Singapore's core inflation rose to 1.4 per cent year-on-year in February, up from 1.0 per cent in January, said the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in a press release on Monday (March 23). February's core inflation is the highest since 1.7 per cent was recorded in December 2024. Core inflation was particularly boosted by higher inflation in services, food, and retail and other goods, partly reflecting seasonal effects associated with the Chinese New Year in February, said MAS and MTI.On a month-on-month basis, core prices increased by 0.5 per cent in February.Separately, overall inflation — which excludes all non-consumption expenditures such as purchases of houses, shares and other financial assets — fell to 1.2 per cent year-on-year in February from 1.4 per cent, on the back of lower accommodation and private transport inflation that more than offset higher core inflation. Sector-wise, MAS and MTI noted that accommodation inflation eased from 1.9 per cent in January to 0.3 per cent in February, due to a smaller increase in the cost of housing maintenance and repairs.

Some records shouldn't be broken, especially when Singapore is already hot enough. Several of Singapore's weather records were matched or broken in 2025, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) stated in their Annual Climate Assessment Report released on Monday (March 23). June 2025 was Singapore's warmest June since 1929, tied with 1997. November was also Singapore's warmest November since 1929.And the highest-ever November temperature of 36.0 deg C was recorded at Newton on Nov 1, during an exceptionally warm and dry period, surpassing the previous record of 35.8 dec C.  Singapore's average temperature in 2025 was 28.1 deg C, making it the joint 8th warmest year on record alongside 2010 and 2002. «This reflects the influence of the ongoing long-term warming trend globally and Singapore,» said MSS.The country's annual mean temperature has risen by 0.24 deg C per decade since 1984. Singapore also experienced its wettest March in 2025 due to La Nina conditions and north-east monsoon surges at the start of the year. 

The police have arrested three people, including a 16-year-old male teenager, for allegedly setting off fireworks illegally in Ghim Moh on Friday (March 20).AsiaOne reported on Sunday (March 22) that the police are investigating the case. 

Singtel users reported service disruptions on Monday (March 23) afternoon, affecting both broadband and mobile internet services.In posts shared on Reddit, users said that both broadband and 5G services appeared to be down simultaneously at around 3.40pm.«Every website and messenger apps stopped working, but data still got through,» one user wrote. Another said: «WiFi has been patchy for me since about 10 minutes ago. Downdetector also shows others having the same issue.»According to outage tracking website Downdetector, there were more than 9,700 reports from Singapore at the peak of the latest disruption. About half of the reports were related to broadband internet issues, while 29 per cent involved mobile internet problems.In a Facebook post on Monday, Singtel said it was aware that some customers were experiencing connectivity issues and apologised for the inconvenience caused. 

Justice Valerie Thean has been appointed as deputy attorney-general from April 1, the Prime Minister's Office said on Monday (March 23).Justice Thean was appointed judicial commissioner in September 2014 and then Supreme Court judge in September 2017.She will resign from the office of judge effective March 31, and take on her new appointment the next day, joining deputy attorneys-general Lionel Yee, Tai Wei Shyong and Goh Yihan.A President's scholar, Justice Thean graduated with first class honours from Cambridge University in 1991, and did her Masters of Law from Harvard Law School in 1995.She joined the legal service in 1992 and has since held various appointments in the legal fraternity, including as assistant registrar at the Supreme Court, senior state counsel at the Attorney-General's Chambers and deputy secretary of the Ministry of Law. Justice Thean was appointed the first presiding judge of the Family Justice Courts on Oct 1, 2014, a position she held concurrently while serving as a judicial commissioner.

A bevy of six otters recently ganged up on a crocodile at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, delighting the internet as they forced the large reptile to retreat.Facebook user Rovena Chew shared on the Singapore Wildlife Sightings page that she had recorded the dramatic interaction at about 7.20am on Sunday (March 22).In the clip, a crocodile resting in the waters off a muddy bank suddenly lunges sideways and snaps at an otter, which speedily scampers away.The sudden splash attracts the attention of five other otters, which start circling the croc as it attempts to chase the first otter.As the reptile strikes at them twice with its jaws wide open, the sleek otters wiggle away twice.Finally, as the otters gather again, the crocodile slinks back in defeat and submerges itself beneath the water's surface. Following the minute-long confrontation, the otters are seen romping around the area, some with fish in their mouths.Chew's post has attracted over 1,400 likes and nearly 100 comments from amazed netizens.

The four Singaporeans arrested last week over their suspected involvement in the alleged murder of a man in Johor Bahru were part of a brawl that broke out at a nightclub in the Southkey area, reported Shin Min Daily News on Sunday (March 22). The 32-year-old victim had been attacked at about 5am on March 14 and died in hospital from a stab wound to his neck, according to the Johor police. On March 19, the Singapore police assisted their Malaysian counterparts in arresting three men, aged between 23 and 29, as well as a 27-year-old woman at various locations. A Malaysian court had issued warrants for their arrests.A fifth suspect had been arrested while trying to leave Johor on March 18. According to the Sin Min report on Sunday, the victim is also from Singapore and had visited a nightclub called Aston Club Southkey along with the five suspects. 

A 54-year-old Australian man will be charged in court on Wednesday (March 25) for his alleged involvement in a shop theft at Changi Airport.In a statement on Monday (March 23), the police said they were alerted to a case of shop theft on March 17 after two windbreakers went missing from the display shelf of a retail outlet in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 1.The items were valued at a total of $842.20. Using CCTV footage, officers from the Airport Police Division identified the man leaving the store with the unpaid items and arrested him before he could leave Singapore. The stolen items were recovered from his possession.If found guilty, he faces a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.The police said they take a serious view of shop theft cases. 

Grab will be implementing a temporary adjustment to its metered taxi fares between March 30 and May 31 to help its taxi drivers cope with the rise in fuel prices.This adjustment affects the distance travelled and waiting time components of the taxi meter, raising unit fare from $0.26 to $0.27 every 400m between 1km to 10km, every 350m after 10km or every 45 seconds of waiting time. Affected Grab rides are limited to metered taxi rides, including those hailed on the street and those booked via the Grab app.Flag-down fares remain unchanged, Grab clarified.The rise in metered taxi fares is equivalent to an approximate increase of $0.08 for short commutes of around 4km, $0.28 for mid-range journeys of around 12km and $0.80 for long-distance travel of around 30km.«This measure is part of a broader support effort to ensure our drivers can continue to operate sustainably while fuel prices remain volatile,» Grab stated, adding that a fuel voucher had been distributed to taxi drivers prior to this change.

Customers of Royal Secrets Wellness, which shut down on Feb 28, have lost more than $1 million, the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) said on Monday (March 23).The company, located in Winsland House at Killiney Road in Orchard, announced its closure in a Facebook post on Feb 28.It operated for nearly 30 years.Case president Melvin Yong said on Monday that the association is «deeply concerned» about the large losses suffered by consumers due to the closure, adding that Case has received 137 complaints with losses amounting to over $1,045,000.«Over 50 per cent of consumers affected were above the age of 46 years old. The average size of losses was $6,000, with the largest loss recorded as approximately $50,000,» he said.The association also noted claims that the spa may have continued collecting substantial prepayments from consumers despite being aware of its impending closure.«These concerns have been highlighted to the relevant authorities for investigation,» the association said.

A 71-year-old woman was found dead at the foot of a Housing and Development Board (HDB) block in Yishun on Monday (March 23) morning.The incident happened at about 7.10am at Block 701B Yishun Avenue 5. Checks by AsiaOne show that the HDB block, completed in 2001, comprises mostly 1- and 2-room flats for seniors.When AsiaOne reached the scene at about 10am, there were at least three police fast response cars and an ambulance present. At least three police fast response cars and an ambulance were seen at the scene. PHOTO: AsiaOne/Stringer A police cordon was set up at the ground floor below two stacks of flats, with a blue tent placed somewhere in the middle.

Singapore and Australia will accelerate negotiations for an Arrangement on Trade and Essential Supplies under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on economic resilience.This was inked when the two countries upgraded their comprehensive strategic partnership in October 2025.In a joint statement on energy security by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following a phone call on Monday (March 23), the two leaders reaffirmed that the countries' prosperity, security, stability and economic future are intertwined, including with the region.«We share a longstanding and deep relationship grounded in strategic trust, open markets and rules-based trade which underpin the prosperity and security of our people and our region. Reaffirming these shared principles is essential at this time,» they said.

Today, 10 years ago on March 23, 2015 at 3.18am, Lee Kuan Yew passed away at the age of 91 at the Singapore General Hospital. Singapore's first Prime Minister had been battling severe pneumonia for over a month.His death marked the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy that shaped modern Singapore. Singaporeans queuing to pay their final respects to Singapore's first Prime Minister.PHOTO: Screengrab/Instagram/Remembering Lee Kuan Yew A nation in mourningThe announcement was made by then-Prime Minister and Lee's son, Lee Hsien Loong in a televised address at 8am. A week-long period of national mourning was declared from March 23 to 29.Flags across the island were lowered to half-mast, and many events were postponed or cancelled. TV and radio stations paused their usual programming to air special tributes. 

A couple's crowdfunding campaign has successfully raised $2.4 million for five-month-old baby Ginny, after she was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition. A total of $2,446,275.40 was raised, with the help of over 35,000 donors. Her parents, Jenny Mak and Quan, told AsiaOne that they had successfully raised the amount and have started arranging for Ginny to undergo the necessary health tests. They added that Ginny has to clear the tests, scheduled for next week, before the medicine can be ordered and imported — which will take at least two to three weeks. The couple shared the news across social media on Saturday, captioning: «Thank you, every one of you 35,544 donors. Every kind soul in this world. I love all of you and will forever be grateful.» Baby Ginny was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) — a genetic disease that destroys motor neurons and weakens muscles progressively — a few weeks ago. 

A 52-year-old Singaporean man has been charged in court with corruption and money laundering offences linked to renovation projects at the DSO National Laboratories (DSO) on Monday (March 23).Poh Beng San, an assistant manager at DSO, was charged with receiving bribes over a period of more than a decade, from 2013 to 2023.In a statement on Sunday, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said Poh allegedly obtained benefits from six individuals in exchange for advancing their companies' business interests in DSO-related renovation projects.The alleged bribes included at least $230,000 in cash, a Xiaomi 13 Pro mobile phone worth approximately $1,300, a Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro tablet valued at around $900, and home repair services estimated at $100.

Business and leisure travellers who are making trips to Zhejiang province's capital city of Hangzhou will soon find the journey more straightforward.Starting June 1, Singapore Airlines (SIA) will be launching daily flights between Singapore and Hangzhou, subject to regulatory approvals.If approved, Hangzhou will be SIA's ninth destination in mainland China, where the national carrier and its subsidiary Scoot together serve 22 destinations.Flights will be operated using the Airbus A350-900 medium-haul variant and will be configured with 303 seats across two cabin classes, with 40 of them in Business Class.The inaugural flight, SQ838, is scheduled to depart Singapore at 5.40pm on June 1 and arrive in Hangzhou at 10.50pm the same day. The return flight, SQ839, will depart Hangzhou at 12.10am on June 2 and arrive in Singapore at 5.10am the same day.There is no time difference between Singapore and Hangzhou.SIA's return to Hangzhou after nearly 28 years, combined with Scoot's existing daily service, will give the group double-daily frequencies to Hangzhou.

SINGAPORE - Mental health support in primary care has expanded here, with the number of general practitioners (GPs) who can access lower-cost psychiatric medications and support networks for managing complex mental health conditions rising to over 630 at the end of 2025.This is up from more than 520 the year before, according to data from the Ministry of Health (MOH).These doctors are part of the Mental Health General Practitioner Partnership (MHGPP) programme, which was launched in 2012 to enable GPs to identify, diagnose and manage patients with more complex mental health conditions.At the same time, 23 out of 28 polyclinics now offer mental health services. MOH expects all polyclinics to offer such services over the next three years, a spokesperson said. It plans to expand the network of polyclinics to 32 by 2030.This growth is part of the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy to make care more accessible in the community.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s speech about AI during Budget 2026 definitely caught my attention. That’s when I knew the term wasn’t just another “future economy” buzzword moment.This time, it felt… real. With initiatives like six months’ free access to premium AI tools for Singaporeans taking selected courses, plus a broader push for companies to adopt AI at scale, the message was clear. Will Smith’s 2004 film “I, Robot” is no longer a product of Hollywood fiction.Naturally, that sparked the usual reactions. I remember turning to my 65-year-old retired dad during the broadcast and seeing him shaking his head and lamenting the loss of jobs for my future kids. Looking at the discourse online, I see the usual talking points:Will AI take our jobs?Will only tech workers benefit?Are we all supposed to suddenly become prompt engineers overnight?As someone who has written previously about surviving AI as a full-time writer (mind you, this was 2 years ago, when ChatGPT was the only game in town), and have since transitioned into a fintech, very pro-AI environment, here’s my honest take on the topic:

An e-bike caught fire along Balestier Road in the early hours of Sunday (March 22) morning.Lawrence Lim, who is a member of a local private-hire vehicle drivers' Facebook group, wrote in a photo post that the e-bike «exploded» in front of him.The photo shows a man dressed in black standing next to the burning e-bike. It is unclear if he was the rider or a passerby. Responding to media queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force said that they were alerted to the incident at about 12.15am.It added that firefighters put out the fire using a fire hose and conveyed one person to Singapore General Hospital.Fire investigations are ongoing.[[nid:732016]]editor@asiaone.com 

The police are investigating a suspected case of fireworks being set off illegally on Friday (March 20) in Ghim Moh.A video of the incident posted on Threads shows fireworks set off from what appears to be the open deck of a Housing and Development Board (HDB) multi-storey carpark. 

Two more Malaysian men were arrested for their alleged involvement in government official impersonation scams, bringing the total number of arrests for such cases in March to eight.The two men, aged 20 and 30, were arrested for allegedly scamming an elderly woman on Friday (March 20), according to the police.In a press release on Saturday, the police said that the 62-year-old victim received calls from people claiming to be from telecommunications operator M1 and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), informing her that she had an overdue bill of $350 which could not be deducted from her bank account. The conversation was later moved to WhatsApp, where the scammers told the victim that there were further purchases of iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch made using her accounts, and the items were delivered to an address in Bukit Batok. When the victim said that she was not familiar with the address and sought to cancel the transactions, she was referred to an investigation officer purportedly from MAS.

A man and a woman standing on the road by a kerb at Somme Road near Jalan Besar were knocked over by a passing car, causing them to fall backwards onto a grass verge.The incident occurred at 1.19am on Thursday (March 19), according to CCTV footage posted to the SGRV Admin Facebook page.The video shows the pair chatting by the roadside below a signpost when a black car comes up close to them, appearing to knock into them.The two are seen tumbling backwards onto the grass verge. The man gets up almost immediately and signals to the driver while the woman appears to be in pain as she continues to sit on the grass, clutching her left ankle.The male driver is then shown walking over to the woman sitting on the ground.A later part of the clip showed another woman comforting the female victim as police officers arrive at the scene.The video then cuts to the driver handling some paperwork on the boot of a separate vehicle with another man, as another woman looks on and speaks to both parties.The man who was knocked over is then shown carrying the woman, who is able to stand up, away on his back.