A total of 30 motorists were caught for various traffic offences at Woodlands Checkpoint over the recent Vesak Day long weekend, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in a statement on Friday (June 5).These stepped-up traffic enforcement operations were conducted by ICA officers from between May 28 and June 1, aimed to detect and deter drivers engaging in queue cutting, illegal manoeuvres, and other dangerous road behaviour.The enforcement actions unfolded at the checkpoint's departure area, where officers clamped down on a variety of dangerous driving practices. 

After a «stressful» scramble for tickets, a domestic helper who sought an advance salary from her employer has succeeded in securing seats to K-pop supergroup BTS' upcoming concert in Singapore.A week ago, Nant Lah Sann Hie (Mo), a 26-year-old helper from Myanmar had given a handwritten letter to her employer, Yvonne Lareina Lee, with the polite request.Lee, a 45-year-old livestreamer and business owner, told AsiaOne they secured a VIP ticket on Wednesday (June 3) for the septet's Dec 20 Singapore show through a help-to-buy service.[[nid:736583]]Tickets are priced from $148 to $388, and the first pre-sale — reserved for fans, known as Army, who signed up for the Army Membership Presale on Weverse — started at noon on June 3.Lee described the ticketing process as «super nerve-wracking» as they «knew demand would be extremely high and that securing tickets would not be easy».Despite having enlisted a help-to-buy service in hopes of securing the ticket, Lee added that they still logged onto Ticketmaster to increase their chances.

A Hong Kong secondary school principal was on Wednesday (June 3) sacked after he was caught on video swearing at security guards during a student trip to Singapore on May 22.In doing so, San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School also rejected Lee Cheuk Hing's resignation, which would have been effective on August 31. A statement from the school's incorporated management committee issued on Wednesday reads: «If he were to stay on as principal until August 31, the school's normal operations would be severely impacted, hindering teachers and students from moving on as quickly as possible.»The committee noted that Lee's behaviour was «vulgar» and in contravention of the professional code of conduct for teaching staff stipulated by the Education Bureau. It added that Lee would be immediately dismissed and relieved of all duties without notice or payment in lieu.

Football's biggest tournament — the 2026 Fifa World Cup tournament — starts next Thursday (June 11) and fans will have plenty to look forward to as Mediacorp revealed its line-up for the 28 matches to be aired for free.The 28 matches are: the opening match between hosts Mexico and South Africa; 23 group stage matches; two semi-finals; the third and fourth place match; and the final, which is scheduled to to be played on July 20.This also means that football fans will get to catch all 48 teams in action — at least once.Fans of South Korean star Son Heung-min could catch him in action on June 12 during his country's game against the Czech Republic, while Cristiano Ronaldo — who is playing his last World Cup tournament — could feature during the match between Portugal and Congo on June 18.

Mark Lee's wife Catherine Ng is hosting what is believed to be Singapore's first open-water polo competition on June 26.The 52-year-old homemaker told AsiaOne in an interview today (June 4) that the event, titled EagleWings Cup, has been a work-in-progress for the past six months with local water polo coach Kuah Kar Huat and their committee of parents.She said: «Some parents and I have been speaking to coach Kar Huat after we saw videos of water polo played at sea overseas. He said it's possible to conduct it here if we can find sponsors.»They had discussed the possibility of holding this event since last year but only began putting plans into place in January and scheduling the competition in June to coincide with the school holidays.Sea water polo was played at the 6th Asian Beach Games held in Sanya, China, in April and in an article by Xinhua, coaches said challenges include dealing with the waves and currents, while the high salinity of sea water makes it uncomfortable for athletes to open their eyes.

Eight Singaporeans, including a six-month-old baby, were trapped after a boat they were in reportedly overturned in Lagoi, Bintan on Sunday (May 31).Sayyid Muhammad Fariid Syed Amzah Alsagoff and his wife Sharifah Shafiqah Syed Ezzat, both 27, were on a three-day family vacation in Bintan with their six-month-old baby daughter from Saturday, reported Berita Harian (BH) on Wednesday.The incident occurred just as the family were on their mangrove tour on Sunday, at around 2pm.The boat they were in was caught in sudden heavy rain and strong currents as it approached a mangrove area known to be home to snakes and other dangerous wildlife.The boat was carrying 10 people, comprising of eight family members, including the baby and a nine-year-old child, the boat captain and a tour guide.Sharifah was seated next to her husband, with their infant daughter strapped to his chest in a baby carrier under his life jacket.All passengers reportedly wore life jackets except for the baby, as there were no infant-sized jackets available.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) will be launching 6,800 Build-To-Order (BTO) flats in five estates in the June 2026 sales. In all, seven BTO projects will be on sale across Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Bukit Merah, Sembawang and Woodlands. The most number of units are expected to be offered in Sembawang, with an estimated total of 2,000 units, according to information from HDB's MyNiceHome website.The two projects near Sembawang MRT station have the most diverse options with one project offering 1,130 two-room flexi, three-, four-, five-room and 3Gen flats. The other project, bounded by Admiralty Lane and Sembawang Drive, will offer 870 units across two-room flexi, three-, four- and five-room.The Lakeview project is also the first new BTO project in the area in over four decades. The project marks the first of three in the estate, with two other projects to be launched in the next two years to bring young families closer to their parents living in the area.

A newly MOP-ed flat in Bidadari has recorded its first resale transaction, and it has already crossed the million-dollar mark. The 4-room flat at Alkaff Oasis was recently sold for a cool S$1.15 million, making it one of the latest examples of how strongly buyers continue to view newer flats in Bidadari.Newly MOP-ed unit in Alkaff Oasis completes first sale at S$1.15M Alkaff Oasis and the wider Bidadari estate, which recently saw its first recorded resale transaction. PHOTO: Google Maps The first recorded resale transaction at Alkaff Oasis was officially registered on Wednesday (June 3). The sale involved a 4-room flat located at Block 111A Alkaff Crescent. The unit sits on a mid-high floor, between the 10th and 12th storeys of the 17-storey development.

HOUSTON – Singapore has secured enough liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes to make up for lost supplies from Qatar for the rest of 2026, ensuring it has 100 per cent of the gas it needs, Singapore Energy Market Authority (EMA) chief executive Puah Kok Keong said on Wednesday (June 3) in Houston.In an interview with Reuters, Keong stated that replacement cargoes were purchased from Australia, US and African suppliers.He added that if the Qatar supply disruption – caused by the US-Israeli war with Iran – ends in the coming months, Singapore has the option to resell the replacement cargoes.According to the EMA chief executive, Qatar supplies 10 per cent of the natural gas Singapore uses for electricity generation, the equivalent of one cargo per month.Singapore is interested in buying more LNG but will do so from diverse suppliers including the US, Australia, Africa and the Middle East to reduce risk, said Keong.[[nid:734107]]

Little India has seen success with its pest control efforts bringing the number of rat burrow sightings down to zero recently, said the National Environment Agency (NEA).In a Facebook post on Thursday (June 4), the agency said it did not detect any burrows during the surveillance cycle between March and April, marking progress from the average number of 37 spotted every two months in 2025.The «encouraging result» was made possible through a combination of active surveillance, stakeholder engagements and enforcement efforts. «But keeping rats away remains a shared responsibility — it takes everyone playing their part,» said NEA, adding that members of the public who spot rodents, signs of rat activity or conditions that can harbour rats should make a report via the OneService app.Food and beverage outlets are not the only places affected by rats, with one recently spotted scurrying around a train carriage on the MRT's East-West Line in May.

Residents of a Chai Chee HDB block say an elderly woman's habit of feeding pigeons from her flat has turned the place into a «buffet» for birds.The resulting mess has led to some being unable to open their windows.The incident involves a fifth-floor unit at Block 805 Chai Chee Road, where an elderly woman is said to have been feeding pigeons for years, Lianhe Zaobao reported.A video posted on Reddit on Tuesday (June 2) showed the birds perched on the exterior ledges of the flat. One pigeon was seen flying into the unit through an open kitchen window, before a group of birds emerged from inside.According to Zaobao, bird droppings covered parts of the window ledges and exterior walls of the block, and pigeons were also observed gathering on the ledges of the nearby ESR BizPark building.Residents told the Chinese newspaper that the woman, believed to be in her 70s or 80s, previously fed pigeons on the ground floor before allegedly moving the activity into her home about a year ago.

Singapore residents can expect to live longer than before, with their life expectancy at birth standing at 83.9 years in 2025.This is higher than the life expectancy of 83.7 years in 2024 and in 2019 — the pre-pandemic peak — according to preliminary data released by the Department of Statistics on Wednesday (June 3).A decade ago, in 2015, the life expectancy at birth for Singapore residents was 82.9 years.Life expectancy is a statistical estimate of the average number of years a person is expected to live, and calculated based on current mortality rates.According to the preliminary data, women also continue to have a longer lifespan than men, with the resident female and male life expectancies at birth in 2025 standing at 86.0 years and 81.8 years respectively.A decade ago, in 2015, the female and male life expectancies at birth were 85.1 years and 80.5 years respectively.Meanwhile, older Singapore residents can also expect to live longer. The life expectancy for those aged 65 in 2025 stood at 86.6 years, up from 86.4 years in 2024 and 85.8 years a decade ago.

Former deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat has been appointed as the Singapore Institute of Technology's (SIT) first chancellor for a five-year period from June 1. As chancellor, Heng, who continues to chairs the National Research Foundation and is a director of the GIC board, will be SIT's highest-ranking ceremonial office holder and ambassador, said the university in a media statement on Wednesday (June 3).He is expected to preside over key university ceremonies such as convocations, and represent SIT at major institutional and external engagements.«Drawing upon his extensive leadership experience and professional networks, Heng will also support the university in strengthening partnerships and advancing strategic priorities, including industry and philanthropic engagement,» SIT said in its statement. Reflecting on his appointment, Heng stated that SIT occupies a distinctive and important role in Singapore's higher education landscape, preparing graduates with applied skills and industry experience.

More than 290 participants from various police divisions, specialist units, and cadets from the National Police Cadet Corps gathered to mark the annual Police Day at a parade at the Home Team Academy on Wednesday (June 3). In its 55th year, the event was graced by Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong, who noted that the nature of crime is constantly evolving and becoming more complex yet less visible.«Despite these challenges, the Singapore Police Force continues to serve with unwavering dedication, working to stay ahead of emerging threats and to protect our way of life,» he said. «On Police Day, we honour their commitment, recognise their sacrifices, and express our gratitude to them and their families for all they do to keep Singapore safe.»A total of 16 awards including Best Land Division, Best National Service Operationally Ready Unit, Best Full-time Police National Service Officer, and Best Police National Serviceman of the Year were presented at the event. Among the award recipients was Jurong Police Division, which was named Best NS Operationally Ready Unit.

Local baking supplies provider Phoon Huat is freezing the prices of more than 100 essential products for the month of June to help customers cope with the rising cost of living.The price lock has been implemented at all 19 of its RedMan and Phoon Huat stores islandwide, said the company in a statement on Wednesday (June 3).Products covered under the price freeze include household and pantry necessities such as flour, chocolate, shortening, whipped cream, butter and milk powder.Also included are common breakfast foods such as Nutella, nuts and cornflakes, alongside meal essentials such as pasta, tomato sauce and curry pastes. 

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is proposing that tariffs of 10 per cent or more be imposed on products from dozens of major trading partners following a probe into imports of goods allegedly made with forced labour.The report released early Wednesday (June 3) by the US Trade Representative said Canada, Mexico, Taiwan and the United Kingdom and some other countries and territories would face 10 per cent additional tariffs for allegedly failing to enforce a forced labour import ban.A 12.5 per cent additional tariff would be imposed on Singapore, China, Japan, India, South Korea and dozens of other countries.«The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable. This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field,» USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer said in a statement.He added that «each of our trading partners must do more to ensure that trade does not perversely encourage and entrench forced labour globally».The USTR said failure to prevent such imports is «unreasonable and burdens or restricts US commerce».

The police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of a 16-year-old teenage girl, Siti Nurqirin Asyura Izhar Izuddin, who was last seen over a month ago in Woodlands.In a news release on Wednesday (June 3), the police said Siti Nurqirin Asyura was last seen at about 5.55pm on April 30 at 10 Woodlands Ring Road.The address is the location of Woodlands Ring Secondary School, which is currently undergoing upgrading works. Those with information are urged to contact the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness. All information will be kept strictly confidential, the police said.[[nid:737179]]editor@asiaone.com 

SINGAPORE – Five mainland leopard cats living in Changi’s coastal forest will be relocated from the second half of 2026 to protect them from development.The National Parks Board (NParks) and the non-governmental Singapore Wildcat Action Group (Swag) said on Wednesday (June 3) that the relocation will ensure the animals' welfare and long-term survival as the Changi landscape is transformed.They did not reveal the locations of the new habitats as this could attract unwanted visitors such as poachers.While leopard cats are one of the most widely distributed wild cats globally, they are critically endangered in Singapore. Fewer than 50 are estimated to reside here, with most of them in Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin and the Western Catchment Area.The existence of the elusive species in Changi was first detected in January 2019 after one was killed in a traffic accident. It is believed that the Changi population hailed from leopard cats that swam across the strait from nearby Pulau Tekong.

Tampines residents in the vicinity of the new GreenQuartz Build-to-Order (BTO) HDB estate have been dealing with heaps of renovation waste left nearby, Shin Min Daily News reported on Tuesday (June 2).The clutter, which accumulated amid homeowners renovating their flats prior to moving in, was apparently left unattended for two weeks.Speaking with the Chinese-language publication, a resident in the area said the large piles of waste created an environment that was both dirty and messy.«There is a lot of large garbage piled up in the open space downstairs,» the resident said. «This situation has been going on for two weeks.»I'm worried that if no one clears it, it could be a fire hazard due to the heat, or it could be a nest for rats or snakes."A Shin Min reporter that visited the area noted about four locations with waste placed at the foot of the blocks, mainly in open spaces beside drop-off points.While large trash bins were provided for residents to use, they were already full and residents resorted to tossing their garbage in areas around the bins instead.

The two Singapore residents who were aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship continue to test negative for the hantavirus and have been allowed to quarantine at home, said the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA).In response to AsiaOne's queries, the CDA said the duo, a 67-year-old Singaporean and a 65-year-old Singapore Permanent Resident, were last tested on May 22.Both men also tested negative for the Andes strain responsible for the outbreak on the MV Hondius.They had been isolated at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) after returning to Singapore in May, as part of the recommended 42-day monitoring period after their last exposure to the virus.Both disembarked from the ship on April 1, and were on the same flight as a confirmed hantavirus case who later died.According to the CDA, the men were allowed to transition to home quarantine from May 25, though it was not revealed if they chose to do so.The duo are being monitored daily by the CDA and will be tested again before being released from quarantine.