Two Singaporean men, aged 27 and 32, who are among the 27 Singaporeans and seven Malaysians wanted by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) over their alleged involvement in a scam ring operating in Cambodia, were arrested on Sunday (Nov 16).They were deported to Singapore and arrested on arrival on Sunday. Wayne Soh You Chen, 27, and Brian Sie Eng Fa, 32, will be charged in court on Nov 17 for facilitating the commission of a serious offence, in furtherance of the illegal purpose of a locally-linked organised crime group. In a media statement on Nov 16, the police said that  Soh was arrested in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, while Sie was arrested during a raid in Khon Kaen, Thailand. 

A member of HDB dragon boat team has died after a race at the Singapore Sports Hub’s Water Sports Centre in Kallang on Sunday (Nov 16) morning.The 49-year-old was competing in the Singapore Regatta Waterfest as part of a 30-member team of staff from HDB. Responding to AsiaOne’s queries, HDB said that it is «deeply saddened» by his death. He had collapsed while resting after the race, the statement said.«He was transported to the hospital for medical attention, where he later passed on after unsuccessful resuscitation attempts by the emergency crew,» said HDB. “Our thoughts are with his family, friends and our own colleagues who are grieving this sudden loss. We are in close contact with the family and are providing them our fullest support and assistance during this difficult time.«An eyewitness, who declined to be named, told AsiaOne that he saw the man lying near the railings outside the toilet in the Water Sports Centre at around 10am.»Another passerby immediately called for the medic’s assistance and we helped to carry him onto the stretcher before he was wheeled away," he said.

The Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) renewal programme which started in 2018, nearly two decades after the train line entered revenue service in 1999, is on track for completion by end-2026, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Sunday (Nov 16).«The Bukit Panjang LRT system has been undergoing renewal works for the past few years. We've made significant progress. About 88 per cent of the renewal programme is completed,» LTA said.The transport regulator added that work on two of four renewal projects — light rail vehicle replacement and upgrading, and implementation of a new communications-based train control signalling system — was completed in October and November.In an update in July, rail operator SMRT said that the new signalling system is similar to the one used on MRT lines and allows «better control of train speeds» so that commuters can «enjoy smoother and more reliable rides». 

A video clip of several stray dogs being handled aggressively while being captured at a Seletar West Farmway nursery has gone viral, prompting angry responses from netizens.In an Instagram post by user Germtay on Friday (Nov 14), which was later reposted by Wakeupsingapore and Rescuewithlovesg on their platforms, Germtay claimed that the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) had sent four lorries to catch the dogs after an alleged biting incident, even though «it was not proved who bit the stranger who reported».The user later added: «Why does AVS need to capture all dogs when only one dog bit someone? What did they do wrong? Exist?»According to Germtay, the contractors were hired by the AVS, which is under NParks, to capture the dogs. «They also refused to say how will the dogs be treated and where they will go,» Germtay alleged.«Is this how NParks, AVS treat animals?» captioned the user in one part of the clip which showed a dog being forcibly pushed into a crate by two men using long poles.

Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu will be visiting Belem, Brazil, from Nov 17 to 21 to attend the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its associated meetings, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE).In a media statement on Sunday (Nov 16), MSE said that Fu, who is also the Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, will represent Singapore in the negotiation of an outcome for COP30.She will participate in fireside chats on urban heat resilience and sustainable food systems and will also join a youth programme organised by youth delegates from the Climate Youth Development Programme.The minister, who will be accompanied by officials from the National Climate Change Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, and Ministry of Trade and Industry, is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with counterparts to discuss efforts to advance global climate action and strengthen bilateral cooperation on environment sustainability and climate resilience.

A delivery rider was admitted to an intensive care unit in hospital after colliding into a lorry on Nov 13 evening.The police and Singapore Civil Defence Force told AsiaOne they were alerted to the accident along Commonwealth Drive at about 7.30pm.Besides severe abrasions all over his body, Shin Min Daily News reported that the crash left the 47-year-old motorcyclist with injuries to his kidneys and a deep wound on his left forehead that exposed the bone.His wife, who only gave her name as Chen, told Shin Min Daily News that her husband’s injuries were serious but not life-threatening.The 38-year-old said that she knew about the accident after contacting the nearest hospital after her husband was uncontactable overnight.Chen added that she immediately took leave from work and went to National University Hospital.Shin Min reported that the delivery rider has undergone an MRI scan and would require further examination to determine the extent of his injuries.He is also awaiting stitches and surgery.She added that her husband does not know how the accident happened.

SINGAPORE – For years, Madam Rahimah Lee Abdullah and her husband tried to have children, but they had no luck.So when Mohd Ridwan came into their lives in 2004, they felt they were blessed. He was born in Bintan, an Indonesian island about a 45-minute ferry ride away.Madam Rahimah said they never got around to formally adopting the baby, but to the couple, he was their own. The boy became a Singapore citizen in September 2004.He was their only child, and they were his parents.Speaking to The Straits Times in their three-room flat in Bedok on Nov 12, Madam Rahimah, 66, said: «He was my only son. I loved him so much. Which mother doesn't love her children?»The teenager loved the couple. He called Madam Rahimah «mummy» and her husband «daddy».He was doing well in school, regularly scoring As at ITE College Central. He had dreams of becoming a pilot.But Ridwan's life was cut short in July 2021, while playing basketball with friends on a court near Block 18 Bedok South Road.

SINGAPORE – A worker died after falling at an MRT construction site for the Jurong Region Line on Nov 13.The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the 46-year-old construction supervisor had fallen from a height of about 9m while descending scaffolding at the site near Block 202 Pandan Gardens, near Jurong East, at around 5.30pm.He was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.A stop-work order has been issued for the worksite, said LTA.It added that a safety timeout has been called for at-height work activities across LTA projects to review compliance with safety procedures.The worker was employed by Leze Construction, a subsidiary of a sub-contractor of main contractor Daewoo-Yongnam Joint Venture, said LTA, which is the project developer.“We are deeply saddened by this incident, and extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased worker. We are working with the contractors to provide them with support and assistance,” said LTA.

SINGAPORE - Where the marks on Rumi from Netflix's animated film K-pop Demon Hunters are purple, those on nine-year-old Phoebe Hu's arms and body are light brown.As a result, she is often bullied in school, with her schoolmates telling her she will turn dark-skinned soon.Often called «cafe au lait» spots by doctors, the flat, light-to-dark brown birthmarks that resemble «coffee with milk» on Phoebe's skin are the underlying signs of a genetic condition known as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).NF1 causes changes in skin pigment, including flat, light-brown spots and freckles on the armpits and groin. It also causes the growth of benign, slow-growing tumours that develop on or under the skin from nerve cells. These tumours, called NF tumours, can appear as soft lumps throughout the body.Phoebe's condition was discovered when she began having pain behind her right ear around March 2023, her mother Pearlyn Goh, 42, said.She was brought to KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), and an MRI scan, three doctors and a genetic test later, Phoebe was diagnosed with NF1.

SINGAPORE - Malaysian news portal MalaysiaNow has been ordered to carry correction notices over false statements in a Nov 9 article concerning the treatment of Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, a drug courier who was executed on Oct 8.The Pofma Office, which administers the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act, was instructed by Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong to issue the correction direction to MalaysiaNow under Singapore’s fake news law, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Nov 15.Under the order, MalaysiaNow will be required to carry correction notices alongside the article on its website, Facebook, X and LinkedIn posts.MHA’s Nov 15 statement identified five broad falsehoods in the MalaysiaNow article.The first false statement was that Pannir’s execution was carried out without regard for the rule of law, said MHA, noting that all prisoners awaiting capital punishment are afforded due legal process.

A 23-year-old man will be charged for his alleged involvement in the murder of a 68-year-old man, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) shared in a news release on Friday (Nov 14).This follows the alleged slashing of the victim at 5000C Marine Parade Road, the address of Laguna Park condominium, the previous afternoon.The 68-year-old man was taken in an unconscious state to Changi General hospital, where he subsequently died.The 23-year-old man was initially arrested at scene for causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous weapons, and had two penknives seized. Preliminary investigations revealed that he purportedly had a dispute with the victim.The accused will be charged on Nov 15 with murder under Section 302(1) of the Penal Code 1871, which carries the death penalty.'Something was wrong'Speaking to Stomp, a family living on the 10th floor of the condominium said that they had heard muffled shouting which carried on for about a minute.

SINGAPORE - A 37-year-old Malaysian man suspected of being involved in government official impersonation scams is expected to be charged on Nov 15.He is likely to be charged with the offence of abetment by conspiracy to assist another to retain benefits from criminal conduct.The police, in a statement on Nov 14, said there has been a trend of Malaysian nationals travelling to Singapore to assist scam syndicates in collecting cash, gold and valuables from scam victims.The police said they received a report of a government official impersonation scam in which a scammer was impersonating a staff member from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Sept 28.The victim was told by someone claiming to be a government agency officer that the funds in her bank account were misused and that her bank account was involved in money laundering.She was later contacted by different individuals who claimed to be from the MAS.She was instructed to surrender her money and valuables for the purpose of investigations.

The body of a woman was discovered at the foot of an HDB block in Hougang.The 23-year-old is believed to have fallen from a height.A photo of the incident posted to a Facebook group for domestic helpers on Friday (Nov 14) showed the woman lying motionless on a patch of grass in front of the block with two police officers crouching down.The post claimed that the deceased was a domestic helper from Myanmar.Another picture posted by the same Facebook user showed a blue tent cordoned off with police tape at the foot of the block.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the police stated that they were alerted to the incident at Block 649 Hougang Avenue 8 on Thursday, at about 11.30am.She was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic from the Singapore Civil Defence Force, said the policeBased on preliminary investigations, no foul play is suspected.Police investigations are ongoing.

A passenger said she was left shaken after a Tada driver got agitated during their ride and accused her of leading him in the wrong direction.«Do you want me to endanger your life?» the man is heard saying in a video uploaded to TikTok by user @lydearlyy on Thursday (Nov 13), who called the incident her «worst experience» with a private-hire driver.The passenger, who goes by Lydia, claimed in the video that the driver wanted to take a shortcut to her destination — a condominium which she did not name.Although she replied that she was unaware of any shortcuts, the driver purportedly wanted to drive through a carpark. Lydia said she told him that the carpark leads to a landed enclave, but he still continued to drive.When they reached a dead end and recircled back to exit the carpark, his GPS apparently rerouted. He purportedly drove her to another dead end and ultimately stopped in front of one of the homes in the enclave.

A 39-year-old woman was sentenced to 19 weeks' jail on Wednesday (Nov 12) after being arrested for vice activities.Du Chaomei (transliteration) was arrested in five separate raids across three locations and granted bail four times before being sentenced. She faced a total of seven charges under the Women's Charter and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.Du pleaded guilty to three of the charges on Nov 12, with the remaining charges taken into consideration during sentencing.According to Shin Min Daily News, Du, a Chinese national, worked as a receptionist for a prostitution ring, handling payments, taking orders, and directing customers.Charge sheets revealed that Du was first charged on July 4, 2024, at about 1.10 pm at 251A Geylang Road, where she had used a remote communication service with a Singapore link to organise sexual services for payment. 

A man said he was fined $300 after leaving his extinguished cigarette butt on top of a rubbish bin on Tuesday (Nov 11). According to Stomp, Sathais, a 30-year-old ad-hoc security officer, claimed that the incident took place along Stirling Road in Queenstown.He recounted the incident in a TikTok video uploaded the same day and captioned: «Woah seriously (I didn't know) like this also can get fine. Can my life get anymore hard?»In the 73-second video, he claimed he was smoking on his way to the MRT station after work and had stopped to extinguish his cigarette, leaving the butt on top of a rubbish bin. He said he was then stopped by a man, who identified himself as a National Environment Agency (NEA) officer, who informed him that he should have disposed of the cigarette butt in the rubbish bin instead. The officer then asked for his ID and issued him a fine amounting to $300 as it was his first offence. 

A 69-year-old man was found dead in the waters near Esplanade on Thursday (Nov 13) morning .Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the police confirmed that a call for assistance was made where a body of a man was found floating in the waters along Queen Elizabeth Walk at about 9am. The body was subsequently retrieved from the waters and was pronounced dead at the scene by a Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedic.Based on preliminary investigations, the police do not suspect foul play. Queen Elizabeth Walk is a promenade located at the Esplanade Park.Police investigations are ongoing.[[nid:724201]]xingying.koh@asiaone.com

A male youth, dressed in what appears to be a Catholic Junior College (CJC) uniform, was allegedly slapped and forced to kneel on the ground along a HDB corridor.A 38-second video of the incident was shared on Thursday (Nov 13) by SGFollowsAll on Telegram, and shows a boy with a bloodied face and hands being berated by the person holding the camera.The video appears to be taken at night, with the victim being forced onto the ground. With his arms folded against his chest, the victim is repeatedly slapped by someone off-camera who can be heard saying «angkat paiseh», meaning to apologise.The victim is heard pleading with the person off-camera while apologising for allegedly riding his bicycle.The camera zooms in on the boy's face towards the end of the video, before he is forced to say «amitofo», a Buddhist chant.Investigation yielded no further information: CJCIn response to AsiaOne's queries, a spokesperson from CJC said that the school was alerted to the video in June this year.

To better reflect rail reliability and passenger experience, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be including three additional indicators in its monthly rail reliability reports. These include train service delivery, train punctuality and passenger impact of rail disruptions — and they are meant to give the public a more comprehensive representation of the MRT network's performance, said the authority on Friday (Nov 14).The agency released its monthly rail reliability report, which for the first time includes more detailed data on train trips and disruptions.Singapore's rail reliability is mainly tracked using the mean kilometres between failure (MKBF) metric, which counts the average distance a train travels before it meets a delay lasting over five minutes.Alongside this, the number of train delays that last over 30 minutes is also included in rail performance reports.Beginning Friday, the monthly report will see the addition of the three performance indexes, which the authority has been tracking as a regulatory standard, to complement the currently reported data by measuring other facets contributing to rail reliability.

A 67-year-old man was taken to the hospital after his motorcycle was struck by a lorry in Eunos on Wednesday (Nov 12).In a video posted to Facebook group SG Road Vigilante on Thursday (Nov 13), a motorcycle can be seen stopping at a junction.A lorry driving behind the motorcycle fails to brake in time, rear-ending the bike and sending it flying forward, knocking the motorcyclist off.In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police said they were alerted to an accident involving a motorcycle and a lorry along Eunos Link towards Hougang Avenue 3. The 35-year-old male lorry driver is assisting with investigations, added the police. Responding to AsiaOne's queries, SCDF said the 67-year-old male motorcyclist was taken conscious to Changi General Hospital.Police investigations are ongoing.[[nid:725190]]esther.lam@asiaone.com 

SINGAPORE — The «symbiotic relationship» between the PAP government and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) lets hard decisions be made by Singapore to overcome crises, sustain growth and protect livelihoods, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on Nov 13.Speaking at the NTUC Ordinary Delegates' Conference, DPM Gan touched on the heightened relevance of the three-way partnership between the Government, labour movement and employers amid geopolitical, technological and demographic shifts.«(Tripartism) also gives businesses and investors confidence that Singapore remains a place where change can be managed responsibly, where policies are rational and predictable, and where workers and employers can both have a stake in our success.»DPM Gan was the guest of honour at the event, which was held at Downtown East. It marks the midterm of the current central committee, the labour movement's highest decision-making body.While much has changed in the world of work, he said, NTUC's mission to champion the interests, dignity and progress of every worker has remained.

SINGAPORE — Britain's Princess Anne met President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Istana on Nov 12 and discussed issues relating to sustainability, biodiversity, education and skills development during their meeting.They also reaffirmed the longstanding and multifaceted ties between Singapore and Britain, including strong people-to-people ties, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Nov 13.Princess Anne was in Singapore on a two-day trip from Nov 12 to 13, during which she also met Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.PM Wong and the Princess Royal, as she is also known, marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Singapore and UK, MFA said.They also reaffirmed Singapore and Britain's strong co-operation across different sectors and exchanged views on how greater collaboration can be achieved in emerging areas such as trade, artificial intelligence and cyber security.

A 35-year-old Malaysian man will be charged in court on Friday (Nov 14) over his alleged involvement in two separate cases of government official impersonation scam (GOIS). He is the third Malaysian to be charged this week for this scam variant involving the impersonation of government officials purportedly from the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).In a statement on Nov 13, the police said they received two separate reports on Nov 11 and 12 from two different victims.Modus operandi: Your account, identity is compromisedThe first victim was allegedly told over the phone by an unknown person, claiming to be from UnionPay, that an insurance policy she purchased was due to expire and she had to pay for it.When she denied doing so, the person suggested that her identity may have been misused and that he would file a case with the police. Shortly after, she received another call from a «government official» claiming to be from MinLaw and MAS. 

National carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) saw a nearly 68 per cent drop in the first half of 2025/2026, it reported after the markets closed on Thursday (Nov 13) .This was due to lower interest income and share of losses from associate airline Air India. Despite operating profit rising by 0.9 per cent to $803 million, net profit fell to $239 million for the first half of the financial year that ended on Sept 30, down from $742 million in the corresponding period last year.«Interest income fell $103 million from lower cash balances and interest rate cuts, while the group's share of results of associated companies was $417 million lower year-on-year, notably reflecting Air India's losses which were not included in the previous year,» SIA said.Air India's financial results were previously not part of the group's results until December 2024, when Vistara was fully integrated into Air India. SIA describes its 25.1 per cent stake in Air India as part of its «long-term multi-hub strategy», providing it with a stake in «one of the world's largest and fastest-growing aviation markets». 

New regulations for private housing developers are set to come into effect early next year.These changes will require developers to be more transparent with homeowners regarding the property being sold and the former's track record, said Minister of National Development Chee Hong Tat on Thursday (Nov 13).In a speech during the Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore's (Redas) 66th anniversary dinner at Shangri-la Hotel, Chee said that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Building and Construction Authority (BCA) wish to better safeguard homeowners' interests by supporting them in making informed decisions.According to a factsheet provided by the authorities, developers are currently required to provide scaled unit floor plans, with rooms and spaces clearly marked, alongside site plans showing communal facilities.They also have to share the date of completion and descriptions of previous projects.The changes proposed by the URA and BCA will require developers to provide additional information to potential homeowners at the point of sale.

A 61-year-old man who reversed his car into an elderly woman in Ang Mo Kio is assisting police investigations.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the police stated that they were alerted to an accident involving a car and a pedestrian at about 2.30pm on Wednesday (Nov 12).The incident took place at JIn Chengam,  in Sembawang Hills Estate off Upper Thomson Road.The pedestrian, a 77-year-old woman, was conscious when taken to hospital, said the police.According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force, she was taken to Woodlands Health Campus.Police investigations are ongoing.The incident was caught on CCTV footage, which was uploaded to Facebook group SG Road Vigilante the next day.In the video, a man can be seen getting into a white car parked along the road as a woman comes out of her landed home.As she moves the rubbish bin outside her home, he suddenly reverses at a high speed and collides into her.He then parks his car and walks away.The nearly two-minute-long clip has garnered over 122,000 views as at Thursday night.[[nid:725162]]bhavya.rawat@asiaone.com

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has taken enforcement actions against 10 doctors between January and October 2025 for making non-compliant MediShield Life claims.In a statement on Thursday (Nov 13), MOH said that these claims involved several improper practices. These included inappropriate multi-coding — submitting multiple unnecessary procedure codes — and upcoding, where a code is assigned for a more complex procedure than what was actually performed.MOH added that some cases also involved inappropriate treatments and the submission of cosmetic procedures as medical claims.Under the Escalation and Enforcement Framework, the ministry said that these doctors will be required to undergo mandatory training on proper claiming practices and adherence to clinical guidelines.

SINGAPORE — Most of the affected children from Beyond Social Services' (BSS) pre-school have found places in other centres, following the agency's move to close the school at the end of 2025.Of the 14 enrolled children, six will graduate from the pre-school, known as Healthy Start Child Development Centre (HSCDC), by the end of 2025 and are unaffected by the closure.Of the remaining eight, seven children have found places at alternative pre-schools or secured care arrangements, with help from BSS and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).BSS and ECDA gave these figures on Nov 13 in response to queries from The Straits Times.BSS had announced in October that HSCDC will shut down operations at the end of 2025 after more than 20 years due to declining enrolment.The number of children enrolled had dropped from more than 50 in 2018, to 14 in 2024, the organisation said, with fewer referrals when families relocated due to housing redevelopment.

Grab and WeRide will be stepping up their autonomous vehicle (AV) testing programme in Punggol after receiving approval from the Land Transport Authority (LTA).WeRide, an autonomous driving technology company headquartered in China, partnered with local superapp Grab and began AV testing in mid-October.The latest approval from LTA allows them to conduct testing on the entire Ai.R (Autonomously Intelligent Ride) fleet which comprises 11 AVs, according to a joint statement on Thursday (Nov 13).They said they plan to increase the total number of AV test runs on shuttle service routes in Punggol by up to four times by the end of the year.According to the statement, Ai.R will serve two dedicated shuttle service routes  in Punggol and is expected to take its first batch of passengers by early 2026.With Ai.R, Punggol residents will have greater access to key amenities like Punggol Coast MRT station, Punggol Coast Mall bus interchange, malls, and clinics.

There was no time to hesitate for SBS Transit bus captains Hu Jinshuai and Jamaludin Bin Mohamad Taib, who kicked into action immediately after spotting a car blaze along their bus route.In a Facebook post on Sunday (Nov 9), SBS Transit commended the two bus captains for their quick thinking and initiative.The fire occurred on Oct 3 near the junction of Circuit Road and Circuit Link at around 3.25pm, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in response to AsiaOne's queries.The fire involved the engine compartment of a car, SCDF added.Describing the events that unfolded, SBS Transit stated that bus captain Hu had spotted the car ablaze while driving his usual route on Service 135. He immediately pulled his bus to the side and used a fire extinguisher onboard to contain the car fire. «I was worried there were still people in the car and knew I had to help,» he said.Jamaludin, who was driving the same route but in the opposite direction, also noticed the fire and stopped his bus to help Hu.

Two Singaporean men have been arrested following their deportation from Thailand and Cambodia, after they were believed to be involved in transnational scam operations and money mule offences.  In a statement on Thursday (Nov 13), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said that both men, aged 44, were arrested on Nov 11 upon their arrival in Singapore. Ong Kwang Wee, was arrested by the Royal Thai Police during a raid in Bangkok, Thailand, for his alleged involvement in a transnational scam syndicate believed to be operating a scam centre in Myanmar. The syndicate had purportedly carried out government official impersonation scams targeting Singaporeans.«Preliminary investigations revealed that the (Ong) had travelled to Myanmar and was involved in administrative functions at the scam centre before fleeing to Thailand after the scam centre was raided by Myanmar authorities,» said the police. 

SINGAPORE — Singapore's central bank will hold trials to issue tokenised MAS bills next year and bring in laws to regulate stablecoins as it presses forward with plans to build a scalable and secure tokenised financial ecosystem, the bank's top official said on Thursday (Nov 13).«Tokenisation has lifted off the ground. But have asset-backed tokens achieved escape velocity? Not yet,» said Chia Der Jiun, Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), a keynote address at the Singapore FinTech Festival.He said MAS has been working on the details of its stablecoin regulatory regime and will prepare draft legislation, with the emphasis on «sound reserve backing and redemption reliability.»MAS is also supporting trials under the Blue Initiative, which explores the use of tokenised bank liabilities and regulated stablecoins for settlement, he added.«In the CBDC space, I am pleased to announce that the three Singapore banks, DBS, OCBC, and UOB, have successfully conducted interbank overnight lending transactions using the first live trial issuance of Singapore dollar wholesale CBDC,» he said.

The Cold Moon will illuminate Singapore's night skies on Dec 4.It is the third and last in a series of consecutive super full moons and comes after November's Beaver Moon, the second super full moon of this year. The first super full moon of the year, the Harvest Moon, appeared in October.The Cold Moon will reach full illumination at 7.14am on Dec 5, according to astronomy website timeanddate.com.A full illumination refers to the exact moment when the moon, earth and sun are aligned, with the moon appearing completely lit by the sun's rays. Although this happens in the morning, the moon will look full throughout the night of Dec 4.The Cold Moon was named by the Mohawk people of North America, and it rises during the year's longest nights, near the Northern Hemisphere's year-end winter solstice.It is expected to glow longer over the horizon than most full moons, says The Old Farmer's Almanac, a North American periodical on astronomy and meteorology.

Singaporeans and visitors can look forward to a spread of celebrations and fireworks displays to usher in the New Year, said the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) on Wednesday (Nov 12).Themed ONE Countdown 2026, live performances and family-friendly activities have been lined up at seven heartland sites, and in Clarke Quay, Marina Bay, Sentosa and Singapore Sports Hub.The seven heartland sites, organised by the People's Association, are: Boon Lay, Keat Hong, Marsiling, Nee Soon, Punggol, Tampines and Woodlands.The five migrant worker recreation centres at Kranji, Penjuru, Soon Lee, Terusan and Tuas South, and more than 10 dormitories across Singapore will also host countdown celebrations.Countdown 2026 with Super Junior at Singapore Sports HubTwo of the highlights for the countdown at Singapore Sports Hub are the Countdown 2026 concert and a 35-minute long fireworks display — the longest countdown fireworks in Singapore.

The police have warned of a new method that scammers are deploying to fraudulently open accounts with payment service providers (PSPs) — using digitally modified copies of Singapore identity cards (IC).Scammers would use a softcopy of a IC and use digital tools to replace the original facial image on that copy with another facial image.They would then submit the doctored copy online to PSPs to set up payment service account. When PSPs conduct mandatory facial liveness checks, the scammers would then instruct an accomplice who resembles the doctored image to undergo the checks.The police said some of the misused ICs belonged to victims of scams who had previously furnished softcopies to the scammers. The Monetary Authority of Singapore has since alerted all financial institutions of this new modus operandi, and the affected PSPs have tightened measures.It is an offence to forge a document or electronic record, including by making alterations to such record, with the intent to use it for the purpose of cheating.