Agoda has reached an agreement to work with unions and support its retrenched workers with the transition, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore Industrial and Services Employees' Union said in a media release on Friday (Sept 19).They explained that Agoda has had several discussions with NTUC, SISEU, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (Tafep).Agoda has since acknowledged that «it was inappropriate for employers to include provisions that discourage or inhibit employees from approaching trade unions, government agencies, or statutory bodies for all situations», the release stated.«We appreciate the management of Agoda for taking a proactive approach in engaging NTUC, SISEU and the Government, and for its transparency in sharing information regarding the exercise,» the unions said, adding that they have determined the workers' retrenchment benefits to be in line with industry guidelines.They also added that the Agoda management has agreed to work with the unions to support affected workers through their transition.

Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers intercepted over 1,100 vapes that were hidden in a Malaysia-registered car at Woodlands Checkpoint, according to a Facebook post on Friday (Sept 19).Search and examination officers had directed the vehicle for enhanced checks on Wednesday (Sept 17), where they discovered 1,169 vapes concealed within the modified seats, foiling their attempt to smuggle the devices into Singapore.In a video taken by ICA, officers can be seen pulling out multiple packages of vapes sealed in transparent plastic bags out of a pocket behind the car's backseat, collecting them in a container before bringing them away.A separate video shows an officer demonstrating how the backseat could be shifted forwards to reveal the vapes hidden within.The case was subsequently referred to the Health Sciences Authority(HSA) for further investigation.Just two days before, ICA had intercepted over 18,400 vapes and more than 1,400 related components in a single smuggling attempt at Tuas Checkpoint.

The public service must make sure that its policies reflect both long-term goals and current, lived-in realities to reinforce mutual understanding and trust with the public, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Friday (Sept 19). «As public service leaders, we must demonstrate not just competence, but also compassion and empathy in how we lead. We must believe in what we do. »We must connect national priorities with the everyday concerns of Singaporeans,« he said.DPM Gan was speaking at the Annual Public Service Leadership Ceremony held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention centre.Also present were Minister-in-charge of Public Service Chan Chun Sing, chairman of the Public Service Commission Lee Tzu Yang and head of Civil Service Leo Yip.Reflecting on Singapore's 60 years of independence, DPM Gan said that the public service has been »at the centre of every chapter of our nation's development« — from building public housing estates and world-class infrastructure, to establishing strong economic, healthcare and social institutions — adding that »these achievements are not because of chance". 

Various legislation relating to criminal and traffic offences will be amended to deal with evolving criminal threats and situations, and ensure Singapore remains a safe country.The Government is also committed to address the population challenges of a falling fertility rate and rapidly ageing population.These plans were revealed on Friday (Sept 19), in ministries' addenda to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam's address at the opening of Parliament.The ministries are the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Law (MinLaw), Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and Ministry of Finance (MOF).In his address on Sept 5, President Tharman said that in a tense geopolitical environment, Singapore cannot take security for granted — foreign actors will seek to manipulate public opinion while dangers at home such as terrorism scams and drugs will threaten society.

A company director has been charged with misappropriating over $400,000 intended for foreign exchange (forex) investments, on Friday (Sept 19).In a statement on Sept 19, the police said that Yeo Wei Zhi Lloyd, sole director of Lloyd Capital Pte Ltd, was charged in court with six counts of criminal breach of trust. Additionally, he faces three counts of carrying on a business in a regulated activity of fund management without a capital markets services licence.According to the police, Yeo allegedly operated a fund management business both personally and through Lloyd Capital between June 2017 and November 2019.This included handling forex trading, leveraged forex trading, and managing portfolios of capital market products on behalf of investors.Between August 2018 and November 2019, 17 investors paid a total of $639,406.02 to Lloyd Capital for the purpose of forex investments. 

A car caught fire in the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) tunnel during the evening peak hour, bringing traffic to a halt.In a video posted to Facebook page Singapore roads accident.com on Thursday (Sept 18), a car is seen stationary on the road shoulder, engulfed in flames.The tunnel's sprinkler system is seemingly activated, causing traffic to come to a standstill as the fire gets extinguished.Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) vehicles and personnel can also be seen in the clip, which is over a minute long. Responding to AsiaOne's queries, SCDF said that it was alerted to the fire along MCE towards the AYE at about 6.40pm on Thursday.The blaze was extinguished by MCE's deluge system and SCDF firefighters using a compressed air foam jet.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and rail operators SMRT and SBS Transit will be forming a rail reliability task force to develop and implement «immediate solutions» to improve rail reliability and joint responses to service disruptions.This task force will be chaired by LTA chief executive Ng Lang and include SMRT Group CEO Ngien Hoon Ping, SBS Transit Group CEO Jeffrey Sim as well as technical specialists drawn from across the rail sector, according to a joint statement by the agency and transport operators on Thursday (Sept 19).They added that the task force will report its findings to Acting Minister of Transport Jeffrey Siow regularly, and submit their final recommendations by the end of the year.Among the objectives of the task force is to review recent incidents that have occurred to identify components involved that are approaching end-of-life and require replacement, upgrading or increased maintenance.

A 43-year-old woman was found dead in a residential unit in Joo Chiat on Monday (Sept 15). Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the police said that they had received a call for assistance at a residential unit along Everitt Road at about 9.30pm. Upon their arrival, officers found a 43-year-old woman lying motionless inside the unit. She was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.The police added that investigations are ongoing against a 40-year-old man for alleged involvement in the murder of the 43-year-old woman. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man, who was known to the woman, had left Singapore prior to the call for assistance. If found guilty of murder, the man faces the death penalty.AsiaOne understands that the unit is located at Lotus, a residential property along Everitt Road.According to CNA, a neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, told reporters that she saw police officers at the vacant unit on the morning of Sept 16.It was reported that a couple, along with a young child and two helpers, had lived in the unit.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) seized 27 e-vaporisers and related components in anti-vaping operations conducted at hotspot areas including Tampines and the Central Business District area.The four-day operation, which started on Sept 15, saw four persons between the ages of 24 and 43 fined for vape-related offences. Under new anti-vaping laws from Sept 1, repeat offenders will face a maximum fine of $2,000. Those caught using vapes containing etomidate will also have to undergo rehabilitation.  AsiaOne was tagged with one of the HSA teams on patrol in Tampines where officers covered extensive ground around Tampines Central 1, 4 and 5, including pathways between the buildings, bus interchange and MRT station. 

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) foiled a smuggling attempt involving 1,700 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes and 0.8g of methamphetamine, or Ice, according to a Facebook post on Thursday (Sept 18).On Sept 11, an image analyst with the ICA had noticed anomalies in scanned images of a Malaysia-registered lorry declared to have been carrying «assorted carbonated drinks».After directing the vehicle for further checks, ICA officers searched the vehicle and found the 1,700 cartons of cigarettes hidden within the consignment.Information from ICA's Integrated Targeting Centre (ITC) also prompted even deeper checks of the vehicle — yielding drug paraphernalia inside the driver's bag and about 0.8g of «Ice».«The case was referred to the Singapore Customs and the suspected drug-related offences were referred to CNB Drug Free SG,» ICA stated, adding that investigations are ongoing.[[nid:722622]]khooyihang@asiaone.com

Those looking to travel across the border can soon rely on ComfortDelGro's (CDG) services to do so, according to a Facebook post by the taxi company on Thursday (Sept 18).According to the post, Singapore's largest taxi operator will begin cross-border taxi services from Sept 25, with rides costing a fixed fare of $80 for travel from Singapore to Johor Bahru (Larkin Terminal).However, pick-ups from Ban San Street taxi stand and from the airport will differ, priced at $60 and $120 respectively.There will be 90 cabbies — all with valid cross-border taxi licenses — at the ready for this service, which can be booked up to 24 hours in advance, a CDG spokesperson told The Straits Times.“We recognise the growing demand for cross-border transportation and are committed to expanding our travel options for passengers, as well as more earning opportunities for our cabbies,” the spokesperson also added.Customers can make bookings via the CDG hotline at 6552 1111.

A Malaysian man has been arrested for his suspected involvement in a series of government official impersonation scams.The arrest was made on Sept 16 by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) in Malaysia after a warrant for his arrest was issued by the State Courts of Singapore, according to a statement on Wednesday (Sept 17) night.The 31-year-old suspect was handed over to the Singapore Police Force on Sept 17.The police stated that they had received multiple reports of government official impersonation scams where victims were allegedly contacted by people claiming to be officials from the Monetary Authority of Singapore between July 12 and Aug 8.Victims were informed that their bank accounts had been implicated in money laundering activities or that their personal information had been compromised. They were subsequently prompted to surrender their money or valuables, or transfer money to a specified bank account to assist in investigations.The scammers would become uncontactable after the victims complied with instructions.

Singaporeans travelling to or from Johor Bahru via land checkpoints will be able to clear immigration using QR codes very soon, with Malaysia trialling its National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe) from Sept 22.The MyNIISe (pronounced «my nice») app can be used by Malaysians as well as travellers from 63 countries and territories, including Singapore, at land checkpoints at the Causeway and Second Link, said the Malaysian Home Affairs Ministry in a statement on Wednesday (Sept 17).The trial is set to run until Feb 28, 2026 and the system will also be rolled out in stages at five airports.This includes Kuala Lumpur International Airport's Terminals 1 and 2, and those in Penang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.The MyNIISe app will help reduce congestion at the two Johor checkpoints, which see more than 300,000 people crossing daily, reported The Straits Times (ST).The team behind the new app told ST that commuters travelling in groups can also clear immigration checks using a single QR code — an improvement from the current MyBorderPass app for Malaysians which requires each traveller to scan a QR code for immigration clearance.

Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers foiled an attempt to smuggle more than 450 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint on Aug 26. In a Facebook post on Wednesday (Sept 17), ICA said that the motorcycle was directed for enhanced checks and more than 450 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found concealed in various compartments.The case has been referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigation.

The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Singapore Industrial and Services Employees' Union (SISEU) have expressed their dismay over Agoda's alleged attempt to silence their retrenched workers, according to a joint statement by the two unions on Wednesday (Sept 17).This comes after the online travel platform announced that it has phased out customer service support roles in Singapore, Shanghai and Budapest.Fifty employees in Singapore were retrenched following an exercise that was announced in a closed town hall on Aug 4.Cost and recruitment challenges were cited as reasons for the move, The Business Times reported on Wednesday.According to the unions' joint statement, workers were purportedly warned via severance agreements not to make reports on their retrenchments to trade unions, the Government or other organisations.They were also allegedly warned against bringing any mediation requests, claims or proceedings relating to their employment or termination against Agoda.

Microsoft has seized 338 websites used in relation to a rapidly growing phishing service that has seen around 70 people in Singapore fall victim, the company said in press release on Wednesday (Sept 17).The service, known as RaccoonO365, is a tool used by cybercriminals to steal Microsoft 365 usernames and passwords, according to Microsoft.Phishing kits are offered via a subscription, letting users steal credentials from victims even if they are not familiar with the technology.«This case shows that cybercriminals don't need to be sophisticated to cause widespread harm — simple tools like RaccoonO365 make cybercrime accessible to virtually anyone, putting millions of users at risk,» Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) assistant general counsel Steven Masada said in a blogpost on Tuesday (Sept 16).Since its operation, these kits have been used to steal at least 5,000 Microsoft credentials from 94 countries, he said.Among these credentials were some that belonged to around 70 people in Singapore, the tech giant said.

SINGAPORE — A certain religious organisation's council member, whom the prosecution described as «outwardly pious», committed sexual offences against his friend's son when the child was between 11 and 12 years old.The offender, 66, even recorded a video of himself touching the child's private parts and took more than 40 pictures showing the victim's genitals.Details about the religious organisation have been redacted from court documents.Stressing that the man's conduct was «abhorrent», Deputy Public Prosecutor Dhiraj G. Chainani said: «(He was) so strict in his religiosity that he forbade any females from staying the night in his home.»Yet, behind closed doors, he revealed a markedly different self — a man driven by perverse intent, who consumed child pornography involving young males before turning his predatory attention to a young child who trusted him."The man, who cannot be named due to a gag order to protect the victim's identity, was sentenced to 13 years and three months' jail on Sept 16.

The Government will take strong action against vaping and enhance support for students' holistic development to build a fairer and more inclusive society that supports Singaporeans at every stage in life.These plans were announced on Wednesday (Sept 17) in their addenda to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam's address at the opening of Parliament, by the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and Ministry of Education (MOE).In his address on Sept 5, President Shanmugaratnam highlighted the importance of «comprehensive social support systems in place» that will support social mobility and help Singaporeans navigate through challenging and uncertain times.As such, the ministries will enhance support for families, nurture the youth, and strengthen care for the elderly so that all Singaporeans can be reassured throughout their various stages of life.[[nid:722675]]Here are the highlights from the statements by each ministry.

The recent train disruptions are isolated incidents and not indicative of systemic issues, said SMRT Trains President Lam Sheau Kai.Speaking to media at Kim Chuan Depot on Wednesday (Sept 17), Lam explained that a faulty component in the power system caused a signalling failure, affecting services between Aljunied and Tanah Merah stations on Sept 16.«The component has since been isolated, and train services resumed as normal this morning,» he said.For the Sept 17 breakdown on the Thomson-East Coast Line, Lam said SMRT is working with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to investigate a signalling fault that required a system restart.«To minimise inconvenience during the morning peak, commuters were disembarked and advised to use alternate lines,» he said, adding that train services were temporarily suspended for about 30 minutes.

Train services along the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) have resumed after a two-hour disruption on Wednesday (Sept 17) morning, said SMRT.In a Facebook update at 8.54am, the train operator said that all train services on the TEL have resumed, and that free regular bus and bridging bus services have ended.The disruption, which occurred at around 7am, spanned across all stations on the TEL from Bayshore to Woodlands North, and was caused by a signal fault, said SMRT.Commuters were then advised by SMRT to allow for an additional 15 minutes of travel time due to the train disruption.In an update at 8.38am, SMRT said that TEL services were «progressively resuming to normalcy» and that free regular and bridging bus services were still available.Commuters were later informed at 8.49am that they could return to TEL stations to continue their journey, and that bridging bus services had ceased.

Four people were taken to hospital and 50 evacuated after a fire broke out in a Serangoon HDB flat on Tuesday (Sept 16) evening.In a Facebook post later that day, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it responded to a fire at Block 502 Serangoon North Avenue 4 at about 8pm.Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters saw that one of the bedrooms of the seventh-floor HDB unit was on fire and extinguished the flames with a water jet.Three people from the unit had evacuated before SCDF arrived, with one of them having suffered minor burn injuries.They were assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to Singapore General Hospital, alongside another resident from a neighbouring unit. As a precautionary measure, around 50 residents were also evacuated from the block by the police and SCDF.Preliminary findings revealed that the fire likely had an electrical origin in the bedroom.

The perennial debate of which food is better — Singaporean or Malaysian — had netizens chiming in again after Malaysia-based American content creator, Terry Pernell, gave his two cents' worth.Pernell and his partner, Mag, posted several TikTok videos on Sept 11, where both expressed surprise at the cost of food in Singapore.They ordered 10 sticks of satay, stir-fried beef, and a large plate of egg fried rice at Newton Food Centre and the bill was about $45.They noted that it was pricey.«This food better knock me off my feet,» Pernell stated while tasting the satay. And while it didn't quite hit the mark, he admitted that the satay was «good» and raved about the peanut sauce.«I can't say the food (is) bad though,» he concluded.In one of her videos, Mag also wrote that «Singapore is not for the poor», lamenting the high cost of a beer.[embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@travelwithmag/video/7548500222763076870[/embed]To those thinking of visiting Singapore, Pernell had one piece of advice — «Bring all your money, don't leave none of your money at home,» he quipped.

Thundery showers and gusty winds are expected to continue into the second fortnight of September due to Sumatra squalls, said the Meteorological Service Singapore on Tuesday (Sept 16).Sumatra squalls are an organised line of thunderstorms that typically develop over Sumatra island or the Straits of Malacca. It generally moves eastwards towards Singapore and the surrounding region under the influence of south-westerly or westerly winds.According to the Met Service, this weather phenomenon commonly occurs during the south-west monsoon and inter-monsoon periods, and usually affects Singapore overnight or in the morning.The Met Service said that the prevailing south-west monsoon is forecast to persist for the rest of the month, adding that Sumatra squalls may bring widespread thundery showers and gusty winds in the pre-dawn and morning on several days.Localised short duration thundery showers are also expected over parts of the island on some afternoons, with a few dry days. «Overall, the total rainfall for the second fortnight of September is forecast to be near average over most parts of the island,» it added.

As part of ongoing efforts to improve vehicle and road safety, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Tuesday (Sept 16) that it will require all newly-registered motorcycles to be equipped with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) from April 1, 2027.ABS is a safety feature that prevents the wheels on motor vehicles from locking up during sudden or hard braking.This allows the driver or rider to maintain steering control and stability. All new cars here are already equipped with it, even though it has not been a legal requirement.LTA has been studying the impact of ABS for all motorcycles since 2023. Last year, the transport regulator was in talks with motorcycle retailers on the feasibility of requiring all new two-wheelers here to be fitted with this system.Citing a World Health Organisation study in its latest announcement, the authority said that motorcycles equipped with ABS have a 37 per cent lower fatal crash rate compared to those without it.

The co-location of the new Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) within a business district means more opportunities for applied learning and industry collaboration, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Tuesday (Sept 16).He was speaking at the official opening of the new campus in the Punggol Digital District (PDD).The PDD currently hosts companies like Panasonic, with organisations such as dConstruct, GovTech, UOB, OCBC, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, and the Association of Information Security Professionals set to move to the district.Speaking at the opening ceremony, PM Wong highlighted that SIT is the only university in Singapore co-located within a business district.SIT comprises two plots — the 42,000 sq m Campus Court facing the Coney Island waterfront and the 49,000 sq m Campus Heart featuring the Punggol Heritage Trail. The campus has been fully operational since May, after about six years of development following its groundbreaking in 2019, with approximately 11,000 students and nearly 1,300 staff.

SINGAPORE — The 6.3m-long carcass of a baleen whale was found in the waters off Tanjong Pagar on Sept 6.Announcing the discovery in a statement, the NUS Lee Kong Chian National History Museum said the cause of the whale's death is unclear.The carcass was in an advanced stage of decomposition, and research is underway to find out more about the animal, said the museum's curator of mammals Marcus Chua.Officers from the National Parks Board (NParks) had alerted the museum researchers to the carcass.However, while preparations were ongoing, the whale's «delicate carcass» was reported on Sept 12 to have drifted towards the Marina Bay Cruise Centre.To prevent it from being lost to the open sea, museum staff worked with Singapore Salvage Engineers to secure the remains.

SINGAPORE — Another eatery has reported being targeted by a fake bulk order, bringing the total number of reported cases in just over a week to six.The latest case to surface affected Hapiha Mediterranean Taverna, located near Holland Road, and involved the impersonation of someone from Singapore Chinese Girls' School.Hapiha's co-owner, who wanted to be known only as Ali, told The Straits Times that a man contacted the restaurant on Sept 10 at around 3.45pm, claiming to be from Singapore Chinese Girls' School and the «education sector».The caller wanted to book the restaurant, which serves non-halal food, for three days between 3pm and 6pm for 30 people each day, on Sept 12, 13 and 14, said Ali.The estimated value of the booking, inclusive of operating costs, was more than $3,000, said Ali.«(The caller) told us he had been to the restaurant before. It was as if he knew the restaurant very well,» she added.The restaurant, which has been operating for two years in Ridgewood Close, in the Mount Sinai area, seats a maximum of 30 people.

A Singaporean man accused of drug trafficking has been handed fresh charges of possessing vape cartridges containing Class A controlled drugs.47-year-old Lim Heong Sheng was allegedly found in possession of a vape cartridge containing methamphetamine and another containing MDMB-4en-PINACA, a synthetic cannabinoid or designer drug. According to court documents, Lim allegedly consumed methamphetamine on or before Jan 16 this year.He was found with the drug-laced vape cartridges at around 10.20am at a carpark in Jurong West Street 65 on the same day.He was also accused of having other drugs on him at the same location, including a packet of cannabis, a packet of ketamine, and drug utensils. His other alleged offences include trafficking methamphetamine and possessing a single 7.62mm hollow point ammunition round in a laptop bag found in the boot of his vehicle.Hollow point bullets are specially designed with a hollow cavity at the tip. This feature makes the bullet expand upon impact, especially when it comes into contact with a soft target.

SINGAPORE — The mastermind of an operation to illegally rent out short-term accommodations at 31 private residential properties has been fined $1,144,902.Between July 2018 and November 2021, Robin Koh Guohui, 41, had engaged four others to be part of an unauthorised short-term accommodation operation in return for a monthly salary, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on Sept 15.The four are Pandy Lim En Xiang, 33, Chew Lam Yong, 61, Low Ah Tee, 81, and Chua Lian Beng, 71. A fifth person, Ryan Chow Yan Kit, 34, was also involved.The five men — all Singaporeans — were fined between $8,000 and $32,500, and sentenced between August 2024 and March 2025.Koh, who was sentenced on Sept 15, was the sole director of a company named SG Auto Car, which he used to facilitate the illegal activities. The company was renamed SG Bizloan Consultant in July 2021.Chow and the four whom Koh had approached each served as the sole director of one of four companies — KCA, Edrich Group, Ed Werks Holdings and ANZ Management Services — at different times.

A male Sunda pangolin by the name of Berani, who underwent the first orthopaedic surgery of its kind on his hind leg after he was rescued in 2018, has died.The Mandai Wildlife Reserve announced his death in a Facebook Reel yesterday (Sept 15).The post reads: «We are deeply saddened to bid farewell to Berani, our beloved rescued Sunda pangolin.»His keeper, Shahnom, shared in the Reel that he was rescued seven years ago and had been under their care since: «Whenever we shared Berani's story with guests, they were often amazed by his incredible journey from rescue to recovery.»Shahnom added that a few months ago, Berani, who was housed at the Night Safari, was diagnosed with a rare skin disease by the veterinary team and underwent five months of intensive treatment.«Throughout this time, our teams gave our best to ensure he was well cared for and received the best treatment possible. Despite all efforts, his condition worsened and with great sadness, we had to make the difficult decision to let him go,» he said.

A Singaporean woman has expressed disappointment with a dating agency’s services, claiming she was matched with a man significantly older than her preferred age range. Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the 63-year-old woman revealed that she had purchased a one-year premium package for $3,199 from dating agency, Lovestuck, in 2022. The woman, who wished to be known only as Zhang, said that a staff member from the dating agency had initially mentioned a man in his 60s, who was investing in China, as a potential match.«I thought he was suitable, since I'm also a businesswoman,» said Zhang.However, after a month or two, the staff failed to arrange a meeting between the two, claiming that the man had gone abroad. Instead, the mobile app kept recommending a man in his 80s — more than 10 years older than the age range she had reportedly specified.«I told them I didn't want anyone too old, but they kept sending me inappropriate matches,» said Zhang.Feeling dissatisfied, she requested a refund, but her request was reportedly denied.

The fake bulk order from an «army camp» struck again — this time a nasi lemak shop and a bakery were the victims.Reports said that there have been at least five such cases in the past week. Nasi lemak shop Sedap! in Novena received an order for 150 pax of nasi lemak and bottles of mineral water on Sept 8, due the following day, but it was neither paid for nor the food collected, according to the shop's an Instagram post last Thursday (Sept 11).In its post titled «A lesson to learn», the shop said it received a phone call from «Luke» who placed the order for the army camp on an «urgent basis».«Luke» said advance payment was not possible as the shop was a «first time supplier» and that documentation was needed for approval.This sounded reasonable at the time for the shop, the Sedap! spokesperson wrote, and it agreed to accept the order and deliver food at 1pm on Sept 9, when it would receive payment.«On the day of delivery, there was insufficient time to get his 'office approval', but we decided to still proceed with the delivery,» the spokesperson said.

SINGAPORE — A Singaporean arrested in Malaysia for allegedly trying to move vapes laced with etomidate and cocaine to South Korea was an engineering student at Nanyang Technological University (NTU).Ivan Tan Zhi Xuan took a year off school in 2019 to run a bak chor mee (minced pork noodles) stall in Ang Mo Kio.Tan, a 31-year-old Singaporean, is facing accusations in Malaysia that he was the ringleader of a criminal group which tried to recruit students in South Korea to set up a distribution network for drug-laced vapes in Seoul.The Straits Times learnt that the syndicate's operation was first detected by South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS).The agency said Tan and three of his associates had allegedly tried to smuggle each month 20,000 vapes mixed with etomidate and cocaine, an amount significant enough to feed the addiction of two million people.Tan was arrested on June 19 with two other Singaporeans — Tristan Chew Jin Zhong, 25, and Quek Kien Seng, 45 — and 57-year-old Malaysian Kong Sien Mee at a luxury hotel in Selangor, where the vapes were packed.Malaysian law enforcement agencies were tipped off by the NIS.

A TikTok post by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Sunday (Sept 14) is going viral, racking up more than 500k views in just over a day. The video shows two police officers running into a man impersonating as a uniformed police officer — the second time he is caught doing so — after being 'caught' as a police impersonator in an earlier TikTok post.Realising that he is about to be exposed again, the impersonator breaks out into a series of dance moves popularised by Chinese dance group Buqi Crew as the song Pao Mo (Bubbles) by Hong Kong singer G.E.M aptly plays out in the background.

Seventeen students and two staff from E-Bridge Pre-School's Circuit Road branch have come down with what is suspected to be food poisoning. They started showing symptoms of gastroenteritis from Sept 9, said the Communicable Diseases Agency, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) in a joint statement on Sunday (Sept 14).Gastroenteritis refers to the inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It is often caused by infections from bacteria, parasites or viruses in contaminated food, water or surfaces and results in symptoms like fever, vomiting as well as abdominal pain.No one was hospitalised and the case is being investigated, the statement said.ECDA is monitoring the situation and working with the pre-school operator to ensure pupil and staff wellbeing. It has also reminded the pre-school to comply with infection prevention and control guidelines.«Pre-schools are required to adhere to the food safety and hygiene requirements specified in the Early Childhood Development Centres Code of Practice,» said the statement.