After an increase in Covid-19 cases in April, Singapore is finally seeing a dip in weekly cases and hospitalisation numbers.  Sharing the news in a Facebook post on Saturday (June 14), Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung said:  «I am happy to update that our recent Covid-19 wave is subsiding. »When the wave started in late April, we saw estimated weekly infections climb to about 26,400 cases.

An accident between a cyclist and a tipper truck along Tanah Merah Coast Road on Saturday (June 14) left the former lying face-down on the road, as seen in videos circulating online and on WhatsApp.According to videos posted by users on TikTok, the incident occurred along that road.The clips appeared to show the aftermath of an accident, with a man in a red top and black cycling shorts lying face down by the side of the road, next to a bicycle. A tipper truck is seen parked haphazardly, metres away.[embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@badboy198211/video/7515618414111689992[/embed]Another photo showed a group of fellow cyclists standing next to the man.In a statement to AsiaOne, police stated that they were alerted to the accident involving a bicycle and a tipper truck on June 14 at about 8.55am.The incident occurred along Tanah Merah Coast Road towards Xilin Avenue.A 54-year-old male cyclist was taken conscious to the hospital and investigations are ongoing, police said.

SINGAPORE - TikTokers advertising themselves as debt consultants are charging debtors thousands of dollars to exploit a government bankruptcy avoidance scheme.Checks by The Straits Times showed that there are at least a dozen such consultants on the social media platform.One consultant said that for a fee, he can guide debtors through the Debt Repayment Scheme (DRS) to help them secure a discount on their debt.He said he had helped a client clear a debt of more than $100,000 with a repayment of only one-third of what he owed, or $35,000.«That's $65,000 savings, no shiok meh? (sic),» the man added.ST understands such firms charge debtors between $1,000 and $5,000 for their services.Credit Counselling Singapore (CCS), a non-profit organisation and registered charity, said it has seen a number of debtors falling prey to exploitative debt consultancy firms.CCS general manager Tan Huey Min said it had a debtor who approached the organisation after he paid a consultancy firm in hopes of getting on the DRS.The man had debts of more than $150,000, above the threshold for the bankruptcy avoidance scheme.

SINGAPORE - Singaporean students bound for Harvard University are still pressing ahead with their plans despite uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's ban on foreign students, even as some still do not have their visas.Ms Welly Tantono, the president of its Singapore alumni club, told The Straits Times on June 14 that as far as she is aware, none of the prospective Singaporean students have relinquished their offers.The Harvard Club of Singapore on June 14 organised a pre-departure meeting for the Republic's Harvard hopefuls, which ST understands was attended by more than 10 matriculating undergraduates and postgraduates.Among them, about half have yet to obtain their visas, said a Harvard Club Board member, who declined to be named.Some existing visa appointments at the local US embassy have also been cancelled, and new appointments are difficult to make, he added.A total of 22 people had indicated on the club's website that they would attend the annual event, which was held at Monk's Brew Club in Katong.Ms Tantono said the event had hoped to «offer comfort» to matriculating students.

A Malaysian teacher was found dead in her home in Johor on Friday (June 13) after reportedly missing work for several months.According to Lianhe Zaobao, the body of Lo Kwan Fong was found in an advanced state of decomposition.Her colleagues are now hoping to find her only relative who had migrated to Singapore some time ago.Lo, 39, lived in the Iskandar Puteri district and was a vice-principal at a primary school in Johor, reported Guang Ming Daily and Sin Chew Daily.One colleague who did not want to be named revealed that Lo had not reported to work for an extended period.The colleague also shared that Lo had lived alone after her parents died over 15 years ago, describing Lo as an introvert.Neighbours also noted that they had not seen Lo for a long time.They said that according to another co-worker who had worked with Lo for a longer time, her only known relative is her maternal aunt who migrated to Singapore many years ago and is estimated to be around 74 years old.

Singapore's 15th Parliament will hold its first session on Sept 5 at 5pm.The sitting would commence with the election of the Speaker and the swearing-in of Members of the Parliament (MP) who were elected during General Election 2025, said Leader of the House Indranee Rajah in a media release on Friday (June 13).Seah Kian Peng has been serving as Speaker since 2023.President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will then deliver his opening address, where he will outline the priorities, policies and programmes of the Government.Debates on the President's Address will subsequently occur between Sept 22 and 26.The 14th Parliament was dissolved on April 15 ahead of the General Election on May 3.The 15th Parliament will have 99 MPs consisting of 97 elected MPs and two Non-Constituency MPs comprising Andre Low and Eileen Chong from the Workers' Party.

Cashless payments are meant to offer convenience but for one customer at a porridge stall in Westgate, it led to a pricey mistake.While paying for his $5.40 meal at Mung Zuk in Westgate, a Caucasian customer accidentally transferred $540 instead, Shin Min Daily News reported.The transaction occurred on Tuesday (June 10) at around 2pm but it wasn't until later that staff realised the overpayment.In a Facebook post shared a few hours later, the eatery appealed for help locating the customer. «As soon as we realised the overpayment, our team searched around the mall to try and find him, but unfortunately, we could not locate him,» the Facebook caption read.

A Malaysian man's attempt to depart Singapore illegally was thwarted by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Thursday (June 12).Hiding in a Malaysia-registered grey lorry, the man was looking to exit the country via Tuas Checkpoint, said ICA in a Facebook post on June 13.However, ICA officers carried out enhanced checks at the checkpoint and discovered him lying flat in a corner of the lorry's cargo compartment.The man as well as the vehicle's driver and attendant have since been arrested and referred to ICA's Enforcement Division for further investigation. In the Facebook post, ICA stated that it takes attempts to enter or depart Singapore illegally as a serious matter.

A 63-year-old man has been rescued by the Police Coast Guard after ending up in the waters off East Coast Park on Thursday (June 12). According to Shin Min Daily, witnesses said that the man often swam there, and it was believed that the strong wind and waves pushed him away from the shore. It is understood that the man was clinging to the edge of a concrete structure near the jetty before the Police Coast Guard threw him a life buoy and pulled him towards their boat.Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that a call for assistance was made at about 8.10am, alerting them to a man in distress in the waters near East Coast Park.The 63-year-old man was rescued from the waters by officers from the Police Coast Guard.The man has been assessed by SCDF for minor injuries but has declined to be sent to the hospital.[[nid:662493]]xingying.koh@asiaone.com

SINGAPORE — A cultural group has released footage to clear the air over a handshake incident that led to online criticism of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang.Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng said it had invited Gan for a Cantonese cultural festival held at Peck San Theng in Bishan Lane on Saturday (May 17).Representatives of the 155-year-old cultural institution, which is managed by 16 Cantonese clan associations, were waiting to greet her when she arrived alone.The footage shows her alighting from the car, with a mobile phone in her right hand. She then slips the phone into her rear right trousers pocket as representatives of the group approach her.Among those who extended their hand was Leong Chee Leng.The 72-year-old is a member of the Kong Chow Wui Koon lion dance troupe, which was scheduled to perform at the Cantonese cultural festival.Leong can be seen extending his hand to greet her, but Gan is also approached by Edward Leong, the chairman of the cultural festival’s organising committee.

Tobacco enforcement officers from the the Health Sciences Authority's (HSA) raided Club Slim, a nightclub in Excelsior Shopping Centre at Coleman Street, on May 15 and uncovered an active trade in illegal e-vaporisers and related accessories.This comes as the authority steps up enforcement and continues to combat the unauthorised sale and use of e-vaporisers at nightlife establishments, it said in a statement on Friday (June 13).The club's manager admitted to selling e-vaporisers to staff members and HSA linked him to an illegal distribution network after they searched his vehicle and residence. The 45-year-old man is currently assisting the authority in investigations.Three men and two women aged between 22 and 40, who were patrons of the nightclub, were also found to have e-vaporisers and components in their possession. They were issued fines by the HSA on the spot.Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, the possession, use or purchase of e-vaporisers carries a maximum fine of $2,000.

Unable to reschedule flights and receive refunds, many Jetstar Asia passengers are voicing their frustrations as they try to adjust their travel plans.Jetstar Asia announced on Wednesday (June 11) morning that it will be ceasing operations effective July 31 after years of financial losses, and will be operating on a «progressively reduced schedule» for the next few weeks.In a statement on Wednesday, it said that customers with bookings after July 31 would be offered full refunds for their flights, but many are facing difficulties in claiming refunds.'Can't get through to anyone'Speaking to AsiaOne, an affected passenger, who wanted to be known as Megan, said that she has been unable to get help from customer service.The 27-year-old had booked a flight to Bangkok in August and received an email on Wednesday afternoon that provided a form to apply for a refund.

She was preparing for a flight on June 11 when news came in that Jetstar Asia will be ending its operations on July 31.Speaking to AsiaOne, the stewardess who declined to be named, said the news came as a «total shock».The 23-year-old who has been with the airline for over a year and a half, said: «It was very disheartening. To be honest, most of us lost the mood to fly.»She said that despite the relatively short time with the airline, she had built close friendships with many colleagues, making the sudden parting especially difficult.«One of the hardest parts for me is knowing that I had to part ways with my cabin crew colleagues earlier than expected. My heart was not prepared for it,» she said.Despite the devastating news, she expressed gratitude for having a part-time job as a personal assistant on the side.«I'm thankful that at least I have a part-time job. It's going to be difficult for my other colleagues who now have to start looking for jobs,» she said.

This year's National Day Parade (NDP) marks 60 years since Singapore gained independence and will feature 40 marching contingents — the largest number for a parade in the Padang since 1990, where there were 70.NDP 2025 parade and ceremony chairman, Colonel Lim Yu Sing said this during a media event at the National Gallery on Thursday (June 12).The parade and ceremony segment, led by parade commander Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Firdaus Ghazali, will comprise about 2,100 participants from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds, including 18 civilian contingents, he added.Also speaking to media at the National Gallery, LTC Firdaus said that being a parade commander had always been his childhood dream.While participating in NDP 2002 as a performer, he remembered catching a glimpse of the parade and ceremony segment during rehearsals.«I developed a deep appreciation for parades and their significance as the heart and core of our NDPs,» he said.

Travellers will not be significantly impacted with the impending closure of Singapore-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Jetstar Asia, aviation analysts have said.The Qantas subsidiary announced on June 11 that will be ceasing operations, effective July 31. Speaking to AsiaOne, V. Mathivaanan, Covering Programme Chair for Diploma in Aviation Management, School of Engineering, Republic Polytechnic, said that Jetstar Asia's closure does not signal a downturn for the larger aviation industry.«In fact, the global aviation industry is experiencing solid growth, both in passenger travel and financial performance,» he said, citing International Air Transport Association (IATA) data which revealed that global passenger demand for April rose by eight per cent year-on-year.The data also found that international travel demand rose by 10.8 per cent year-on-year, with a record load factor of 84.1 per cent.Escalating cost pressures on LCCsMathivaanan highlighted the competitive environment that LCCs face, especially as they grapple with «tight financial margins while having to balance rising operational costs». 

What was meant to be a dream «French cream style» makeover for a Sentosa flat has turned into a costly nightmare for a homeowner.Luo now finds himself dealing with uneven cabinetry, long delays, the lingering smell of formaldehyde and his daughter's bedroom looking like what he describes as «tombstone style».He told Shin Min Daily News he paid $55,000 to a Malaysian contractor he found on Facebook to renovate the unit at Ocean Way. He also spent an additional $18,000 on electrical wiring and $22,000 on Ziptrak blinds.His decision to go with a Malaysian company stemmed from previous experiences with Singapore-based firms that outsourced work across the Causeway.«I thought it would be more straightforward to deal with them directly,» he said.Instead, the project dragged on for nearly a year and remains incomplete. Construction officially began only after Chinese New Year this year, despite an original move-in date set for November.«There was delay after delay,» he said. «Once, we agreed to meet at 10am and I waited until 5pm. He didn't show up.»

Rental costs are often a major deterrent to aspiring entrepreneurs, especially for young business owners who often opt to run home-based businesses in order to avoid the financial burden of paying rent.Reports emerged last week that I-Health Medical Holdings had successfully bid $52,188 for a unit at Block 954C Tampines Street 96 in March — the highest per square foot rent HDB has ever received for a clinic of that size.Cases of skyrocketing rental fees are becoming an increasing concern for young business owners with physical stores, and Cakeinspiration, a specialty cake shop, is facing the same challenge.Speaking to AsiaOne, 25-year-old Chan Kai Yang, the second-generation owner of Cakeinspiration, said that they'd recently renewed their lease and now have to fork out 40 per cent more in rent to keep their store, located in the heart of Joo Chiat.

Public transport operator SMRT has lodged a police report after a video showing an individual filming on the train tracks was widely circulated on social media.The video was taken in dimly lit conditions, and minimal footsteps can be heard as a train was passing by.It is not sure when the video was recorded, but it has been making the rounds across multiple social media platforms, drawing increasing public attention.It garnered 28.2k views on TikTok as at Thursday (June 12) afternoon, while a version posted on the Facebook page Complaint Singapore has received 9.4k views.The Instagram account Singapura Legends has recorded the highest traction, with 28.6k views. The footage has sparked widespread concern among netizens, many of whom expressed shock over the individual’s actions.One user questioned, “How on earth (did) he access that in the first place?” while another asked, “Why did he do such dangerous things?” Another netizen described the incident as a “life-endangering action”.