The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) on Monday (March 2) said it is closely monitoring the Middle East situation and will make every effort to support and care for Singaporean students there.«The safety and wellbeing of Singaporean students remain our priority, with every effort made to support and care for them,» Muis said in a statement on Monday evening.It added that student liaison officers in Cairo, Egypt and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' overseas missions and maintaining regular contact with Singaporean students in Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.«They have been offering support and guidance during these uncertain times,» Muis said.Parents and/or guardians of students in these countries can contact Muis at 6359-1199 or info@muis.gov.sg should they have further queries.Muis also urged the community to pray for the safety of students and Singaporeans in the Middle East, and for peace to return to the Middle East and all troubled regions of the world.

When faced with disadvantages and setbacks, both Singapore and South Korea share a «basic instinct» — to do better, and not resign to falling behind, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in a Facebook post on Monday (March 3) evening.Earlier on Monday morning, President Tharman received a courtesy call from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who is in Singapore for a three-day state visit until Tuesday.

Any hope a male Malaysian bus driver may have that the Malaysia-registered vehicle he was driving may have special powers like in the cartoon The Magic School Bus (1994) was dashed on Feb 24, after Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) image analysts at Woodlands Checkpoint detected anomalies. In a video posted on ICA's social media on Monday (March 2), officers were seen removing rectangular «parcels» from the rear luggage compartment of the vehicle. As search and examination officers tore off the black wrapping, cartons of what appear to be a China-brand cigarette were revealed.ICA said the bus was directed for enhanced checks after its officers noticed anomalies in the scanned image of the vehicle. Search and examination officers went on to extract 1,488 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes from its rear luggage compartment. The 43-year-old male Malaysian driver was arrested and the case has been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. 

Four men and one woman have been arrested for suspected drug offences, with 1,284 vape pods and nine vapes containing etomidate seized, according to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on Monday (March 2). Additionally, $243,451.35 in cash, small amounts of foreign currencies, high luxury watches and three vehicles were also confiscated. CNB revealed that the arrests took place on Feb 25 and 26, with the former taking place after the bureau received information on a 36-year-old Singaporean man in the vicinity of Bedok North that placed him as a suspect of drug-related offences. He put up a violent struggle and necessary force was used to restrain him, CNB stated. 50 vape pods believed to contain etomidate, also known as Kpods, were seized. A 29-year-old Singaporean man was later arrested that same evening at the junction of Sembawang Road and Mandai Avenue for suspected drug-related offences. He was escorted by officers to a unit in a self-storage facility near Woodlands Close, where 1,084 Kpods were uncovered. His vehicle was also seized. 

The Government is reviewing whether safeguards on online video games are needed, said Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam on Monday (Mar 2).At the Committee of Supply debates in Parliament, Rahayu acknowledged that «many» parents are worried about their child's digital activities.«Children are amongst the most active digital users, and many parents are stretched thin as they juggle monitoring their children's digital usage with other commitments,» she said.Some concerns cited by parents regarding online video games are the exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and screen addiction.«We recognise these concerns and are studying whether safeguards on online video games are needed,» said Rahayu.She shared that the Government is also mindful of other online services that may pose a threat to online safety, including AI.Earlier during the debate, Workers' Party MP He Ting Ru had raised the issue of AI chatbot Grok generating non-consensual intimate images, as well as a previous incident where Singapore students allegedly generated deepfake nude photos of their schoolmates.

Trust and like-minded partners matter more than ever in an increasingly complex and dangerous world, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. He was speaking at a joint press conference with South Korea President Lee Jae-myung on Monday morning (March 2), after the two leaders held a delegation meeting. The South Korean president is on a three-day state visit to Singapore, following PM Wong's official visit in November 2025. During that visit, Singapore and South Korea elevated bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and inked eight agreements. 

By the end of 2027, all Wi-Fi routers will have to meet higher security standards before they can be sold to Singapore households.This means manufacturers must ensure their products are equipped with stronger security measures, including secure communications and authentication mechanisms, said Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How on Monday (Mar 2).Speaking at the Committee of Supply debates in Parliament, SMS Tan said threat actors have been observed to be using more advanced techniques to exploit home routers.A global operation in 2025, which Singapore's Cyber Security Agency (CSA) took part in, found about 2,700 devices in Singapore were infected with malicious software.«When such personal devices are hacked, citizens' privacy can be compromised and their daily activities disrupted. These devices can also be unknowingly hijacked to launch attacks against others,» he noted.

More than 1,000 Singaporeans and permanent residents (PR) are set to benefit from civil legal advice when the income threshold is raised later this year, announced the Ministry of Law. At the ministry's Committee of Supply debate on Monday (March 2), Minister for Law Edwin Tong announced that means test criteria will be raised to a per capita household income (PCHI) threshold of $1,650, up from $1,050. The minister said the move is part of his ministry's efforts to enhance access to justice, thereby ensuring that those most in need can have access to the legal system. «This would cover more households, allowing them to benefit from legal advice in the appropriate cases,» Tong added.Speaking after Tong, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Law Eric Chua said: «This could benefit up to 1,000 more Singapore citizens and permanent residents annually.» According to the Ministry of Law, about half of the litigants for civil matters within the expanded income percentile range remain unrepresented. The ministry said the move will be implemented later in 2026.

Key tourism precincts in Singapore, including Sentosa and Orchard Road, will be redeveloped to strengthen the Republic's attractiveness to international visitors, said Minister of State for the Ministry of Trade and Industry Alvin Tan.Remaining attractive to international visitors through quality tourism is key to helping local businesses weather uncertainty, said Tan during the Committee of Supply debates in Parliament on Monday (March 2).«We are expanding our reach in segments and markets that can drive higher tourism returns, and working with our industry to create more exciting and distinctive experiences,» he said.

As Singapore pushes to transform its economy into one that is more digital and innovation driven, the issue of energy security has become an existential one. This has led the country to «seriously study» the potential of advanced nuclear energy technologies, said Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Dr Tan See Leng. Dr Tan, who is also Minister for Manpower, spoke about Singapore's energy transition for a low-carbon future, while securing its energy resilience, at the Ministry of Trade and Industry's (MTI) Committee of Supply debate on Monday (March 2).«As demand grows and as we decarbonise, the Government will continue to strike a pragmatic balance between energy sustainability, security, and affordability.»Decarbonisation will come with costs, but cannot and will not be at all costs," Dr Tan said. Nuclear energy can be 'safe, reliable, and cost-competitive'The minister provided the House with an update on the progress of Singapore's solar and low-carbon alternatives efforts. 

A 19-year-old male motorcyclist was taken to hospital on Sunday (March 1) afternoon after an accident with a car in Bukit Timah.The accident happened at about 2.10pm at the junction of Upper Bukit Timah Road and Jalan Asas. Map showing where the accident between a red Honda hatchback and a motorcycle took place on Sunday (March 1) afternoon. IMAGE: Google Maps A series of pictures posted on its Facebook page by SG Road Vigilante show a red Honda Jazz hatchback stopped between the second and third lanes of Upper Bukit Timah Road.Checks by AsiaOne show that there are double white lines drawn between the two said lanes. This means that no motorist shall cross or straddle these lines.It is unclear whether the car driver had crossed the double white lines.

Here is what you need to know about the driving offences that carry demerit points in Singapore.Motorists who commit traffic offences will accumulate demerit points under the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS), which is administered by the Traffic Police (TP). Demerit points - overview Individual traffic offences carry between 3 and 24 points, depending on the severity of the offence. Drivers may also be issued composition fines, which are monetary penalties paid to settle the offence without going to court. Offences that are more severe, such as excessive speeding, may result in licence suspension or revocation.Demerit points start from zero for drivers with a clean record and accumulate with offences. Allowable demerit pointsNew licence holders are under a one-year probation period from the issue date of their driving licence, and will face revocation upon accumulation of 13 or more demerit points. 

ComfortDelGro has submitted the top bid of $38 million to develop a new multi-storey driving centre on Lorong Bistari in Chua Chu Kang. This will be the first Next-Generation Driving Centre that will cater to all vehicle classes.The only other bidder was Bukit Batok Driving Centre, an affiliate of Japanese automotive conglomerate Honda, who put in a $25 million bid for the site.The tender for the new driving centre was launched last October by URA, in collaboration with the Singapore Police Force. Originally, the tender was supposed to close on Jan 15 but the deadline was extended to Feb 26.The new driving centre will replace Bukit Batok Driving Centre, which will close in 2030 to make way for future residential developments.This means Singapore will still have three key driving centres for learner motorists – Singapore Safety Driving Centre in the Woodlands, Comfort DelGro Driving Centre in Ubi, and the upcoming site in Chua Chu Kang.

SINGAPORE - Singaporean Sat Lunasky had switched off her lights, ready to sleep, but her phone buzzed to life past midnight, telling her to seek shelter as debris was expected to fall near where she was.“For me, that’s when it hit me that this was a full war,” said the 53-year-old consultant, who was scheduled to leave Dubai on March 3 after spending a month setting up her business there.Alarmed, she grabbed her emergency bag and sped down to the underground carpark in search of safety, only to return about an hour later to wait for further instructions from the authorities.Following US-Israel strikes on Iran, and Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Middle Eastern states including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar, the region’s air spaces have been closed, leaving thousands stranded.Singaporean marketing professional Sheryl Ho was monitoring the news in her Dubai home when she heard the first explosions, and then the roar of fighter jets.The 28-year-old said: “The scale of the attacks was what surprised me as I definitely did not think landmarks in Dubai would be targeted.”

The attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States have added to global uncertainties, which will in turn affect businesses and global trade, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.SM Lee was speaking at his constituency's Chinese New Year celebration dinner held at Teck Ghee Community Club on Saturday (Feb 28).Pointing to the series of moves made by the Trump administration after the US Supreme Court struck down the US President's sweeping tariffs, SM Lee said: «The world remains very uncertain, and we have no idea what surprises lie in store.»After the US Supreme Court's ruling, US President Donald Trump first invoked another law to impose a 10 per cent global tariff, then, in less than 24 hours, increased tariffs to 15 per cent. 

The elderly couple, who were found dead at home in Punggol on Friday (Feb 27), had been married for 48 years.But as both of them suffered from ill health, the 71-year-old husband reportedly confided to loved ones of his fears that his 66-year-old wife would not be taken care of in the event of his death. Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the deceased's neighbours at Block 408B Northshore Drive said that they had a good relationship with the couple, and would greet them when they met.The couple would also exchange gifts and greetings during festive seasons, one resident said.«The man would leave his home to throw rubbish or water the plants, but I had not seen them in a while,» added the 33-year-old.Several neighbours said the man appeared unwell and struggled to stand, while the man’s wife told a neighbour that her husband had an unspecified illness.Their deaths were discovered when relatives visited their home and realised something was amiss.

An e-bike and a lorry nearly collided after the rider and driver raced each other along Sembawang Road on Thursday (Feb 26).In a video posted on Facebook page SG Road Vigilante on Saturday, an e-bike rider can be seen riding closely behind a lorry at high speed along Sembawang Road.As there was construction on the right side of the road, the lorry swerved slightly to the left lane, into the path of the e-bike rider.The rider gestured at the lorry driver angrily, implying the latter did not check his side mirror before attempting to switch lanes.While the e-bike rider tried to speed up in front of the lorry, the driver cut into his lane closely and overtook it, speeding ahead and changing lanes multiple times in front of the e-bike, as the latter gave chase along Yishun Avenue 1.Towards the end of the video, the lorry driver can be seen changing multiple lanes at once to turn into Yishun Avenue 2 and nearly collided with a motorcycle.A witness of the incident said that they saw the e-bike rider «banging» the lorry door, gesturing for the driver to pull over at the side of the road.

After five years, Raybe Oh made her getai comeback on Friday (Feb 27), with more than 700 people in the audience.This is the first time the 32-year-old is back on the stage, after recovering from severe and extensive burns she had sustained while trying to save her fiance from a fiery car crash at Tanjong Pagar in 2021.She took the stage in Zhenghua Community Centre on Friday evening and sang four songs, including Bao Zhu Yi Sheng Da Di Chun and the late Teresa Teng's Wo Zhi Zai Hu Ni (I Only Care About You), Shin Min Daily News reported.Oh dedicated the song Wo Zhi Zai Hu Ni to her mother: «If not for my mother who encouraged me to sing, I wouldn't be here today.»

Singapore is deeply concerned by the developments in the Middle East, with Israel and the US launching strikes on Iran and Lebanon, said Acting Minister in charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim.«This failure of diplomacy has escalated tensions in the region with serious consequences. That this has happened during the holy month of Ramadan deepens the pain felt by many across communities,» he said on Saturday (Feb 28).Assoc Prof Faishal, who is also Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, was speaking to the media at the sidelines of a breaking of fast event held at Kampong Gelam Ramadan bazaar.He added that Singapore is monitoring developments closely and supports de-escalation, the protection of civilian lives and respect for international law. «Let us not forget the plight of the Palestinians who have been suffering and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution in the region.»Assoc Prof Faishal also urged Singaporeans to remain calm and united while safeguarding the trust and harmony between communities. 

There have been no reports of Singaporean casualties in the Middle East, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Saturday (Feb 28). «Singaporeans currently residing or transiting in the region are advised to take all necessary precautions for their personal safety,» said a MFA spokesperson.Measures to take include staying indoors, going to a safe shelter when alerted, monitoring the news and heading the local government's advice.«Please remain vigilant at all times,» MFA added.The ministry’s statement comes after the US and Israel carried out military strikes on Iran, which they said are aimed at toppling its leaders and dealing a blow to its nuclear programme.Iran responded by launching missiles at Israel and at several Gulf Arab states that host American bases, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Passers-by doused the flames after a Honda station wagon caught fire in Boon Lay on Friday (Feb 27) evening.The incident happened at about 5.45pm at an open carpark near Boon Lay Shopping Centre at Block 221 Boon Lay Place.A video of the incident posted on TikTok by user Diruktee shows three members of the public approaching the fire with a hosereel. The fire was raging at the cabin area of the Honda station wagon, with the car's bonnet area seemingly unaffected.

A driver from Singapore has expressed his gratitude to two Johor Bahru policemen for their assistance after he encountered a scammer at the checkpoint.He referred to them as «polite, attentive and professional throughout the process» in an email sent to the authorities on Feb 23, which was shared on Facebook by Johor Bahru South District Police on Feb 26.«They handled the matter promptly and took my report seriously. Their calm and helpful attitude provided reassurance during what was a stressful situation for me,» he wrote.The incident in question occurred at the Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs (BSI), according to the letter. The driver recounted that upon pulling up to clear Malaysia's customs, he realised his Touch 'n Go card had insufficient funds.He then alighted from his vehicle and was approached by a male «officer» wearing a green uniform, who instructed the driver to park at the nearest immigration counter for passport clearance, the latter claimed.The «officer» then allegedly took the latter's Touch 'n Go card along with his RM100 (S$33) in cash, with the promise to help top it up.

Six Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Scoot flights on Feb 28 and March 1 have been cancelled after the US and Israel launched a wave of strikes against targets in Iran.SIA said in a statement on Feb 28 that four of its flights have been cancelled on both days.They are SQ494 (Singapore to Dubai) and SQ495 (Dubai to Singapore) on Feb 28 and March 1.Two Scoot flights TR596 (Singapore to Jeddah) and TR597 (Jeddah to Singapore) on Feb 28 have also been cancelled, the airline added.SIA said it strongly advises customers to update their contact details via the Manage Booking function on the SIA and Scoot websites, or subscribe to the mobile notification service, to receive flight updates.“We will continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East closely and will adjust our flight paths as needed,” the statement read.Singapore embassies in the Middle East advised Singaporeans there to exercise caution and stay updated on regional developments amid heightened tensions on Feb 28.[[nid:730621]]

Those who frequent Downtown East will no longer hear Don Don Donki's familiar jingle very soon.The Japanese supermarket chain will be closing its outlet at the mall on March 15, it announced in a Facebook post on Friday (Feb 27).«We are truly grateful for all the love, support and late-night snack runs you've shared with us over the years. Thank you for making this store so special,» it said.It assured customers that this is «not goodbye, it's see you nearby», encouraging them to visit the nearby outlets at Tampines 1 or Jewel Changi Airport for their favourite Japanese goodies and meals.«From the bottom of our hearts, arigatou,» the chain added.This is seemingly the first reported closure of a full Don Don Donki store.Don Don Donki @ Downtown East was the chain's first full outlet in the east and has been operating for nearly five years.The expansive, one-storey supermarket opened in April 2021 following the closure of the chain's Sweet Potato Factory booth at Changi Airport Terminal 3 in September 2020.

While driving her friend home after dinner in 2024, an 83-year-old woman made an illegal right turn from Nicoll Highway into Bras Basah Road, against the flow of traffic.She hit another car, leaving its 41-year-old female passenger with a fractured rib.On Feb 27, 2026, Ruth Chia Soh Kim, now 85, was fined $4,000 after pleading guilty to one charge of driving without due care and attention causing grievous hurt.She was also handed a charge for causing hurt by driving without due care and attention, which was taken into consideration for sentencing.Court documents stated that Chia left the Singapore Swimming Club in Tanjong Rhu at about 9pm on March 3, 2024, with her friend, Mr Lim Loo Leong, 90, who was in the passenger seat.She was driving towards Tiong Bahru to take Mr Lim home, and was relying on him to give directions as she was unfamiliar with the route.At about 9.20pm, Chia was approaching the junction of Nicoll Highway and Bras Basah, and stopped her car as the traffic light turned red.When the traffic light turned green, she drove forward and turned right towards Bras Basah Road, a one-way street.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will make a three-day state visit to Singapore from Sunday (March 1) to Tuesday. It will be his first visit to Singapore since becoming president in 2025.Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the visit affirms the «strong relations» between the two countries, adding that it will provide a timely opportunity for both sides to review the progress made in the Singapore-Republic of Korea strategic partnership since its establishment in November 2025. On Monday, President Lee will receive a ceremonial welcome at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and attend a naming ceremony for the Vanda Lee Jae Myung Kim Hea Kyung, an orchid named in his honour.President Lee will then call on Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam before holding a delegation meeting with PM Lawrence Wong.