The National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) is working with platform operators and taxi companies to prevent rising fuel costs from being passed on to drivers and riders, NTUC assistant secretary-general Yeo Wan Ling said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (March 24). Yeo, who is also MP for Punggol GRC, stressed that the livelihoods of taxi drivers, private-hire drivers and delivery riders «must remain sustainable», and that operators have a role to play. She noted that the platform work associations have worked hard to ensure that platform operators and taxi companies see themselves as stakeholders. «I am glad that operators have responded. Keeping fuel and pump prices in check is exactly the kind of real and lasting relief that makes a real difference to workers on the ground,» she said.Her comments come after a joint statement was issued on Tuesday by NTUC-affiliated associations - the National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA), the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) and the National Taxi Association (NTA). 

The National Environment Agency (NEA) on Wednesday (March 25) evening said smoke haze from hot spots in eastern Johor could continue to affect Singapore.A satellite imagery posted by the agency shows a cluster of hot spots in Pengerang and another cluster in Sedili Kechil. Both are in Johor's Kota Tinggi district. Satellite image showing hot spots in Johor. IMAGE: National Environment Agency On Tuesday, AsiaOne reported that a 150ha forest fire has been burning along the Desaru-Pengerang Highway since last Saturday (March 21), while firefighters also battled another fire at a hilly forested area at Sedili Kechil.

The engine compartment of a Hyundai sports utility vehicle (SUV) caught fire at a petrol station along Balestier Road on Tuesday (March 24) evening. The incident happened at about 7.30pm at Caltex's Balestier station. A video posted on social media shows the bonnet and front right wheel arc of the SUV on fire as a pump attendant calmly approached the vehicle with a fire extinguisher. Another video posted by Shin Min Daily News shows four dry powder extinguishers placed at the kerb of the station's driveway. In response to media queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the fire involved the front engine compartment of the car, adding that the fire was put out with extinguishers. No injuries were reported. A Chevron Singapore spokesperson said the station's staff activated emergency response procedures and contained the fire with SCDF's assistance. The station has since resumed normal operations after all site equipment was verified to be in good operational order, the spokesperson added. Fire investigations are ongoing. [[nid:732110]]

The next time someone tells you that your English is really jialat, you can get one up on them by showing them that jialat is a real English word. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has been updated on Tuesday (March 24) with over 500 new words, including 11 entries with a Singaporean or Malaysian English etymology. Among them are some standout additions in BTO, jialat and kaypoh, with ice kacang no doubt being an honourable mention as a delectable and iconic dessert in both Singapore and Malaysia. The other additions are: assam laksa, agak-agak, boleh, degazette, Mat Salleh, play play and wayang. BTO, or build-to-order, refers to the Housing Development Board's (HDB) scheme wherein HDB flats are built for Singapore citizens. However, it can also be used as a verb, referring to the act of applying for a flat under the scheme, according to OED. The dictionary also states that the word is «often used when discussing a couple's relationship status, as applying for a flat together under the BTO scheme is seen as an important milestone, similar to an engagement.» 

A 30-year-old Singaporean man has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a case of murder in Johor Bahru (JB) on March 14.In an updated statement on Wednesday (March 25), police said he was handed over to the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) on the same day.They added that the arrest was made after a warrant of arrest was issued by a Malaysian court and the RMP made a request for assistance.He becomes the sixth person to be arrested by Singapore and Malaysia law enforcement agencies, and the fifth to be arrested in Singapore.Three Singaporean men, aged between 23 and 29, and a 27-year-old woman were earlier handed over to the Royal Malaysian Police on March 19. A fifth suspect was arrested while trying to leave Johor a day earlier on March 18.They are assisting Malaysia police in their investigations into the death of a 32-year-old Singaporean man who was killed at Aston Club Southkey in JB.

A 40-year-old man will be charged in court on Thursday (March 26) for allegedly endangering the safety of his two children by letting them sit on the boot of a Porsche Cayman he was driving along a road in Bukit Timah.The incident, which happened at about 10.40am on October 20, 2025 along Dairy Farm Lane, drew strong reactions from netizens, with several calling for the matter to be investigated by the authorities.

Six driverless public buses have reached Singapore's shores and will be tested in two pilot services at Marina Bay and one-north.In a Facebook video on Wednesday (March 25), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) shared that the buses will face rigorous testing to ensure that they meet all safety and operating requirements before serving commuters.Once ready, the autonomous buses will operate alongside existing manned buses, LTA added. The buses will ply the routes of public bus services 400 at Marina Bay and 191 at one-north from the second half of 2026.The 39-second video gives a quick preview of what the driverless buses will look like.According to LTA, the 16-seater buses will have features similar to the manned buses which commuters are familiar with.However, the buses will also have additional cameras and sensors at the front, back and top for 360-degree awareness of the surroundings.The buses will also feature a wheelchair-accessible space in front of the door.Unlike regular buses, the driverless buses will only have one door.

Two platform workers were among the 36 people who died last year in the course of their work, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in its annual workplace safety and health report.The latest edition of the report, released on Wednesday (March 25), is the first time that information on work-related injuries involving platform workers is available after the Platform Workers Act came into force last year.Last year, Singapore's workplace fatal injury rate fell to a record low of 0.96 per 100,000 workers, making the Republic one of the safest countries in the world to work.There were 43 workplace deaths in 2024 and the workplace fatal injury rate then was 1.2 per 100,000 workersVehicular incidents continued to be the top cause of fatalities in 2025 — 15. Of these, six people, including the two platform workers, died in work-related traffic accidents.The next leading causes of fatal accidents are fall from height and the collapse or failure of structure and equipment, according to the report.

SINGAPORE — A coroner’s inquiry into the death of Indian singer Zubeen Garg, who was found floating face down after a swim off Lazarus Island in 2025, has been ruled an accidental drowning.Delivering his findings on March 25, State Coroner Adam Nakhoda said there was no reason to disagree with the Police Coast Guard’s investigation conclusion after analysing the evidence before him.A death certificate issued by the Singapore General Hospital listed the cause of death as drowning.The popular singer from the north-eastern state of Assam had consumed alcohol and refused a life vest before jumping off a yacht on Sept 19, 2025, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) David Lim testified on the first day of the inquiry on Jan 14.While his friends tried to convince him to return to the yacht, Mr Garg became motionless. He was pulled back onto the yacht, where efforts were made to resuscitate him, but to no avail.The artiste was in Singapore for the North East India Festival, a cultural festival organised by the Assamese community in Singapore. He was scheduled to perform on Sept 20.

A family in Pasir Ris took a pause from their Hari Raya celebrations on Sunday (March 22) for a good cause — helping to put out a blaze which erupted at a nearby rubbish collection point.The incident occurred at Block 150 Pasir Ris Street 13.In a video uploaded to Instagram by user Ichapiku on March 23, three men dressed in thobes — traditional loose-fitting robes also known as 'jubah' — can be seen extinguishing a raging fire at the bin room on the first floor.Speaking to AsiaOne, Ichapiku, who wished to be known only as Icha, 30, said she and her family were visiting her aunt that night when they suddenly heard the sound of a bell ringing at around 8.30pm.Her husband, Kayden Zaqarya Abdullah, 31, was the first to spot flames emitting from the vents of the ground-floor chute at the opposite block. Kayden and Icha's brothers quickly sprang into action, helping to find fire extinguishers before rushing down to fight the flames. Icha told AsiaOne that her husband only realised how large the fire was after opening the shutter to the chute. 

For the first time in nearly three weeks, pump prices in Singapore have fallen, with Shell becoming the first company here to drop its posted prices for petrol on Wednesday (March 25). In a price board update published at 4pm, Shell announced a 5-cent drop in its posted price for 95-, 98-octane petrol and the more premium V-Power.Shell held its posted price for diesel, which was raised by 20 cents on Tuesday, unchanged at $3.93.

Two animal shelters are appealing for contributions to defray the costs of taking in cats and dogs from troubled animal welfare group Animal Lovers League (ALL).The Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) had announced this January that Voices for Animals and Oasis Second Chance Animal Shelter are among the five groups that will be taking over the care of animals from ALL — which currently has about 100 cats and 60 dogs.The other three are Noah’s Ark Cares, SOSD and Every Stray Matters.This comes after ALL lost its tenancy at The Animal Lodge in Sungei Tengah in December 2025 following allegations of neglect. They also owed 53 months’ rent to AVS.In a Facebook post on Monday (March 23), Derrick Tan, founder of Voices for Animals, said that his shelter will take in cats from ALL on Friday. Tan told the Straits Times that Voices for Animals will take in 92 cats. He also appealed for supplies such as cat litter. The shelter had used up 2,200kg of the 2,700kg worth of cat tofu litter it had raised so far, he said.

A 54-year-old male car driver is assisting with police investigations following a four-vehicle pileup on the Causeway on Tuesday (March 24) night.The accident happened at about 11.15pm at the Causeway leading to the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ).In a Facebook post at 11.25pm, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said the accident affected two out of three lanes, adding that motorists «should expect delays».Checks by AsiaOne on the Land Transport Authority's traffic camera page on OneMotoring.com show a bus stopped on the rightmost lane with two cars seen in close proximity to each other off the left rear of the bus. Another car was seen stopped about three-car length away, with two persons standing beside the car.

More than 200 counterfeit items were found in two cargo containers at the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority's (ICA) Pasir Panjang Scanning Station last week. ICA shared details of the two foiled smuggling attempts in a Facebook post on Tuesday (March 24). The inbound containers were targeted based on information received by ICA's Integrated Targeting Centre, said the authority. On March 16, ICA's image analysts noticed anomalies in the scanned image of a container and directed it for further checks. More than 180 pieces of suspected counterfeit goods were found. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong will visit Berlin and Hamburg in Germany from March 25 (Wednesday) to March 28. This will also be DPM Gan's first visit to Germany. In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said the visit is intended to build bilateral relations and strengthen economic ties between Singapore and Germany. While in Berlin, DPM Gan will meet with German political leaders, including Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space Dorothee Bar, Federal Minister for Digitalisation and State Modernisation Karsten Wildberger, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy Stefan Rouenhoff, and other members of the German federal parliament.MTI said these meetings are intended to affirm Singapore's growing trade and investment ties, as well as discuss opportunities to strengthen economic cooperation and partnerships between the two countries, and the broader European Union.DPM Gan is also expected to meet with German business chambers in Berlin.

A 27-year-old Malaysian man was arrested on Tuesday (March 24) for his alleged involvement in a case of government official impersonation scam. He is also the ninth Malaysian to be arrested for similar cases in March alone. In a statement on Tuesday, the police said they received a report from a 29-year-old male victim who got a call from an unknown person claiming to be from telco M1. The unknown person told him there was an issue with his existing contract. After the victim denied having any M1 account, the unknown person claimed that the victim's identity could have been misused. The call was then transferred to another person, who claimed to be an officer from the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The «officer» informed the victim that he was under investigation for identity fraud and money laundering, and was required to prepare cash of $9,000 to be handed over to the authority for investigation. He was also warned that he would be arrested if he failed to comply. Out of fear, the victim handed over the money to the suspect in the vicinity of Ubi on March 21. 

Eight male motorists, aged between 25 and 74, and one female motorist aged 71, will be charged in court on Wednesday (March 25) with driving without reasonable consideration causing grievous hurt, said the police in a statement on Tuesday.The accidents resulted in injuries to 11 victims: one motorist who was struck outside his broken-down car, two cyclists, six motorcyclists and two motorcycle pillion riders.Three victims suffered fractured spines, including the driver who was had stepped out of his broken-down car. He was opening his boot when he was struck by a lorry, sustaining fractures to his skull, face, spine, ribs and foot. He also sustained damage to his brain and kidneys, and lost his left kidney.On Jan 15, 2026, a 31-year-old male car driver allegedly collided with a motorcycle while making a lane change to the right along Bukit Timah Expressway towards Woodlands Checkpoint. The motorcyclist had an ankle dislocation.Meanwhile, a 71-year-old female car driver was driving along Sims Avenue on Aug 4, 2025, when she purportedly collided with a cyclist while making a left turn. The cyclist had a broken wrist.

After losing their first child to a rare genetic disease, a couple is now racing against time to raise the remaining $1 million they need to save their second child, who has been diagnosed with the same condition. Speaking to AsiaOne on Tuesday (March 24), Norhaziqah Rosli, 35, said although her 10-month-old son Faziq has yet to show any symptoms, the «fear is always there». When her late son Faris was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in 2017, doctors told Norhaziqah and her husband, 37-year-old Rahman Rahim, to be «mentally prepared». At the time, gene therapy was not yet available and despite efforts, Faris died on June 24, 2022 before his sixth birthday. When she was expecting Faziq, her fourth child, she received the frightening news during her second trimester that he had SMA. Norhaziqah said doctors were already prepared to give Faziq the oral medication Risdiplam to delay the disease progression and he has been taking it since birth. He is also undergoing physiotherapy at National University Hospital (NUH). 

A chef of two decades at a zi char restaurant in Singapore was rewarded for his long service with a gift he'd always wanted — a Rolex watch.In a social media post published on Monday (March 24), Kelly Jie Seafood — formerly known as TPY Mellben Seafood — shared how its head chef, who has been with the restaurant since its beginnings in 2006, has stood by them through every chapter of their journey.«20 years, not just of work, but of loyalty, trust and heart. Not just as our head chef, but as our mum’s closest partner, carrying the kitchen through the toughest days and quietly holding everything together behind the scenes,» the post read.The restaurant added that it had bought the watch for its head chef as it was something he had always wanted but was reluctant to buy for himself.«We got him something he has always wanted but never brought himself to buy — a Rolex. A small gift for something that can never truly be measured,» it said.When presented with the gift, the man appeared surprised and joked about its authenticity before opening the box.«Is it really mine? Don't prank me,» he said, still in disbelief.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will visit Hainan and Hong Kong from March 25 to 28, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a press release on Tuesday (March 24).In Hainan, he will deliver a keynote speech at the Opening Plenary of the 2026 Bo'ao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference. The theme for this year's conference is «Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation». PM Wong will also attend a welcome dinner hosted by the Hainan government and BFA secretariat for leaders attending the conference.And the prime minister will also have bilateral meetings with National People's Congress chairman Zhao Leji and Communist Party of China Hainan Provincial Committee secretary Feng Fei.In Hong Kong, PM Wong will meet and have lunch with Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) chief executive John Lee.He will also meet HK political and business leaders. To gain a better understanding of Hong Kong's economic and development trajectory, and explore new opportunities for collaboration, PM Wong will visit key sites in the Northern Metropolis, said the PMO.

The police on Monday (March 23) arrested a 52-year-old man for public nuisance and mischief in Jurong West. A video posted on Facebook shows several vehicles in a carpark with their windscreens smashed. By comparing the building facade seen in the background, and the livery on a van — against Google Map's street view and publicly accessible business listings — AsiaOne was able to verify that the incident took place at 18 Enterprise Road.The address is listed as the place of business for a diversified industrial conglomerate specialising in manufacturing, engineering, mining and distribution activities across Southeast Asia. Another video shows a man walking along Soon Lee Road towards Fan Yoong Road with police officers following him on foot and giving him instructions. He was seen holding a statue-like object in his right hand.As five police officers, two with riot shields, closed in on him, the man was seen complying and squatting near a tree.AsiaOne understands that the man seen along Soon Lee Road is the person arrested in relation to the incident at 18 Enterprise Road.

A total of seven persons, including three children, were taken to two hospitals after a car caught fire at the driveway of a Housing and Development Board (HDB) block in Hougang on Monday (March 23) night.The incident happened at about 8pm at the driveway in front of Block 980D Buangkok Crescent.A video of the incident posted on Reddit shows a raging blaze engulfing the car. Thick black smoke was also seen rising past the sixth floor of a stack of flats. At least two Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) fire engines were seen stopped along Buangkok Crescent as firefighters tackled the fire.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, SCDF said its firefighters extinguished the fire using a water jet.It added that about 20 people evacuated from the HDB block before SCDF's arrival. Four persons were taken by SCDF to the Singapore General Hospital and another three children to KK Women's and Children's Hospital for smoke inhalation.Fire investigations are ongoing.[[nid:732033]]editor@asiaone.com 

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.