Singapore's stockpiling of food has broadened to include frozen chicken and other types of food — to ensure that there's a variety to meet Singapore's need during emergencies.But more stockpiling is not the ultimate solution as there are costs involved. «There is a balance between cost elements (Government, taxpayers and businesses), because the more you stockpile, the more holding costs you incur,» said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad.He was speaking to the media during a visit to a 13,500 sq m stockpile warehouse operated by supply chain and logistics firm YCH Group on Wednesday (Oct 22).The facility, kept as cold as minus 23 deg C, ranks among the largest automated storage and retrieval system facility in Asia.Today, Singapore imports more than 90 per cent of its food from countries like Brazil, China, Malaysia and Poland. 

Almost three quarters of Singaporeans are likely to find online harms more severe if they target vulnerable victims or have a considerable impact on them, according to a multi-phase online safety study conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS).The study, titled «Online Harms in Singapore, from Evidence to Action», was conducted between June 2024 and May 2025.Funded by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, it comprised focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, as well as a survey of 600 Singapore citizens and permanent residents, conducted after the focus group discussions and in-depth interviews.The demographic of survey respondents generally reflected the age and gender distribution of Singapore's resident population in 2024.This study was released shortly after the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill (OSRA) was tabled in Parliament on Oct 15.[[nid:723988]]In the focus group discussions, respondents from all demographics consistently ranked child sexual exploitation, violent content, terrorism, and vice-related content the most severe online harms.

A man has been charged for allegedly trafficking e-vaporiser pods containing etomidate.The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) charged 31-year-old Chua Beng Kai Jeremy in court on Wednesday (Oct 22), it said in a news release.On Tuesday (Oct 21), officers from the Singapore Police Force responded to a call for assistance and discovered the accused's car stationary and facing against the flow of traffic along Punggol Central.He appeared dazed when approached.Upon inspecting the vehicle, officers found e-vaporisers and alerted HSA. Officers from HSA subsequently seized two e-vaporisers and 30 e-vaporiser pods from the vehicle, said the authority.Laboratory testing confirmed that the seized pods contained etomidate.Investigations are ongoing and the case has been adjourned to Nov 19.Importers, sellers and distributors of etomidate e-vaporisers now face stiffer penalties, including three to 20 years' imprisonment and five to 15 strokes of the cane for importers.Sellers and distributors face two to 10 years' imprisonment and two to five strokes of the cane.

SINGAPORE — While he was taking a lift at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) with his wife and friends, a man glanced at another woman's buttocks and molested her as he exited.Chinese national Hu Guisheng, 39, was jailed for six days after pleading guilty to one charge for outrage of modesty on Oct 22.He was on a social visit pass to Singapore and was staying at MBS with his wife and friends.The incident happened in the early hours of March 8 after they had drinks at club Ce La Vi on the 57th floor.They left the club at about 1.34am and waited for the lift. The victim, who cannot be identified as there is a gag order on her identity, was also waiting for the lift.CCTV footage of the incident played in court showed Hu holding his wife's hand as they entered the lift.When the lift reached level one, the victim held the door open for the others to exit before her.Hu waited for everyone to step out of the lift before he moved forward to stand next to the victim. Then he took a quick glance at her buttocks and molested her as he exited.

A foreign influencer's stunt at Marina Bay Sands has gone viral after he claimed to have «sneaked» into the infinity pool, which is accessible only to in-house guests.Kaz Sawyer, who has 8.7 million followers on TikTok, is known for posting videos involving challenges and stunts such as welding two cars together, and sending a GoPro down a water hole.In the one-minute video, he is seen trying to access the rooftop garden by sneaking through the entrance, asking hotel guests for help and timing the comings and goings of staff members.All these attempts fail, but the 24-year-old American then claims to have made reservations at the rooftop bar after speaking with a receptionist who tells him it is the closest he can get to the pool. PHOTO: Screengrab/TikTok/Kaz Sawyer He is then seen climbing over a ledge purportedly located near a door that leads directly to the pool.

A man who filmed foreign workers resting at a void deck, questioning whether they were allowed to sleep there, has drawn flak online as netizens weighed in on how migrant workers are treated in Singapore.The clip, shared by singaporeinfluenceviral on TikTok, shows a void deck where at least three foreign workers are seen sitting or lying on mats on the floor.The man behind the camera approaches them and questions their actions, saying that they are «not allowed to smoke inside».«Who said you're allowed to sleep here?» he asks repeatedly. «Here is not your grandfather's place, okay. This is not nice, you know.»The workers, who are sitting cross-legged on the ground, remain silent as the man continues speaking. «You all are all no use,» the man adds before walking away.The caption reads: «Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council allowed contractor to sleep anyhow», questioning whether the foreign workers were homeless or had no proper place to rest.The New Paper has reached out to Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council for comment.

For Muhammad Harith Firas, 15, seeing a close friend struggle with Kpod addiction was both frightening and eye-opening.The Secondary 3 student at Presbyterian High School told AsiaOne on Wednesday (Oct 22): «I know someone who actually vapes, and I've caught him on multiple occasions. Whenever he vapes, he doesn’t behave the same — he becomes very lethargic and gets angry easily.»Added Firas: «His grades were slipping and I get scared that he might actually hurt me whenever I try to stop him from vaping.»On Oct 22, the media were invited to Presbyterian High School to observe how anti-vaping lessons are conducted in schools across Singapore as part of ongoing efforts to educate students about the risks of vaping.Firas is among the secondary school students currently attending such lessons.

Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has said that online accusations of wrongful treatment towards a patient were not made with full context of the situation.The hospital said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (Oct 21) that it takes the allegations of «insensitive and inappropriate» treatment made by the female patient seriously.Earlier in October, a Facebook user had made a series of Facebook posts claiming that hospital staff of a TTSH ward had forcibly restrained her and administered an «unknown» injection.The incident, she said, took place on Oct 10 where several nursing staff went into the ward, «ripped opened» her clothes and gave her an injection.She alleged that she was arrested and transferred to the Institute of Mental Health despite being «in a clear mind and stable». The patient claimed she was assessed to be of sound mind by doctors there and discharged.She also posted a copy of a police report that she made on Oct 18. In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police confirmed that a report was lodged.

Changi Airport posted 17.3 million passenger movements in the third quarter of 2025, an increase of 3.1 per cent compared to the previous corresponding period. Airport operator Changi Airport Group (CAG) reported on Wednesday (Oct 22) that aircraft movements, which includes take-offs and landings, totalled 91,600 — comparable to the same period in 2024. The operator indicated Australia, China, India, Indonesia and Malaysia as the airport's top five markets for the quarter. «China and Vietnam recorded the strongest growth, at 9.7 per cent and 11.3 per cent respectively. The top five city links for the quarter were Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bangkok, Denpasar (Bali) and Shanghai, with the Singapore-Jakarta route posting double-digit growth,» added CAG. Meanwhile, despite global trade uncertainties, the operator reported a 3.7 per cent increase in airfreight throughput compared to the same period last year.The airfreight throughput for the third quarter stands at 531,000 tonnes. 

A total of 18 motorists aged between 23 and 48 will be charged for drink driving on Thursday (Oct 23).In a statement on Oct 22, the police said the 18 motorists were arrested between July and October 2025 after failing breathalyser tests. A 33-year-old man will also be given an additional charge over leaving his van in a manner that caused undue convenience to others.Police said the man was found to have left his van in a stationary position at Clive Street, obstructing other road users and potentially posing a danger to them.

A commuter's encounter with a ScamShield ad on the MRT has sparked online amusement after he was 'Rickrolled' by the campaign.«Your bill is overdue. Pay now to avoid disruption http://p4ybill.cc/27js,» said the advertisement spotted at HabourFront MRT station.The 16-second clip shows TikToker Derrick entering the link from the ad into his phone, before Rick Astley's 1987 hit Never Gonna Give You Up starts playing.

Three women, who had been accused of organising a procession to publicise the cause of solidarity with Palestine without a permit, were acquitted on Tuesday (Oct 21).However, the prosecution will be appealing this verdict, the Attorney-General's Chambers told CNA on the same day.Mossammad Sobikun Nahar, 25, and Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori, 29, had been charged with one count of organising a public procession in a prohibited area, while Annamalai Kokila Parvathi, 37, was charged with one count of abetment of organising a public procession in a prohibited area.They were part of a group of about 70 people who walked from Plaza Singapura mall to the Istana's rear gate on Feb 2, 2024 with the intention to deliver letters regarding the Palestinian cause to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).PMO is located in the Istana and has a mail drop-off point there.All three Singaporean women had contested their respective charges and the case went to trial on July 1.

Singapore's new multi-role combat vessels (MRCVs) are «almost like the battleship Galactica», in the 1970s science fiction series Battlestar Galactica, because their weapon systems and capabilities can be evolved as the mission evolves, said Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing. Speaking on Tuesday (Oct 21) at the launch of the first Victory-class MRCV named Victory at ST Engineering's Benoi shipyard, Chan said that as Singapore's sea lines of communications extend further, new capabilities, such as the MRCVs are needed for Singapore to ensure that these strategic lines, «remain open and accessible». 

A migrant worker has won online applause, after he was captured on camera clearing items strewn on a lane of a busy road.Dashcam footage posted by Facebook page SGRV last Thursday (Oct 16) shows a lorry carrying several workers stopping along the left-most lane of a road. A backpack is seen blocking the next lane.One of the workers then jumps off and rushes to retrieve the item, throwing it to the grass verge.The post caption praised the worker for quickly acting on the «dangerous» situation.«One car even ran over it, causing the vehicle behind to brake suddenly,» claimed the motorist who posted the video.«Such a helpful and courageous act — a big thank you to him for stepping up and keeping everyone safe!» 

An elderly woman was found dead in her HDB flat in Bedok on Sunday (Oct 19).The police were called after visiting relatives reportedly detected a foul smell coming from her unit, according to Shin Min Daily News.Three women were visiting the 75-year-old woman at around 12pm that day, one of them being her goddaughter, according to a neighbour living next door.In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police said that they were alerted to a case of unnatural death from Block 102 Bedok North Avenue 4 at around 3.20pm.The woman was lying motionless in the unit and was pronounced dead at the scene.Based on preliminary investigations, no foul play is suspected, but further investigations are ongoing, said the police.The elderly woman had been living alone in the unit for over a decade, a neighbour told Shin Min, adding that she had not seen the woman for several weeks.She found out about the death when the police arrived.The death came as a surprise to another neighbour, who said that she seemed to be in good health and did not require a walking stick or wheelchair to get around.[[nid:724218]]dana.leong@asiaone.com

A family of seven was trapped in their HDB flat after a personal mobility aid (PMA) battery exploded into flames in the corridor.The incident took place on Monday (Oct 20) at Block 756, Yishun Street 72.One of the family members, 30-year-old Rizwan, told Lianhe Zaobao that his family owns three PMAs — two for his elderly grandparents and one for his mother, 51, who works as a food delivery rider.They had bought the PMAs three years ago and had no issues as they used original batteries, he told the Chinese daily.But he was unaware that his mother had borrowed a cheap battery from someone as she felt her PMA battery did not last long enough.This battery burst into flames shortly after she plugged it in to charge after making a delivery.She told Lianhe Zaobao that there was a sudden bang outside the door and flames started shooting up from the window. Rizwan's grandfather initially tried to put the flames out with a fire extinguisher, but they spread too quickly. This caused the other mobility device to catch fire and the family had no choice but to close the door and wait for help.

A leopard tortoise and spiny-tailed monitor were among the endangered animals seized by the National Parks Board (NParks) in a series of coordinated raids on Oct 9.In a statement released on Monday (Oct 20), NParks said that the operations were targeted at people suspected of illegally trading wildlife through online platforms, such as Telegram.A total of six premises were raided with 16 wildlife specimens seized and confiscated.Among them were endangered species such as yellow-headed day geckos and an Argentine black-and-white tegu.The animals are being housed and cared for at NParks’ Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation.The people involved were interviewed in connection with illegal wildlife sales, NParks said, adding that investigations are ongoing.«These enforcement efforts complement NParks’ border surveillance operations by extending the fight against illegal wildlife trade into domestic physical and online marketplaces,» it said. «Through regular monitoring and targeted actions, NParks ensures that offenders are held accountable across all fronts.»

Three years after beating cancer, a senior physician suffered a serious bout of pneumonia that left her hospitalised.Dr Emily Pwee died last Friday (Oct 17) aged 54, according to an obituary.Speaking to Shin Min Daily News at her funeral wake, her husband, Jimmy Teo, an associate professor who heads the National University Hospital's department of nephrology, said Dr Pwee developed a fever and cough on Oct 10.Thinking that it was a simple case of the flu, she remained at home to rest and recover, but her condition worsened after the weekend.«We went to the hospital and learnt that it was pneumonia. Unexpectedly, she passed four days after being admitted,» said Assoc Prof Teo.He also told the Chinese publication that his wife was an ovarian cancer survivor and remembered her as easy-going and caring.«She was down-to-earth and very gentle; even when she was angry, she wouldn't raise her voice and scold others,» he described.Dr Pwee was a general practitioner at Raffles Medical Group and had over 25 years of experience, according to her profile published on the healthcare provider's website.

Singapore is moving away from its traditional approach of keeping matters of classified threat intelligence and national security solely within government agencies. Instead, it will now share classified threat intelligence with owners of selected critical infrastructure in Singapore, announced Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam at the opening of the Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW) on Tuesday (Oct 21). Shanmugam, who is also Minister for Home Affairs, stated that the move to share classified threat intelligence with organisations in critical sectors such as telecommunications, energy and finance is necessary, so as to «level the playing field» between threat actors and defenders, and «turn the tide» against the former. "Most owners of critical infrastructure are private sector companies whose primary job is to ensure the delivery of essential services — water, power and transportation and so on.