15. Dashcam footage of the accident posted to Facebook group SG Road Vigilante shows the elderly rider switching from the middle lane onto the rightmost lane at a junction while the traffic lights are red. A white car is then seen rapidly approaching the man's motorcycle and colliding with it. The impact of the crash sends the elderly rider flying onto the roof of the car before landing several metres away. His helmet is flung off in the process. The Singapore Civil Defence Force told AsiaOne that it was alerted to the accident at the junction of Bartley Road East and Airport Road on March 15 at about 4.40pm. The elderly motorcyclist was taken to Changi General Hospital. Responding to AsiaOne's queries on Tuesday (March 18), the police said the elderly motorcyclist was taken unconscious to the hospital, where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries. His time of death was not specified.

When a Bukit Merah resident failed to collect her free meals for five days, a social worker called the police. The 57-year-old woman was discovered dead in her Depot Road flat at Bukit Merah on March 12. According to Shin Min Daily News, the deceased was part of a senior care programme by Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities and would receive free meals daily for both lunch and dinner.  But from March 7, the woman stopped answering the door and could not be contacted. The social worker had reportedly thought that she was not at home and called the police days later after realising something amiss. A domestic helper living on the same floor as the deceased told Shin Min she had not seen the woman in a week, but did not notice any stench. «She rarely left her home and had no visitors, so she always kept the door closed. She rarely talked to her neighbours too,» the helper added. In response to media queries, the police said they received a call for assistance at around 10.25am. The 57-year-old woman was found lying motionless and pronounced dead at scene.

SINGAPORE — A man accused of stabbing a priest at St Joseph's Church in November 2024 was given additional charges on March 17. Basnayake Keith Spencer, 37, now faces three counts of being in possession of a weapon on the day of the attack, on Nov 9, 2024, on top of one charge handed earlier after he allegedly used a knife to voluntarily cause grievous hurt. He allegedly had a 14.5cm penknife, a flip knife and a fishing gaff, which is a pole with a sharp hook, at the place of worship. The Singaporean was not offered bail on March 17 and his pre-trial conference will take place on April 14. Basnayake had allegedly approached Reverend Christopher Lee, then 57, at the Upper Bukit Timah Road church shortly before 6.30pm on Nov 9. Father Lee was conducting communion when Basnayake allegedly stabbed him, leaving him with an 8cm laceration on his tongue, a 3cm cut on his upper left lip and a 4cm cut on the corner of his mouth.

A 7-year-old Singaporean boy died in Johor after he was flung out of the car he was in, following a collision with a lorry. The lorry driver later tested positive for methamphetamine and did not have a valid licence, according to the Johor police. The accident occurred at around 10.30pm on Sunday (March 16), said Johor Baru (South) police chief Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat on Monday (March 17). The lorry and the Singapore-registered car collided in Jalan Pantai heading towards Permas Jaya, the police chief added.  Preliminary investigations showed that the lorry driver, 54, lost control of his vehicle before it veered into the opposite lane and collided head-on with a car coming from the opposite direction. According to Raub, the boy was one of four passengers being driven by his father, who is in his 40s. The boy was taken to a private hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at around 3am on Monday.

SINGAPORE - Daily global developments are a reminder that it is a dangerous world, and the only people who can protect Singapore and advance its interests are Singaporeans themselves, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sunday (March 16), as he called for people to stay strong and united. «There is no other country you can find in this world where people of different faiths, different beliefs can come together, can break fast together, (and) can live in peace and harmony together as one family,» said PM Wong. «This is very precious, and this is something we must always cherish and protect here in Singapore.» He was speaking at Iftar Utara, a mass iftar, or break-fast meal, attended by around 7,000 residents and guests at Marsiling Mega Sports Park. The event was organised by the Marsiling Citizens' Consultative Committee, Indian Muslim Social Service Association and Masjid An-Nur. PM Wong noted how the world is undergoing profound changes, with things changing quickly in places, from the United States to China to Europe. «And every day, we are worried there are things that will impact Singapore.»

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has assured young parents that the Government will support them with its upcoming  measures. In a Facebook post on Sunday (March 16), PM Wong wrote about his visit to the new Anchorvale Village in Sengkang West for its Sports fiesta and Family fiesta, where he «had the chance to chat with many young families and multi-generational households». «We know that being a young parent is not easy, and we're committed to making this journey as smooth and fulfilling as possible- whether through better childcare, family-friendly spaces, or more support to deal with day-to-day expenses,» he wrote. «As Singapore turns 60, we are writing our next chapter together — one where families remain at the heart of our nation. No matter the challenges ahead, we will keep building a Singapore where every family can thrive.» At the community plaza in Anchorvale Village shopping centre, PM Wong spoke about support measures for parents with young children announced as part of Budget 2025, reported The Straits Times.

A British man, 57, will be charged on Monday (March 17) after allegedly using abusive words against an airline staff and causing destruction to property at Changi Airport Terminal 3. According to a police statement on Sunday, the incident had occurred on March 8. Police were alerted to the incident of a man shouting and being rude to a female airline staff. The man had also damaged a wall in a gate hold room, the statement added. Investigations revealed that upon boarding the aircraft for his flight from Singapore to London, the man realised that he had misplaced his mobile phone. He then left the aircraft, hoping to search for it at the airport lounge where he had been earlier. At the gate hold room, he approached a female airline staff member who helped him check with the airport lounge staff about his phone. She then informed him that no mobile phone was found at the lounge, the statement read. As it was close to the scheduled departure time of the flight, the female airline staff informed the man that leaving the gate hold room would result in him being offloaded from the flight.

Planning to bring the kids to Malaysia for the March school holidays? Brace yourself for a long wait at the checkpoints.  In a Facebook post on Saturday (March 15) at 9.10am, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) warned of heavy departure traffic at Woodlands Checkpoint due to tailback from Malaysia.  The car queue was beyond Woodlands Avenue 3, Exit 10A, and the estimated waiting time to Woodlands checkpoint was more than two hours. The traffic subsided at 8.23pm.  However, in an update on Sunday (March 16) at 9.20am, ICA shared that there was heavy departure traffic at Woodlands Checkpoint, once again due to tailback from Malaysia. «Ttavellers are advised to check traffic conditions before embarking on their journey,» said the agency. According to the Clear The Jam app, wait times for traffic towards Johor were estimated to be 58 to 88 minutes on the Causeway and 40 to 61 minutes on the Second Link at 10.47am on Sunday (March 16).

SINGAPORE – In just seven short years, Malone Lam Yu Xuan went from being a student in a secondary school in Choa Chu Kang to being dubbed crypto whizz-kid by some in the US in 2023. Many who saw his spending spree were amazed a 19-year-old could afford large mansions, a fleet of expensive cars and luxury clothes. In truth, Lam was living off the millions in crypto he stole from various investors, he later told investigators in the US. This was before August 2024, when he allegedly got involved in the theft of Bitcoin valued at more than US$240 million (S$320 million), one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in US history. Legal documents obtained by The Straits Times showed that Lam, who turned 20 in 2024, had been living in the US on an expired tourist visa. Documents filed in a US court showed the then teenager pocketed millions and spent some of the money on himself and his friends. Among other things, he purchased and gifted a 2024 Mercedes SL and a 2023 Ferrari FS to Jeandiel Serrano.

SINGAPORE - From upgraded markets and food centres to Silver Zones and Friendly Streets that make the town safer for the elderly, Ang Mo Kio has seen many improvements in the past five years. There will be more improvements to look forward to in the next five years, with residents' continued support and the leadership of the town councillors, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on March 15. Speaking at the launch of the Ang Mo Kio town council masterplan, he added that the plan will continue to focus on caring for both the young and seniors, fostering inclusivity and enhancing sustainability across the town's seven divisions - Ang Mo Kio-Hougang, Cheng San-Seletar, Fernvale, Jalan Kayu, Teck Ghee, Kebun Baru and Yio Chu Kang. This includes better shared spaces like upgraded community clubs in Cheng San-Seletar and Yio Chu Kang, both of which are under renovation, and new playgrounds and community spaces that will benefit residents of Lentor Estate and Cactus Sunrise. Apart from more sheltered linkways to make daily commutes more comfortable, there will be additional senior-friendly facilities and initiatives.

Three people were injured when an express bus ferrying 23 passengers from Singapore skidded off the road and overturned on Saturday (March 15) morning. The accident occurred at about 5.30am, along Jalan Simpang Pulai towards Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. Firefighters from the Simpang Pulai Fire and Rescue Station rushed to the scene after they were alerted to the accident, reported Bernama. The Star quoted Perak Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad as saying that the bus driver suffered a broken leg, while two passengers sustained minor injuries. In a statement on Saturday (March 15), he said: «The bus, which was carrying 23 Singaporean passengers, skidded and crashed by the roadside near Dewan MRA in Pos Slim, early this morning. »The driver was rescued by members of the public." He added that all three victims were handed over to the Health Ministry personnel for further action. According to Shin Min Daily News, the entire rescue operation lasted for about an hour, wrapping up at 6.41am.

A bright ring of light appeared around the sun on Saturday (March 15) prompting Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who spotted the halo, to share a photo of it on Facebook. «A rare and spectacular sight in the skies above! I am told that this phenomenon is known as a 22° halo or a sun halo,» he wrote on his post on Saturday. SM Lee also urged others to share their photos of the event.  In the comments on his Facebook page, several netizens shared images they had snapped of the sun halo while they were at Bidadari Park, Bukit Timah and West Coast.  «It was a phenomenal sight,» said one who had caught the sun halo at Mandai Wildlife Reserve. 

SINGAPORE - At least $1.7 million has been lost since January in six cases involving scammers who baited their victims with supposedly outstanding insurance premiums, the police and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said on March 14. In these cases, the victims received calls from scammers who pretended to be representatives or employees of NTUC Union, Income Insurance, UnionPay and MAS. The victims were told they had outstanding premiums tied to their new or expiring life insurance policies. They were redirected to other scammers, claiming to be with Income Insurance or UnionPay, who proceeded to harvest their bank account details, private credentials and other personal information. The victims were advised to cancel their insurance policies if they did not want the supposed outstanding fees automatically deducted from their bank accounts. They were instructed – in some cases via WhatsApp’s screen-sharing function – to transfer money to a specified bank account, which the scammers claimed was a necessary step to verify their bank accounts.

An elderly man died after he fell in a SBS Transit bus on Wednesday (March 12) evening. The 80-year-old lost his balance while bus service 262 was making a right turn at a junction in Ang Mo Kio. He had stood up from his seat and was preparing to alight when he fell before he could grab a pole, SBS Transit spokeswoman Grace Wu told The Straits Times (ST). The bus captain administered first aid to the elderly man and called for an ambulance. In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force said they were alerted to the incident at the junction of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 and Bishan Road on March 12 at about 8pm. The man was conscious when taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he subsequently died. Police investigations are ongoing. «We are in touch with his family and are saddened to learn of his passing. We would like to extend our deepest condolences to them during this difficult time of loss,» Wu told ST. A netizen, who identified themself as the grandchild of the deceased, took to social media platforms Facebook and Xiaohongshu (XHS) to appeal for witnesses to contact them.