National water agency PUB's Johor River Waterworks have resumed operations a day after it suspended operations as a precaution, after reports of pollution in the Johor River.In a statement on Sunday (Nov 2) evening, PUB said that operations resumed at 12pm the same day.«PUB has resumed operations at Johor River Waterworks, following checks to confirm that water quality in the Johor River has returned to normal levels,» the agency said, adding that water supply from the plant to Singapore resumed at 5.30pm.On Nov 1, PUB temporarily suspended operations at the plant after a damaged «bund silt pond» caused silt to flow into the Johor River.Water supply in Singapore was unaffected as PUB stepped up production at local plants to meet the local demand of about 440 million gallons a day. The National Environment Agency (NEA), in a Facebook post on the same day, also said Singapore agencies are closely monitoring the East Johor Strait after two pollution incidents - one from sand mining in the Johor River and another from a palm oil spill off Kampung Pasir Putih.

SINGAPORE — Singapore's two largest universities have put up advisories cautioning prospective applicants against purported study-abroad agencies on Chinese social media platforms offering paid services that claim to help applicants secure «guaranteed» admissions to their postgraduate degree programmes.The National University of Singapore's (NUS) advisory on its website said the agencies will typically employ fraudulent means such as fabricating academic qualifications and other credentials in application packages to mislead universities.The university said candidates need to fulfil stipulated qualifying criteria and all applications are reviewed based on merit. «There are no 'guaranteed', 'fast track' or 'direct' admission routes to NUS,» it added.Checks on Xiaohongshu found many such agencies offering «direction admission» to NUS and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Most of the agencies target those with poor high school grades or low undergraduate GPAs, and who have yet to pass English proficiency tests such as the International English Language Testing System.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong will pay his respects to Thailand's late Queen Mother Sirikit at Bangkok's Grand Palace on Monday (Nov 3).SM Lee will be accompanied by his wife Ho Ching and officials from the Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sirikit died on Oct 24 at the age of 93, having «suffered several illnesses» while in hospital since 2019, including a blood infection earlier in October, according to the Thai Royal Household Bureau.She became the Queen Mother after her only son, now King Maha Vajiralongkorn, was coronated in 2019 following the death of the late King Bhumibol in 2016.Always stylish, Sirikit collaborated with French couturier Pierre Balmain on eye-catching outfits made from Thai silk. By supporting the preservation of traditional weaving practices, she is credited with helping revitalise Thailand's silk industry, Reuters reported. 

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will be visiting Brunei for an official visit from Nov 3 to 4 for the 11th Young Leaders' Programme (YLP). PM Wong, who was invited by Brunei's Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, also the Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, will lead a delegation of Singapore political office-holders during the two-day visit.The visit will be PM Wong's second visit to Brunei as head of government, following his introductory visit in June 2024. The YLP, which started in 2013, is an annual exchange of visits that Singapore and Brunei take turns to host.«The annual YLP serves to build and deepen ties between the next generation of leaders. It reflects the strong commitment of both countries to enhance our special bilateral relationship. It also marks an opportunity to advance our partnership in areas of shared interest,» Singapore's Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement on Sunday (Nov 2).

The issue of race is never absent from politics and «harmony in Singapore cannot be left to chance or wishful thinking», said Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport Murali Pillai on Sunday (Nov 2).He was responding to a video posted by secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) Chee Soon Juan on Oct 17.In his video, Chee alleged that policies made by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) - indication of race on their National Registration Identity Cards (NRICs); establishment of ethnic-based self-help groups; and creation of the group representation constituency (GRC) - suggest that it was the PAP which has been engaging in race and identity politics.Chee's video was posted three days after Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam delivered a ministerial statement on race and religion in parliament. 

SEOUL – Singapore and South Korea have agreed to work more closely in a range of areas such as trade, sustainability and defence technology, as the two countries upgrade bilateral ties.On Nov 1, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung jointly launched a strategic partnership between the two countries at the presidential office in Seoul.The strategic partnership has eight agreements, including a pact to establish a green and digital shipping corridor where the two nations will collaborate to support the maritime sector’s transition to zero or near-zero greenhouse gas emission fuels and accelerate digitalisation.At a press conference following the launch, PM Wong noted that the upgrade of ties comes at a significant time, with Singapore and South Korea celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations.When both sides established relations in 1975, the global economy was still recovering from deep turbulence. Yet South Korea and Singapore pressed on and emerged as “Asian Tigers”, he added.

A dog owner has accused a Tanjong Katong pet groomer of negligence, after his dog died in the shop.Speaking to AsiaOne, Tanish Dhillon said his dog Buddy died at Pawsome Singapore on Thursday (Oct 30) due to a lack of care.According to Dhillon, Buddy died at 10.01am and no one checked on the poodle for an hour afterwards.Dhillon said he was alerted to Buddy's death at 11.50am and was told his dog had «just collapsed».In a twelve-minute CCTV footage posted on Dhillon's Instagram, Buddy can be seen alone in the grooming area whining loudly.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has ordered the single-storey industrial building with a metal roof that caught fire on Nov 1 to close for further assessments and rectifications.In a statement on Sunday (Nov 2), the authority said the building - at 1079 Eunos Avenue 7 - is «badly damaged» by the fire.«BCA will be serving orders to the building owner to close off the building for further detailed assessment and rectifications to be carried out,» the authority said. It added that the owner is required to appoint a professional engineer (PE) to advise on the necessary precautionary measures to obviate any immediate danger. The PE is also required to carry out detailed investigations of the affected structure and recommend permanent rectification works. 

A woman was crossing the road with her children at Tampines on Oct 24 when heavy rain caused a tree to fall on them.In a TikTok video, Zila Fazlan wrote that she was crossing the road along Tampines Street 32 and 33 around night time when a sudden storm occurred.«A loud clanking metal sound was heard, and within seconds, a tree fell onto the pedestrian walkway,» she said.«The incident happened abruptly, and my elder son and I were trapped under the fallen tree,» she added. «My younger son managed to escape unharmed.»Zila told Mothership that she and her son managed to free themselves, but they could not remember how they did it. She described their experience as «pure shock and survival instinct».A passer-by took Zila and her sons, ages 7 and 12, to a shelter, where they also helped to call an ambulance.In response to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that they received a call for assistance at the junction of Tampines Street 32 and 34 at about 10.25pm.Zila was taken to Changi General Hospital and was treated for abrasions, lower back pain, and a swollen knee. She was discharged on Oct 28.

Thai police have apprehended 24 suspected members of an international crime syndicate who allegedly fled Myanmar and were hiding in a luxury villa in Samut Prakan and a hotel in Bangkok.The Facebook page of the Royal Thai Police announced on Friday (Oct 31) that among those apprehended were nationals from the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and China.The Nation Thailand reported that one suspect was Singaporean, while the Thai Enquirer stated there were two.The Facebook post stated: «On Oct 29, 2025, Division 2 of the CSD (Crime Suppression Division) led police officers to inspect a luxury pool villa in the border province of ​​Samut Prakan. They found 22 foreigners, including Filipinos and Singaporeans, residing there.»After being brought in for questioning and passport and immigration checks, police learnt that «the individuals had previously worked as scammers in Myawaddy, Myanmar» and that they had fled to Thailand following unrest around Oct 21.They aimed to stay temporarily in the villa between Oct 27 and 31 «pending departure to a third country».[[nid:724623]]

Thai police have apprehended 24 suspected members of an international crime syndicate who allegedly fled Myanmar and were hiding in a luxury villa in Samut Prakan and a hotel in Bangkok.The Facebook page of the Royal Thai Police announced on Friday (Oct 31) that among those apprehended were nationals from the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and China.The Nation Thailand reported that one suspect was Singaporean, while the Thai Enquirer stated there were two.The Facebook post stated: «On Oct 29, 2025, Division 2 of the CSD (Crime Suppression Division) led police officers to inspect a luxury pool villa in the border province of ​​Samut Prakan. They found 22 foreigners, including Filipinos and Singaporeans, residing there.»After being brought in for questioning and passport and immigration checks, police learnt that «the individuals had previously worked as scammers in Myawaddy, Myanmar» and that they had fled to Thailand following unrest around Oct 21.They aimed to stay temporarily in the villa between Oct 27 and 31 «pending departure to a third country».[[nid:724623]]

A fire broke out at Eunos Industrial Estate on Saturday (Nov 1) afternoon.In a Facebook post at around 6pm, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to a fire at 1079 Eunos Avenue 7, adding that firefighting operation is ongoing.  

A 15-year-old was among 38 persons arrested for their suspected involvement in scams as money mules. Another nine, including a 16-year-old, are assisting with investigations.This follows an island-wide anti-scam enforcement operation conducted over a four-day period between Oct 28 and 31.The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a press release on Saturday (Nov 1) that those arrested are aged between 15 and 52, while those assisting with investigations are aged between 16 and 55.SPF's Commercial Affairs Department and the seven police land divisions conducted the operation after a surge in scam cases between September and October, where victims lost money through fraudulent PayNow QR codes generated through YouTrip.Multiple scam types, including internet love scam, used by scammersAccording to the police, the scammers generated PayNow QR codes through YouTrip and sent them to victims under false pretences, claiming the codes were required for legitimate payments or account verification. 

Thundery showers are expected on most days in the first fortnight of November, due to the prevailing inter-monsoon conditions over Singapore and the surrounding region.The showers are expected over parts of the island in the afternoon and may extend into the evening on a few of these days, said the Meteorological Service Singapore on Friday (Oct 31). In addition, Sumatra squalls may bring widespread thundery showers and gusty winds on one or two mornings.Sumatra squalls are lines of thunderstorms that develop over Indonesia's Sumatra island or the Strait of Malacca and move eastwards across the strait, bringing heavy rain and gusty winds to Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia.According to the Met Service, the total rainfall for the first half of October is forecast to be below average over most parts of the island.Daily maximum temperatures are likely to range between 32 deg C and 34 deg C on most days, and reach around 35 deg C on a few days.