The Ministry of Health (MOH) submitted its intention on Monday (Sept 29) to suspend operations of cord blood banking services at Cordlife for a year.Cordlife has 14 days to submit its written representations to the ministry.MOH said that a follow up audit on Cordlife conducted in July had found significant lapses in the collection and processing of new cord blood units (CBU).Cord blood is the blood remaining in the umbilical cord and placenta after childbirth and contains blood stem cells, which have been successfully used in stem cell transplants to treat blood cancers, immune and genetic diseases.The suspension will require Cordlife to focus on properly maintaining the safety and quality of its existing CBUs. It will be disallowed from banking new CBUs.This intended action by MOH comes a year after the cord blood banking facility partially resumed operations in September 2024.It was revealed in November 2023 that seven of Cordlife's 22 storage tanks had been exposed to suboptimal temperatures, damaging around 2,200 CBUs in one affected Tank A.

Three teenagers aged between 14 and 15 were arrested for their suspected involvement in a case of loanshark harassment by fire.In a statement on Monday (Sept 29), the police said they were alerted to an incident at a Housing Board flat along Boon Lay Drive on Sept 24 at around 3.05pm.The main door and gate of the unit had been set on fire, while a wall at the staircase landing near the unit was also scribbled with loanshark-related graffiti.With the aid of police camera images, officers from the Jurong Police Division and Criminal Investigation established the identities of the teenagers and arrested them within six hours.A mobile phone, black marker, black hoodie and a pair of sunglasses were seized as case exhibits, the police said.«Investigations against the three teenagers are ongoing,» they added.For first-time offenders, a loanshark harassment offence carries a fine of between $5,000 and $50,000, up to five years’ jail and up to six strokes of the cane.«The police have zero tolerance for loanshark harassment activities,» the statement said. 

Singapore's total population has risen to 6.11 million — with a 0.7 per cent increase in its number of citizens — up 1.2 per cent from last year.The figures were published on Monday (Sep 29) in the annual Population in Brief report by the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) of the Prime Minister's Office and its partner agencies.Of the 6.11 million, there are 4.20 million residents — comprising citizens as well as permanent residents (PRs) — and 1.91 million non-residents, which include the foreign workforce, migrant domestic workers, dependants and international students.The citizen population rose from 3.64 million to 3.66 million, while the PR population remained stable at 540,000, said the report.While citizen births in 2024 saw a 1.2 per cent increase from 2023, the average number of births per year in the last five years (30,400) was lower than in the preceding five years (32,900).In addition to citizen births in Singapore, there are also children born overseas to at least one Singaporean parent. 1,409 children born overseas to at least one Singaporean parent were granted citizenship by descent in 2024.

Permanent residents (PRs), who are overseas without a valid re-entry permit (REP), will no longer automatically lose their PR status from Dec 1. Instead, they will be given six months — or 180 days —  to apply for a new REP, during which they will still be allowed to return and remain in Singapore, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)  in a news release on Monday (Sept 29). «We encourage PRs to obtain a new REP or to renew their expiring in a timely manner before travelling out of Singapore, to minimise the risk of losing their PR status,» the ministry said.Currently, all PRs here who go overseas need to have a valid REP, which allows them to re-enter Singapore.Under the existing laws, a PR who is overseas with an expired REP would automatically lose his PR status, and has only a one-month grace period to apply for reinstatement.MHA said that it has been exercising flexibility by allowing some PRs who miss their deadline to have their PR status reinstated if they have «legitimate reasons», such as if they were hospitalised overseas.

SINGAPORE — The day he died, Goh Yong Le was taken out of class and questioned by two teachers in the conference room about taking a classmate's belongings the previous week.He cried three times that day. Shortly after the school day ended, he took his life. He was 11.In 2024, the year Yong Le died, there were 314 suicide deaths, a provisional number that will be updated in 2026.Still, for the sixth consecutive year, suicide remained the leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 29 in Singapore, a persistent and tragic trend.The day it happenedIn a recent interview, Yong Le's father, who requested anonymity to safeguard the privacy of his family, said his son sobbed when he was asked to find the missing item, which he had apparently hidden in the school's garden.He and his teachers could not locate it, and it is unclear whether Yong Le had actually taken the item.He was subsequently asked to write a statement about what he had done, and his school bag was searched. He became upset and cried again.He then returned to class to complete a practice paper before attending another class.

A domestic helper died after falling from a HDB block in Toa Payoh on Thursday (Sept 25).She was reportedly cleaning the windows in that unit located at Block 9 Lorong 7 Toa Payoh at that time.The maid had arrived less than a week before the incident occurred, reported Shin Min Daily News.Rags and cleaning agents were reportedly found at the scene. Her employer, in an interview with Shin Min, suspected that the deceased had slipped and fallen while cleaning the windows.In a photo shared on Facebook, a woman can be seen lying at the foot of an HDB block, with police officers present at the scene.Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, a 75-year-old cleaner, who wished to be known only as Xiong, said that he was sweeping the floor when he heard a loud bang.He added that when he went to check, he found a woman lying on the ground and called out to her, but she did not respond.When Shin Min reporters arrived at the scene, a blue tent had been set up, with several police cars present.

77 persons have been arrested for suspected drugs-related offences following a five-day islandwide anti-drug operation from Sept 21 to 26. The operation covered areas such as Aljunied, Boon Keng and Selegie, said the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) in a statement on Monday (Sept 29).A total of about 351g of heron, 99g of 'Ice', 69g of cannabis, 10g of ketamine, one 'Ecstasy' tablet, one bottle of methadone, numerous vape-related products including 527 e-vaporiser pods believed to contain etomidate and cash amounting to $4,228.70 were seized. CNB said that the drugs seized are estimated to be worth more than $74,000, while the heroin, 'Ice' and cannabis seized can potentially feed the addiction of 235 abusers for a week.On Sept 21, a 60-year-old Singaporean man was arrested for suspected drug trafficking offences after about 106g of heroin and 26g of 'Ice' were recovered from a New Bridge Road residential unit he was in.

More homes are set to be built next to Pasir Ris MRT station, on the site of the former Pasir Ris Bus Interchange, while a new community hub for the town centre is in the works.Based on the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) Draft Master Plan 2025, the homes will be built on a plot about 2.9ha in size – equivalent to the area of four football fields – that has been zoned for housing, with commercial use on the first storey.In addition, the Government is studying plans for a new neighbourhood in the town, to be located next to Sungei Loyang on a site that is currently largely vegetated.“An environmental study is under way to incorporate the area’s biodiversity into future development plans,” the URA said of the proposed neighbourhood at its draft master plan exhibition.The master plan, which is expected to come into force later in 2025, will guide Singapore’s development for the next 10 to 15 years. The exhibition runs until Nov 29 at The URA Centre.

SINGAPORE – Singapore was re-elected to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) council at its 42nd assembly session, held in Montreal, Canada, on Sept 27.It is one of 36 states sitting on the governing body of ICAO, a United Nations agency that oversees global aviation standards and practices.The Singapore delegation was led by Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow.In a Facebook post on Sept 28, Mr Siow said that Singapore’s place on the council was secured with a “record number of votes”. It had garnered 176 of 184 votes, earning the largest number of votes among all elected states.“In a world where rules matter less and small countries find it harder to exert influence, we have to work harder with like-minded partners to secure our interests,” he said.Well-functioning international organisations like ICAO remain important platforms to build a world that Singapore can continue to do well and prosper in, he added.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be rolling out its autonomous shuttle service in Punggol next year, and it will be the first time that autonomous vehicles (AVs) will be deployed as fixed shuttle services in Singapore.But before these AVs can be put into service, what is being done to ensure that they are completely safe to operate on our roads, and will be able to co-exist peacefully with other road users here?To find out, the LTA invited AsiaOne to see how these AVs are being tested, as well as offer some insights as to what the testing parameters are for AVs and the standards they have to follow before being officially allowed on our roads.We also got to experience riding in one of the new autonomous shuttles that will be deployed in Punggol, to see what it is like being driven around in these driverless vehicles.

«Sorry you have to go.»Those were the parting words from SMRT train captain Mohd Zaidi Sulaiman, 52, when he spoke to AsiaOne and other media about the soon-to-be retired Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI C151) trains he had worked with for the past 31 years.The 66-strong fleet entered service on Nov 7, 1987, when the MRT system first began operations, plying the North-South and East-West MRT lines.The last KHI train concluded its final day of service on Sept 26, with all 66 of the first-generation trains phased out as of Sunday (Sept 28).They have been replaced by the new seventh-generation Alstom Movia R151 trains, several of which first began operating in June 2023, reported The Straits Times.In a Facebook post on Sunday, SMRT wrote: Today, we bid a fond farewell to the last of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) trains - Singapore's first-generation MRT fleet, which has faithfully served the nation since 1987.

Thirty-nine people caught using e-vaporisers laced with etomidate, also known as Kpods, have started or are about to begin rehabilitation.The cases were detected in the first three weeks after stricter penalties for vaping came into effect on Sept 1, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in a press release on Saturday (Sept 27).From Sept 1 to 21, 656 people were caught for vape-related offences, with 44 confirmed to be in possession of Kpods.Three etomidate abusers have already begun rehabilitation at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) or with Social Service Agencies (SSAs) under the Ministry of Social and Family Development's Youth Enhanced Supervision Scheme programme. Another 36 are expected to start this week while five remain under investigation.Rehabilitation instead of prosecution Under the enhanced framework, those found possessing, using or buying vapes face higher penalties than before.

A watch shop at Far East Plaza has lodged a police report after a man stole a pre-owned Rolex priced at over $40,000.The theft occurred at about 3.25pm on Thursday (Sept 25), reported 8world.A HJ Luxury employee, surnamed Liu, said a man had walked into the store and requested to view a Rolex GMT Master II worth over $40,000. He asked if he could get a discount on the watch and then requested to try it on.«Many customers will want to try on watches, and we allowed him to do so too. Right after I helped him clasp the strap, he immediately ran off,» she recounted.She and her brother-in-law, who owns the store, chased after the man for about 150 metres before they lost track of him.Footage from HJ Luxury posted to TikTok shows a man wearing a mask walk up to the exterior display of the shop before entering.When Liu comes to the shopfront, he gestures at a watch on the display, and she retrieves it. Both parties are seen talking before Liu takes the timepiece to the back of the store.Meanwhile, the man fidgets and looks around while waiting for her to return.

A 33-year-old Singaporean man has been arrested in Bangkok, Thailand, for selling vapes laced with etomidate, also known as Kpods, reported Thai media outlets on Friday (Sept 26). Thai police said the man was caught in a sting the same day, after he accepted 100,000 baht (S$4,037) from officers posing as buyers, reported Siam Rath.Officers raided his condominium in Din Daeng, Bangkok, and seized 130 Kpods, more than one million baht in cash, two mobile phones, and a rental agreement for the condominium where the incident occurred.His 24-year-old Thai girlfriend was also arrested, reported Khaosod English.

SINGAPORE - At a POSB branch in Yishun, staff repeatedly foiled a daughter's attempt to gain access to her elderly father's savings account, which had less than $5,000 in it.A few months ago, the woman went to the branch alone, claiming that her father was becoming forgetful and she needed access to help him withdraw money.She wanted to be added as the joint account holder for her father's account.Ms Ivy Keh, 59, branch service manager at POSB Yishun West, said: «We told her we need to talk to her father as he is the account holder, and we need his consent.»Days later, the daughter returned with her father and a relative.Ms Keh said: «When we asked if he consented to adding his daughter to his account, he kept quiet. He looked uncomfortable and avoided eye contact with us. His daughter kept staring at him.»Ms Keh told the senior that in a joint-alternate account, his daughter could withdraw his money without his consent as just one account holder is needed to perform any transaction.

SINGAPORE - An elderly woman was left penniless and homeless after she sold her house to live with her only son who promised to take care of her, but he disappeared after pocketing the sales proceeds.A woman in her 70s handed her ATM card to her son to help her withdraw money as she has mobility issues - only to find out that he took at least $20,000 to $30,000 from the account without her consent, leaving her with almost nothing.Social workers and lawyers told The Straits Times they have seen such cases of seniors financially abused by loved ones, and that elder financial abuse remains a hidden, under-reported problem.A Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) spokeswoman told ST that it is currently studying the issue with its partners. Financial abuse remains a concern, especially among the elderly, she said.Such cases include adult children forcing their parents to monetise their assets for the children's benefit, and withdrawing money from their parents' bank accounts without their knowledge.In some cases, the perpetrator turned violent.

A 66-year-old man who allegedly stabbed his upstairs neighbour over a noise dispute did not attend mediation at the Community Mediation Centre (CMC), the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) and Ministry of National Development (MND) said on Saturday (Sept 27).Singaporean Koh Ah Hwee has been charged in court with the murder of 30-year-old Nguyen Phuong Tra.He is accused of stabbing Nguyen and her husband at Block 323 Yishun Central on Sept 24. The mother-of-two later died in hospital, and her husband suffered serious injuries.Residents told AsiaOne that Koh and Nguyen's family had been entangled in a neighbour dispute over noise purportedly originating from the victims' unit.Nee Soon GRC MP Jackson Lam said to members of the media that a woman had raised the concerns at a Meet-the-People session in July, and an appeal was submitted to HDB.[[nid:723075]]In a joint statement on Saturday, MinLaw and MND clarified the deceased woman had applied for mediation at the CMC on June 12.

Pharmaceutical companies in Singapore aim to build manufacturing plants in the US to gain an exemption to the recently-announced 100 per cent tariff on branded drugs.Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong told local reporters on Saturday (Sept 27) that Singapore had already been in talks with the companies «to better understand their concerns and the situation with regard to their exports to the US» previously and subsequently learnt about their plans following the new tariffs.«In the meantime, they are also continuing to clarify with the US administration, to better understand the conditions and the criteria, and to confirm that whether there are plans for the [new] plants in place, whether they will be eligible for tariff exemption,» he said.DPM Gan, who's also the Minister for Trade and Industry, added that pharmaceuticals make up 13 per cent of Singapore's exports to the US, amounting to $4 billion.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in a media release on Friday (Sept 26) that there is «currently no robust scientific evidence» to support the link between the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism in children.This follows a statement made by US President Donald Trump during a news conference at the White House on Sept 22, where he advised pregnant women to avoid using the painkiller Tylenol — which contains acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) — citing concerns over a possible increased risk of autism in children.In response, HSA noted: «Paracetamol has been used worldwide for decades to manage pain and fever, including in pregnant women».«It remains the recommended treatment for pain or fever in pregnant women when used as directed.»HSA also emphasised that «while some studies have reported an association between paracetamol and neurological conditions such as autism, a causal link has not been established, and many other studies found no such connection».

A 6.3m-long baleen whale carcass was found in the waters off Tanjong Pagar on Sept 6. PHOTO: Facebook/Lee Kong Chian National History Museum Retrieval efforts by researchers from the Lee Kong Chian National History Museum and Singapore Salvage Engineers allowed the carcass to be secured before it was lost to open sea, and it's currently being studied by the researchers.This is the first time in a decade that a whale carcass has been found in Singapore's waters. In 2015, a sperm whale carcass later named Jubi Lee, washed up near Jurong Island.