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.

A beloved coffee hawker, known for serving traditional coffee at his stall in Chinatown, died on Wednesday (Sept 10) at the age of 80.For more than 60 years, Tan Chew Ning operated his coffee stall — a craft he began after learning to brew coffee from his father at the age of 13.According to Shin Min Daily News, Tan began learning to make coffee from his father after dropping out of school as a teenager, and later went on to run his own stall at Chinatown Complex Food Centre. The stall was named Tai Hwa Coffee Stall.In an interview with Shin Min, Tan's 50-year-old son said his grandfather had opened a coffee shop in the Pagoda Street area, which was taken back in 1993.After that, Tan worked at various coffee stalls before eventually partnering with a friend to take over the current stall.Despite the departure of his business partner and the passing of his wife in 2018, Tan continued operating the stall. 

A day after returning from a four-day visit to the United States on Sept 13, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing is on a four-day introductory visit to China till Thursday (Sept 18).Chan, who is also Coordinating Minister for Public Services, will meet with senior Chinese leaders in Beijing and speak at the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.He will visit the People's Liberation Army (PLA) National Defence University, where he will engage senior PLA and provincial officials in a roundtable discussion. The minister will also be hosted to a visit to the PLA Southern Theatre Command in Guangzhou and the STC navy in Zhanjiang. Established in 2016, the Southern Theatre Command is one of five theatre commands of the PLA. It is responsible for parts of mainland China and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, the South China Sea, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. 

A 44-year-old man was arrested on Saturday (Sept 13) for drink driving and driving under disqualification after his car crashed into a traffic light pole.Footage posted to the Singapore Road Accident Facebook page showed the aftermath of the incident, which occurred in the wee hours.The clip, believed to be taken by a passenger in a passing vehicle, captured a black BMW that had crashed into a traffic light pole, with the car still lodged against the pole at the scene. Its parts were strewn about, with its bumper visibly damaged and the driver's door open.The traffic light pole was severely damaged and leaning at an angle.In response to queries, police told AsiaOne that the Traffic Police officers were conducting a patrol on Sept 13 at about 1.45am along Beach Road when they signalled for a car to stop. Shortly after, the car sped off and crashed into the traffic light pole.The incident occurred at the junction of Nicoll highway and Sims Way.The man was conscious when the Singapore Civil Defence Force took him to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the authorities said.Police investigations are ongoing.[[nid:722270]]

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho — About six months into his posting to the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Peace Carvin V detachment in Idaho, US, Military Expert 5 (ME5) Esley Pwee received a text from his older sister Emily.It wasn't to check in on how he was doing, but to ask what items ME5 Esley's three-year-old son Hayden would like.That was how the 32-year-old senior maintenance officer learnt that Emily, a military intelligence expert with the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS), would be joining him in the US for Exercise Forging Sabre.Held from Sept 6 to 21 at Mountain Home Air Force Base, this year's sense and strike exercise involves over 800 personnel from the Singapore Army, RSAF, DIS and the defence technology community.It is both ME4 Emily, 37, and ME5 Esley's second time at Exercise Forging Sabre, but their first time participating together.

For mechatronics systems student Ian Lim, having access to larger, revamped lab facilities would significantly enhance his learning environment and motivation throughout his curriculum.Speaking to AsiaOne, the 25-year-old student from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) shared that his wish has now been realised, thanks to the revamped spaces at the new campus in Punggol. «I think it really shows SIT's commitment [in] preparing students for the future. Having access to nearby research labs and upgraded facilities gives us the chance to do hands-on work that complements what we learn in class,» said the Year 4 student. Lim, who is in his final year, added that the new labs provide him and his teammates with ample space to test ideas quickly and gain hands-on experience, while preparing them for future research.

Given that Singaporeans can be self-radicalised by a wider range of extremist ideologies, the country’s rehabilitation capabilities have to be more than just Islamic religious counselling, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Saturday (Sept 13).Speaking to 400 guests which included members of the Religious Rehabilitation Group, Inter-Agency Aftercare Group, mosque leaders and community volunteers, PM Wong noted that threats to Singapore’s security have evolved beyond those posed by the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) network some 20 years ago.“Furthermore, the range of extremist ideologies has widened. It's no longer limited to religious extremism,” he said, adding that there are instances of Singaporeans drawn to Neo-Nazi movements or the incel subculture, known for its extreme resentment and hostility towards women.

Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers foiled an attempt to smuggle 2,400 cartons of duty unpaid cigarettes into Singapore via Tuas Checkpoint on Sept 5.In a Facebook post on Saturday (Sept 13), ICA said that it noticed anomalies in the scanned image of a Malaysia-registered lorry which had declared its consignment of goods as tomatoes and directed the vehicle for further checks.During the checks, ICA officers uncovered 2,400 cartons of duty unpaid cigarettes.From the photographs shared in ICA's post, cartons of cigarettes could be seen packed in carton boxes imprinted with tomatoes. The case has been referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigation. Vapes hidden in baby strollerOn Sept 9, ICA officers foiled an attempt to smuggle e-vaporisers hidden in a baby stroller stored in the boot of a Singaporean man's car. 

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho — Singapore's four new Boeing P-8A maritime patrol aircraft will likely be put into service in the early 2030s, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Saturday (Sept 13).He was speaking to the media at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, at the tail end of his introductory visit to the US from Sept 9 to 13.At his meeting with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Sept 10, it was announced that the Fokker 50s, which have been in use since 1993, will be retired.The Ministry of Defence had said earlier this week that it will be acquiring the four Boeing P-8A aircraft to replace the ageing Fokker 50s.Chan told reporters on Saturday that the Republic has been evaluating replacement assets «for a few years» and searching for one which can «enhance our situation awareness» in today's «congested» security environment.

If your flight's air conditioning system stops working, it's not like you can just crank down the windows.Passengers on board an Air India aircraft from New Delhi to Singapore were left sweating after being stuck in that predicament for two hours.Journalist Ashish Mishra wrote in an X post on Sept 10 at 11.37pm IST (Sept 11 at 2.07am SGT): «Passengers onboard Delhi-Singapore flight AI2380 have been suffering without AC for around 1.5 hours, also the electricity in the cabin has gone. »People are forced to use papers as fans. We are getting roasted here... please help. Pathetic.«In the accompanying video, some passengers can be seen reaching up to the overhead vents, while several others fan themselves with in-flight brochures.The plane appears to be sitting on the tarmac at Delhi airport, with the cabin lights dimmed and in-flight entertainment showing a black screen with some sort of message.Mishra updated the situation half an hour later, sharing that they were »being deplaned suspecting a technical glitch".The bright cabin lights and screens are back on as passengers disembark.

A 46-year-old man will be charged on Saturday (Sept 13) after being arrested for his suspected involvement in a case of extortion.The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a press release that they had received a report from a woman on Sept 11 at around 3.55pm stating that a male friend had asked her to transfer cryptocurrency via a QR code, claiming that another friend of his required the money.Despite transferring more than $78,000 to the former, she subsequently lodged a police report suspecting that he was in trouble.Officers from the Woodlands Police Division conducted «extensive ground enquiries and follow-up investigations» to identify a 46-year-old man and arrest him within eight hours at Changi Airport Terminal 1, the release added.The SPF in their preliminary investigations discovered that the man had allegedly restrained a male victim, presumably the woman's friend, with cable ties at a hotel at Coleman Street and extorted over $200,000 from him. The extorted cryptocurrency was recovered while the male victim was conveyed conscious to the hospital after sustaining injuries.

In the wake of the killing of American right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam cautioned that while Singapore has largely defied identity politics, there remain worrying trends which he hopes Singaporeans will continue to eschew. Shanmugam, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, was speaking to the media at Laguna National Golf Resort Club before a charity event on Friday (Sept 12), where he was asked about the murder of the divisive political figure.One worrying trend, said Shanmugam, is that some politicians here are «playing identity politics» based on race and religion, without identifying the politicians. He said: «In every country there is political profit in doing that. If we go down that route, well, ultimately Singapore will suffer.»He noted, however, that Singapore has largely avoided identity politics, and the Government tries to keep it that way.

A 40-year-old man — the first to be charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) for trafficking pods containing etomidate — was brought back to the crime scene in Ang Mo Kio on Friday (Sept 12).Derek Khor Boon Chun had been caught for allegedly possessing 43 vape pods laced with etomidate — also known as Kpods — at the carpark near block 631 late in the afternoon of Sept 6 after he was seen behaving suspiciously.Following a police search, checks on his mobile phone had revealed that he was allegedly involved in e-vaporiser trafficking.He was then charged on Sept 8 with etomidate possession for the purpose of trafficking under MDA — seven days after the law was enhanced.Khor revisit the crime scene on Friday along with officers from the Health Sciences Authority, where he exited a silver van along with at least three HSA officers and four security officers at 4.05pm.He hung his head low as he was escorted through a sheltered walkway at Block 631 and brought up to the sixth floor via an elevator.About 15 minutes later, AsiaOne observed that Khor was brought back down to the lobby and escorted back into the van.

A man was caught attempting to smuggle e-vaporisers hidden in a baby stroller stored in the boot of his car at Woodlands Checkpoint on Tuesday (Sept 9), said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).In a Facebook post uploaded on Sept 12, ICA said its officers had profiled the vehicle, which was driven by a Singaporean man, for enhanced checks.When questioned by officers, the man denied having anything to declare.   

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has expressed his deep gratitude to those who fought for Singapore as well as the pioneers who rebuilt the country after World War II (WWII).In a Facebook post on Friday (Sept 12), PM Wong wrote: «As we mark 60 years of independence, we remember and honour all who defended Singapore, as well as the pioneers who endured the war and rebuilt our home from its ruins.»«The peace and prosperity we enjoy today rests on their sacrifices. We can never fully repay this debt.»But we can, and must, ensure that the price of war is never forgotten. Let us uphold the values of courage, resilience and determination they showed — and continue safeguarding Singapore and our way of life, together as one people." 

The 26-year-old man who was arrested during the Central Narcotics Bureau's (CNB) anti-drug raid on Wednesday evening (Sept 10) has been charged with allegedly trafficking vape pods containing etomidate.Singaporean Tian Jiacheng was handed two charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act on Friday (Sept 12). The Wednesday evening raid was CNB's first major operation targeting an etomidate syndicate since new anti-vaping laws kicked in on Sept 1.  

The first of Singapore's 20 F-35 fighter aircraft remains on track to be delivered by the end of 2026, said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) on Friday (Sept 12).During a visit to Lockheed Martin's production facility in Fort Worth, Texas on Friday, where Singapore's F-35s are being built, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing described the delivery not just as a milestone, but as a significant step in a long journey.«This is not just a milestone, but one step in a long journey that we will take together with Lockheed Martin, our partners in the US Government, the US Air Force, and the community in Ebbing - because every one of us needs to come together in order for this capability to be realised,» said Chan, while expressing his appreciation to all those who made this possible.

A former Malaysian minister has come out to say that Singapore should provide compensation to its neighbour when hiring medical professionals trained there.In a Facebook post on Tuesday (Sept 9) Abdul Rahman Dahlan wrote: «The exodus of Malaysian trained doctors and nurses to foreign countries especially Singapore has caused anxiety and stirred debates in Malaysia.»Rahman was a Member of Parliament from 2008 to 2018. He helmed the Economic Planning Unit as a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department from 2016 to 2018.While this «brain drain» has been happening for some time, recent developments have put this issue in the forefront of public discourse and parliamentary debates, he said.«There are many reasons why Malaysia is facing acute shortage of doctors and nurses. Some are admittedly self inflicted while some are due to the aggressive 'poaching' by foreign countries.»Rahman added, however, that Malaysian medical professionals should not be barred from relocating or working in Singapore as «their right to decide their own future must be respected».

SINGAPORE - The noise made by people playing pickleball almost daily for months near a Bukit Panjang block of flats is frustrating a resident who wanted to be known only as Ms Tan, 77.«The pickleball noise is disturbing us, especially for those who have to work night shifts,» said the homemaker, who lives at Block 524 Jelapang Road.Pickleball has grown in popularity over the past year, and the games produce sharp sounds when plastic balls strike hard paddles and ricochet off the floor.But the noise has also been a source of tension among some residents, with the authorities taking measures to ensure a fair compromise.Ms Tan said she has heard other frustrated residents yelling at pickleball players to stop playing. She keeps her main door shut to block out the noise, but has to put up with a stuffy flat as a result.But some of her neighbours, like Ms Pauline Tan, 28, are less bothered.«Actually, I kind of enjoy watching them play. I even bring my baby down sometimes to see,» she said. «I think that it adds to the neighbourhood spirit.»

A Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) operation on Wednesday (Sept 10) evening led to the seizure of numerous vape-related products, including more than 400 e-vaporiser pods believed to contain etomidate.Eight Singaporeans, comprising seven men and one woman, were arrested for suspected drug offences during the operation that took place in the vicinity of Hougang Ave 9, Boon Lay Drive and Telok Blangah Rise.Cash amounting to more than $22,500 was also seized.CNB said in a statement the following day that this was its first major operation against a syndicate trafficking in etomidate-laced vapes, after the substance was reclassified as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act on Sept 1. «It (the operation) demonstrates CNB's commitment in stamping out controlled drugs, including harmful substances such as etomidate,» CNB said, adding that the anti-drug agency will continue to monitor and work closely with other relevant agencies to support the government's response against etomidate. Behind-the-scene lookAsiaOne witnessed CNB officers in action on Wednesday at a HDB block in the vicinity of Telok Blangah Rise.

A hawker took to Facebook to appeal for help clearing some 150 sets of unsold nasi briyani, after a bulk order made by someone claiming to be from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) was not picked up.Muhammad Shazain Faiha Muslim Food Paradise, a hawker stall in Tiong Bahru Market, posted a request to Facebook on Tuesday (Sept 9) for people to buy its nasi biryani.According to the post, the stall was «scammed with a fake order of 150 packets of chicken and mutton briyani».The person who made the order claimed to be an «SAF representative» and told the hawker he was unable to put down a deposit for the order, as «the military is a government agency and therefore cannot provide a deposit». He also asked for bottles of mineral water, according to 8World.The hawker had given the man a discount for the food and increased the amount of meat and rice in each serving, after learning that the food would be distributed to soldiers. When nobody arrived to collect the order, the hawker realised he had been scammed, according to the Chinese news outlet.

SINGAPORE — A work group formed by the Government has released a raft of recommendations to stamp out illegal platform work and tackle other issues facing platform workers.The recommendations unveiled on Sept 11 include requiring platform operators to notify the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) if they suspect foreigners of carrying out platform work, which can be done only by Singaporeans or permanent residents.Broadly, the group's 10 recommendations aim to protect the livelihoods of Singapore's roughly 67,600 regular platform workers, and champion fairer and more transparent payment structures and incentive schemes.The group also suggested that platform operators should conduct more regular and stringent identity checks on workers, and that the Government should look into strengthening enforcement and increasing penalties for rule-breakers in the ride-hailing sector.The Government should also engage online platforms to take down apps, channels and advertisements that enable the matching of illegal rides, and strengthen its ability to block or remove such platforms, the group said.

Two women have been caught for attempting to bring in a total of 2,400 heat sticks and four vapes via Changi Terminal 4, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Sept 10).The two cases were detected last Saturday (Sept 6), beginning with a female Romanian traveller at 1.45pm.She was selected for enhanced checks as ICA officers flagged her for potentially carrying a prohibited item into Singapore.Almost 1,200 heat sticks — heat-not-burn tobacco — and two e-vaporisers were discovered in her possession, ICA said.Heat sticks refer to cylindrical tobacco products that can be placed within an electronic device that increases the temperature of the stick, releasing an aerosol containing nicotine and tobacco.Close to midnight, ICA officers then profiled a female South Korean work permit holder for checks, asking her if she had anything to declare at customs.However, the woman claimed she had nothing to declare, and officers proceeded with a thorough check on her belongings.Nearly 1,200 heat sticks and two vapes were subsequently found, ICA said.

A scam syndicate responsible for over 330 cases involving over $40 million of losses was busted in a cross-border operation that led to the arrest of 12 individuals across Singapore.The operation — involving the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Cambodian National Police (CNP) — was carried out at multiple locations in Singapore and Cambodia on Sept 9, according to a statement on Wednesday (Sept 10).Raids across Singapore at residential apartments and hotel rooms tied to suspected syndicate members resulted in the arrest of 12 people — eight Singaporean men, one Singaporean woman, two Malaysian men and one Filipino woman.According to the police, the arrested individuals are believed to be callers for the syndicate, who had just returned to Singapore from Cambodia. In Phnom Penh, CNP officers raided a building and warehouse allegedly linked to the syndicate, where $2.5 million worth of funds from bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets, 53 electronic devices, copies of scam scripts and victims’ records were seized.

A father, embroiled in a dispute with his ex-wife over access to his children, was issued a court order himself after submitting «AI hallucinated material» from ChatGPT in his personal protection order (PPO) application. A family court magistrate had found that none of the 14 “relevant local legal precedents” that the self-represented man had cited in his applications were legitimate cases.According to a written judgment made available on Wednesday (Sept 10), the case involved two former spouses who returned to court after their divorce to seek PPOs for themselves and their two daughters against the other.Their dispute centred around two main incidents in March, which arose out of access arrangements for the two children.“The father was evidently frustrated by what he perceived to be the mother’s attempt to deny him access to the children in spite of the court order that was made,” said Magistrate Soh Kian Peng.“The mother evidently felt justified in acting the way she did on the basis that she, as well as the children, felt threatened by how the father had behaved during his period of time.”

SINGAPORE — Ten former employees of renovation firm Interior Times (Kings') have alleged that they have been owed over $118,000 in commissions since August, and have since lodged employment dispute reports with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM).Nine of the employees are interior designers who said they'd left the firm, a branch of Interior Times, in July and August. They claimed they were each owed between $2,600 and $30,700 for at least 10 projects.The firm's director, Jason Wang, disputed the commission amounts and said he has been attending mediation sessions with TADM.He claimed the amounts said to be owed to the IDs were for projects that his firm is still finalising payments for.In response to queries, a TADM spokesman confirmed it is assisting 10 people in their claims for unpaid salaries or commissions from Interior Times (Kings').One former employee has received payment following mediation, while the remaining nine cases are awaiting mediation, the spokesman said on Sept 4.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has shared how he regularly looks out for ways to improve the interface of the websites of various government services.Speaking to 800 students and academics during the Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum on Tuesday (Sept 9), SM Lee said that he becomes a “mystery shopper on behalf of the government” when “getting things done”.“I need to go to MOM (Ministry of Manpower) to do something on their website [and] CPF to check my account,” he said at the University Cultural Centre in the National University of Singapore. “And I look at the interface and say, ‘Surely we can do better’.””So I send them a suggestion and tell them, ‘This is just a suggestion. Please take it seriously, but think about the best way to make things better’.”SM Lee said government services will improve when Singapore has a more involved and engaged population who would feel that “if they think something can be better, they can do something about it”.“The most Singaporean thing about you SM,” quipped the forum’s moderator, NUS Associate Professor Leong Ching, “is that you complain to the different agencies.”

Israel's recent airstrikes on Doha are a «blatant violation of the sovereignty of Qatar», said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Sept 10. The ministry deemed the airstrikes on Sept 9 an «egregious and dangerous action» that poses a threat to ongoing negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza.Israel had attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an airstrike on Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday (Sept 9), Reuters reported. Qatar has been acting as a mediator alongside Egypt in talks between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza. MFA said that Singapore stands in solidarity with Qatar.Separately, the Singapore Embassy in Doha issued a notice on Wednesday, advising Singaporeans in Doha to «to exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel and crowded areas, and follow the instructions of the local authorities».They also encouraged Singaporeans to e-register with MFA so that they can be contacted in event of an emergency. 

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho - With the shift of a joystick, a Neros Archer drone whirs to life, kicking up a cloud of sand as it lifts off.It quickly cuts through the clear blue sky, soaring over a mini 'city' made of container blocks. At a distance, a ground station control device displays a first-person view of the drone.The Neros Archer is one of three types of micro unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) employed by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) at this year's Exercise Forging Sabre in the US.Over 800 troops are involved in the exercise held in Idaho, US, from Sept 6 to 21, and sees more drones being used alongside manned platforms for integrated strike operations.At Saylor Creek Range in Mountain Home, members of the RSAF's newly established Drone Rapid Operationalisation, Integration and Deployment (DROID) unit demonstrated to the media the capabilities of the Neros Archer and Skydio X10 micro drones.Drones commercially availableThe drone unit was inaugurated in July 2025 and is participating in Exercise Forging Sabre for the first time.