All unsecured loans from licensed moneylenders will be subject to a mandatory cooling-off period of three business days from Sept 15, announced the Ministry of Law (MinLaw).Moneylenders will only be allowed to retain a portion of the loan approval fee, up to the stipulated limits, said the ministry on Monday (Aug 31).If the principle amount of the unsecured loan is $5,000 or less, licensed moneylenders will only be allowed to retain a maximum of $50.If the unsecured loan is worth more than $5,000, moneylenders can retain a maximum of 3.5 per cent of the principal, not exceeding the loan approval fee.As such, there will not be any interest charged, and the total amount to be repaid by the borrower cannot exceed the principal amount of the loan, said MinLaw.Prior to the ministry's announcement of the cooling-off period, licensed moneylenders were allowed to keep the full loan approval fee, as well as any interest accrued, if a borrower cancels a loan.

SINGAPORE - Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MP Alex Yam has called out comments questioning if the nine Singaporeans reported missing in the Nepal-Tibet disaster were «really Singaporean».In a Facebook post on Aug 31, he called the floods that struck the Himalayan border of Nepal and China's Tibet a «terrible tragedy» and listed the names of the Singaporeans who are still unaccounted for.They are: Estee Loeh, Ghosh Aditi, Ng Kit Kuen, Rajesvaran Ayyavoo, Rengarajan Prabu, Shalinny Deavy Elan Sozan, Shubakshi Rawla, Subramaniam Diraviam and Sumit Rawla.Yam said that scrolling through the comments, he found something else equally difficult to stomach.«While families wait desperately for news of their loved ones, a loud minority of people apparently looked at the names and faces of those missing and decided that this was the moment to ask whether they were really Singaporean,» he said.He added that some have said they hope that people remain stranded or die, while others have also questioned why the authorities should help these Singapore citizens.

Heavy traffic is expected at Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints during the upcoming September school holidays, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in an advisory on Monday (Aug 31).The September school holidays start on Sept 4 and end on Sept 14.In its advisory, ICA highlighted that security checks have been stepped up at all checkpoints since Feb 28 — when US and Israel struck Iran — due to the heightened global security environment.«Travellers should therefore expect longer waiting time during peak travel periods,» ICA said.Tips for faster immigration clearanceThose intending to travel through the checkpoints should plan their journey in advance and consider travelling during non-peak hours such as early mornings and late evenings.They can also check the Land Transport Authority’s One Motoring website and ICA’s social media pages for the latest traffic conditions.Travellers are also encouraged to use QR codes generated via the MyICA mobile app to enjoy «faster and more seamless» immigration clearance.

Former permanent secretary for home affairs Pang Kin Keong will take over as chairman of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) board from Sept 1, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) announced on Monday (Aug 31).He takes over from Alan Chan, who became LTA's board chairman in April 2016.Pang, 59, spent 35 years in the public sector, and retired from administrative service on June 1.Since joining the public service in 1993, he has served in various roles, including as principal private secretary to then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, director of the Internal Security Department (ISD), and director in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.Pang was also Permanent Secretary for Transport between 2012 and 2017 and is credited for leading several major initiatives to position Singapore's transport infrastructure for the future, including the planning of Changi Airport Terminal 5 and Tuas Port.

SINGAPORE – They each drove Lamborghinis, wore expensive watches and ran schemes where they promised investors high returns for money put into their property deals and other businesses.But just three years after self-styled wealth gurus Lim Jian Bin, 36, and Jason Fong Wai Hong, 46, separately told dozens of investors that they could earn them high dividends, the duo went silent.Now, more than 50 investors are worried about the $5 million they have locked up in various investments.Lim, who is also known by his online moniker Takeshi Lim, and Fong, were well-known figures on social media and at wealth seminars, where they promised followers guaranteed returns of up to 15 per cent each year.Both men have since been declared bankrupt – Fong in April, and Lim in July. The Straits Times understands Fong travelled to Kuala Lumpur on a flight on June 21, 2026, and has not left Malaysia.Worried investors have filed multiple police reports, with some wondering if they had been duped into a ponzi scheme.

SINGAPORE – Residents of Canberra Residences in Sembawang are heading to court over claims that defects at the condominium remain unresolved more than a decade after the development was completed.The management corporation (MCST) is suing main contractor MCC Engineering (Singapore), formerly known as China Jingye Construction Engineering (Singapore), over an alleged breach of a 2020 settlement agreement.The dispute dates back to June 2019, when the MCST commenced its legal proceedings for the first time against condo developer MCC Land (Singapore) and 17 other parties over alleged defects at the project.The lawsuit ended after the MCST, main contractor and developer signed a settlement agreement on Sept 1, 2020. The agreement was intended to settle all claims, demands and liabilities arising from the development and the earlier lawsuit.It required the contractor to carry out rectification, upgrading and drainage works at the development.

A total of eight hawker centres across Singapore will close for between one and three days between Aug 30 and Sept 6 for cleaning.Cleaning at hawker centres owned by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment is conducted by National Environment Agency (NEA), while town councils are responsible for cleaning HDB hawker centres.Such cleaning is conducted regularly so that Singaporeans can enjoy affordable food in a clean and hygienic environment, NEA said on its website.This round of cleaning covers hawker centres across most regions, including Dunman Food Centre in Joo Chiat, Senja Hawker Centre in Bukit Panjang, Kampung Admiralty Hawker Centre in Woodlands and Chinatown Complex Market.

Two-time Olympian Kiria Tikanah Abdul Rahman has set her sights on an Asian Games medal after podium finishes at the past two Asian Fencing Championships gave her confidence that she can challenge the continent's best.The 26-year-old won an individual bronze in women's epee at the 2025 Asian Fencing Championships before getting Singapore a team bronze at the 2026 edition in New Delhi.Many of the same fencers will line up at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which will run from Sept 19 to Oct 4.«Obviously, I want to come home with a medal, but it's not going to be easy,» Kiria said after the Team Singapore Flag Presentation Ceremony at OCBC Square on Saturday (Aug 29).«Asia is really competitive for fencing, especially in the women's epee discipline, so it's going to be tough matches all day round.»[[nid:743857]]But her recent results have given her belief heading into her third Asian Games.«We know what to expect,» she said. «It gives us a lot of confidence knowing that we've done it before.»

Singapore football rarely attracts genuine superstar signings. The last bonafide global name that ended up on our shores, seeking a late-career stint, was former Liverpool and Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant, who joined Tampines Rovers. And that was already a decade ago.But that changed this past weekend. Keisuke Honda turning up at Jurong East Stadium in an FC Jurong jersey felt like one of those surreal, pinch-me moments, especially if you’re a long-suffering local football fan.I’ve followed football in Singapore for years, and fresh off the Singapore National Team’s incredible run to the ASEAN Hyundai Cup semi-finals, I felt that we needed another big moment to sustain fan interest in the sport and get them to support local football again in between international tournaments.Enter the 40-year-old Japanese legend. For those who are not familiar, the midfield general’s claim to fame is playing for the likes of Italy’s AC Milan and Russia’s CSKA Moscow. 

A 25-year-old man will be charged in court on Monday (Aug 31) for his alleged involvement in the murder of a 29-year-old man in Tuas on Saturday night.Police said in a statement on Sunday afternoon that the incident happened at about 10.10pm along Tuas South Street 15 towards Tuas South Avenue 14.The victim was found lying motionless on the road by police officers and later pronounced dead at scene by a Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedic.According to the police, both the victim and the suspect are known to each other.The 25-year-old man was arrested within four hours of receiving the report.Checks by AsiaOne indicate that said road, in an industrial area, is largely deserted except for a few heavy industry companies. There is also a workers' dormitory along Tuas South Street 15.Police investigations are ongoing.If found guilty of murder, the man may be sentenced to death. [[nid:743444]]editor@asiaone.com 

A 46-year-old auxiliary police outrider was taken to the hospital on Friday (Aug 28) night after a limousine taxi rear-ended it at Changi Airport. The incident happened at about 10.40pm along Airport Boulevard towards Changi Airport Terminal 1.Dashcam footage posted on a professional drivers' group on social media shows the enforcement motorcycle lying on its left side.A black Toyota Alphard multi-purpose vehicle bearing a taxi vehicle registration number is seen stopped behind it. ComfortDelGro operates a fleet of Toyota Alphard limousine taxis.Meanwhile, paramedics are seen attending to the outrider lying on the road.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the police stated that the auxiliary police officer was taken conscious to the hospital. They added that the 54-year-old male taxi driver is assisting with ongoing police investigations.[[nid:743816]]editor@asiaone.com 

Hawker Zhang Xiaohai was doing cashier duties at a Hougang zichar stall after receiving a $10 note on Aug 2, when he realised something unusual.The portrait of Singapore's first president Yusof Ishak, which is featured on the note, was seen with a piercing stare, and his mustache appeared to be «shaved off» too.The 42-year-old, who works at the stall 21 Seafood, told Lianhe Zaobao in a report published on Aug 28: «My first thought was that I received a counterfeit banknote.»He added he believed counterfeit banknotes are rare in Singapore and as the note doesn't feel different, he only roughly checked when he received it.From a photo and reel released on the stall's Xiaohongshu (XHS) profile on Aug 27, the portrait appeared to have been tempered with, with scratches seen on Mr Ishak's eyelids and philtrum.Zhang said during the interview that he believed it was more likely a prank.Despite feeling something amiss, he and the owner of the stall, only known as Mr Guo, didn't pursue the matter immediately then.

MIT Artspace, a pottery studio in Chinatown, has closed abruptly, leaving customers with unfinished pieces.In an interview with Stomp, a 24-year-old student nicknamed Dylan said he received a text about the studio’s closure on Aug 3, after nearly two months of waiting for his pottery pieces.He had attended their workshop in June but was told the glazing and firing process would take more time.According to a screenshot of the message he provided to Stomp, the studio management was required to “hand over the unit”, and customers could collect their pieces including those which were not completed.The studio also said they were unable to individually pack the items, requesting customers to come and collect their items within a week.Dylan went back to the studio and found his pieces but said none of them were glazed nor fired.Pottery pieces are required to be glazed and fired to be considered food safe.He told Stomp: “What shocked me most was the scale of what we saw there. There appeared to be hundreds of pieces — I would estimate around 400 — left outside, with customers having to search through them for their own work.”

SINGAPORE — Hundreds of Built-To-Order flats with shorter waiting times will be launched in Sin Ming and Toa Payoh, with construction of the new homes underway and slated for completion by mid-2030.In Sin Ming Street, which is part of Bishan town, a 1,076-unit project that will include a childcare centre and a supermarketis currently being constructed across the road from Sin Ming Residences, a public housing project that is nearing completion with 984 units.And in Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, work has started on a 40-storey HDB block comprising 193 units that will be accompanied by a multi-storey carpark with a roof garden, a precinct pavilion and other community facilities.The Housing Board said in a statement to The Straits Times that the flats' launch dates and estimated waiting times will be announced at a later date, although their projected completion date suggests that both projects will likely go on sale in mid-2027 at the earliest.Flats with shorter waiting time have wait times of under three years, with construction work typically starting before these flats are launched for sale so buyers can move into their homes sooner.

An elderly cyclist was seen on her knees after she was believed to be issued a summon by Land Transport Authority (LTA) officers recently.

Team Singapore will head to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games this September without a public medal target, with chef de mission Goh Kee Nguan instead urging athletes to focus on producing their best performances against Asia's top competitors.«We are not going to Nagoya to count medals, especially before the Games begin,» Goh said after the Team Singapore Flag Presentation Ceremony at OCBC Square on Aug 29.«What we are there for is really to make sure that the athletes are there to compete, and we will compete all we can to win as much as we can.»Singapore National Olympic Council president Grace Fu struck a similar note in her address to the contingent.«Performance matters, but so do the memories you create, the challenges you overcome, and the example you set for those who follow,» she said.Singapore will field 304 athletes across 27 sports, with the Republic competing in mixed martial arts (MMA) and kurash for the first time. More than 60 per cent of the contingent will be making their Asian Games debuts.

There was brief panic at Sultan Plaza on Friday (Aug 28) night after jellified insecticide used during fumigation at a Chinese restaurant created smoke that was mistaken for a fire.At least 30 people self-evacuated, and emergency services were called at about 10.45pm, after smoke was seen coming from the first-floor eatery.When AsiaOne reached the scene at about 10.55pm, the area outside the eatery was still slightly smoky and a pungent, choking smell hung in the air. Mallgoers were seen exiting the plaza's premises, with some coughing as they walked out.At least four Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) appliances were present at the scene as firefighters in full breathing apparatus checked the eatery.