More than 20 people, including several residents and students, banded together to move a seven-storey-tall tree in Serangoon after it fell and blocked a pedestrian path and a road on Thursday (May 7). Hong (transliteration) told Shin Min Daily News that he witnessed the incident at Block 326 Serangoon Avenue 3 at around 5pm while on the way to pick his child up from school. Shu Pili (transliteration), a nearby resident, told the Chinese daily that the tree had been planted in front of the HDB flats more than 16 years ago. The 53-year-old building consultant was on his way home from work when he suddenly heard a loud crash. He then saw the fallen tree and rushed to help. Shu added that many nearby residents came to help, with some bringing saws to cut the trunk and make it easier to move, while others helped to direct traffic. He said that some students from Zhong Hua Secondary School, who were waiting at the bus stop after school, also joined in to help. The fallen tree was eventually moved, thanks to the Good Samaritans.  

A 30-year-old fishery worker died after being struck by lightning on Tuesday (May 5). In response to AsiaOne's queries, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said they received an alert regarding a workplace incident at around 4pm that day. The fishery worker was struck by lightning at a fish farm in the waters off Lim Chu Kang coast, said an MOM spokesperson, who added that the employer of the incident site is F20W.The police also said they were alerted to the incident at 691 Lim Chu Kang Road.The man was conveyed unconscious to Woodlands Hospital. Based on preliminary investigations, the police do not suspect foul play. Both MOM and the police are investigating the incident, the authorities said. «As a general safety measure, workers should immediately seek shelter when alerted of any potential thundery shower. Workers should wait for at least 30 minutes after thunder is last heard before resuming outdoor activities,» said MOM.[[nid:735017]]dana.leong@asiaone.com 

A 53-year-old male tipper truck driver is assisting with ongoing police investigations after the tipper truck he was driving self-skidded and landed on its side in Jurong on Thursday (May 7).The accident happened at the junction of Jurong Town Hall Road and Teban Garden Road at about 4.50pm. Map showing where the tipper truck overturned. GRAPHIC: Google Maps, Social media A photo of the accident shows two tipper trucks in the direction of Teban Gardens Road, with one truck lying on its side.A recovery vehicle is seen along Jurong Town Hall Road, closing off the left-turning lane towards Teban Gardens Road.Both lanes of the two-lane road towards Teban Market Place were also closed off to traffic.Police investigations are ongoing. [[nid:734992]]

A man in Yishun has apparently turned his car into a makeshift two-storey home for his cats. The dark grey car was seen at the second floor of a multi-storey parking lot at Block 347, Yishun Avenue 11 with makeshift cat beds and feeding utensils placed beside it, reported Shin Min Daily News. When AsiaOne went down to the scene on Friday (May 8), two cats were resting in cardboard cat beds under the car. A calico cat was seated below the hood of the vehicle while an orange cat was under the boot. The car owner was not present.There were also several pet care items and a plastic bowl filled with drinking water. He, a 50-year-old engineer, told Shin Min that he owns the car and two cats. He said he took in the two injured strays — a calico cat named Patches and an orange tabby named Tiger — over a decade ago. The cats used to be kept at home but He let Tiger, who didn't like being indoors for long periods, roam downstairs and soon Patches followed. He said that he bought his car about 10 years ago for around $100,000 but he drove much less this past year. 

Faced with a different world — where there will be more disruptions and shocks, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) must do more to strengthen its collective resilience, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Friday (May 8).He was speaking at the plenary session of the 48th Asean Summit being held in Cebu, Philippines.In 2024, the 11-member bloc, which has a combined population of about 684 million, achieved a total trade in goods and services value of about US$5.1 trillion (S$6.51 trillion).But like the rest of its Asian neighbours, Asean member states are also among the hardest hit amid the Middle East crisis due to their high dependence on energy and other critical supplies from the Gulf.Then, there is also the issue of trade disruptions arising from the US' Liberation Day tariffs, which PM Wong noted has «not completely gone away». «The realities of the global economy going forward are that there will be more disruptions, more shocks, more volatility. That will be the new normal in our economic landscape.»He urged fellow Asean leaders to do more to strengthen the bloc's collective resilience.

SINGAPORE — A former Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) regular was sentenced to six years and 10 months’ jail on May 8 after he broke into a man’s home, accessed the latter’s cryptocurrency wallet and stole 1.7 million USDT.According to court documents, the amount of USDT Teo Rong Xuan, 35, had stolen in 2023 was worth the same amount in US dollars — US$1.7 million (S$2.15 million).The former captain with the Naval Diving Unit, who left the SAF in 2023, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count each of housebreaking and misusing a computer system.He also pleaded guilty to multiple counts of dealing with the ill-gotten gains.In earlier proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Jonathan Tan told the court that Teo, also known as Rex, joined the diving unit in 2010.In June 2022, he met the victim, a 30-year-old Chinese national, through a mutual friend identified as “Zee” in court documents.The victim had a “cold wallet” — a cryptocurrency wallet that was not connected to the internet.The DPP said the man’s cold wallet was a “Ledger Nano X” hardware device that physically resembled a thumb drive or security token.

First-time home buyers applying for an executive condominium (EC) may stand a higher chance of securing their dream home as 90 per cent of new EC units will be reserved for them, up from the current 70 per cent.The priority period — the time developers must reserve EC units for such buyers before they can sell to all eligible buyers — will also be raised from the current one month to two years. These are among changes to the EC scheme announced by Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat on Friday (May 8) to better support first-time home buyers.But new EC owners will have to wait 10 years before they can sell their units on the open market, up from the current five-year minimum occupation period (MOP).And they will have to make progressive payments based on construction milestones, and will no longer be able to defer payment till the development gets its temporary occupation permit (TOP).Currently, EC buyers can pay 20 per cent of the purchase price upfront while the remaining payment is deferred until the project obtains its TOP.

SINGAPORE — Louis Vuitton was awarded more than half a million dollars in damages from a Singapore Instagram seller accused of repeatedly peddling counterfeit luxury goods, after the nation’s highest court clarified how to calculate the trademark damages.In a judgment issued on May 6, the Court of Appeal more than doubled the damages payable to French luxury house Louis Vuitton Malletier (LVM) from $200,000 to $510,000, finding that the seller had blatantly infringed its logos through the online sale and promotion of counterfeit products.The seller was Mr Ng Hoe Seng, who operated online stores under the Instagram handles “emcase_sg” and later “emcrafts_sg”.Court documents showed that the accounts advertised products such as phone cases, watch straps, passport covers, pouches and cigarette cases bearing signs identical to well-known Louis Vuitton logos without the company’s consent. There were nine categories of offending goods in total.LVM made trap purchases of the products in 2022 and 2023 before suing Mr Ng for trademark infringement.In November 2023, the High Court ruled in favour of LVM. 

SINGAPORE — Amazon is cutting roles in Singapore as it ramps up expanding its international store selection in the city-state, it said in a post on its website on Thursday (May 7).The Business Times understands that less than 10 per cent of its workforce in Singapore will be affected.Amazon will help affected staff find new roles within the company. For those unable to be redeployed, transition support will include severance payments and career transition services.“Amazon remains deeply committed to Singapore and our investments across our retail, global selling, entertainment, devices and Amazon Web Services business lines, employing 2,500 people in the country,” said the company in the post.Andy Lim, secretary-general of the Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers’ Union (SMMWU), said that the union was informed of the layoffs a day in advance.He added that the union “encourages all companies to provide a longer advance notice for the union to be able to provide better support to their workers”.

A feud between two online personalities has resulted in claims of criminal intimidation and the arrest of an online influencer.The Straits Times understands that Mr Mohammad Hussin Said, who is also known by his online moniker MangoBossKu, was arrested on May 4 at a car wash he operates in Yishun.Several witnesses said Mr Hussin, who is well known in the Malay/Muslim community for the food stalls he runs at various bazaars, was interviewed by plain-clothes police officers.This comes after a 56-second-long video clip was widely shared in WhatsApp chat groups and discussed on social media. The video shows the owner of a popular restaurant being threatened and made to strip.The victim, who is also well known online, is accused of being “too close” to the wife of the person recording the video.Mr Hussin was allegedly arrested after the victim made a police report at Bedok Police Division Headquarters. Police confirmed that a report had been lodged and that investigations are ongoing.The victim told ST that the video was shot around November 2025, but it was not shared online then.

A total of 19 motorists were caught for various traffic offences during stepped up enforcement operations at Woodlands Checkpoint during the Labour Day long weekend.The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a statement on Thursday (May 7) evening that the operations are intended to deter and detect motorists who commit traffic offences, engage in queue cutting, and display other dangerous road behaviour.At the departure lanes, motorists were found to have committed traffic offences such as crossing double white lines, making illegal right turns, stopping in positions likely to cause danger, obstruction and undue inconvenience, as well as queue cutting.Of these, 14 were directed to make a U-turn and re-queue, while the drivers of four foreign-registered vehicles were banned from entering Singapore for offences including crossing double white lines and queue cutting.All 18 have been referred to the Traffic Police for further action.ICA added that one motorist was caught at the arrival lanes for crossing double white lines and was also referred to the Traffic Police.

The crocodile seen in the waters off Sentosa Cove on Wednesday (May 6) evening has been trapped and removed by the National Parks Board (NParks).It was then sedated and humanely put down, NParks group director of wildlife management How Choon Beng was quoted by The Straits Times as saying.Water activities at Siloso, Palawan, and Tanjong Beach could resume on Thursday, the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) said in a Facebook post the same day. How reportedly explained on Thursday that the reptile could not be relocated to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve as it was not a suitable release site for it.

A total of 225 people are being investigated by the police for their alleged involvement in scams as scammers or money mules, following a two-week operation between April 23 and May 6.The operation involved officers from the police's Commercial Affairs Department and the seven police land divisions.Police said in a news release on Thursday (May 7) night that the 225 people comprises 166 men and 89 women, and are aged between 16 and 75.They are believed to be involved in more than 564 scam cases, comprising mostly e-commerce, friend impersonation, job, government official impersonation, investment and rental scams, which have resulted in losses of more than $4.8 million, the police said.They are now being investigated for various alleged offences including cheating, money laundering, or providing payment services without a licence.If found guilty of cheating, an individual may face a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine, while those convicted of money laundering may be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to $500,000.

The police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of a 14-year-old boy, Quintus Lim Zhi Jun. In a news release on Thursday (May 7) evening, the police said he was last seen in the vicinity of Block 299B Tampines Street 2 at about 9.40pm on Tuesday.The said address is part of a HDB precinct near Tampines East Community Club.According to the police, the boy was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, black shorts and carrying a black bag.Those with information are urged to contact the police hotline at 999 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.All information will be kept strictly confidential, the police said.[[nid:735166]]editor@asiaone.com 

A 29-year-old man will be charged in court on Friday (May 8) for his alleged involvement in a case of loan shark harassment in Pasir Ris.Police said in a news release on Thursday night that they were alerted to such a case at about 8.10pm on Monday. The alleged incident took place at a residential unit along Pasir Ris Street 72.A photograph of the alleged crime scene provided by the police shows loan shark-related graffiti scribbled on the wall beside the victim's unit.The graffiti reads: «O$P$!! Last warning!! Don't make me paint house!!» Officers from Bedok Police Division and the Police Operations Command Centre established the identity of the man through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras, arresting him on Thursday.A red marker and mobile phone were seized from him as case exhibits.The offence of loan shark harassment carries a fine of between $5,000 and $50,000, imprisonment of up to five years, and up to six strokes of the cane.Members of the public are advised to stay away from loan sharks and not work with or assist them in any way. [[nid:735240]]

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) removed 959 online listings of illegal health products and warned 152 sellers in a joint operation led by Interpol from March 10 to 23.Eighty-nine other countries joined the clampdown, dubbed Operation Pangea, which targeted products such as unregistered medicines and medical devices and as well as pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment.HSA said on Thursday (May 7) that over 82 per cent of the listings taken down in Singapore were selling unregistered contact lenses that have not been certified to have met the required safety, performance and quality standards.Other illegal listings were selling products such as prescription-only skin creams for acne and eczema, sexual enhancement medicines, nasal aspirators and nasal sprays, and oxygen concentrators.At Singapore's checkpoints, 6,641 units of illegal health products were seized, with most items brought in through international mail.Prescription medicines such as painkillers or sedatives made up 36 per cent of the confiscated products, with anti-parasitic medicines such as ivermectin coming second at 30 per cent.

A Singaporean and a Singapore Permanent Resident, who were passengers on the cruise ship MV Hondius which is currently at the centre of a deadly hantavirus outbreak, are currently isolated at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID).The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on Thursday (May 7) that it is awaiting test results for the rare disease.«One has a runny nose but is otherwise well, and the other is asymptomatic. The risk to the general public in Singapore is currently low,» the public health authority said in a media release.According to the CDA, the two Singapore residents were on board the cruise ship at its point of departure from Argentina on April 1.Both men had left the ship at St Helena after a Dutch passenger died.They had taken the same flight as a confirmed hantavirus case, the Dutch passenger's wife, from St Helena to Johannesburg on April 25.The confirmed case died in Johannesburg.

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today.1. Wildlife feeders, including those who feed birds, to face stiffer penalties under proposed amendmentsThose found illegally feeding wildlife, including those who feed birds, will face increased fines and potential imprisonment under proposed amendments to the Wildlife Act... » READ MORE2. Huang Yiliang seen getting into argument with neighbouring hawker

Australia's Chief of the Defence Force Admiral (ADML) David Johnston has been conferred Singapore's highest military award — the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera), or Distinguished Service Order (Military) — by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.ADML Johnston, 64, was presented the award at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) on Thursday (May 7) morning.It was given for his «significant contributions» in strengthening defence ties between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), said Mindef in a statement.The statement added that the frequent bilateral exercises and professional exchanges have deepened cooperation, strengthened interoperability and fostered closer people-to-people ties between the two armed forces.He is also credited with being a trusted partner in enhancing regional security cooperation through multilateral platforms such as the Five Power Defence Arrangements and the Asean Defence-Ministers Meeting Plus.

Those found illegally feeding wildlife, including those who feed birds, will face increased fines and potential imprisonment under proposed amendments to the Wildlife Act.The stiffer penalties come amid increased incidents of illegal wildlife feeding and aim to strengthen deterrence, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for National Development Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi while speaking in Parliament on Thursday (May 7).According to data from the National Parks Board (NParks), the number of cases where enforcement action was taken against illegal wildlife feeding has almost doubled — from close to 150 cases in 2021 to over 380 cases in 2025, with the majority involving pigeon feeding.Additionally, repeat offenders accounted for about 42 per cent of the cases in 2025.Up to a year in jailPersistent wildlife feeding in Singapore particularly involves invasive pest bird species like rock pigeons and house crows, which results in public disamenities and risks to public hygiene.As such, the maximum fines for both first-time and repeat wildlife feeding offences are set to double, said Dr Syed Harun.

The Government is not intending to expand the use of CDC vouchers to e-commerce or online transactions so as not to deviate from the intention of supporting hawkers and heartland merchants whilst helping Singaporeans cope with daily expenses, said Minister for Law Edwin Tong on Thursday (May 7).He was responding to a parliamentary question by MP Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik (Sengkang GRC), who noted that the vouchers currently cannot be used for e-commerce or online transactions.The first-term Workers' Party MP then asked if the Government will consider expanding the scheme to allow residents to use their vouchers for delivery orders from participating hawkers and heartland merchants.Abdul Muhaimin said this could benefit elderly, homebound, and less mobile residents who may face difficulties visiting physical outlets.In his written reply as Deputy Chairman of the People's Association, the minister reiterated that the CDC Vouchers Scheme, introduced in June 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, is intended to help Singaporean households cope with daily expenses.

After nearly three weeks of holding pump prices unchanged, fuel companies here have reduced diesel prices over the past two days, with Caltex the latest to do so on Thursday (May 7). The last significant round of pump price adjustments involving all fuel companies here were made on April 6 and April 7, as Parliament discussed measures to help businesses and households cushion the impact of war in the Middle East.In a price board update published at 11.30am on Thursday, Caltex announced that it had reduced its posted price for diesel by 10 cents to $4.58.This was preceded by Shell's 10-cent diesel price drop on Wednesday evening.Meanwhile, SPC posted the biggest diesel price reduction — by 30 cents — to $4.32. This was announced in its price board update at 5.30pm on Tuesday.

The Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) 2.0 system could possibly be used to detect traffic offences such as speeding, said Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow.Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Edward Chia asked on Monday (May 5) if the new satellite-based system could be used to monitor and enforce Silver Zone & School Zone speed limits.In a written parliamentary reply, Siow said ERP 2.0 is designed primarily for payment and ERP charges, and the on-board unit (OBU) installed on vehicles provides real-time traffic updates and situational alerts to support road safety.«ERP 2.0 can also be used for enforcement, including for traffic offences like speeding, but further enhancements will be needed,» he added.«The Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Ministry of Home Affairs are studying the implementation details.»Singapore is set to fully transition to the ERP 2.0 system at the start of 2027, and about 93 per cent of vehicles in Singapore have already installed the new OBU as of Jan 31.