A 20-year-old male Indian national will be charged in court for his alleged involvement in a case of outrage of modesty on board a flight bound for Singapore. The police were alerted to the incident on February 28 at 12.05pm, according to a statement released by the police on Monday (April 21). Preliminary investigations revealed that the 28-year-old female cabin crew member was escorting a female passenger to the lavatory when she noticed a piece of tissue on the floor. As she bent down to pick it up, the 20-year-old man allegedly appeared behind her and pushed her into the lavatory with him. The female passenger who witnessed the incident managed to intervene and help the crew member out of the lavatory. The incident was subsequently reported to the cabin supervisor, and the man was arrested by officers from the Airport Police Division after the plane landed at Changi Airport, according to the police statement. The man will be charged in court later today for the offence of using criminal force to a person with intent to outrage modesty.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore mourned the passing of Pope Francis on Monday (April 21). «We are deeply saddened to announce our Holy Father Pope Francis has passed away on Monday, 7:35am, April 21, 2025 in Vatican City,» it said in a statement. «Our Vicar of Christ has been a model of mercy and compassion. He was a champion of unity and hope, not just for Catholics, but for the world, especially the weak, the marginalised, and the poor.» The statement said the Pope spoke for displaced refugees and victims of war, and urged world leaders to seek peace through dialogue and justice. Pope Francis' constant call for inclusivity gave the world a Church that welcomed all, especially those who yearned for love, mercy, and hope. His actions inspired the faithful to be the face of Christ to others and reach out to those on the fringes of society, it said. "During his State visit to Singapore in a meeting with youth from different faiths, he emphasised dialogue and understanding between the religious communities. He urged the youth of today to be courageous and open to feedback in order to have sincere dialogue with one another.

Teo Chee Hean, 70, will not be contesting the Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, he announced during a press conference introducing the People's Action Party's (PAP) team for the constituency on Monday (April 21). Indranee Rajah, 62, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and incumbent MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, will be helming the constituency. Other team members include Sharael Taha, 44, Desmond Tan, 55, and new face Valerie Lee, 39, who is head of corporate affairs for Singapore and Southeast Asia for Sembcorp Industries. Speaking at the event, Senior Minister Teo expressed his thanks to residents, volunteers and partners for their kindness and support for the past 28 years. He said: «I will not be standing for re-election in Pasir Ris-Changi GRC. I will continue to support PM Lawrence Wong and his 4G team and remain available to contribute to the team wherever and in whatever way PM Wong feels I can best serve.» Although he may be taking a step back from the constituency, he does so with confidence in the new, «strong team» that will continue to serve the constituency, SM Teo said.

Six people were taken to hospital on Monday (April 21) early morning after a fire broke out at People's Park Complex in Chinatown. In response to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to a fire at 1 Park Road — the address of the building — at about 4.35am. SCDF said the fire involved cleaning supplies and equipment in a storage area on level six, and the blaze was extinguished by firefighters using a water jet. Six persons were taken to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation. A video of the scene uploaded on social media platform Xiaohongshu shows evacuated persons waiting on the ground floor. The building facade had been blackened from the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation, said SCDF.

East Coast GRC MP Cheryl Chan announced on Monday (April 21) that she will be retiring from politics after serving two terms.  In a Facebook post, Chan, 48, said: «This decision was difficult for me and was made after careful consideration. It had been challenging since my father fell ill in 2022. After his passing a year ago, I decided to devote more time to my family.»  She also expressed her gratitude to the residents of Fengshan and East Coast for giving her the opportunity to serve.  «Your care and concern, suggestions and feedback made possible what we have in the community today.  »You gave me the chance to raise topics of concern in Parliament, through various feedback channels to the Government, and constantly made me think about what could be improved."

Nee Soon GRC's anchor minister K. Shanmugam will be leading four new People's Action Party (PAP) candidates to contest the five-member Nee Soon GRC in the 2025 General Election.  The PAP announced at a press conference on Monday morning (April 21) that social activist Louis Ng, 46, DBS Bank's group chief operating officer Derrick Goh, 56, and life coach Carrie Tan, 43, will not be contesting in the upcoming General Election. Another member of the 2020 PAP team - Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim - will contest in the new Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC. 

SINGAPORE — One night in Parliament, the clock struck midnight — and MPs were still debating two competing motions on jobs and Singapore's foreign talent policy, more than 13 hours since the sitting began. By the time Leader of the House Indranee Rajah adjourned the House to «great relief» at 12.33am on Sept 15, 2021, Nominated MP Janet Ang had returned to the Chamber after leaving to celebrate her birthday over dinner with her family, while the birthday of Senior Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad had just begun. This is just one instance that reflects how the 14th term of Parliament has not just been active, but near relentless. For starters, this term of Parliament was not much longer than the last, with the difference being just 2½ months. But the tempo was higher with 162 sittings, up from 135, along with an unprecedented number of Bill and motion speeches, ministerial statements and adjournment motions. The number of occasions a PAP backbencher spoke during question time and orders of the day such as Bills or motions increased by 65 per cent from the 13th term of Parliament. 

Minister for National Development and West Coast-Jurong West GRC anchor Desmond Lee highlighted his team's plan to improve job options and security for the constituency's residents. Speaking to the media at the People's Action Party (PAP) Boon Lay branch on Sunday (April 20), Lee said that the team wishes to continue the Jobs @ West Coast programme by extending and intensifying it through a number of ways. This is given that the initiative, which was launched in 2020, has supported residents. «We want to support them (with the) initiatives that we see rolled out today. (By) bringing jobs directly into the heartlands to cater to a few groups of people,» he said, adding that the team is focused on helping workers in trade-exposed, external-facing sectors, middle-aged and older workers as well as younger residents who are anxious to land a job after graduation.

Two Singapore catering companies owned by the same parent company were fined after a total of 273 people fell ill in separate incidents linked to poor food safety practices. The incidents occurred in November 2023. Continental Delight Catering Services and Elsie's Kitchen Catering Services were fined $1,000 and $500 respectively on April 16, according to a statement by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). Both companies are owned by Hesed & Emet Holdings, which has a central kitchen located at 21 Second Chin Bee Road. In November 2023, the SFA and the Ministry of Health (MOH) received reports that 107 people were affected by gastroenteritis after consuming food prepared by Continental Delight Catering Services.

The Workers' Party (WP) has unveiled three new candidates for the upcoming General Election. They are Jackson Au, 35, a communications executive, Paris V. Parameswari, 51, a former US Navy security administrator, and Michael Thng, 37, a startup co-founder and graduate from Harvard Kennedy School. They were introduced by the party's secretary-general Pritam Singh and chairperson Sylvia Lim at a press conference at its headquarters on Sunday (April 20). Au, 35, is a senior manager of corporate affairs and marketing with the London Stock Exchange, and was the legislative assistant for former Aljunied MP Leon Perera before the latter resigned. Au, who is is also part of WP's Youth Wing executive committee, advocated for greater transparency, press freedom and freedom of information laws. «I believe this is important in speaking truth to power and holding our institutions accountable,» he said, adding that he could identify with young Singaporeans who «feel left behind» or «struggle to get good jobs». «As a young Singaporean myself, I feel the weight of pessimism that many of my generation carry,» he said.

A 26-year-old Singaporean man died in a motorcycle accident on April 17 while riding in southern Thailand during the country's Songkran festive period. The motorcyclist was riding along 410 Betong highway in Yala province when he collided with an oncoming pickup truck, reported The Straits Times. It was raining at the time, according to a Thai road safety committee. Dashcam footage of the incident which surfaced on Facebook showed a grey motorcycle from the opposite lane skidding into the path of the pickup truck before the two vehicles collided. The timestamp on the footage indicated that the accident occurred in the afternoon on April 17. According to Shin Min Daily News, the Yala provincial police department had made a Facebook post on Friday which stated that the Singaporean rider had died instantly after losing control of his motorcycle and crashing into the pickup truck. Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that the accident may have been caused by worn motorcycle tyres and a slippery road surface due to the rain, Shin Min reported. 

SINGAPORE - Selling new HDB flats for $90,000 to $270,000, making maternal and paediatric care mostly free, reducing GST to 7 per cent, and removing the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). These are some proposals put forth by the Singapore Democratic Party on April 20 as it unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming polls on May 3. A day earlier, it revealed its campaign slogan of Thrive, Not Just Survive. The manifesto was launched by party chairman Prof Paul Tambyah at Yew Tee Square, part of Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC where the opposition party has planted its flag.  Flanking him were party vice-chairman Bryan Lim, organising secretary Jufri Salim and member Gigene Wong. The three are set to be fielded in constituencies that SDP intends to contest in.  SDP's manifesto has six broad sections, spelling out 'Thrive', with over 40 proposals. Its six thrusts include ensuring fair taxes, universal healthcare, respect for the planet and people, rational immigration, a voluntary en-bloc redevelopment scheme for affordable housing, and an education system promoting creativity and equality.

The People's Action Party (PAP) announced on Sunday (April 20) its candidates for the new Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC this General Election. Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng, 60, will recontest the constituency and lead the five-member team, which includes four-term Marine Parade GRC MP Seah Kian Peng, 63. Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong — whose Joo Chiat ward had been ceded to East Coast GRC — and Mohd Fahmi Aliman will not be part of the team, said Dr Tan. Their replacements are Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, 56, and Tin Pei Ling, 41, who was MP of the now-defunct Macpherson SMC. New face Diana Pang, a business development director and grassroots volunteer at East Coast GRC, completes the slate. The 51-year-old had been seen at constituency events alongside incumbent Marine Parade MPs.

SINGAPORE - The opposition Red Dot United (RDU) has proposed that an unconditional cash transfer be given to all Singaporeans to increase their financial security, amid rising costs and economic uncertainty. All Housing Board flats should also be eligible for redevelopment so that older ones can retain their value, instead of experiencing lease decay. These are key proposals from RDU's 24-page manifesto unveiled on April 19, along with greater support for small local businesses. In a statement, RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon said: «We are facing a global trade crisis, and Singapore cannot escape getting trampled on when the giants fight.» He added: «A clear plan of action is exactly what citizens need right now as we face even greater uncertainty, both locally and globally.»  RDU is the latest party to release its election manifesto ahead of the May 3 polls, after the PAP, WP, PSP, People's Power Party and Singapore People's Party. RDU is expected to contest Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Nee Soon GRC, Jurong Central SMC and Jalan Kayu SMC, as stated in its manifesto.

Progress Singapore Party (PSP) founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock will lead a five-member team to contest the newly formed West Coast-Jurong West GRC in the upcoming General Election, joined by party chief Leong Mun Wai and vice-chairperson Hazel Poa.  The five-member team includes newcomers Sumarleki Amjah, 53, and Sani Ismail, 49, said PSP during a media event held at Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre on Sunday (April 20). They will be contesting against a PAP team which will be led by National Development Minister Desmond Lee at the polls.  The party also announced new face Stephanie Tan, 37, will be contesting Pioneer SMC. The party had said during the launch of its manifesto and campaign slogan on April 6 that it will be fielding fewer candidates for GE2025, and that they want to be «more focused» in its efforts this time.

The opposition Singapore Democratic Party is unlikely to field a team in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, despite having contested there the past three elections. SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan said: “We are still seeing what we can do, but it looks unlikely at this stage... because we want to be able to afford to consolidate our resources.” He was speaking to the media at the launch of SDP’s campaign slogan, ‘Thrive, Not Just Survive’, on April 19. SDP has so far confirmed that it will be fielding candidates in four constituencies - the five-member Sembawang GRC, the four-member Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, as well as the Bukit Panjang and Sembawang West single seats. “There’s no point in us just trying to just put up one or two posters, and then they see us, but then they don’t see us,” said Dr Chee, who is set to contest the newly carved out Sembawang West SMC. He added that SDP will instead focus on quality of candidates, not quantity. In Sembawang GRC, the SDP will be fielding its deputy head of policy James Gomez, party vice-chairman Bryan Lim, party treasurer Surayah Akbar, and party members Alfred Tan and Damanhuri Abas.

The Workers' Party unveiled another group of candidates, continuing its steady rollout of fresh faces ahead of GE2025. This announcement made at a press conference on Saturday (April 19) builds on Friday's reveal, bringing the total number of new candidates to 11. The new faces are senior counsel Harpreet Singh Nehal; product lead for dispute solutions at Visa Worldwide Jasper Kuan Hon Whye, and Sufyan Mikhail Putra Mohd Kamil, former associate director of a community-based law firm. Harpreet Singh has been a senior counsel of the Supreme Court since 2007.  PHOTO: AsiaOne/Rauf Khan Harpreet is a senior counsel of the Supreme Court since 2007. He was previously an equity partner at Drew & Napier before joining UK magic circle firm Clifford Chance as partner in 2012.  An alumni of National University of Singapore where he studied law, he did his masters at Harvard Law School. 

Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam will lead a new team in Nee Soon GRC for the upcoming 2025 General Election.  Shanmugam, who was first elected in 1988, said this in an interview with Lianhe Zaobao published on Saturday (April 19).  The Straits Times also reported on Saturday that Shanmugam confirmed on the sidelines of a community event that the People's Action Party (PAP) will field four new faces in Nee Soon GRC. (Left to right) PAP's Nee Soon GRC line-up for GE2020: Minister of State Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Carrie Tan, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam, Derrick Goh, and Louis Ng.  IMAGE: Screengrab/YouTube/PAP Nee Soon  On April 11, Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim confirmed that he will be contesting in Marine Parade GRC. 

SINGAPORE — The Singapore People's Party (SPP) has launched its manifesto ahead of the 2025 General Election on May 3.The 16-page manifesto entitled It is Time was launched on April 19, as the party gears up to field five candidates to contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Potong Pasir SMC.The manifesto's nine themes are wide-ranging and include proposals to promote economic stability and fairness, as well as plans for sustainable public transport. To tackle inflation and rising cost of living, the party proposes distributing government budget surpluses annually as CDC vouchers, with more aid for lower-income Singaporeans. It also suggests progressive taxation — for income tax to be raised on the top two per cent of earners, and the reintroduction of estate duty for ultra-high-net-worth individuals. To counter job insecurity and unemployment, it proposes a review of India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (Ceca), which it says will «address labour inflow concerns». It also advocates for the gradual reduction of Special and Employment Pass quotas and dependency ratios in «automatable sectors».

SINGAPORE — The opposition PSP on April 19 unveiled its line-up of candidates for Chua Chu Kang GRC, which includes the former secretary-general for the Singapore Manufacturing Federation Lawrence Pek. The four-member PSP team also includes three candidates with political experience. Technology lawyer Wendy Low, 48, and PSP second vice-chairperson and business consultant A'bas Kasmani, 71, had contested Tanjong Pagar GRC in the 2020 general election. Investment specialist S. Nallakaruppan, 60, who was a PSP candidate in Nee Soon GRC in the 2020 general election, rounds up the party's slate for Chua Chu Kang GRC. Pek, 55, is a political new face who, as the former leader of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, stands out among the PSP's newcomers as having one of the most notable backgrounds. According to his LinkedIn profile, Pek was the secretary-general of the federation between July 2020 and April 2023. The federation aims to champion the growth and global competitiveness of Singapore's manufacturing sector.

The People's Action Party (PAP) announced on Saturday (April 19) that labour chief Ng Chee Meng will contest the new Jalan Kayu SMC in the upcoming General Election. Ng, a former Cabinet minister, has been serving as secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) since 2018. Before entering politics, the 56-year-old was previously the Chief of Defence Force in the Singapore Armed Forces. The announcement was made during PAP's unveiling of its candidates for Jalan Kayu single-seat ward, as well as the adjacent Ang Mo Kio GRC, Kebun Baru SMC and Yio Chu Kang SMC. «I humbly ask for your trust to walk this journey with you... Let's build a Jalan Kayu SMC that is kinder, stronger and more inclusive,» Ng said at the press conference.  After the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) released its report on March 11, Ng has made several appearances at community events and walkabouts in Jalan Kayu, leading up to Saturday’s announcement. Ng said that conversations have given him a much better sense of what matters to residents of Jalan Kayu. 

The Workers' Party (WP) introduced four new candidates to the party's line-up for the upcoming general election at a press conference on Good Friday (April 18). The new slate of candidates include clinical psychologist Ong Lue Ping, 48; engineering firm owner Jimmy Tan, 53; business development senior director Alexis Dang, 39; and product manager Andre Low, 34. Secretary-general Pritam Singh did not answer questions regarding the deployment of the four new candidates, saying that it «will become clearer in the days to come». Dr Ong is currently a senior principal clinical psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), with multiple senior leadership roles under his belt. According to chairwoman Sylvia Lim, Dr Ong has been a volunteer with WP since November 2023, working as a case writer in Hougang SMC, while also being active on the ground in East Coast and Punggol GRCs.

SINGAPORE– Incoming Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Forrest Li told The Straits Times on April 18 that he wants to bring pride and joy back to Singapore football. In a media statement shared with ST shortly after FAS confirmed that Li’s team are the only candidates nominated on a slate basis for the 2025-2029 term, the tech billionaire and Lion City Sailors chairman said he was “grateful for this opportunity to lead the FAS Council”. The 47-year-old founder of homegrown tech firm Sea Limited added: “Football is more than just a sport. It is a powerful force for uplifting and uniting communities. A hard-fought win, an incredible goal: these are common memories that communities can cherish, feel pride in, and talk about for years, even decades.” “As Council President, my mission will be to bring that joy and pride back to Singapore football.”

The People's Alliance for Reform (PAR) will be fielding 14 candidates in seven constituencies in the upcoming General Election. The constituencies include Tanjong Pagar and Jalan Besar GRCs, and Mountbatten, Potong Pasir, Queenstown, Radin Mas and Yio Chu Kang SMCs. At a walkabout at Pek Kio Market and Food Centre on Saturday (April 18), PAR's secretary-general Lim Tean said that they would not contest for the Marymount, Jalan Kayu and Kebun Baru SMCs.  Red Dot United (RDU) had previously announced plans to contest Jalan Kayu, while the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has said that it will contest Kebun Baru and Marymount SMCs. PAR also revealed their potential candidate for Queenstown SMC, Mahaboob Baatsha, who will be making his electoral debut. 

Minister of Transport Chee Hong Tat will be leading the People's Action Party's (PAP) team to contest Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC in the 2025 General Election. Joining Chee on the team is Saktiandi Supaat, with both PAP candidates having contested the constituency in the past two elections. Newcomers Elysa Chen and Cai Yinzhou, who were introduced at a PAP press briefing on April 18 at its Toa Payoh West-Thomson Branch, will also be part of this team.  This team will be without Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, who is retiring from politics after over two decades in Cabinet. Over the years, he has held various political positions, including Minister for Education and Minister for Manpower, before being appointed Minister for Defence in 2011. «It's my liberation day,» said the 66-year-old. 

Minister of State for Education and Manpower Gan Siow Huang will contest again for Marymount SMC in the upcoming general election on May 3.  The former air force general won the seat over Progress Singapore Party's Ang Yong Guan in 2020, earning 55.04 per cent of the votes to his 44.96 per cent. Gan made the announcement at the People's Action Party (PAP) Toa Payoh West-Thomson branch today (April 18), recounting how she has worked alongside Marymount residents to improve the neighbourhood. She said: «For the past five years, I've done my best to walk the ground, helping the vulnerable residents, build the team and also creating a new Marymount identity. »We've put in a lot of hard work to turn ideas into action. In the last five years, we've introduced new community programmes, and upgraded common infrastructure to make Marymount more inclusive and accessible." Gan added that the journey has been meaningful to her and she hopes to continue with them.

A woman's finger was nearly severed during a fight next to an Indian eatery at Tanjong Pagar on Wednesday (April 16). According to Shin Min Daily News, the incident took place at around 7pm in front of a shophouse on the corner of Neil Road and Spottiswoode Park Road.  When a reporter got to the scene, he noticed a large area of blood in front of the eatery, extending to nearly 30m. There was also a blood-soaked white garment. An employee at the eatery told Shin Min that he had seen blood on the ground, but did not know what happened and only learnt later that there was a fight. Others working there also said that they had noticed the police presence, but the eatery was too busy for them to pay much attention. A woman working nearby told the reporter that she saw a long-haired woman in her 30s, standing on the side of the road, with the left side of her body, including her head and arms, covered in blood. A man, whose relationship to the woman the witness was unclear about, was heard telling her to sit down.

Two men were arrested following a fight at Hougang Green Shopping Mall on April 9. A video of the incident shows one man appearing to be the aggressor while the other tries to make his escape. Posted on the Facebook page Singapore News on Wednesday (April 16), the clip shows the two men tussling on the ground of an open air food court. One of the men, in a white polo shirt, repeatedly proclaims: «I say sorry already, bro.» The man, who appears to have cuts on his face and blood in his mouth, falls over but manages to back away, using a plastic chair as a barrier. He also tells the other man, dressed in an orange t-shirt, to «go away» repeatedly, but the latter tackles him and they both fall over again. The former gets up again and walks towards the food stalls while the other man continues to follow him. The man in the orange t-shirt can then be seen pushing the other man up against a half-wall, and another man approaches the pair to physically break up the brawl. Netizens were alarmed, with one commenting: «Where are the police or security officers to stop this big bully?»

Minister of Transport Chee Hong Tat will be leading the People's Action Party's (PAP) team to contest Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC in the 2025 General Election. Joining Minister Chee on the team is Saktiandi Supaat, with both PAP candidates having contested the constituency in the past two elections. Newcomers Elysa Chen and Cai Yinzhou, who were introduced at a PAP press briefing on April 18 at its Toa Payoh West-Thomson Branch, will also be part of this team.  This team will be without Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen, who is retiring from politics after over two decades in Cabinet. Over the years, he has held various political positions, including Minister for Education and Minister for Manpower, before being appointed Minister for Defence in 2011. «It's my liberation day,» said the 66-year-old. 

Workers' Party secretary-general Pritam Singh was coy on whether he, along with the other incumbent Aljunied GRC MPs, will contest in the same constituency in the coming elections on May 3. Singh was answering a reporter's question at a press conference on Thursday (April 17) where his party unveiled its manifesto and four new candidates. The other MPs in Aljunied GRC are party chair Sylvia Lim, Gerald Giam and Faisal Manap. «I don't rule anything out, as we enter the final phase before Nomination Day,» said Singh. «Is this where the biggest surprise will be?» quizzed the reporter. Singh then asked if the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has «officially» introduced its candidates for its East Coast and Marine Parade GRCs. «They have been very coy about the fine line up, right? There are no coincidences to that coyness, so let's see what happens in the next few days.» In the 2020 General Election, the WP team, led by Singh, contested against a PAP slate, winning with a 59.95 per cent vote share. Since then, the team are a member short after former MP Leon Perera resigned from the party in July 2023.