A 49-year-old man was arrested on Monday (Dec 8) over his alleged involvement in a case of loanshark harassment on Sunday.In a statement on Dec 9, the police said that they were alerted to a case of loanshark harassment at a residential unit along Jurong West Street 64. «The main gate of the unit was secured with a bicycle lock, splashed with red paint, and a debtor's note was also placed on the gate,» the police said.The man was identified through follow-up investigations and images from police cameras.Based on preliminary investigations, the police believe that the man was also involved in similar cases of loanshark harassment across Singapore.He will be charged in court on Dec 10. If found guilty, the man may be fined up to $50,000, jailed for up to five years, and receive up to six strokes of the cane.[[nid:726292]]editor@asiaone.com 

Two men in their 40s were arrested on Monday (Dec 8) for their alleged involvement in separate housebreaking cases around Singapore.In the first case, a 40-year-old Chinese national is suspected of breaking into three residential units along Chuan Drive and Li Hwan Close in Serangoon Gardens, and in the vicinity of Sentosa between Sunday and Monday.The police said in a statement on Tuesday that the man had allegedly broken into the homes while the occupants were away and made off with jewellery items.Officers seized the stolen jewellery as well as cash totalling over $1,000, four ez-link cards, a cap and a wig from the suspect.He will be taken to court on Dec 10 and charged with housebreaking.The other man, 47, arrested in an unrelated housebreaking case allegedly targeted a residential unit along Circuit Road, said the police on the same day.More than $100 in cash, a photo frame containing assortments of old collectible currency notes, coins and jewellery valued at about $1,000, and two bottles of liquor with a value of $2,200 were reported missing on Sunday noon.Only the jewellery has been recovered from the man.

The police are warning members of the public that scammers are using shell investment applications to sell fake products.In a statement on Tuesday (Dec 9), the police revealed that there have been at least 20 reported cases of such scams since October 2025, with losses totalling at least $1.7 million.In this fraud variant, scammers put up social media advertisements for «investment products» that promised lucrative returns.Victims who chanced upon these ads and clicked on them were contacted by the scammers via WhatsApp.They were then invited into chat groups with names such as «Interactive Elite Knowledge Academy» and «168 Pursuit».In these chat groups, victims would come across other members who claimed to be successful investors.They are believed to be scammers who would vouch for the authenticity of the «investment products», including their returns. 

A 26-year-old motorcyclist who was stopped by traffic police (TP) officers on Sunday (Dec 7) night ran away from them on foot. But officers caught up with the man and arrested him for riding without a valid licence and insurance, as well as drug-related offences. In response AsiaOne's queries, the police said TP officers were conducting routine checks along Alexandra Road towards Pasir Panjang Road at 10pm when they signalled the motorcyclist to stop. He refused to comply with instructions and fled on foot before subsequently being apprehended. The police added that the suspected drug-related offences have been referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau. The motorcyclist sustained minor injuries and was conscious when taken to hospital. Police investigations are ongoing.[[nid:726441]]lim.kewei@asiaone.com

A 44-year-old male driver has been arrested for suspected drink driving following an accident along the Central Expressway (CTE), before the Moulmein Road exit on Sunday (Dec 7).The police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that they were alerted to the accident involving two cars and a taxi at about 3.55am on Dec 7.«A 65-year-old male taxi driver and another 33-year-old female car passenger were conveyed conscious to the hospital,» the police said.SCDF added that the two persons were conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.AsiaOne understands that the male passenger in the taxi was assessed for minor injuries and declined to be sent to the hospital.In a video posted to Facebook page SG Road Vigilante on Dec 8, a dark-coloured multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) is seen braking suddenly while travelling on the second rightmost lane of the CTE towards the Seletar Expressway. Within seconds, the MPV makes a sharp left turn, swerving across several lanes before colliding with a white sports utility vehicle (SUV) in the leftmost lane.

Hiring sentiment in Singapore is expected to weaken significantly amid heightened economic uncertainty and reach a four-year low in the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest survey by ManpowerGroup. Conducted in October, the survey collected responses from 504 employers and found that Singapore's net employment outlook for the first quarter of 2026 is 15 per cent. Comparatively, the global average stands at 24 per cent. Within the region, India leads with an outlook of 52 per cent, while the outlook in Hong Kong remains subdued at 1 per cent. While remaining positive, Singapore's outlook declined by five percentage points from the fourth quarter in 2025, and 11 percentage points from the same period last year. According to ManpowerGroup, the last time Singapore's net employment outlook was 15 per cent was in the first quarter of 2022 during the global pandemic. Out of the employers surveyed this time, 46 per cent expect to maintain current staffing levels. 32 per cent plan to increase headcount, while 18 per cent anticipate a decrease in their staffing levels. 

SINGAPORE — A former photographer for the National Dental Centre of Singapore (NDCS) was sentenced to two years and three months' jail on Dec 9 after he took voyeuristic pictures of female patients he found attractive.Elgin Ng, 29, who had taken more than 600 of such photographs of 25 victims and even sent some of them to a friend, pleaded guilty in November to nine charges, including multiple counts of voyeurism.Twenty-one other charges were considered during his sentencing.In earlier proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Jeremy Bin told the court that as an NDCS photographer, Ng was tasked to take pictures of the teeth and jaws of patients who were scheduled for surgery.He would then take pictures of patients' faces, primarily of their teeth and jaw.For added modesty, he had to provide patients with a blue board to cover their chest, regardless of his or her gender.When dealing with girls and women, Ng had to either have a female colleague present to assist in the photo-taking process, or keep the curtains in the room open.

Mailing rates in Singapore will increase by 10 cents from Jan 1, 2026, owing to declining mail volume and rising network costs, said Singapore Post (SingPost). The new rate for standard regular mail and standard large mail will be $0.62 and $0.90 respectively, according to a statement by the national postal service provider on Tuesday (Dec 9). Rates for domestic bulk mail used by businesses will also increase. According to SingPost, the increase in postage rates will go towards investing in modernisation efforts to improve customer experience and operational efficiency. Over the past year, SingPost has undertaken significant initiatives to improve service quality and efficiency, including expanding service touchpoints and enhancing e-commerce capabilities. At the same time, mail volumes have fallen by over 40 per cent since the 2019/2020 fiscal year while operating costs have risen, said SingPost. 

Marathoner Soh Rui Yong has been medically cleared to compete in the 2025 SEA Games following his previous abnormal pre-Games medical result that put his bid for a medal at risk. According to the Team Singapore website, the 34-year-old is listed to compete in the men's 5,000m finals on Saturday (Dec 13) and in the men's 10,000m finals on Tuesday (Dec 16) at the National Stadium in Bangkok. In response to media queries, a spokesperson for Singapore Athletics (SA) said: “Following an irregular finding during his routine pre-Games screening last week, Soh was referred for a specialist cardiology assessment. The specialist conducted a full evaluation and concluded that Soh is fit to compete, with no cardiac concerns that would prevent him from racing.” Previously, an abnormal finding surfaced during Soh's pre-Games medical screening which put him at risk of missing the Games. 

A 49-year-old male motorcyclist was taken to hospital after a multi-vehicle pile-up along the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) towards Tuas on Monday (Dec 8) evening. The police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to the collision on the PIE, after the Whitley Road exit, at about 5pm. The accident involved a motorcycle, two vans and three cars. SCDF said the male motorcyclist was conveyed conscious to the National University Hospital, while another motorist declined to be sent to the hospital after being assessed for minor injuries. When AsiaOne passed by the scene at about 6pm, a Malaysia-registered van was seen lying on its side on the rightmost, or first, lane of the expressway. Behind the van was a stationary white car, while a red Kia sedan was stopped on the second lane — beside the white car — with its trunk door opened. A white Lalamove van and a black Honda hatchback were also stopped beside the Malaysia-registered van. 

A motorist driving along Woodlands Close on Sunday (Dec 7) morning came across three motorised personal mobility devices (PMD) at speeds of allegedly up to 50kmh.In a video posted by Facebook page SG Road Vigilante (SGRV), a driver is seen turning left onto Woodlands Close when two PMDs appear near the right rear of his vehicle. About eight seconds later, a third PMD appears in the rear camera's view.All three PMD riders do not appear to be wearing any helmet or protective gear.Based on the footage, the vehicle was travelling at about 40kmh. As the vehicle accelerates to 50kmh, the default speed limit for roads, the third PMD is seen overtaking the vehicle.Meanwhile, the first two PMDs remained behind the vehicle.«These individuals who are riding on modified [PMDs] are engaging in reckless behaviour on the road, showing a complete disregard for their own safety,» SGRV quoted the driver as saying.«The speed which they are travelling at is comparable to the car, which significantly increases the risk of serious accidents,» the driver added.

A total of six people were arrested following a three-day islandwide enforcement blitz conducted by the Traffic Police (TP) at night.In a news release on Monday (Dec 8), the police said that a total of 74 vehicles were checked during the three-day operation from Nov 27 to 29.Five of the six arrested were suspected to be driving under the influence of alcohol, while the remaining individual was arrested for driving without a valid licence.Another 18 summonses were issued for various traffic offences such as speeding and using a mobile device while driving.During the operation, eight violations related to the Land Transport Authority were also detected. Those found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol may be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both.Driving without a valid licence carries a penalty of up to three years' jail, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.The Traffic Police also advised motorists to comply with Singapore's traffic laws, adding that they will continue with enforcement efforts to ensure road safety.

Former Member of Parliament (MP) Carrie Tan married her long-time partner Kevin Teo on Sunday (Dec 7).The couple of seven years were all smiles when they appeared in a Facebook livestream hosted on Tan's page, ready for the solemnisation ceremony.In the presence of their families, Tan and Teo exchanged vows and wedding rings, leaning in for a peck and a tight embrace.After signing the marriage certificate, they served tea to their parents in a simple Chinese tea ceremony.Tan, 43, proposed to Teo in April shortly after announcing her departure from politics. She had been elected Nee Soon GRC MP only in 2020.Teo is chief technology officer at non-profit organisation AVPN. The couple have both been through divorce.A week prior to the ceremony, they shared a «music video» of their pre-wedding shoot in Yunnan, China, over an audio of Tan singing the love song It's You by Miya Wang.«Already feeling so married,» she quipped then.«Borrowing this song from [Miya], because it's how I feel about our union.»

A total of 17,279 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes and a van were seized by Singapore Customs in its largest inland haul this year, with the total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded exceeding $1.87 million. A 27-year-old Singaporean van driver and three Indian nationals — aged 30, 36, and 39 — were arrested in two raids on Nov 30 and Dec 1 in Pandan Loop and Jurong Port Road, said the agency in a statement on Monday (Dec 8). On Nov 30, Customs officers spotted a Singapore-registered van reversing into the loading bay of an industrial building in Pandan Loop. Three men then loaded brown boxes into the vehicle. A search of the van found 2,400 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes. The men then led officers to a unit in the building, where 3,195 more cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found. The contraband and van were seized, while the four men were arrested. 

A Tiger God statue made of clay was stolen at a Chinese temple in Balestier on Saturday (Dec 6) shortly past midnight. Calling the theft “disrespectful to the deity”, Rochore Tua Pek Kong Temple on 249 Balestier Road urged the culprit to “do the right thing”. In a Facebook post on Sunday, the temple wrote that closed-circuit television footage captured an elderly man loitering around the altar for about 30 minutes till 12.15am on Dec 6. The statue, one of seven in the temple, pays tribute to the Tiger Deity who is believed to protect people against evil spirits. “We sincerely appeal to the person involved to return the statue immediately and in its original condition”, they said, adding that the statue “belongs to the community”. “Failing which, we will resort to legal action and press criminal charges.” AsiaOne has contacted Rochore Tua Pek Kong and the police for more information. [[nid:725902]]chingshijie@asiaone.com

The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) has taken Courts and Prism+ to task over unfair practices. In a media release on Monday (Dec 8), the consumer watchdog said that the two retailers of consumer electronics and home appliances have used website design features that mislead consumers. «Courts automatically added unsolicited items into consumers' shopping carts, while Prism+ used fake countdown timers and misleading stock indicators to pressure consumers into purchases,» CCS added. The agency said both retailers have since given an undertaking to CCS not to engage in unfair trade practices. Unsolicited items added to cart by CourtsCourts was found to have charged consumers for products they never selected. In one complaint raised by a consumer who selected an Apple iPad for purchase, an Acer vacuum cleaner was added to the consumer's checkout cart. This practice puts consumers at risk of unknowingly paying for the unsolicited items if they fail to notice and remove such items before checkout. 

Regular train services on the MRT's East-West Line (EWL) will resume from the start of passenger services on Monday (Dec 8), a day ahead of schedule, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA). In a Facebook post on Dec 7, LTA said that they have completed comprehensive testing, including safety and ultrasonic checks on the tracks, power supply, and train signalling systems. The checks and tests follow works over last weekend to remove the existing track, including trackside components, and laying new tracks to connect the EWL to the new East Coast Integrated Depot. Works had originally been planned to be completed by Monday, with normal services resuming by Dec 9. 

Passengers on a Pasir Ris-bound train on the MRT's East-West Line (EWL) were evacuated on Friday (Dec 5) after smoke was found emitting from a passenger's power bank.The incident was posted on XiaoHongShu by a user surnamed Liu. According to Liu, the train was at Tanjong Pagar MRT station when a passenger's power bank started to emit smoke.The commuter added that there were no flames or explosions.Another passenger pressed the emergency communication button and staff arrived swiftly to assist with the evacuation, with a new train arriving within five minutes of the incident.Liu shared that the incident was a «rare sight». It was also the first time Liu had witnessed the emergency communication button being activated. The commuter praised SMRT: «Accidents are inevitable but it matters that they were able to handle the incident swiftly and efficiently. The passengers also did not panic.»Responding to AsiaOne's queries, SMRT Trains President Lam Sheau Kai said that station staff responded immediately after the emergency communication button was activated on the train.

SINGAPORE - The police have issued 121 prohibition of disposal orders against vehicles registered under SRS Auto amid a multi-agency probe into possible money laundering activities in the car leasing business.The order blocks the sale and transfer of vehicles owned by the car leasing firm.Investigations had started in 2024, after police received financial intelligence from the Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office regarding Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi and his associates.The 38-year-old tycoon, who chairs real estate and financial services conglomerate Prince Group, was later indicted in the US on Oct 14, 2025, over alleged wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy, and for allegedly directing the operation of forced-labour scam compounds in Cambodia.The probe in Singapore involves the police and member agencies of the Anti-Money Laundering Case Coordination and Collaboration Network, including the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and intelligence agencies.The Straits Times understands that police investigators are speaking to a number of industry insiders, including Ms Chen Xiaoxuan.

The Albatross File — created, named and kept by Singapore's first Defence Minister Dr Goh Keng Swee — sheds new and never before published insights on the story of Singapore's separation from Malaysia on Aug 9, 1965.It contains cabinet papers, conversation records and handwritten notes detailing vividly, a «dramatic, blow-by-blow record» of how Singapore came to separate from Malaysia. Speaking at the launch of the Albatross File exhibition and a 488-page book titled The Albatross File: Inside Separation at the National Library along Victoria Street on Sunday (Dec 7), Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he decided, when he was prime minister, to declassify and publish the file. SM Lee said he also asked for the file to be published alongside relevant extracts from the oral histories of key participants involved in the separation, to bring together and put on public record a «full documented account» of the separation, which he describes as «a seminal event» in Singapore's independence journey. 

Two Gojek passengers who identified themselves as doctors have received praise for stopping to help the victim of a fatal accident after their driver drove past the scene.In a dashcam video shared in the Facebook group SG Road Vigilante on Saturday (Dec 6), paramedics can be seen attempting cardiopulmonary resuscitation on an individual laying on the road. A motorcycle can be seen laying on the side of the road.The two passengers can be heard in the video stating that they are doctors and able to help the victim. The driver then stops the car and allows them to do so.According to the caption, the video was allegedly provided by a Gojek driver, who was ferrying the two individuals from Tan Tock Seng Hospital to Bukit Batok.«[I would] like to compliment two doctors from TTSH,» the caption wrote. «It was close to 12 midnight and despite a tiring day at work, both doctors without any hesitation identify themselves as doctors and volunteered in helping.»The video has since received around 130,000 views and 1,600 reactions.

A total of 10 men and 37 women were arrested in a series of multi-agency operations aimed at curbing illegal and criminal activities, said the police in a statement on Sunday (Dec 7).Led by Tanglin police division and supported by officers from the Health Sciences Authority, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Central Narcotics Bureau and the Singapore Civil Defence Force, the four-day operation conducted from Dec 3 to 6 involved individuals aged between 20 and 88.Targeted areas included public entertainment outlets, massage establishments, residential units, and commercial premises across Orchard Road, Whampoa, Toa Payoh, Novena, Balestier, Kim Keat Road, and Robertson Quay.AsiaOne was among the media invited to observe two such enforcement operations on the night of Dec 3.The crackdown took place at a coffee shop in Whampoa, where several seniors were arrested for suspected illegal horse-betting activities. 

SINGAPORE - Less than two weeks before she gave birth, Fionice Teoh, a DBS assistant service manager at the bank's Century Square branch, served a woman in her 70s who looked agitated.She had gone there on the afternoon of Dec 24, 2024, demanding to withdraw $190,000 in cash.As customers looked on, she shouted: «This is my money, how can you control and not let me withdraw? If you don't let me withdraw everything, I'll close all my accounts.»But the bank refused, as it suspected that she was a scam victim.Teoh, 31, was 38 weeks pregnant and on one of her final shifts before her maternity leave began.The woman verbally abused her for almost two hours.Teoh said: «I kept reminding myself to stay calm. It would have been easier to just let her withdraw everything.»But my job isn't just about transactions. It's about protecting people, especially those who are most vulnerable."The woman initially claimed the money was for festive shopping, before saying it was for an investment. She also asked for her money to be given in cash.

Some may recoil at the sight of a snake, but not this uncle.On Dec 2, Facebook user Ah Tye Tang posted a video showing the efforts of a man trying to relocate a reticulated python from a coffee shop at Block 211 Marsiling Crescent.The elderly man, clad in a black t-shirt and shorts with a white cap, can be seen stalking the snake before grabbing its tail. In the clip, the coffee shop appears to be mostly empty with some meals left unattended on tables.The animal escapes, but the man manages to get a grip on its tail again and pops a cigarette into his mouth. He then begins pulling it away from the establishment.Despite the python attempting to slither away into some shrubs, the man grabs its tail again and drags it back. The snake attempts to strike at him, but he avoids it.The video shows a blue bucket, possibly meant for the man to contain the snake, but the serpent has other plans.It coils around a nearby bicycle. The man lets it go and it manages to slither away.

«A special kind of ugly.»That is what one netizen called Singaporean Chinese people.An illustration comparing the facial features of men from various regions of China recently made its rounds on the internet, sparking debate online.While one X post with over 5.7 million views described the depiction as «lifelike», several netizens responded that the picture seems biased against those from the southeastern areas of Guangdong and Guangxi.«The creator of this image despises people from the southeast, and has made them look like cavemen,» one comment read. Another countered that several Hong Kong celebrities, including Tony Leung, Aaron Kwok and Andy Lau, are of southeastern Chinese heritage and are considered attractive.你别说，真的很传神。 pic.twitter.com/KkbGQgvs5J— 运动水货 (@shuhongwei22) November 26, 2025

A 31-year-old Malaysian man was arrested on Nov 20 for attempting to smuggle duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint.In a Facebook post on Friday (Dec 5), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said its officers had directed a Malaysia-registered motorcycle for enhanced checks.During the checks, ICA officers uncovered 570 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden within various compartments of the motorcycle.The Malaysian motorcyclist was arrested and referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigation. Buying, selling, conveying, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are considered serious offences under the Customs Act and the Goods and Services Tax Act. 

SINGAPORE – A 34-year-old man was sentenced to 15 years’ jail and 14 strokes of the cane on Dec 5 for raping and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he met on a mobile chat app.The sexual acts took place on April 18, 2022, at a secluded open space in the vicinity of Vanda Link, near Sixth Avenue MRT station.Mookkapillai Pazhanivel, an Indian national, was earlier found guilty of one count each of statutory rape and sexual assault by penetration following a trial that began in April.In sentencing arguments on Dec 5, Deputy Public Prosecutor Jiang Ke-Yue highlighted Mookkapillai’s actions throughout the proceedings, which show “an utter lack of remorse”.During the trial, Mookkapillai declared that he would go on a hunger strike until a lawyer was appointed for him.Describing this as “nothing more than a stunt” to obstruct the trial, the DPP noted that before the trial started, he had chosen to remain unrepresented after legal aid was withdrawn.Mookkapillai also engaged in victim-blaming and made baseless allegations that he had been treated roughly by police officers.

A group of Singapore Armed Forces (BMT) recruits on their 24km-long route march brought early festive cheer to parkgoers at East Coast Park (ECP).On Thursday (Dec 4), TikTok user iwchickenwings shared a video of her wholesome encounter with the recruits during a Christmas gathering.In the video, the user and her group were singing along to «Jingle Bells» when the passing recruits joined them for a singalong, instead of the usual SAF route march songs.A second platoon following them later took it a notch higher by joining in to sing «Happy Birthday». But the wholesome exchanges did not end there.After the video was posted, one soldier came across the post and asked if this was where they «started a happy chain (of songs)». Soon after, others from the route march that night also joined the comment wall to identify themselves. «We were marching yesterday when you guys were celebrating. Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed [it]», one of the recruits said.Another added: «Our sergeants encouraged us to join in.»

A 57-year-old man was arrested on Thursday (Dec 4) for his suspected involvement in a series of theft in dwelling cases. In a statement on Dec 5, the police said they were alerted to a case of theft at a drinks stall at a hawker centre along Old Airport Road, where $20 in cash was stolen. The police said the suspect was identified with the aid of images from police cameras and through ground queries. Preliminary investigations revealed that he is also believed to be involved in other similar cases of theft in dwelling. The suspect will be charged in court on Dec 6. If found guilty, he can be fined and jailed for up to seven years. The police also advised businesses, especially those operating in high-traffic public areas, to secure valuables such as tip boxes and cash containers to prevent opportunistic theft. [[nid:726273]]editor@asiaone.com 

Singapore marathoner Soh Rui Yong’s hopes of contending for a medal at the 2025 SEA Games are now uncertain after an abnormal finding surfaced during his pre-Games medical screening. But he is unfazed and remains hopeful. In a Facebook post on Friday (Dec 5), Soh wrote: «The doctor says I’m getting old. Looking forward to proving my heart health at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon this weekend.» The medical screening was conducted at Changi General Hospital a day earlier. Soh was informed that he might not be cleared to compete as his electrocardiogram (ECG) results were «abnormal, with multiple premature ventricular complexes» and that he would “likely to need further cardiovascular evaluation before clearance”, reported The Straits Times. Soh told The Straits Times that he has not experienced any cardiovascular difficulties previously and hopes that the issue will be resolved in time for his race on Dec 16. In spite of the situation, Soh still intends to compete in the half marathon and marathon at this weekend's Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. 

Many parents of students with disabilities have concerns about the school-to-work transition for their children when they turn 18 and complete schooling at special education schools (Sped), said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Friday (Dec 5). He was speaking at the launch of Vista @ Enabling Village in Bukit Merah on Friday morning, where he also announced the launch of a new taskforce on assurance for families with persons with disabilities at the event. Vista, a four-storey block at the Enabling Village, provides a dedicated space for those with disabilities after they turn 18 and age out of the system. It will also host initiatives that strengthen support for caregivers. 

Barisan Sosialis — once Singapore’s largest Opposition party — is one of the 14 dormant political parties that were deregistered on Thursday (Dec 4). This comes after the authorities gave the political parties three months to give proof of their continued existence to ensure they comply with the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act. Under the law, those involved in Singapore’s political process, such as political parties and Members of Parliament, are designated as politically significant persons and are subjected to measures to mitigate the risk of foreign interference. For instance, they have to report single donations of $10,000 or more, and are required to disclose if they have been granted migration benefits such as permanent residency or honorary citizenship by foreign governments. The Ministry of Home Affairs told The Straits Times that Singapore now has 20 registered political parties. Eleven of them contested in the 2025 General Election. According to a notice in the Government Gazette on Thursday, the political parties that have ceased to exist are:

Commuters travelling from Bedok and Kembangan MRT stations could face waiting times of up to 17 minutes during off-peak hours as planned works on the East-West Line (EWL) enter the final phase. This is because one platform at the two train stations will be closed for tests to be done on the newly fitted tracks linking the EWL to the new East Coast Integrated Depot, said Chia Choon Poh, group director of rail at the Land Transport Authority (LTA). «We need to retest the system to make sure that it is safe, reliable, and ready for passenger service,» he said on Friday (Dec 5). Since Nov 29, there has been no train service between Bedok and Tampines stations, as well as between Tanah Merah and Expo stations due to the track works which saw the removal and installation of several track segments. Shuttle bus services have been made available for commuters travelling between the closed stretches. 

A Singaporean man has made the news in Thailand after marrying a nurse from Kalasin province in Northeast Thailand. Their whirlwind romance reportedly involved him quitting his $12,000 a month job in Singapore to settle down in Thailand, with the wedding dowry of cash and gold valued at over $250,000, according to Kalasin News. The 32-year-old man, identified only as Jordan, told the news outlet that he'd met his wife, «Eve» Ratchadaporn, 29, at a cafe in Bangna district in Bangkok. They exchanged contact numbers and began texting on the Line messaging app, sparking a long-distance relationship. The pair decided to marry after dating for a year, with Jordan making the move to Thailand. Jordan, who speaks Thai, told the news outlet that he and his wife wanted to build a life for themselves in Thailand. He added that he'd taken on a job at a local company for half his original salary at a bank in Singapore — equivalent to about 300,000 baht (S$12,162). Jordan expressed that he appreciates the Thai culture where «you have to create whatever you want yourself». 

Taxi rides between Singapore and Malaysia are set to become more convenient and accessible, as both countries will each increase their fleet of licensed cross-border taxis and allow passengers to be freely dropped off at their desired destinations. This comes after a meeting between Singapore's Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow and Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke at the 12th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat on Wednesday (Dec 4). In a joint statement on Dec 5, both transport ministries said the ministers had acknowledged the demand for more convenient cross-border ride services and agreed to enhance the cross-border taxi scheme. Each country's quota for licensed cross-border taxis will be gradually raised from the current 200 to 500, subject to the implementation of safeguards against illegal domestic trips and insurance requirements.