A Singapore influencer is being investigated by the authorities after being accused of dog abuse. Eunice Ng, who goes by the name Mermaid Girl online, had allegedly posted a video to her Telegram account depicting the abuse. The clip shows a small, white dog cowering while a woman who is off camera berates it for drinking peach tea. She can he heard saying: «You're nothing more than a rat, okay?» The woman then hits the dog thrice with audible impact as it recoils. While the original video can no longer be accessed, it has been reposted to TikTok and Reddit, garnering significant uproar. Multiple netizens stated that the dog looked «unhealthy» and «malnourished», while others expressed anger for how it was being treated. Others on TikTok also tagged the authorities to alert them of the case. Responding to media queries, group director of enforcement and investigation at National Parks Board (NParks) Jessica Kwok said they are aware of allegations that a content creator had mistreated a dog.

Caning for scams and scams-related offences — which were among amendments to the law passed on Nov 30 — will come into effect on Dec 30. During the introduction of the amendments in October, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said judicial caning serves the function of deterrence and proportionate punishment. «Fighting scams continues to be a top national priority. The number of scam cases and scam losses remain concerning. MHA will introduce caning for scams and scams-related offences for stronger deterrence,» said the ministry then. In just the first half of 2025, $456.4 million was lost to scammers. 

A 59-year-old man thought he could game the system by engaging a service providing «insider information» on 4D winning numbers. But he ended up losing more than $2,000 and even had his photo altered by the scammer and posted online as evidence of the service's credibility. Victim Zhu Jinzong (transliteration) told Shin Min Daily News that he contacted the trickster after chancing upon his Facebook post in end-November. The person claimed they knew someone working at the Tote Board, who could obtain the 4D numbers for the top three prizes. «I told him my finances were tight. He readily said he could help me pay [the insider fee] first, and I just needed to pay a membership fee of $328,» said the private-hire driver. After Zhu transferred the sum, they continued chatting. On Dec 6, the man was given the «winning number» of 4877 for the first prize in that day's 4D draw. Based on the information, he placed a bet of $100 and also complied with instructions to send a selfie of himself holding the betting slip. 

More than 2,700 people have been caught and fined for e-vaporiser related offences since enhanced penalties took effect on Sept 1. From Sept 1 to Nov 30, the authorities caught and fined a total of 2,710 culprits — 2,453 of whom were penalised for general vape offences while the remaining 257 were found with vapes containing etomidate, also known as Kpods. Of the 257 Kpod offenders, 162 have been placed on rehabilitation programmes at the Institute of Mental Health and Social Service Agencies, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in a joint statement on Friday (Dec 19). Meanwhile, a further six culprits are foreigners who have been repatriated or are pending repatriation, 18 culprits are in jail for crimes unrelated to vapes, and one culprit has been issued with a conditional warning. Investigations are ongoing into the remaining 70 Kpod suspects.

Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh and national broadcaster Mediacorp were given warnings for the offence of contempt of court on Friday (Dec 19) over Singh's comments during an interview aired on CNA series The Assembly. The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) said in a statement that it decided to issue the warnings after considering all the circumstances of the case, including the apologies made by Singh and Mediacorp on Dec 13.During the interview which was broadcast on Nov 5, Singh, who is also secretary-general of the Workers' Party, was asked about the court case relating to former MP Raeesah Khan. He said then that «the court of public opinion can be a bigger court than any court in the world». Singh had been found guilty in February of two counts of lying under oath to a parliamentary committee and was awaiting an appeal against conviction when the interview was filmed in July. 

Stiffer penalties for speeding will take effect from Jan 1, 2026, as drivers face higher demerit points and fines under measures announced by the authorities.The move comes amid a rising number of speeding violations in the first half of 2025. Ministry of Home Affairs in its media release on Friday (Dec 19) said that there were 120,000 speeding violations during the said period - an increase of about 45 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.«Motorists who speed will get slapped with more demerit points and higher composition sums,» said MHA.Previously, speeding violations reached a 10-year-high of around 201,400 in the whole of 2024, a 72.9 per cent increase from 2023. After the revised demerit points and compositions come into effect on Jan 1, the demerit points awarded for speeding offences will start from two points - up from four, while the composition fine will start from $250 - up from $200.

A Singaporean motorist driving in heavy rain allegedly lost control of his car and veered into a row of terrace houses in Johor Bahru.The incident occurred in the Taman Century neighbourhood close to the popular KSL City Mall on the morning of Nov 24, confirmed JB South district police chief Raub Selamat on Thursday (Dec 18).He said in a statement that the Audi skidded into four homes along Jalan Harimau after the 32-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle while navigating the wet weather conditions.The front gate, wall and awnings of the houses were damaged in the accident.Photos uploaded by Facebook page SGRV Front Man on Wednesday show the overturned white Audi through a gaping hole in a wall.Other pictures show the wrecked car on the road, before being towed away.One of the affected homeowners told Shin Min Daily News on Dec 18 she had heard a 'thunderclap' at the time of the crash. When she got up to check, she found that part of her awning had broken off.

A total of 239 people are assisting with police investigations over their suspected involvement in scams where victims reportedly lost around $5 million.In a statement on Thursday (Dec 18), the police said this was after officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and seven land divisions conducted a two-week operation between December 5 and 18.Those under investigation — 160 men and 79 women aged between 16 and 78 — are for allegedly being scammers or money mules in more than 600 scam cases.The cases are e-commence scams, friend impersonation scams, job scams, government official impersonation scams, investment scams and rental scams.The police said that the people under probe are for the alleged offences of cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence.Offenders caught for cheating can be fined and jailed for up to 10 years.Money laundering carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years, a fine of up to $500,000, or both.Anyone found to be providing any type of payment service without a licence can be jailed up to three years, fined up to $125,000, or both.

A car crashed into a shophouse along Geylang Road on Thursday afternoon (Dec 18) after the driver allegedly lost control following a collision with another vehicle.In a post shared on Facebook group SG Road Vigilante, a silver Honda can be seen lodged head-on into a home furnishings store, with its front badly damaged. The incident occurred after the two vehicles collided, causing one of them to lose control and crash into the shophouse, reported 8world.It is believed that the grey car veered into the building after it reportedly lost control.In response to queries from AsiaOne, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that they were alerted to a road traffic accident along Geylang Road at around 12.05pm.SCDF's assistance was not required. A 39-year-old male driver is reportedly assisting with police investigation. [[nid:726602]]xingying.koh@asiaone.com

There's a saying that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but rail operator SMRT may just have shown train commuters otherwise with their first upgraded fifth-generation C151B train. For those who commute frequently on the MRT's North-South and East-West lines (NSEWL), the C151B is a familiar sight. Forty five of these fifth-generations trains have been in service since 2017.  The C151B rolling past Kallang MRT station. The fifth-generation rolling stock is used on both the North-South Line and East West Line. PHOTO: AsiaOne/Ong Chin Wee Along with 35 fourth-generation C151A and 12 sixth-generation C151C trains, all 92 trains will need to receive upgrades, typically carried out when trains reach around 15 years old. Specifically for the C151Bs, they are expected to be upgraded by mid-2030s.

Police investigations into the death of legendary Bollywood singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore on Sept 19 are still ongoing but, so far, no foul play is suspected, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Thursdsay (Dec 18). The police's statement was issued following Indian media reports that four men had been charged with the singer's murder in Assam state. An SPF spokesperson said, «The case is currently still being investigated by the SPF, in accordance with the Singapore Coroners Act 2010. Based on our investigations so far, the SPF does not suspect foul play in Garg's death. »Upon completion of the SPF's investigations, the findings will be submitted to the State Coroner in Singapore, who will hold a Coroner's Inquiry." The inquest is scheduled for January and February 2026. During the inquiry, the coroner will lead a fact-finding process to establish the cause and circumstances of Zubeen Garg's death, with the findings made public. Garg was due to perform at the 4th Northeast India Festival at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sept 20. 

Back in October 2025, social media users stood in arms when a man posted a video complaining about migrant workers resting at a HDB void deck in the central region of Singapore. «Who said you're allowed to sleep here?» the man is heard asking repeatedly in that video. «Singaporeans don't behave like you, show some respect,» one netizen remarked. That belief was proven right by a boy. In a video posted to his TikTok by Marran J Trav on Tuesday (Dec 16), a migrant worker is seen resting and using his phone at the void deck of a HDB block in Choa Chu Kang. A boy is also seen playing in front of the worker, trying to catch his attention with a bottle. Instead of being upset that his personal time and space are being intruded, the worker holds up his phone, presumably for a photo. Meanwhile, the boy adjusts himself to get into frame. 

A 26-year-old man was fined $12,000 for posting e-vaporiser related content on his social media accounts, making it the first case of its kind, according to a Health Sciences Authority (HSA) press release on Wednesday (Dec 17).Krish Khalifa, who goes by the name Rapperboya on social media, was sentenced in court for five vape-related charges on Wednesday.He was sentenced to a cumulative fine of $14,000, which included a $2,000 fine for possession of three e-vaporisers between 2023 and 2024.Khalifa was also charged for non-vape related offences, including relinquishing his bank accounts to launder money, dishonest misappropriation of property and committing a rash act, which he was sentenced to jail for.According to HSA, Khalifa made a total of nine posts across his social media channels on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok of him holding or using e-vaporisers in public places and at home.Investigations against him began when HSA received complaints from members of the public alleging that someone had posted a TikTok of himself vaping.

Nearly two million people would have visited the SG60 Heart&Soul Experience by the time the event draws to a close on Dec 31, said the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and National Library Board (NLB) on Thursday (Dec 18).Launched by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Aug 26, the exhibition, marking Singapore's 60th year of independence, uses immersive storytelling and generative artificial intelligence to create a personalised, imaginative experience — offering visitors a peek into what their future in Singapore can look like.«The SG60 Heart&Soul Experience will welcome its last visitors on Dec 31, having run for nearly four months since its opening on Aug 26.»The SG60 flagship event, which comprises a ticketed experience and a non-ticketed series of installations, is expected to welcome about 2 million visitors, with about 150,000 tickets booked," said MDDI and NLB in their joint news release. 

FairPrice has announced that it will be extending its daily discount schemes for seniors, Merdeka Generation (MG), Pioneer Generation (PG), and Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) Orange and Blue cardholders into 2026.PG, MG and CHAS cardholders can enjoy a three per cent discount on purchases on selected days of the week, while seniors can enjoy a two per cent discount on Tuesday.The discount scheme will be available across all FairPrice stores and Unity pharmacies till Dec 31, 2026, said FairPrice Group on Thursday (Dec 18), reiterating its commitment to keep daily essentials within reach for vulnerable groups in Singapore. The CHAS Orange discount scheme, introduced in October 2024, aims to help more Singaporeans afford daily essentials. It is available to individuals whose total gross household monthly income per family member living together ranges from $1,501 to $2,300. FairPrice said it is the first and remains the only major retailer in Singapore to offer such a discount.

When it comes to helping ex-offenders get back on their feet, key priorities would include helping them secure a stable income, sharpening their employable skills and paving the way for greater societal acceptance.Another crucial factor that is often overlooked would be to strengthen the family ties that suffer when fathers are placed behind bars, which may not be easily repaired for years even after a jail sentence is complete. That is why the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) works closely with community partners, such as BapaHebat SG, to conduct family programmes for the inmates, helping them rebuild and strengthen their family ties.The organisation's name, BapaHebat SG, means 'awesome father' in Malay. Its two founders are Mohamad Ibrahim, 64, who came out of retirement to run the organisation, and Jamsari Ahmad, 59, who works in information technology.

Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers arrested three persons, aged between 26 and 35, on Tuesday (Dec 16) for overstaying. A 29-year-old Indian man was also arrested for harbouring immigration offenders, according to the ICA.The arrests were part of an inland enforcement operation conducted by the ICA at a residential unit in Jurong West.In a Facebook post on Dec 18, ICA said that the trio — an Indian man, a Filipino woman, and one Nepalese woman — had overstayed their social visit passes and were also suspected to be working illegally without work permits.In connection with the trio's arrest, the 29-year-old man was also arrested for allowing them to reside in his unit without first checking that their immigration status in Singapore was legal. ICA investigations into the four persons are ongoing. Those caught harbouring immigration offenders may be sentenced to jail for up to two years and fined up to $6,000.

Those travelling to Malaysia during the year-end holidays can expect continued longer waiting time to clear immigration at both Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said on Thursday (Dec 18).«With the ongoing year-end school holidays, as well as the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, ICA expects very heavy traffic at both Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints for the month of December 2025,» said ICA in an advisory.It also sought travellers' understanding to cooperate with its officers, observe traffic rules and maintain lane discipline, adding that firm action will be taken against those who do not comply with officers' instructions or commit offences at the checkpoints.The agency also reminded travellers that intensified checks against the smuggling of e-vaporisers are ongoing at the checkpoints, adding to the longer waiting times to clear immigration.Those who are traveling during this peak period can also consider taking the cross-border bus services to avoid congestion.

Thirteen men and 30 women are being investigated for various offences following an 11-day multi-agency enforcement operation in Geylang.In a news release on Wednesday (Dec 17), the police said that the operations - conducted from Nov 12 to 22 - are part of the agencies' efforts to clamp down on illegal activities in Geylang. The alleged offences the 43 persons are being investigated for include drug-related activities, illegal gambling, illegal hawking, illegal sales of health products, and vice activities.The operations involved officers from Bedok Police Division, Traffic Police and the Criminal Investigation Department; Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB); Health Sciences Authority (HSA); Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA); Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA). Drug-related activities in hotelsDuring enforcement checks across six hotels in the vicinity of Geylang on Nov 13, two women and one man, aged between 29 and 47, were arrested for suspected drug-related offences.