In Parliament on Tuesday (April 7), Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan set out why Singapore's position is to not negotiate on tolls or for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.He cited the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), highlighting that the right of transit passage is not a privilege to be granted by any bordering state of an international strait.«It is not a licence to be supplicated for, it is not a toll to be paid. It is a right of ships to traverse,» Dr Balakrishnan explained.Videos of Dr Balakrishnan's statement have been widely watched, receiving over 1.3 million views on AsiaOne's TikTok channel, and over 600,000 and 900,000 views on CNA's and The Straits Times' respective channels.@asiaone

A 60-year-old male taxi driver and his four passengers were taken to hospital following an accident in Ang Mo Kio on Saturday (April 11).It happened at about 12.20am at the junction of Buangkok Green and Yio Chu Kang Road. Map showing the location where a yellow ComfortDelGro taxi self-skidded on Saturday (April 11) morning. INFOGRAPHIC: AsiaOne When AsiaOne reached the scene at about 1am, a yellow ComfortDelGro taxi was seen stopped on the road divider with a severely damaged front bumper.The impact of the crash also dislodged a traffic light and a section of centre railings along the road divider.

SINGAPORE – A man who sought companionship from community cats after experiencing problems with his then girlfriend became angry when the cats did not respond to his affection.He researched online for ways to torture cats and decided on stabbing them.In less than a year, Ryan Tan Yi Bin stabbed four cats, slammed one against a wall several times and flung another from the 34th floor of a Housing Board block.On April 10, the 27-year-old man was sentenced to two years and seven months’ jail after pleading guilty to three counts of animal abuse.He will also be disqualified from owning any animals for a period of 12 months upon his release.District Judge Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz said the heavy sentence reflected Tan’s “deplorable, sadistic and serial abuse” of animals.“The sentence imposed reflects the court’s condemnation of the accused’s barbaric acts against defenceless creatures and makes plain that such sadism will be met with stern and uncompromising punishment,” said the judge.Deputy Public Prosecutor Lynda Lee said that Tan, who was then a delivery rider, started having problems with his then girlfriend around August 2024.

Blasting music while riding personal mobility aids (PMAs) with children — a group of women recently came under fire after they were filmed doing so at a traffic junction in Jurong East.On Wednesday (April 8), Facebook user Jin Ling shared a video on the group Complaint Singapore, writing that they're relieved that there will be fewer such encounters after new regulations kick in on June 1.The video showed four large PMAs crossing a street, with some blasting music. At least three of these mobility scooters appeared to carry two women and two children each, with some of the latter appearing to be infants and toddlers. 

The police and National Parks Board (NParks) have reminded attendees and organisers of a rally at Hong Lim Park on Saturday (April 11) evening to comply with the conditions for public speaking at the Speakers' Corner.Checks by AsiaOne show that the rally, purportedly organised by a student-led organisation, will discuss issues relating to the United States' «aggression in West Asia». In the event description, the organisers said attendees can learn about the history of imperialism. In a joint advisory on Saturday afternoon, the police and NParks said that approval for the event was given following the organisers' acknowledgement that they will comply with the conditions for public speaking at Hong Lim Park.Police reiterated that the Speakers' Corner is a designated space for Singapore citizens to organise and participate in assemblies without a police permit, subject to compliance with the law and the applicable terms and conditions.

A temporary prayer space will be set up in Pasir Ris to meet growing demand for Friday prayers, said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim. Speaking at the annual Minister's Hari Raya Get-Together on Friday (April 10), Assoc Prof Faishal said that the temporary space will be set up directly opposite Al-Istighfar Mosque and be ready by the fourth quarter of this year.The new space will be able to accommodate around 500 congregants for Friday prayers, on top of the existing capacity for 3,300 people at Al-Istighfar Mosque.The temporary space is a response to the «pressing need for prayer spaces» from Pasir Ris residents as well as workers from the Loyang and Changi Industrial areas, Assoc Prof Faishal said.«We will support the community's request and ensure that everyone has a safe and comfortable space for their prayers,» he said, adding that the temporary space will remain in operation until the new mosque at Tampines North opens.

A new committee will be established to strengthen the economic resilience of Singapore's Malay/Muslim community, and prepare it for the future economy.This was announced by Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim during the annual Minister's Hari Raya Get-Together on Friday (April 10) evening.At the event, Assoc Prof Faishal said members of the Malay/Muslim community are also concerned about how the workforce and businesses can adapt and thrive in the new economy.Pointing to the Economy Strategy Review's (ESR) mid-term update in January, which set out seven recommendations from a government-led review of Singapore's economy, Assoc Prof Faishal said employees have expressed concerns about how they can use and benefit from artificial intelligence (AI), including navigating a more competitive job landscape.

A Singaporean man will be charged in court over his alleged involvement in overseas scam operations and money mule offences.The 29-year-old suspect was arrested by police officers upon arrival in Singapore on Friday (April 10) following his deportation from Cambodia, said the police in a press release on the same day. The man had allegedly been involved in overseas scam operations and money mule offences between May 2021 and March 2022, before leaving Singapore. During that period, he purportedly abetted another person to open personal and corporate bank accounts to assist a scam syndicate to secure access to the bank's internet banking system by facilitating the sharing of login details, one-time passwords and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards. According to the police, the bank accounts were used to receive illicit funds from scam activities. The man was subsequently arrested by Cambodian authorities for his alleged involvement in an online scam syndicate in March this year and detained in Cambodia over immigration offences before being deported to Singapore. 

In an increasingly uncertain world, geopolitical developments in the Middle East have once again reminded us that maritime routes are not just lines on a map. They are the lifeblood of global trade, energy security, and economic stability. For Singapore, a small nation highly dependent on trade, navigational rights and freedoms are not an option, but an existential necessity.As Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan emphasised in his statement in Parliament this week on the energy supply crisis, conflicts in the Middle East have direct impacts on Singapore, from rising energy prices to disruptions to global supply chains. Instability along one strategic route can have far-reaching effects throughout our region.