SINGAPORE - The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), in Myanmar to aid search-and-rescue efforts following the massive earthquake that struck the country on March 28, helped rescue a man trapped under a collapsed three-storey building on March 30. The operation, which took about eight hours, was conducted with members of the Naypyitaw Fire Service Department, the SCDF said in a Facebook post. The force had deployed an 80-strong contingent and four search canines a day earlier to assist in rescue efforts in the country, which was struck by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, its second-largest city. The death toll stands at over 1,600 in Myanmar and at least 17 in neighbouring Thailand. More than 3,400 have been injured in Myanmar, and at least 139 are still missing. In its social media post on March 30, the SCDF said it began search-and-rescue operations at around 1am in the Zabuthiri Township in Naypyitaw.

The Ministry of Law has committed about $3 million over the next two years to support registered charity Pro Bono SG’s key programmes, including The Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS). Originally a ground-up initiative, CLAS was established forty years ago to provide legal representation to accused persons facing non-capital charges in Singapore who cannot afford legal aid. The Law Society Pro Bono Services (now known as Pro Bono SG) took over the administration of CLAS in 2007. “Having a first-class [legal] system is one thing, but it being made accessible to everyone in our system and our society is quite something else,” said Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong at the Pro Bono SG Awards 2025 held on Friday (March 28). CLAS has been receiving government funding since 2015 to institutionalise and support the availability of volunteer lawyers providing legal aid.

A car crash along Jalan Kayu left a 55-year-old man injured after a tyre from a BMW reportedly flew into a nearby eatery, striking him. CCTV footage posted on Facebook by SG Road Vigilante on Saturday (March 29) shows the moment the tyre from the BMW crashes into the restaurant's outdoor seating area, hitting a diner sitting there.  The police told AsiaOne that they were alerted to the accident involving two cars along 246 Jalan Kayu, heading toward Sengkang West Avenue at 8.55am on Saturday (March 29). A 55-year-old man was conscious when taken to Sengkang General Hospital. A 52-year-old driver suffered minor injuries but declined to be taken to the hospital, police said. He is currently assisting with the police investigation. Lin, the 50-year-old owner of the BMW, claimed he was trying to overtake the car in front of him when it suddenly turned right, causing the two vehicles to collide, reported Shin Min Daily News. The driver of the other car said that the BMW suddenly emerged from behind and collided with his vehicle.

In the 2020 General Election, the incumbent People's Action Party (PAP) team in Sengkang GRC, consisting of three political office holders, lost to a Workers' Party (WP) team of fresh faces. Five years on, Dr Lam Pin Min, the only remaining member of the losing PAP slate, told the media on Sunday (March 30) that the «new and younger» line-up is looking to win back the hearts — and votes — of residents with sincerity and passion in the coming election. «We know there's always a challenge to win back a constituency, especially a GRC from the opposition, but I think the effort speaks for itself,» said Dr Lam before a walkabout in Sengkang GRC. The 55-year-old ophthalmologist and former senior minister of state was with 39-year-old Theodora Lai, a principal at private equity firm Tembusu Partners; Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat, 43, who teaches communications and new media; and Bernadette Giam, 38, a director at local food and beverage enterprise Creative Eateries. They have an average age of 44, five years younger than the previous PAP team that contested in Sengkang, said Dr Lam. 

Jackson Lam, who is the former People's Action Party (PAP) branch chairman in Hougang SMC, will be an asset to the party, government and Parliament should he run in the upcoming General Election, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Saturday (March 29). Shanmugam was speaking at an event in Nee Soon GRC, for which he is also a Member of Parliament (MP), and described Lam as being «very good on the ground». The minister added: «I would love to see him contest the elections.» Shanmugam was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a community pop-up event by DBS Foundation. Lam, 40, was also at the event. When asked if Lam would contest in Nee Soon, he responded: «Well, from anywhere, he will be an asset to the party, to the government and Parliament, wherever he contests from. »Where he contests, and whether he contests, you have to wait and see." Apart from Shanmugam, Nee Soon GRC MPs Carrie Tan and Louis Ng were also present and were seen engaging with beneficiaries.

SINGAPORE — UOB has denied allegations of improper conduct made by the former boss of a former client which have surfaced online, calling them baseless and defamatory in a March 28 Facebook post. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said separately that it is looking into the allegations made by Koh Kien Chon, who is also known as Ken Koh. He used to be the chief executive of Yang Kee Logistics, a client of UOB. The company has since folded. The allegations made by Koh, who made a statutory declaration on Feb 25 on the matter, relate to improper conduct by UOB's executives dating back to 2016 pertaining to the sale of a property, as well as a breach of confidential information regarding the sale. A statutory declaration is a statement that is affirmed to be true. It is made before a commissioner of oaths, who may be a lawyer, court interpreter, government official or any individual who is authorised to administer oaths and affirmations. The bank said in a media statement later in the day that it has issued a warning letter to Koh.

As Singaporeans, we rarely have to think about earthquakes as their occurrence here is rare. But when travelling overseas-especially to places like Japan, Indonesia, or Taiwan — you may find yourself in an earthquake-prone zone. On March 28, an earthquake of magnitude 7.7 rocked Myanmar, sending tremors to surrounding regions like Bangkok, where witnesses said that people streamed out of buildings.  Getting caught in an earthquake can be a scary and disorienting experience, especially if it's your first time; however, a little preparation and knowing what to do can make all the difference in keeping you safe.

SINGAPORE - An 80-strong force and four search canines from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) left for Myanmar on March 29 to assist rescue efforts in the quake-battered country. The Operation Lionheart contingent departed around 1pm, at full strength for the first time since a mission to Turkey in 2023, also for earthquake relief, an SCDF spokesman told The Straits Times. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake on March 28 has killed at least 1,000 people in Myanmar and injured 2,300 others, with the death toll expected to rise, according to latest reports. SCDF is answering the military junta's rare call for aid with a force including the elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, fire stations, full-time national servicemen doctors, paramedics and search and hazardous materials specialists, it said in a Facebook post. The contingent was at the SCDF's headquarters in Ubi on the morning of March 29 for a briefing before it took off on a Singapore Airlines flight, arranged «on short notice».

SINGAPORE - Pang Gek Teng, who grew Surrey Hills Grocer from one to five outlets, is no longer chief executive officer (CEO) of Surrey Hills Holdings after it terminated her employment on March 26. In a media statement on March 28, it said she has admitted to «certain wrongdoings and fraud» committed against the company. It will be carrying out investigations to ascertain the extent of losses suffered. In the interim, the CEO duties will be assumed by Koh Chew Chee, director of the board of Surrey Hills Holdings. It added that daily operations and its businesses will continue without disruption. Pang told The Straits Times via WhatsApp on March 28: «While I am deeply disappointed with the current situation, I am immensely proud of what [my colleagues and I] have accomplished together.»  «From a single vision from Joo Koon (where she opened her first outlet in 2021), we cultivated a thriving business that has resonated with so many, and I am grateful for the unwavering support from our customers, partners and employees who believed in this journey.» 

The extended leave that parents will soon get will foster deep connections with their newborn, said an analyst on Friday (March 28).  With the first phase of a new scheme to begin on April 1, eligible working parents will have six weeks of shared parental leave. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said on Thursday (March 27) that this will apply to those with Singaporean children born on or after April 1. Under the shared parental leave scheme, eligible fathers will also be entitled to four weeks of mandatory government-paid paternity leave. Dr Mathew Mathews, head of the Social Lab and principal research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, told AsiaOne that the two weeks of paid paternity leave that fathers currently get «resembles a short vacation from work».  «A month off allows fathers— and businesses—to fully disconnect from work,» he said, adding that it is a genuine opportunity for them to immerse into caregiving.  «This extended leave not only fosters deeper connections with their newborn but also reinforces their vital role in parenting.» 

More than 950,000 Singaporean HDB households will receive rebates on their utility and conservancy bills in April. The Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced the latest tranche of rebates in a statement on Friday (March 28), and said that eligible households will receive up to $190 in U-Save rebates and up to one month of Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates, both being dependent on their type of units. For example, those living in a one- or two-room flat will receive $95 in both GST voucher (GSTV)  and Cost-of-Living U-Save rebates. The same household will also receive one month of S&CC rebates. In total, eligible Singaporean HDB households will receive up to $760 of U-Save rebates, as well as up to 3.5 months of S&CC rebates for the financial year. The rebates in April will be the first quarterly disbursement for financial year 2025. They are part of the government's permanent GSTV and enhanced Assurance Package schemes that are meant to help lower- to middle-income households with the rising cost of living.

Electricity and gas tariffs for households will be unchanged until June.  On Friday (March 28), SP Group said electricity tariffs will remain at 28.12 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while City Energy said gas tariffs will remain at 22.72 cents per kWh.  Both prices do not include the Goods and Services Tax.  SP Group said it reviews the electricity tariffs every quarter based on guidelines set by the electricity industry regulator, Energy Market Authority. Due to volatile global fuel prices, electricity tariffs may fluctuate between each quarter. The electricity tariff consists of energy costs paid to generation companies and network costs to SP Group for transporting electricity through the power grid. It also includes a market support services fee and costs of operating the electricity wholesale market and power system. From October to December 2024, the electricity tariffs were 29.10 cents per kWh.

SINGAPORE — After evading paying goods and services tax at Changi Airport for luxury items she bought in Europe, a woman went on social media to teach others how to do the same. On March 27, Cloey Tan Wan Qi, 27, was fined $18,000 after pleading guilty to a charge under the Customs Act. In sentencing, District Judge Eddy Tham said Tan not only evaded the law, but also had the audacity to publicise what she did and teach others how to circumvent the law. The court heard that in May 2024, Tan went to the Netherlands and Belgium with her family and boyfriend and purchased multiple luxury items there for her personal use. These included five bags from luxury brands Christian Dior, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, two luxury wallets, one pair of shoes from Michael Kors and an engagement ring from jeweller House of Gassan. The total value of the luxury items she purchased was more than $23,000, and Tan knew she was supposed to pay GST on these items when she returned to Singapore. However, when she landed in Singapore on May 10, she cleared immigration and collected her luggage at Changi Airport without declaring the goods she brought home.

The remains of Seetoh Kwok Meng, brother of renowned Singaporean food critic, KF Seetoh, will be repatriated to Singapore, three months after a fatal gas explosion took place at his home in Italy last December. Seetoh, 63, provided the update in a Facebook post on Thursday (March 27) after reaching Lucca, Italy, where he will collect his brother's remains. «Investigations on the cause is still ongoing but we need some closure for now,» said Seetoh. His brother, 68, and his wife, Chang Kai En, died after a suspected gas explosion on Dec 21, 2024 at their home in the Italian town of Molazzana.

A 51-year-old man has been charged on Thursday (March 27) for allegedly inviting two Bangladeshi nationals for a religious public assembly at Lantana Lodge, a migrant worker dormitory near Tuas South Avenue 4. In a joint statement on March 27, the Singapore Police Force and the Ministry of Manpower said that Abdus Sattar invited Hamza Md Amir @ Amir Hamza and Ullah Mohammed Neamat to the assembly on Aug 9, 2024. At the gathering, Amir had allegedly preached to the migrant workers present, while Ullah had allegedly performed songs to the crowd. Both acts were done without the necessary permits and licences required, resulting in Sattar being charged under the Public Order Act 2009 (POA) and the Public Entertainments Act 1958 (PEA). Amir is a preacher known for his «extremist and segregationist» views and alleged connection to a pro-al-Qaeda organisation in Bangladesh, according to an earlier statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Aug 21, 2024. Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam had said then that Amir had managed to enter Singapore undetected by using a passport registered under a different name.

More than 50 million travellers have cleared immigration using QR codes at Singapore's land checkpoints since March 19 last year, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced on Thursday (March 27). The Authority also announced that the full implementation of QR code clearance at local land checkpoints began in January this year. The QR code clearance system was launched in March 2024 for cars and was then gradually extended to the bus, motorcycle, and cargo zones. At present, the QR code clearance gantries have served over 50.3 million travellers at Singapore's land checkpoints. Comparing the March school holidays in 2024 and 2025, ICA said about 2,000 more travellers were cleared per hour with the QR code clearance initiative. For those driving, over 30 million travellers — or 70 per cent of total car travellers between March 2024 and 2025 — have cleared immigration using the QR code. To utilise the QR code clearance system, travellers must create a profile and generate an individual or group QR code using the MyICA mobile app prior to reaching the checkpoint.

SINGAPORE — A man was driving a car after consuming alcoholic drinks when it struck a power-assisted bicycle (PAB) and the rider later died in hospital. Teo Kok Meng, 38, then contacted Jacky Tan Kah Kiat, 35, who decided to take the rap for the accident that took place at around 10pm on Sept 27, 2022, court documents stated. Tan finally told the truth to the police when his statement was recorded at around 2.45pm the next day. On March 26, he was sentenced to three weeks' jail after pleading guilty to performing an act that could obstruct the course of justice. Teo's case is pending. Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamed Riasudeen told the court that at around 8pm on Sept 27, 2022, the two men met at a Bukit Batok coffee shop, where they drank some alcoholic beverages. They later left the coffee shop and Teo drove Tan home to Teck Whye Avenue. The DPP said that after Tan alighted, Teo was driving along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1 at around 10pm when the PAB emerged from the slip road of Teck Whye Avenue. The car collided with the PAB and the rider, Samuel Seet, 28, was flung onto the road.

Thai police are searching for a Singaporean man after his girlfriend was found dead in downtown Bangkok on Wednesday (March 26), reported local media. The body of the 30-year-old Thai woman was discovered by two of her friends in the bathroom of a condo apartment on the 22nd floor. They had gone looking for her after losing contact on March 24, according to Thai PBS. Bangkok Post reported that the victim was naked from the waist up and covered by a blanket and a blood-stained bedsheet, with blood-stained cloth wrapped around her head. The victim's friends said the door to the room was unlocked and the air conditioner was turned on. They also claimed that the deceased and boyfriend, a 32-year-old Singaporean, frequently argued and that the man would allegedly turn violent. CCTV footage from the condo showed the couple together on March 23. The man was seen taking an elevator to the woman's room at 12.12am on March 24 and leaving with his luggage at 3.15pm the next day, according to Bangkok Post. He left the building in a black Mercedes-Benz, which Bangkok police reportedly said is registered to a deceased Thai man.