National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng has begun visiting homes in Fernvale, raising speculation that he is set to contest in Jalan Kayu SMC, Lianhe Zaobao reported on Monday (March 24). Fernvale is part of the new Jalan Kayu SMC, carved out from Ang Mo Kio GRC. Ng and more than 10 volunteers visited two HDB blocks in Jalan Kayu on last Sunday (March 23), according to Zaobao. A resident also told the Chinese newspaper that they received a doorknob sign informing them that Ng had visited their home but was unable to meet them. The sign, furnished with pictures of Ng along with links to his socials, reads: «I hope to meet you the next time when I conduct house visits in your area.» Among the Fernvale residents that AsiaOne spoke to on Tuesday (March 25), most were not aware of the boundary changes or Ng's recent presence in the region. Speaking with AsiaOne, a Fernvale Link resident, who only identified himself as Tan, said that he didn't know about Ng's visit on Sunday.

Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh has urged Singaporeans to work towards creating «a more balanced political system» in the upcoming General Election, in response to the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report, which he said outlined «one of the most radical redrawing of boundaries Singapore has seen in recent memory».  In a Facebook post shared on Tuesday (March 25), Singh questioned the fairness of the EBRC report, noting that there has been «significant public commentary, especially by young Singaporeans» regarding the redrawing of political boundaries. Singh labelled the EBRC an «opaque» institution and highlighted the incredulity surrounding «population growth» being cited as one of the reasons behind the redrawing of boundaries. «Boundaries are important, and the reasons that justify their changes, matters. A lot,» he added. Only five GRCs and four SMCs were left unchanged from the last election.

The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) has drawn attention to a recent case of animal cruelty after fish in a condominium pond were allegedly left to suffocate and die in a pond that was drained for cleaning. A video of the incident posted on Facebook by Acres on Tuesday (Mar 25) showed workers cleaning the pond after it had been emptied of water.  In the video, which was provided by a member of the public, fish can be seen struggling and flopping around in the enclosure. Towards the end of the video, a worker was also seen tossing a dying fish onto the walkway. According to Acres, the pond, which has existed for 25 years, was drained and the fish discarded alive under the building management's instructions. In the post, the non-profit organisation dedicated to animal welfare, rescue and conservation noted that while the condominium had made efforts to rehome the red-eared sliders, no provisions were made for the welfare of the fish. Among the fish were tilapias, plecos and also stingrays.

SINGAPORE — No adverse effects related to the consumption of slush ice drinks containing glycerol have been reported here, said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). But it will continue to monitor the situation and international developments on the use of glycerol in such drinks, the agency said in response to queries from The Straits Times about the safety of the additive, which is typically used to create the slush texture in such beverages. This comes after a group of researchers in UK and Ireland warned in a study that children under the age of eight should not be drinking slushies due to potential health risks, following a spate of hospitalisations in the two countries. The researchers found that some slush ice drinks contain glycerol, which can lead to glycerol intoxication in young children when consumed in high levels. Symptoms of this condition include headaches, nausea and a dangerous drop in blood sugar level, which can result in drowsiness or even loss of consciousness.

Chia Boon Teck, vice-president of the Law Society of Singapore, has resigned following inappropriate remarks he made about a rape survivor.  This came shortly after the Law Society released a statement on Tuesday (March 25) calling for his resignation.  In the statement, president Lisa Sam stated that Chia's views and comments were «unacceptable» and «damaging».  «Such comments and views are also inimical for a person in a position of leadership to espouse,» Sam added.  «The victim's morality should not have been questioned in this manner.»  The Law Society confirmed Chia's resignation on its Linkedin page around noon on the same day.  «We thank Mr Chia for his service and contributions during his time on the council and wish him all the best in his future endeavours,» it said in a brief statement, adding that the resignation would take effect immediately.  Checks on the society's website revealed that Chia is no longer listed as vice-president or council member.

A male employee at a Bugis capsule hotel was taken to court on Monday (March 24) for allegedly molesting a female tourist at the accommodation. The 41-year-old Bangladeshi national is accused of outraging the modesty of a 45-year-old woman at The Room @ Bugis on Saturday afternoon. The man had hugged the victim tightly and stopped her from leaving so as to commit the acts, stated court documents obtained by AsiaOne. A gag order was issued to protect the victim's identity. In a now-deleted post on social media platform Threads, the tourist claimed the employee had pushed her on a bed and attempted to sexually assault her, reported Lianhe Zaobao. The victim told Zaobao in a subsequent interview that she was travelling solo in Singapore and had booked her trip from March 16 to 25. According to her, guests at the capsule hotel were mainly backpackers, and there was only one worker in the hotel. The beds were covered only by a translucent curtain, she said.

SINGAPORE — After downing two glasses of champagne, a business class passenger on board a Singapore Airlines plane decided to expose himself to an air stewardess. Brilliant Angjaya, 23, an Indonesian, also used his phone to record the air stewardess' reaction to his indecent act. On March 24, Angjaya was sentenced to three weeks' jail after pleading guilty to one count of sexual exposure. In sentencing, District Judge Paul Quan said Angjaya's actions were «inexplicable» and «inexcusable». The incident happened on board a Singapore Airlines flight from China to Singapore on Jan 23. Further details about the flight and air stewardess cannot be revealed due to a gag order to protect the victim's identity. The court heard that during the flight, Angjaya had an in-flight meal and two glasses of champagne before he went to sleep.

A fatal car accident in Johor Baru took the life of a seven-year-old Singaporean boy while leaving his father and domestic helper severely injured. Noah, the young boy, was an avid football fan and had intended to enrol in Soaring Dreams FA, a football academy, before the accident. The football academy is now planning to hold a fundraising event in honour of Noah to help support his family with funeral costs and medical bills. News of the fundraising efforts were announced through the school's Xiaohongshu page. Soaring Dreams FA's founder, surnamed Wang (transliteration), wrote that Noah had two cousins who were previously enrolled in the academy. «Though the two students have already left the academy, they will always be part of our 'Soaring Dreams' family,» said Wang. In an interview with Shin Min Daily News, he expressed his desire to use his platform to support the family. According to Wang, Noah's father and domestic helper are still in hospital and the costs incurred are likely to be high since the accident occurred overseas.

A 38-year-old man will be charged on Tuesday (March 25) for his suspected involvement in causing hurt to a police officer while arresting him. In a media release on Monday, the police said they were alerted to a dispute at Block 569A Champions Way at 4.10am on the same day. When officers from Woodlands Police Division were attending to the dispute, the man charged towards an officer and was arrested. During the arrest, the man headbutted the officer, who suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital. The man will be charged with the offence of voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from the discharge of his duty, and faces a jail term of up to seven years, and a fine, or caning. Investigations are ongoing.

Don't be surprised the next time you order from economy rice stalls in Koufu food courts and coffee shops — they will soon feature colour-coded price labels for all their dishes. The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) and Koufu have partnered to launch colour-coded price labels for their 'cai fan' stalls on Monday (March 24) starting with an outlet in Tengah. The labels will categorise dishes into groups - meat, seafood, vegetables, and premium items - along with their respective prices. Seafood dishes will be labelled blue, meat dishes red, and vegetable dishes green. Premium items, indicated with a white label, have handwritten prices on the tags. The initiative was launched on Monday, March 24, at the Hong Le Mixed Veg Rice stall in Plantation Plaza's Koufu food court by Case president Melvin Yong and Koufu's chief financial officer Chua Sher Lin. It was witnessed by Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling. These colour-coded price labels will be implemented across all economy rice stalls operating in 77 Koufu food courts and coffee shops by end-2025.

SINGAPORE — A bus enthusiast who sexually exploited multiple teenage boys whom he got to know through the hobby community was sentenced to 16 years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane on March 24. Between 2018 and 2022, the man, who is now 25 years old, perpetrated sexual acts against five male victims who were aged between 13 and 21 at the time. He pleaded guilty to four charges: one for raping a 13-year-old and one for sexual exploitation of the same victim; one for sexual assault by penetration involving a 14-year-old; and one for voyeurism committed against a 21-year-old. Seven other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing. The offences came to light when another member of the bus-spotting community, in whom several victims had confided about the sex acts, reported him to the police. There is a gag order on the identities of the victims and the man, who was a warehouse assistant prior to his arrest. Deputy Public Prosecutor Sarah Siaw told the court that in 2017, the man befriended a younger boy who bought bus-themed paraphernalia from him on online marketplace Carousell.

By age 33, Timothy Tan had his fair share of experience working across various sectors. Graduating with a degree in biomedical science, he started as a pharmaceutical sales representative before moving on to manage an events company. However, mid-career, Timothy discovered that his true passion lay in pursuing a role in the tech sector. Taking a leap of faith, he signed up for courses at edX and Coursera to acquire skills in Python programming and applied machine learning. «There's something magical about software and how it controls every part of life: your phone, things on the screen, your cameras even,» Timothy notes, likening the importance of codes in software, to DNA in humans that determines how we function and respond.

More than $200,000 worth of e-vaporisers were seized by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in two cases. In a joint statement by HSA and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on March 24, HSA said it investigated a shipment of e-vaporisers discovered at a Sungei Kadut warehouse on Feb 28, and about 5,000 e-vaporisers worth approximately $110,000 were found. HSA conducted an operation on the same day and caught two men, aged 32 and 31, who came to collect the e-vaporisers. They are currently assisting with investigations. On March 1, ICA officers at Tuas Checkpoint directed a lorry entering Singapore for enhanced checks, and about 4,800 e-vaporisers were found hidden in its cargo consignment.  The e-vaporisers had an estimated value of $105,000. The case was referred to HSA and the lorry's 24-year-old male driver is assisting with investigations. Under the Tobacco Act, it is an offence to import, distribute, sell or offer for sale e-vaporisers and their components. First time offenders are liable to a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to six months or both.

A clip taken during his walkabout of Marine Parade last Saturday (March 22) has been taken out of context, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said on Sunday, reported The Straits Times. Minister Tong, who is also an MP for Marine Parade GRC, was at a walkabout where he interacted with residents at a coffee shop in Marine Terrace, part of the new Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC. Facebook user Kent Lau later posted an edited video of Tong's interactions, wherein he appears to be speaking animatedly to a group of elderly men. However, one of them raises a hand, purportedly pointing his middle finger as the video is slowed down. The video then cuts to a volunteer speaking to Minister Tong, where the former can be seen pointing at the camera with a serious look on his face. Speaking with the media on Sunday, Tong said that the reception he received at the walkabout was warm and that the video was being used by some sites to place him in a negative light, The Straits Times reported. «I think it is obvious (that it was) to push an agenda, I think, quite clearly for a political objective,» said Tong.

After nearly swallowing a rusty nail found in her walnut cake on Friday (March 14), a woman developed neck stiffness and body aches.  The woman, who wanted to be known as Rong, told Shin Min Daily News that her husband had bought the $1.30 walnut cake from the Koufu beverage stall at Waterway Point in Punggol. Upon realising there was a rusty nail in the sweet treat, the 36-year-old immediately reported the incident to the manager of Koufu. She said the manager refunded her and offered a free bowl of dessert, as well as compensation for her treatment. Rong received a tetanus shot, with her medical bill amounting to $105. She then returned to the stall to get compensation, which the manager provided.  But her condition worsened the following day, as she began experiencing body aches and neck stiffness. On March 16, she visited the doctor again, as her symptoms were not improving. The second visit to the doctor cost her $112, and she was reimbursed again by the outlet.

Singapore Management University (SMU) announced the key enhancements to its Industry Practice Master of Digital Economy (IPMDE) programme offered at SMU Academy, the University's professional training arm on Mar 7. First launched in January 2024, the master's programme currently has over 130 learners enrolled. As part of its continuous enhancement, a structural revamp is set to roll out in August 2025, introducing Industry Graduate Diplomas (IGDs) to provide professionals with a more modular, flexible and industry-aligned learning pathways. This aligns with Singapore's national focus on lifelong learning, offering an accessible, customisable and skills-based approach to career advancement and workforce transformation. Learners who are currently enrolled in the IPMDE will not be affected, however, those who wish to transition to the revamped structure will have the opportunity to do so, subject to the completion of the newly-introduced modules.

SINGAPORE - Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Ng Ling Ling does not know if she will contest the next general election in Jalan Kayu, which has been carved out as a single seat. Asked if she will run in the single-member constituency, she told reporters on March 23 that she will wait for PAP leaders, including Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, to make the call. “We trust our leaders. I think the best team must run in the GE,” added the 53-year-old. “For me, I just want the residents to be happy.” Ms Ng was speaking on the sidelines of a residents’ carnival in Seletar Hills, which is part of Ang Mo Kio GRC. Two of the other four Ang Mo Kio MPs – Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin – were also present, along with about 900 residents. The newly minted Jalan Kayu SMC will take in areas from Ang Mo Kio GRC that are currently in Ms Ng’s Jalan Kayu ward, and also parts of Mr Gan Thiam Poh’s Fernvale. During the event, Ms Ng was also asked if she hopes to keep serving residents in her ward. She replied that she wishes to be able to support all Singaporeans.