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Police disrupt over 3,500 scam attempts, potential losses of over $34 million averted

The police have disrupted over 3,500 scam attempts during a two-month-long operation which ended on Dec 31, 2025, preventing potential losses of over $34.2 million.In a news release on Friday (Jan 9), the police said that they partnered with five banks— DBS
Singapore

Police disrupt over 3,500 scam attempts, potential losses of over $34 million averted

The police have disrupted over 3,500 scam attempts during a two-month-long operation which ended on Dec 31, 2025, preventing potential losses of over $34.2 million.In a news release on Friday (Jan 9), the police said that they partnered with five banks— DBS, GXS, OCBC, Standard Chartered Bank and UOB — for the operation which began on Nov 1, 2025.«(We) leveraged robotic process automation (RPA) to identify victims of e-commerce, government official impersonation, investment, job and loan scams.»This coordinated response draws on the swift exchange of information between the police and the banks to enable early intervention," the police added.RPA is the technology that enables computer software to emulate and integrate actions typically performed by humans interacting with digital systems. The use of RPA has enabled the police to automate information sharing and processing, and the mass distribution of SMS alerts. In turn, this allows the police and partnering banks to enhance their outreach — to promptly alert a larger number of victims within a short period of time to prevent further losses.

Man, 26, caught with vape and prescription medicine charged for allegedly trafficking Kpods

A 26-year-old man nabbed in an enforcement operation in Geylang on Wednesday (Jan 7) has been charged with trafficking etomidate laced vapes, known as Kpods.Abdul Ammar Mahmood Jumat, a Singaporean, was found with an e-vaporiser and four e-vaporiser pods at t
Singapore

Man, 26, caught with vape and prescription medicine charged for allegedly trafficking Kpods

A 26-year-old man nabbed in an enforcement operation in Geylang on Wednesday (Jan 7) has been charged with trafficking etomidate laced vapes, known as Kpods.Abdul Ammar Mahmood Jumat, a Singaporean, was found with an e-vaporiser and four e-vaporiser pods at the back alley along Geylang Lorong 35 on Wednesday afternoon, court documents stated.The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Friday (Jan 9) that the pods were tested and confirmed to contain etomidate, a Class C drug.HSA officers also seized from him six bottles of cough syrup as well as prescription medicines consisting of more than 1,000 capsules and tablets.

Singapore citizenship applications for adopted Indonesian babies delayed amid trafficking probe: MSF, MHA

Ongoing investigations into an alleged baby-trafficking syndicate in Indonesia have resulted in delays in Singapore granting citizenship to adopted children from there.In a joint statement on Friday (Jan 9), the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF
Singapore

Singapore citizenship applications for adopted Indonesian babies delayed amid trafficking probe: MSF, MHA

Ongoing investigations into an alleged baby-trafficking syndicate in Indonesia have resulted in delays in Singapore granting citizenship to adopted children from there.In a joint statement on Friday (Jan 9), the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that they are «keenly aware» of the anxiety this has caused to adoptive parents.The statement did not say how many parents have been affected by the delay.«We are working closely across the relevant authorities to ensure that the cases are dealt with as expeditiously as we can, and to safeguard the welfare and interests of the children,» the ministries said.This comes after Indonesian news outlets reported last September that Indonesian police are working with their Singapore counterparts to probe the alleged baby trafficking ring operating from West Java.The Indonesian police had identified 22 suspects accused of trafficking at least 25 babies, with 15 allegedly sent to Singapore for adoption.

NUS warns against investment scams using school logo and president's image

Scammers are now using the National University of Singapore (NUS) logo and impersonating its president. In a Facebook post on Thursday (Jan 8), the university issued a warning against impersonation scams and fake news articles using images of NUS preside
Singapore

NUS warns against investment scams using school logo and president's image

Scammers are now using the National University of Singapore (NUS) logo and impersonating its president. In a Facebook post on Thursday (Jan 8), the university issued a warning against impersonation scams and fake news articles using images of NUS president Professor Tan Eng Chye and the NUS logo that have been circulating online. According to NUS, the scams reportedly promote investment products. Separately, the university said that it has seen fraudulent social media accounts with the unauthorised use of the NUS name and logo, such as NusOnline SG, attempting to market courses.The university urged members of the public not to share any personal information, click or respond to any of the scams, adding that these should be reported to ScamShield. 

Arriving and departing passengers mixed up at Changi Airport T4 boarding gate, held back for 1 hour

A traveller who had disembarked from a flight at Changi Airport's Terminal 4 unexpectedly found the boarding gate's exit closed.She also heard staff asking passengers if they had just arrived or were about to depart.The incident occurred at boarding gate 11 a
Singapore

Arriving and departing passengers mixed up at Changi Airport T4 boarding gate, held back for 1 hour

A traveller who had disembarked from a flight at Changi Airport's Terminal 4 unexpectedly found the boarding gate's exit closed.She also heard staff asking passengers if they had just arrived or were about to depart.The incident occurred at boarding gate 11 at about 10pm on Jan 1, when passengers arriving on AirAsia flight AK721 became «mixed up» with passengers waiting at the same gate to board, reported Lianhe Zaobao.AirAsia passenger Gong Ping (transliteration) told the Chinese daily that several passengers on the same arriving flight had managed to enter the concourse before staff noticed the different passenger groups together in the same zone.The 36-year-old, who had disembarked from the aircraft later, claimed that those held at the arrival corridor of the shut gate were not informed of what was happening. At one point, a passenger became upset, but most people remained calm.According to her, the departing passengers were directed to another boarding gate at about 11pm. The AirAsia group were then allowed to leave the gate.

Singapore is 2nd richest country in the world in 2025, but drops to 8th for long work hours

What good is all the money in the world if you don't have the time to spend it? Singapore ranks second among the richest countries in the world in 2025 based on gross domestic profit (GDP) per capita and after adjusting for price differences, according t
Singapore

Singapore is 2nd richest country in the world in 2025, but drops to 8th for long work hours

What good is all the money in the world if you don't have the time to spend it? Singapore ranks second among the richest countries in the world in 2025 based on gross domestic profit (GDP) per capita and after adjusting for price differences, according to an infographic by The Economist on Monday (Jan 5). However, the infographic includes a third element — prices and hours worked. With that factored in, Singapore falls to eighth place. This is among the 178 countries evaluated by The Economist, with the top three countries being Switzerland, Singapore and Norway.Switzerland takes the lead in terms of average earnings at over US$100,000 (S$128,600) per year, but falls behind due to their high cost of living, The Economist reported. In contrast, Singapore, with earnings at US$90,700 per year, has lower local costs, while Norway stands at US$86,800 per year.  

Over 500kg of cannabis reportedly in transit seized at Pasir Panjang scanning station

A container with over 500kg of cannabis was intercepted at Pasir Panjang scanning station during enhanced checks on Jan 3, said the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Friday (Jan 9).In a joint statement, th
Singapore

Over 500kg of cannabis reportedly in transit seized at Pasir Panjang scanning station

A container with over 500kg of cannabis was intercepted at Pasir Panjang scanning station during enhanced checks on Jan 3, said the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Friday (Jan 9).In a joint statement, they said that the container had been targeted for enhanced checks following information received by Singapore Customs and a pre-arrival risk assessment by ICA's Integrated Targeting Centre. ICA's image analysts detected anomalies in the scanned images of the container. Physical inspections by ICA officers found a packet of brownish substance suspected to be a controlled drug inside a box within the container, which prompted further investigations by CNB officers.In total, 902 packets of cannabis, weighing about 509kg, was uncovered.Based on preliminary investigations, the authorities found that the drugs were transiting through Singapore to another country. Investigations are ongoing. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, those who import into or export from Singapore more than 500g of cannabis may face the death penalty.[[nid:727403]]dana.leong@asiaone.com

Taxi overturns in PIE crash, cabby and passenger taken to hospital

A 70-year-old male taxi driver and a 31-year-old male passenger were taken to hospital after being involved in an accident which left the ComfortDelGro taxi overturned on the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) on Thursday (Jan 8). The police and Singapore Civi
Singapore

Taxi overturns in PIE crash, cabby and passenger taken to hospital

A 70-year-old male taxi driver and a 31-year-old male passenger were taken to hospital after being involved in an accident which left the ComfortDelGro taxi overturned on the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) on Thursday (Jan 8). The police and Singapore Civil Defence Force said they were alerted to an accident involving a car and a taxi along the PIE towards Tuas, after the Jurong Town Hall exit, at around 7.15am. The injured cabby and passenger were taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. A 68-year-old male car driver is assisting with investigations, said the police. In a TikTok video on Jan 8, a yellow ComfortDelGro taxi is seen lying overturned, with its airbags deployed, on the first or rightmost lane of the expressway. 

House leader Indranee Rajah files motion to consider Pritam Singh unsuitable for office of Leader of the Opposition

Leader of the House Indranee Rajah has filed a motion to ask Parliament to consider Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh's suitability to continue in his role as the Leader of the Opposition (LO). The motion is set to be raised at a sitting on Jan 13 a
Singapore

House leader Indranee Rajah files motion to consider Pritam Singh unsuitable for office of Leader of the Opposition

Leader of the House Indranee Rajah has filed a motion to ask Parliament to consider Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh's suitability to continue in his role as the Leader of the Opposition (LO). The motion is set to be raised at a sitting on Jan 13 at the earliest, said the Office of the Leader of the House on Friday (Jan 9). Singh was convicted in court in February last year of lying to a parliamentary committee over the case of former MP Raeesah Khan and was sentenced to a fine of $7,000 for each of two charges. His appeal against conviction was dismissed by the High Court in December 2025. The motion which will soon be raised seeks that Parliament «affirms that honesty and integrity are fundamental pillars of Singapore's parliamentary and political system». It also requests that the House, «expresses regret at the conduct of Mr Pritam Singh, which was dishonourable and unbecoming of a Member of Parliament». 

'My home was torture': Rough sleepers and homeless to get more support

Tan Yong Hock Amos was living on the streets for 23 years before he finally sought help from social service organisations.Speaking to AsiaOne on Wednesday (Jan 7), Tan, 43, recounted the hardships he endured while struggling to make ends meet as a teenager.&n
Singapore

'My home was torture': Rough sleepers and homeless to get more support

Tan Yong Hock Amos was living on the streets for 23 years before he finally sought help from social service organisations.Speaking to AsiaOne on Wednesday (Jan 7), Tan, 43, recounted the hardships he endured while struggling to make ends meet as a teenager. «I was living in and out of my home from the time I was 16 years old. Both my parents were gamblers, and when I was younger, I took on odd jobs, such as washing dishes at night, earning about $30 or $40,» he said.«I was forced to work day and night, and whenever I went home, the door was always locked.»Tan is one of many homeless individuals who sought support at a transitional shelter, where he stayed for several months, regaining stability before he could staring saving and gradually pay for his own home. The shelter, where he stayed at Spooner Road, has since relocated to a new site in Yio Chu Kang — Transit Point @ Yio Chu Kang — in November 2024.

Singapore halts sale of 5 batches of Nestle infant formula over potential toxin

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Thursday (Jan 9) has ordered a stop to the sale of five batches of Nestle's infant formula and follow-on formula over the potential presence of cereulide toxin.Both the SFA and communicable Disease Agency (CDA) said in a joi
Singapore

Singapore halts sale of 5 batches of Nestle infant formula over potential toxin

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Thursday (Jan 9) has ordered a stop to the sale of five batches of Nestle's infant formula and follow-on formula over the potential presence of cereulide toxin.Both the SFA and communicable Disease Agency (CDA) said in a joint statement late on Jan 8 that the measure will remain in place while investigations are carried out.Singapore's move follows that of at least 37 other countries, including most European states, as well as Australia, Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa, which have issued health warnings over the infant formulas possibly being contaminated. The European Commission Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed and the International Food Safety Authorities Network had also issued similar notifications on Jan 7 and 8, respectively, according to the statement. The affected products all originated from Switzerland.

Malaysia-registered motorcycles seen allegedly evading Marina Bay carpark fees, sparks debate

A video allegedly showing two motorcyclists on separate Malaysia-registered motorcycles trying to evade parking fees at an open carpark in Marina Bay has sparked debate.In the video posted to Facebook group Complaint Singapore, member Daryl Toh said that the
Singapore

Malaysia-registered motorcycles seen allegedly evading Marina Bay carpark fees, sparks debate

A video allegedly showing two motorcyclists on separate Malaysia-registered motorcycles trying to evade parking fees at an open carpark in Marina Bay has sparked debate.In the video posted to Facebook group Complaint Singapore, member Daryl Toh said that the incident happened at about 10pm on Wednesday (Jan 7) evening.«How much can the parking fees be for motorcycles in Singapore? It's embarrassing,» he wrote.Checks online by AsiaOne indicate that the charges for motorcycle parking at the said carpark is 25 cents per block of 30 minutes. 

June 2025 the hottest month of the year, tying 1997 record

Remember the toasty, parching heat of mid-2025?With mean temperature at 29.3 deg C, June was Singapore's hottest month of 2025, tying with 1997 as the warmest June on record, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said on Thursday (Jan 8).And the warm wea
Singapore

June 2025 the hottest month of the year, tying 1997 record

Remember the toasty, parching heat of mid-2025?With mean temperature at 29.3 deg C, June was Singapore's hottest month of 2025, tying with 1997 as the warmest June on record, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said on Thursday (Jan 8).And the warm weather continued into the following month where July's monthly mean temperature came in at 29.1 deg C, making it the second warmest month in 2025 and the second warmest July since temperature records started in 1929.«2025 was the eighth warmest year for Singapore, and we experienced our warmest June and November on record,» stated MSS.The monthly mean temperature in November was 28.2 deg C, and the hottest day recorded at Changi climate station in 2025 was on Oct 28 when the daily maximum temperature reached 35.9 deg C.

US' intervention in Venezuela unlikely to spur China action on Taiwan; Singapore cannot condone attack: Experts

In the immediate aftermath of the US' intervention in Venezuela, some analysts were quick to opine that the attack will embolden China to strengthen its territorial claims over areas such as Taiwan and parts of the South China Sea. However, political ana
Singapore

US' intervention in Venezuela unlikely to spur China action on Taiwan; Singapore cannot condone attack: Experts

In the immediate aftermath of the US' intervention in Venezuela, some analysts were quick to opine that the attack will embolden China to strengthen its territorial claims over areas such as Taiwan and parts of the South China Sea. However, political analysts AsiaOne spoke disagreed with this take, stating that they do not expect China to take a similar course of action on Taiwan or elsewhere — at least not in the short-term. US Special Forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores early on Saturday (Jan 3) and subsequently flew them to the US — where Maduro was indicted on charges including including narco-terrorism and Flores charged with cocaine importation. 

US intervention in Venezuela 'spectacular military success' but a concern for small countries like Singapore: SM Lee

The use of military force in Venezuela may have yielded success for the US, but it comes at the cost of destabilising international order, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday (Jan 8).Speaking at the Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute’s Regional Outloo
Singapore

US intervention in Venezuela 'spectacular military success' but a concern for small countries like Singapore: SM Lee

The use of military force in Venezuela may have yielded success for the US, but it comes at the cost of destabilising international order, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday (Jan 8).Speaking at the Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute’s Regional Outlook Forum at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, SM Lee acknowledged Venezuela as a «complicated country», whose legitimacy of its government is questioned, while causing difficulties to the US due to drugs and refugees.«But that does not justify a military intervention by one country into another, unilaterally and without any proper authorisation,» he said.On Jan 3, US seized Venezuela's long-serving President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flew them to the US, accusing the president of «narco-terrorism».The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Jan 4 that Singapore is gravely concerned by the US intervention in Venezuela and urged all parties to exercise restraint for a peaceful resolution there.

Singaporean and Briton get jail time for $1.6b Wirecard fraud

Singaporean R Shanmugaratnam and Briton James Henry O'Sullivan were sentenced to jail on Tuesday (Jan 6) for falsifying accounts in relation to collapsed German payments company Wirecard, according to police on Thursday.Shanmugaratnam, 59, received 10 years'
Singapore

Singaporean and Briton get jail time for $1.6b Wirecard fraud

Singaporean R Shanmugaratnam and Briton James Henry O'Sullivan were sentenced to jail on Tuesday (Jan 6) for falsifying accounts in relation to collapsed German payments company Wirecard, according to police on Thursday.Shanmugaratnam, 59, received 10 years' jail time, while O'Sullivan, 51, got 6.5 years.Both were convicted on Sept 22, 2025, following a joint trial between July 31, 2023 and Feb 21, 2025 over 26 days, police stated.Shanmugaratnam is a director of a local accounting and auditing company, Citadelle Corporate Services Pte Ltd, who was alleged to have issued 13 balance confirmation letters to Wirecard entities between March 2016 and April 2018.The letters were found to have fraudulently represented to Wirecard, its subsidiaries, and its auditors that Citadelle held over €1.1 billion ($1.6 billion) in Wirecard funds in escrow accounts.Shanmugaratnam was subsequently convicted of 13 counts of falsification of accounts.

More than 57,000 Malaysians gave up citizenship for Singapore over last 5 years

Over 57,000 Malaysians renounced their citizenship and moved to Singapore within a five-year period up to Dec 17 last year, Harian Metro reported on Wednesday (Jan 7).Speaking with the Malaysian publication, Malaysia's National Registration Department directo
Singapore

More than 57,000 Malaysians gave up citizenship for Singapore over last 5 years

Over 57,000 Malaysians renounced their citizenship and moved to Singapore within a five-year period up to Dec 17 last year, Harian Metro reported on Wednesday (Jan 7).Speaking with the Malaysian publication, Malaysia's National Registration Department director-general Badrul Hisham Alias said that a total of 61,116 Malaysians relinquished their citizenship within the time frame, with 93.78 per cent of them (around 57,315) heading for Singapore, 2.15 per cent to Australia and 0.97 per cent to Brunei.He added that women were the majority of those relinquishing their citizenships — totalling 35,356 — while an average of 10,000 Malaysians give up their citizenship each year.«The decision to relinquish Malaysian citizenship is largely driven by economic and family factors,» he explained in an interview with Harian Metro.«In the case of Singapore, many Malaysians are employed there, and employment prospects and income levels make it easier for them to obtain citizenship.»Most Malaysians who marry foreign spouses and migrate overseas cite family reasons for changing their nationality, Badrul explained.

HIP voting process to be studied, but flat owners' say must be respected: Chee Hong Tat

The Ministry of National Development (MND) and HDB will be studying the voting process for the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), said Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat.Speaking to the media on Thursday (Jan 8) after a visit to ParkEdge @ Bidadar
Singapore

HIP voting process to be studied, but flat owners' say must be respected: Chee Hong Tat

The Ministry of National Development (MND) and HDB will be studying the voting process for the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), said Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat.Speaking to the media on Thursday (Jan 8) after a visit to ParkEdge @ Bidadari, Chee said that the voting threshold for HIP is an issue that the ministry is «studying heavily», after recent voting exercises for upgrading estates failed to proceed when they did not meet the threshold. «We want to help the estates that are older to go through HIP,» the minister said, emphasising that the ministry has observed that reaching the threshold may be significantly more challenging for blocks with fewer units. Launched in 2007, HIP helps upgrade older HDB flats and address common maintenance issues. For HIP to proceed, at least 75 per cent of a block's eligible Singaporean households will have to vote for it. 

Man arrested after crashing into 2 cement mixers and truck in Seletar; vape seized

A 27-year-old man was taken to the hospital and subsequently arrested after being involved in a four-vehicle collision in Seletar on Tuesday (Jan 6). In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police said they were alerted to an accident involving a car, a tr
Singapore

Man arrested after crashing into 2 cement mixers and truck in Seletar; vape seized

A 27-year-old man was taken to the hospital and subsequently arrested after being involved in a four-vehicle collision in Seletar on Tuesday (Jan 6). In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police said they were alerted to an accident involving a car, a truck and two cement mixer trucks along 14 Seletar North Link at about 8am that day. The 27-year-old car driver was taken conscious to a hospital and later arrested for rash or negligent conduct related to machinery and fraudulent possession of property, said the police. The Singapore Civil Defence Force said the man was taken to Sengkang General Hospital.The police added that an e-vaporiser was also seized and the related offence has been referred to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). 

Lorry smashes into vehicles at JB red light, leaving truck atop Singapore car

A Singapore-registered saloon car was left partially crushed after an accident along Jalan Pantai in Johor Bahru on Wednesday (Jan 7) afternoon.Videos of the aftermath of the accident circulating on Facebook show a Malaysia-registered Toyota Hilux truck pile
Singapore

Lorry smashes into vehicles at JB red light, leaving truck atop Singapore car

A Singapore-registered saloon car was left partially crushed after an accident along Jalan Pantai in Johor Bahru on Wednesday (Jan 7) afternoon.Videos of the aftermath of the accident circulating on Facebook show a Malaysia-registered Toyota Hilux truck piled atop a Singapore-registered car, while two other cars in front also suffered damages.Dashcam footage obtained by Malaysian media outlet Asia Television News show a lorry smashing into the rear of the Singapore-registered car, a Toyota Premio. The violent collision sent the car sliding under a stationary Toyota Hilux. Footage shows the Singapore-registered car stopped roughly half a car length behind the truck.

Chinese national fined over $200k for dealing in duty-unpaid liquor

A 52-year-old male Chinese national has been ordered to pay a fine of $200,700 for dealing in duty-unpaid liquor, following his conviction in court.Huang Hongjiang pleaded guilty to two charges under the Customs Act on Dec 23, 2025, where the offences resulte
Singapore

Chinese national fined over $200k for dealing in duty-unpaid liquor

A 52-year-old male Chinese national has been ordered to pay a fine of $200,700 for dealing in duty-unpaid liquor, following his conviction in court.Huang Hongjiang pleaded guilty to two charges under the Customs Act on Dec 23, 2025, where the offences resulted in the evasion of about $25,499 in duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST), according to a Singapore Customs statement on Jan 8.He was caught during an operation on Dec 11, 2025, when Singapore Customs officers seized 186 bottles of duty-unpaid liquor from Huang in an industrial building in Tuas View Square.Investigations revealed that Huang worked with an accomplice from China who would procure the Chinese liquor in China and arrange for its importation into Singapore, without payment of duty and GST.Meanwhile, Huang was responsible for handling the delivery in Singapore.On the day of Huang's arrest, he was at the said location to collect the consignment.The Singapore Customs said that Huang has failed to pay the fine and will now serve an in-default sentence of two months and one week in jail.

Man to be charged with stealing $52k Rolex watch from Sentosa Cove home

A 34-year-old man will be charged in court on Thursday (Jan 8) for his suspected involvement in a case of theft from a residential unit in Sentosa. In a statement released on Thursday, police said that they were alerted to a case of theft on Jan 6 along
Singapore

Man to be charged with stealing $52k Rolex watch from Sentosa Cove home

A 34-year-old man will be charged in court on Thursday (Jan 8) for his suspected involvement in a case of theft from a residential unit in Sentosa. In a statement released on Thursday, police said that they were alerted to a case of theft on Jan 6 along Ocean Drive at about 10.25am where a Rolex watch valued at approximately $52,000 was stolen from a residential unit. According to a search online by AsiaOne, properties at Ocean drive include condominiums as well as landed property, which are part of the Sentosa Cove residential development.Officers from the Clementi Police Division identified and arrested the man on Jan 7 through extensive ground enquiries and with the assistance of CCTV footage, said police. The stolen watch was subsequently recovered.If found guilty, the man faces a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment and a fine for the offence of theft in a dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871.[[nid:727173]]xingying.koh@asiaone.com

Punggol's first self-driving shuttle to open to public in 2 to 3 months' time: Sun Xueling

Punggol residents will soon be able to travel round the neighbourhood on driver-less shuttles, with the first of three fixed-route services expected to begin full service in «two to three months», Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xuelin
Singapore

Punggol's first self-driving shuttle to open to public in 2 to 3 months' time: Sun Xueling

Punggol residents will soon be able to travel round the neighbourhood on driver-less shuttles, with the first of three fixed-route services expected to begin full service in «two to three months», Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling said.In a Facebook post on Wednesday (Jan 7), the MP for Punggol GRC said that the shuttles plying route one has completed testing and preparatory work and have travelled more than 10,000km without any incident.The 10km-long route connects Matilda Court, Punggol Clover, Punggol Plaza and Oasis Terraces. Operated by Grab, the service will run from 9.30am to 5pm on weekdays.Sun said that stakeholders including key grassroots leaders and agency partners will be invited to take a ride in the vehicles in January. «Apps will also be rolled out then by the AV shuttle operators to enable commuters to check ride availability,» she said.

Fire breaks out at Sungei Kadut industrial building, 1 sent to hospital

A fire broke out at an industrial building in Sungei Kadut on Wednesday (Jan 7) evening.The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post that it was alerted to a fire at 14 Sungei Kadut Avenue at about 6.40pm.Checks online by AsiaOne indicate
Singapore

Fire breaks out at Sungei Kadut industrial building, 1 sent to hospital

A fire broke out at an industrial building in Sungei Kadut on Wednesday (Jan 7) evening.The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post that it was alerted to a fire at 14 Sungei Kadut Avenue at about 6.40pm.Checks online by AsiaOne indicate that the location is a four-storey building occupied by Da Di Glass Private Limited, a glass production company.According to the company's website, they moved to the given address in 2013. In a second update posted just before 9pm, SCDF said that the production area on the second-floor of the building was on fire when firefighters arrived at the scene.«Firefighters deployed three water jets to contain the fire within the workshop,» it added.The fire was extinguished at about 8pm.About 30 persons from the affected building self-evacuated before SCDF's arrival.One person was taken to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation.The cause of the fire is under investigation.editor@asiaone.com 

Punggol's first self-driving shuttle to open to public in '2 to 3 months’ time': Sun Xueling

Punggol residents will soon be able to travel round the neighbourhood on driver-less shuttles, with the first of three fixed-route services expected to begin full service in «two to three months», Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xuelin
Singapore

Punggol's first self-driving shuttle to open to public in '2 to 3 months’ time': Sun Xueling

Punggol residents will soon be able to travel round the neighbourhood on driver-less shuttles, with the first of three fixed-route services expected to begin full service in «two to three months», Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling said.In a Facebook post on Wednesday (Jan 7), the MP for Punggol GRC said that the shuttles plying route one has completed testing and preparatory work and have travelled more than 10,000km without any incident.The 10km-long route connects Matilda Court, Punggol Clover, Punggol Plaza and Oasis Terraces. Operated by Grab, the service will run from 9.30am to 5pm on weekdays.Sun said that stakeholders including key grassroots leaders and agency partners will be invited to take a ride in the vehicles in January. «Apps will also be rolled out then by the AV shuttle operators to enable commuters to check ride availability,» she said.

Indonesia's defence chief awarded Distinguished Service Order by Singapore

The Indonesian National Defence Forces' (TNI) Chief of Defence Force, General Agus Subiyanto, has been conferred the prestigious Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera), or Distinguished Service Order (Military), by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.Gen Subiyan
Singapore

Indonesia's defence chief awarded Distinguished Service Order by Singapore

The Indonesian National Defence Forces' (TNI) Chief of Defence Force, General Agus Subiyanto, has been conferred the prestigious Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera), or Distinguished Service Order (Military), by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.Gen Subiyanto was presented with Singapore's highest military award at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) on Wednesday (Jan 7) afternoon.The award was given for his «significant role» in strengthening defence ties between the TNI and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), said Mindef.The statement added that the high cadence of professional exchanges and regular bilateral exercises have «greatly promoted» interoperability and friendship between the two armed forces.«Under General Subiyanto's leadership, the implementation of the Defence Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force in 2024, has continued to be smooth.»Both militaries also maintained a high cadence of professional exchanges and regular bilateral exercises such as Exercise Safkar Indopura, Exercise Eagle Indopura, Exercise Elang Indopura, Exercise Chandrapura and Exercise Manyar Indopura," said Mindef.

Motorcyclist switching lanes hit by car and thrown off bike on Lavender Street

A motorcyclist was flung off his bike after a car rear-ended him along Lavender Street on Wednesday (Jan 7) morning.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the police said they were alerted to the accident in the direction of Crawford Street at about 8.20am.The 37-y
Singapore

Motorcyclist switching lanes hit by car and thrown off bike on Lavender Street

A motorcyclist was flung off his bike after a car rear-ended him along Lavender Street on Wednesday (Jan 7) morning.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the police said they were alerted to the accident in the direction of Crawford Street at about 8.20am.The 37-year-old male motorcyclist was conscious when taken to hospital.Dashcam footage shared by Facebook page SGRV showed that the motorcyclist was originally in the middle of the four-lane road, where traffic had appeared to build up.He is seen turning to check for oncoming vehicles when he turns left and switches lane, but did not appear to do the same when he crossed to the left-most lane, where a black car was travelling at.The approaching car slams into the motorbike, and the rider briefly ends up on the bonnet before being thrown to the roadside when the car brakes.He pulls himself to sit upright as a passer-by walks over and checks on him.The police said that the 64-year-old male car driver is assisting with investigations, which are ongoing.[[nid:727766]]lim.kewei@asiaone.com

Woman, 32, arrested for alleged loanshark harassment in Kallang; threatened to burn debtor's house

A 32-year-old woman was arrested on Tuesday (Jan 6) for her alleged involvement in a case of loanshark harassment in Kallang.It took place at about 8.05pm on Monday (Jan 5) at a residential unit along Geylang Bahru in Kallang, the police said on Wednesday (Ja
Singapore

Woman, 32, arrested for alleged loanshark harassment in Kallang; threatened to burn debtor's house

A 32-year-old woman was arrested on Tuesday (Jan 6) for her alleged involvement in a case of loanshark harassment in Kallang.It took place at about 8.05pm on Monday (Jan 5) at a residential unit along Geylang Bahru in Kallang, the police said on Wednesday (Jan 7).A photograph of the items seized from her shows a blue plastic bag containing red paint, and a debtor's note which reads «Owe $ Pay Money $. This is just (a) warning. Next time will go burn your house (sic)».The woman was identified by officers from Central Police Division through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from police cameras.She will be charged in court on Thursday (Jan 8).The offence of loanshark harassment carries a penalty of imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to $50,000. In addition, those found guilty may receive up to six strokes of the cane.As caning can only be imposed on male offenders below 50 years old, she may receive an additional sentence in lieu of caning if she is found guilty.[[nid:727764]]editor@asiaone.com 

SFA lifts suspension on Middleton International School's food business operations

Middleton International School will be able to resume operations of its food business effective Jan 6, having implemented the necessary requirements by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), said the agency in a statement on Wednesday (Jan 7).The business, located
Singapore

SFA lifts suspension on Middleton International School's food business operations

Middleton International School will be able to resume operations of its food business effective Jan 6, having implemented the necessary requirements by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), said the agency in a statement on Wednesday (Jan 7).The business, located at 2 Tampines Street 92, had its food business operations suspended since Nov 21. This was after SFA and the Communicable Diseases Agency received reports of 263 persons at E-Bridge preschools who developed gastroenteritis symptoms between Nov 19 and Dec 10, 2025 after consuming food supplied by Middleton International School. At the time, four individuals were hospitalised, and SFA had issued a suspension notice to «protect consumers from further public health risks».According to SFA, Middleton International School cleaned and sanitised their premises, including equipment and utensils, and disinfected food preparation surfaces, tables and floors during its suspension period.

This made my day: Newton MRT station staff borrow slippers for commuter after her sandals break in heavy rain

Three SBS Transit staff at Newton MRT station have earned the praise of a train commuter after they tried to repair her sandals which broke during her journey last month.On Wednesday (Jan 7), SBS Transit shared the post by Susan Loh, the affected commuter.Th
Singapore

This made my day: Newton MRT station staff borrow slippers for commuter after her sandals break in heavy rain

Three SBS Transit staff at Newton MRT station have earned the praise of a train commuter after they tried to repair her sandals which broke during her journey last month.On Wednesday (Jan 7), SBS Transit shared the post by Susan Loh, the affected commuter.The public transport operator said that three station staff — Station Managers Mohamed Yadly and Jeffrey Chen and Assistant Station Manager Maharaja Chettier — had tried to fix the commuter's sandals.«When that wasn't possible, they went the extra mile by borrowing a pair of slippers from an off-duty colleague for Ms Susan so that she could continue her journey safely,» wrote SBS Transit.Recounting the incident on Facebook, Loh said that the incident happened on Dec 13.«I was rushing out and didn't want to wear track shoes (as it was raining heavily), so I wore a pair of sandals.»Suddenly, my sandals broke at Newton MRT. Luckily, I met so many kind souls helping me. They even offered me their slippers to wear for the day!," wrote an appreciative Loh.

ICA foils Malaysian man's attempt to smuggle over 420 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes via Woodlands Checkpoint

A 47-year-old Malaysian man was arrested by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers on Dec 23 for attempting to smuggle duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint.ICA said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Jan 7) that the Malay
Singapore

ICA foils Malaysian man's attempt to smuggle over 420 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes via Woodlands Checkpoint

A 47-year-old Malaysian man was arrested by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers on Dec 23 for attempting to smuggle duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint.ICA said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Jan 7) that the Malaysia-registered car driven by the man was directed for enhanced checks where its search and examination officers found over 420 cartons and 1,600 loose packets of duty unpaid cigarettes.In the video posted by ICA, its officers were seen removing the contraband items from the car's roof cargo box and various compartments of the car, including the door panel.The driver was arrested and the case has been referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigation.Intensified checks against smuggling at Singapore's checkpointsIn an advisory on Nov 17, ICA had warned travellers that it will be conducting more intensified checks against the smuggling of e-vaporisers and contraband items during the year-end school holidays.

'She's a superwoman': 102-year-old matriarch gets lavish send-off in Choa Chu Kang

A 102-year-old Singaporean matriarch was given an elaborate farewell by her family, featuring a grand white tent, red carpets, 16 banquet tables and even a replica slot machine.Centenarian Chen Shuying (transliteration) died on Jan 3, reported Shin Min Daily
Singapore

'She's a superwoman': 102-year-old matriarch gets lavish send-off in Choa Chu Kang

A 102-year-old Singaporean matriarch was given an elaborate farewell by her family, featuring a grand white tent, red carpets, 16 banquet tables and even a replica slot machine.Centenarian Chen Shuying (transliteration) died on Jan 3, reported Shin Min Daily News. She is survived by her seven sons, seven daughters and their families, which together include 78 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Chen's wake is being held at an open field near Block 230, Choa Chu Kang Road. 'Considered a joyous occasion'63-year-old Lan Wenchang (transliteration) is Chen's youngest son and founder of a funeral home, while his wife is a well-known spirit medium, reported Shin Min.Considering the family's size and their large social circle, Chen's family felt it was only appropriate to have a grand funeral. Lan told Shin Min that since they anticipated many relatives and friends would come to pay their respects, they decided to hold the wake for seven days. 

O-level results to be released on Jan 14

The 2025 Singapore-Cambridge O-level examination results will be released on Jan 14 at 2pm, the Ministry of Education said on Wednesday (Jan 7).Details on the collection arrangements will be shared by the respective schools, the ministry said.Candidates who a
Singapore

O-level results to be released on Jan 14

The 2025 Singapore-Cambridge O-level examination results will be released on Jan 14 at 2pm, the Ministry of Education said on Wednesday (Jan 7).Details on the collection arrangements will be shared by the respective schools, the ministry said.Candidates who are unable to collect their results in person can appoint a proxy to do so. Proxies will have to produce relevant documentation when collecting results from the school.If they are unable to appoint a proxy, they are advised to approach their schools for assistance.Private candidates eligible for Singpass can use their Singpass account to obtain their results online through the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board's (SEAB) candidates portal from 2.45pm until 11pm on Jan 28.Those ineligible for Singpass can get their results using the account they created during their examination.With their O-level results, students can apply for admission to junior colleges, Millennia Institute, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) via the Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE).

Grab takes off with drone food delivery trial in Tanjong Rhu

Grab has kicked off a three-month drone delivery pilot in Tanjong Rhu, leveraging autonomous technology, the company said in a blog post on Tuesday (Jan 6).The pilot, conducted in partnership with ST Engineering's Unmanned Air Systems - which developed the dr
Singapore

Grab takes off with drone food delivery trial in Tanjong Rhu

Grab has kicked off a three-month drone delivery pilot in Tanjong Rhu, leveraging autonomous technology, the company said in a blog post on Tuesday (Jan 6).The pilot, conducted in partnership with ST Engineering's Unmanned Air Systems - which developed the drone solution - aims to test how autonomous technology can boost Grab's delivery efficiency.The pilot for Grab's drone delivery (Beta) service began on Tuesday and will run till April 12, with service running every Tuesday to Sunday, between 10am and 6pm.Up to 28 drone deliveries will be made daily, and operations will be halted during wet weather conditions and on public holidays.A typical round-trip flight takes around eight minutes.The pilot follows a similar one done in the Philippines in June 2025, where drones were used to transport food between delivery points. Geographical constraintsUsing drones will help circumvent geographical constraints that slow down deliveries and affect efficiency, said Grab.

Photo of Haresh Singaraju in PAP T-shirt surfaces; incoming NMP says he has left party

Incoming Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Haresh Singaraju has said that he is no longer affiliated with any political party, after a photo of him wearing a shirt bearing the People’s Action Party (PAP) logo surfaced online.The family physician at Natio
Singapore

Photo of Haresh Singaraju in PAP T-shirt surfaces; incoming NMP says he has left party

Incoming Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Haresh Singaraju has said that he is no longer affiliated with any political party, after a photo of him wearing a shirt bearing the People’s Action Party (PAP) logo surfaced online.The family physician at National University Polyclinics said in an Instagram on Monday (Jan 5) that the 2023 photo was taken during a party activity he had previously volunteered at.Dr Haresh had initially told the South China Morning Post that it was during a People’s Association (PA) event, which he later clarified in his Instagram post that it was incorrect.«This activity did not involve the PA. I’m now not a member of any party,» he said.The photo showed Dr Haresh wearing a shirt with the PAP logo and the word «Tampines». It has since been removed from his Instagram account, but was shared several times on Reddit.His LinkedIn profile indicates he has served as a PA grassroots leader since January 2023.Dr Haresh said that the post was archived as part of a «clean up of his Instagram account» and to «protect the identities of individuals in the pictures as I made my account public».