https://www.scmp.com/rss/306845/feed Channel NewsAsia en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com CNA CNA Singapore schools used caning as a disciplinary measure only when all other options were inadequate, given the gravity of the misconduct, Minister for Education Desmond Lee said on Tuesday. Responding to more than 20 parliamentary questions on the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) updated efforts to tackle bullying, Lee acknowledged that studies linked poorly administered and frequent corporal punishment – particularly in unregulated settings such as the home – with negative outcomes. “We recognise... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352461/caning-singapore-school-bullies-only-last-resort-education-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352461/caning-singapore-school-bullies-only-last-resort-education-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 06:28:15 +0000 CNA CNA Singapore and New Zealand on Monday signed the world’s first legally binding bilateral agreement to keep essential supplies – including food, fuel, healthcare products and chemical and construction materials – flowing even during crises. The Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies was signed by Singapore’s Minister-in-charge of Energy, Science and Technology Tan See Leng and New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay at the Singapore-New Zealand Annual Leaders’ Meeting in... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352337/singapore-nz-sign-worlds-first-bilateral-treaty-protect-essential-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352337/singapore-nz-sign-worlds-first-bilateral-treaty-protect-essential-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 06:59:47 +0000 CNA CNA Three Chinese nationals who travelled to Singapore to break into houses and steal expensive items after they saw multiple videos on social media about wealthy Singaporeans were sentenced to jail on Thursday. The three men, Yang Chao, Zhou Qifa and He Jiao, conspired to target vulnerable properties in Singapore, break into the houses, steal valuables and leave the country with them. Both Yang, 42, and He, 38, were sentenced to five years and three months in prison, while Zhou, 37, was sentenced... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352093/singapore-jails-3-chinese-nationals-over-social-media-inspired-burglary-spree?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352093/singapore-jails-3-chinese-nationals-over-social-media-inspired-burglary-spree?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 02:08:45 +0000 CNA CNA Although he was already married, a man began dating a domestic helper he was introduced to and later got married to her in Batam, Indonesia. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) caught wind of the bigamy and flagged the case to the police, who arrested both the man and the woman. Low Kok Peng, a 61-year-old Singaporean man, was sentenced to two months’ jail on Friday. He pleaded guilty to one charge of bigamy under the Women’s Charter. His co-accused, 50-year-old Indonesian woman Komariah, was... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351278/married-singaporean-man-jailed-bigamy-after-secret-indonesian-wedding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351278/married-singaporean-man-jailed-bigamy-after-secret-indonesian-wedding?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:45:07 +0000 CNA CNA A court has convicted an Italian man of human trafficking by tricking a Singaporean woman into sex work in Dubai, after rejecting his defence arguments attacking the victim. Achraf Arjaouy, 31, had claimed trial to one count of recruiting a person by means of deception for the purpose of sexual exploitation in Dubai. The victim’s identity is protected by a gag order. The prosecution’s case was that Arjaouy had targeted a woman he met on Tinder by pretending to be a wealthy pilot from Qatar who... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351105/italian-man-convicted-trafficking-singaporean-tinder-date-dubai-sex-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351105/italian-man-convicted-trafficking-singaporean-tinder-date-dubai-sex-work?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 06:15:59 +0000 CNA CNA A Singaporean man who was seen in a viral video assaulting a Filipino woman at Lucky Plaza shopping centre was charged on Wednesday over the incident and a previous alleged attack on the same woman. Andrew Suresh Markandan, 47, was handed two charges of voluntarily causing hurt to Alibutdan Vilma Litgio and two charges of mischief by damaging her property. He is accused of first assaulting the victim at about 7.25pm on March 30 last year at Hotel 81 Bugis. He allegedly slapped her and punched... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350952/singaporean-man-charged-after-viral-lucky-plaza-assault-filipino-woman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350952/singaporean-man-charged-after-viral-lucky-plaza-assault-filipino-woman?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:12:16 +0000 CNA CNA A man was charged in Australia on Tuesday with sexually assaulting a female passenger on board a Scoot flight from Singapore to Perth on Monday. The 52-year-old Indian national committed “non-consensual sexual acts” on a woman he was seated next to during the flight, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Western Australia Police Force said in a joint statement on Monday. The woman sought help from airline staff members and was later moved to another seat, the police said in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350324/indian-man-charged-sexual-assault-passenger-singapore-perth-scoot-flight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350324/indian-man-charged-sexual-assault-passenger-singapore-perth-scoot-flight?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:42:19 +0000 CNA CNA A man raped a domestic worker in an open field in Singapore’s Rochor and stole money from her shortly after witnessing another man allegedly sexually assault the woman. Malaysian Harvin Velanggany, 24, was sentenced on Monday to eight years’ jail and six strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to one count of rape with a charge of theft taken into consideration. Court documents stated that the victim, a 32-year-old Filipino, was on her day off when she was sexually assaulted on May 26, 2024.... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350145/malaysian-man-jailed-singapore-raping-robbing-filipino-helper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350145/malaysian-man-jailed-singapore-raping-robbing-filipino-helper?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:19:06 +0000 CNA CNA The latest Singaporean establishment that the internet has come for with its pitchforks and torches is the Cantonese zi char restaurant, Eat First. The Geylang restaurant recently received a spate of one-star Google reviews following an article published by Mothership on Sunday, which reported that the restaurant charged a family S$2 (US$1.57) for bringing their own bottle of water, in line with its strict no-outside-food-and-drink policy. The internet did not hesitate. The moment the article... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350124/singapore-eatery-charged-us157-water-fee-then-came-flood-1-star-reviews?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350124/singapore-eatery-charged-us157-water-fee-then-came-flood-1-star-reviews?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:40:08 +0000 CNA CNA Singapore’s national media network Mediacorp has responded to criticism from Malaysian organisations over its drama Highway to Somewhere, which some claim portrays the country as a hub for scam syndicates. In a statement, a spokesperson said the production had taken care in its depiction of Malaysia and that the storyline was not meant to target any specific country. The 20-episode Chinese-language series follows a married couple played by Romeo Tan and Jeanette Aw, and four friends portrayed by... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349771/singapore-drama-sparks-malaysian-ire-over-scam-hub-depiction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349771/singapore-drama-sparks-malaysian-ire-over-scam-hub-depiction?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 04:13:07 +0000 CNA,Bloomberg CNA,Bloomberg Government facilities in Singapore will take steps to reduce electricity consumption to boost the nation’s energy resilience as the conflict in the Middle East tightens global energy supplies. Immediate measures include setting the air-conditioner at 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher, managing operating times for air-conditioning, lighting and lifts and unplugging or turning off non-essential equipment when not in use, the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment (MSE) and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349443/singapore-raises-air-con-temperatures-public-spaces-save-energy-amid-fuel-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349443/singapore-raises-air-con-temperatures-public-spaces-save-energy-amid-fuel-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:12:14 +0000 CNA CNA Singapore will not negotiate for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as doing so would undermine fundamental principles of international law, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has said. Responding to a parliamentary question on Tuesday by Member of Parliament Fadli Fawzi on whether Singapore would engage Iran or consider paying a toll for its vessels, Balakrishnan stressed that transit through such waterways was a right – not a privilege. “There is a right of transit passage,”... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349314/singapore-says-no-negotiations-hormuz-safe-passage-transit-right-not-privilege?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349314/singapore-says-no-negotiations-hormuz-safe-passage-transit-right-not-privilege?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:16:36 +0000 CNA CNA A Workers’ Party disciplinary panel looking into secretary general Pritam Singh’s conduct has completed its investigation into whether the chief had contravened the party’s constitution, after his court conviction for lying under oath to a parliamentary committee. “The panel will present its finalised report and recommendations to the Central Executive Committee in April,” Singapore’s opposition party said in a statement on Saturday. “The Notice of the Special Cadre Members’ Conference will be... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349015/singapores-workers-party-finishes-investigation-chief-pritam-singhs-conduct?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349015/singapores-workers-party-finishes-investigation-chief-pritam-singhs-conduct?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 03:43:15 +0000 CNA CNA A Malaysian electrician was recruited by a syndicate and travelled to Singapore to set up devices in a rented house that would blast thousands of automated scam calls, with call origins masked to appear like they were being made locally. The devices transmitted over 50,000 call sessions over a 50-minute period, linked to around 18,000 phone numbers, 40 of which later featured in 42 police reports. The call sessions contained automated voice messages perpetuating scams from purported government... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348867/50-minutes-50000-calls-us12-million-lost-singapores-high-speed-scam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348867/50-minutes-50000-calls-us12-million-lost-singapores-high-speed-scam?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:27:18 +0000 CNA CNA A former teacher was charged in Singapore court on Thursday with multiple charges over sexual acts with an underage student. The Singaporean, who is in his 30s, was handed nine charges in total – six of committing indecent acts with a young person and three charges of sexual penetration of a minor. A gag order imposed by the court prevents the publication of anything that might identify the accused and the victim, including the incident locations. Court records indicate that the pair have a... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348741/fourth-ex-teacher-charged-singapore-amid-string-student-sex-abuse-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348741/fourth-ex-teacher-charged-singapore-amid-string-student-sex-abuse-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:47:08 +0000 CNA CNA Singapore’s state coroner on Wednesday upheld the Police Coast Guard’s (PCG) finding that there was no foul play in the death of Indian singer Zubeen Garg and ruled the death an accidental drowning. Directly addressing a concern raised by Garg’s widow about the finding by the PCG that there was no foul play, State Coroner Adam Nakhoda said the PCG had carried out a comprehensive and thorough investigation in this case. Instead, he found that Garg’s death was “simply due to an unfortunate and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347844/singapore-coroner-rules-indian-singer-zubeen-gargs-death-accidental-drowning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347844/singapore-coroner-rules-indian-singer-zubeen-gargs-death-accidental-drowning?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:53:03 +0000 CNA CNA Singapore authorities warned on Tuesday that involvement in organisations linked to the Israeli military, such as Sar-El, would not be acceptable under current conditions and could attract action under the law. In a joint media release, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of Defence (Mindef) noted that Sar-El’s website states that it is “deeply committed to supporting the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces)”, and its volunteers “work side-by-side with soldiers on IDF bases”. “Being involved... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347696/singapore-says-involvement-israeli-military-linked-groups-not-acceptable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347696/singapore-says-involvement-israeli-military-linked-groups-not-acceptable?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:05:47 +0000 CNA CNA A recent radio programme by Australia’s national broadcaster made several “baseless claims” about Singapore’s political system, Singapore’s High Commissioner to Australia, Anil Nayar, said on Tuesday. Nayar noted in his response that the programme’s host and several of his commentators called Singapore a “one-party state”, an “autocracy” and “verging now on a flawed democracy”. “They portrayed Singapore’s group representation constituencies (GRCs) – introduced to guarantee minority... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346990/envoy-slams-australian-radio-show-calling-singapore-autocracy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346990/envoy-slams-australian-radio-show-calling-singapore-autocracy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:34:19 +0000 CNA CNA A man was charged on Tuesday with molesting and harassing an air stewardess on a Singapore Airlines flight on February 9. Akash Tiwari, a 36-year-old Indian national, is accused of using criminal force on the woman by using his body to make contact with the area around her buttocks. He is also accused of using threatening behaviour by following her to the galley area, cornering her in the confined space and continuing to pursue her, causing her to be distressed. A gag order was imposed on the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346855/indian-man-charged-molesting-flight-attendant-singapore-airlines-plane?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346855/indian-man-charged-molesting-flight-attendant-singapore-airlines-plane?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:19:11 +0000 CNA CNA Singaporean businessman David Yong was given 12 new charges on Monday for conspiring to make false entries in accounts and for his company’s illegal issuing of loans amounting to more than S$1 million (US$780,000). The 38-year-old, whose name in court papers was indicated as Yong Khung Lin, pleaded not guilty in court. The chief executive officer of multinational business and holding company Evergreen Group Holdings, who is on bail of S$1 million, said he would contest all charges. The new... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346793/super-rich-star-david-yong-hit-12-new-fraud-charges-singapore?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346793/super-rich-star-david-yong-hit-12-new-fraud-charges-singapore?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:52:10 +0000 CNA CNA A Singaporean man who claimed he drove off with his lover’s husband on the bonnet of his car because he was scared of the other man was convicted on Tuesday, after District Judge Ong Luan Tze called his actions an unreasonable response, despite the situation. Chia Hiok Seah, 50, was in his car at a multi-storey car park in Sengkang in the wee hours of June 29, 2024, with a married woman. The pair was nude when the woman’s husband at the time, Goh Yong Sern, appeared at the car park at Block 278,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346290/singaporean-man-convicted-driving-away-lovers-husband-clinging-car-bonnet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346290/singaporean-man-convicted-driving-away-lovers-husband-clinging-car-bonnet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 02:50:40 +0000 CNA CNA A 59-year-old man will be charged in a Singapore court on Wednesday over four videos he posted on TikTok between 2023 and 2025, the police and Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Office said on Tuesday. The videos contained content which promoted ill will between different racial groups as well as false statements of fact, police and the POFMA Office said in a joint news release. He will be charged with two counts of defamation and one count of attempting to promote... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346164/singapore-man-be-charged-over-tiktok-videos-race-government?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346164/singapore-man-be-charged-over-tiktok-videos-race-government?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 02:40:37 +0000 CNA CNA The founder of failed oil trading firm Hin Leong Trading, 84-year-old Lim Oon Kuin, had his jail term cut by four years after a partially successful appeal against his conviction and sentence in a criminal case. Singapore’s High Court on Wednesday rejected his appeal against conviction but allowed his appeal against his sentence of 17½ years. Justice Hoo Sheau Peng said this sentence, when considering his age and the fact he was unlikely to reoffend, was crushing, even with remission. She... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345339/singapore-court-reduces-oil-tycoon-ok-lims-prison-sentence-13-1/2-years-appeal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345339/singapore-court-reduces-oil-tycoon-ok-lims-prison-sentence-13-1/2-years-appeal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:10:08 +0000 CNA CNA A man who raped a foreign domestic worker in the bushes near a Singapore railway station after pretending to be a police officer was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and 12 strokes of the cane on Thursday. Sharveen Chetty, a 48-year-old Malaysian, had pleaded guilty to one count of rape on the second day of his trial. A second rape charge and a charge of impersonating a police officer were taken into consideration. In sentencing, Justice Dedar Singh Gill said Chetty was aware that the victim was a... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344780/singapore-jails-malaysian-who-posed-policeman-and-raped-domestic-helper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344780/singapore-jails-malaysian-who-posed-policeman-and-raped-domestic-helper?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 23:30:14 +0000 CNA CNA Hundreds of AI-generated Chinese-language YouTube videos have been targeting Singapore and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as part of an ongoing disinformation campaign. Seven in 10 videos attack Wong specifically, fabricating narratives about his leadership role being under threat and spreading conspiracy theories about political infighting in Singapore. The videos have racked up millions of views since surfacing late last year, though experts suggested that bot traffic or automation could be... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344522/singapore-prime-minister-attacked-hundreds-chinese-language-fake-ai-videos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344522/singapore-prime-minister-attacked-hundreds-chinese-language-fake-ai-videos?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 01:31:19 +0000 CNA CNA Right-wing influencer and self-described “alpha male” Nick Adams has reportedly been dropped as the United States’ pick for ambassador to Malaysia. Adams confirmed he would not become US ambassador to Malaysia in an email to The Sydney Morning Herald and said his new role would soon be revealed. “Brilliant detective work, Mick! I’ve been promoted from the role of ambassador!” Adams said in the email, addressing the Herald journalist. “More details on that will come this upcoming week. I’m sure... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344496/nick-adams-dropped-trumps-malaysia-ambassador-nominee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344496/nick-adams-dropped-trumps-malaysia-ambassador-nominee?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:00:20 +0000 CNA CNA Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh has called for fuller public disclosure of billions of dollars in Singapore government spending, pressing for clearer accountability at a time he described as “one of the largest fiscal surpluses in decades”. Speaking in parliament on Tuesday at the start of the budget debate, Singh also took aim at the timing of the last general election, saying it was called shortly after global trade tensions flared. “The PAP (People’s Action Party) government dissolved... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344494/pritam-singh-presses-clarity-singapores-public-spending-surplus-widens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344494/pritam-singh-presses-clarity-singapores-public-spending-surplus-widens?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:09:25 +0000 CNA CNA Action will be taken against any Singaporean who fights overseas for foreign causes, Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam has said, emphasising the importance of racial and religious harmony in maintaining peace in Singapore. He also noted the critical role of religious and community leaders who help set the tone for harmony in Singapore. Shanmugam, who is also minister for home affairs, was speaking on Monday at a fast-breaking session co-organised by Khadijah Mosque and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344405/singapore-warns-action-will-be-taken-against-citizens-fighting-foreign-causes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344405/singapore-warns-action-will-be-taken-against-citizens-fighting-foreign-causes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 03:53:09 +0000 CNA CNA May Lau was jolted awake by loud, urgent knocking on her cabin door in the early hours of Friday – and she knew immediately something was wrong. “They were knocking so loudly, I thought there was no way this was a drill,” she said in Mandarin. “They told us to get up as soon as we could. I could smell the smoke in the air and I knew there was a problem. We didn’t even have time to take our things.” A fire had broken out on deck nine of the World Legacy, a Liberia-registered cruise ship, as it... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344125/passengers-recall-terrifying-escape-fire-singapore-bound-cruise-ship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344125/passengers-recall-terrifying-escape-fire-singapore-bound-cruise-ship?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:04:01 +0000 CNA CNA Singapore street performer Bryan Wong may have performed all around the world, but few gigs can compare to the one where Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong randomly turned up in the audience. The 29-year-old acrobatics artist was performing his Circles In Circus act at Rainforest Wild Asia when he spotted Lee and his wife, Ho Ching, watching from the crowd. In a video later posted to social media, Wong zoomed in to Lee’s face, joking: “Sir, I’m sorry, I’m going to zoom in to your face, thank you... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344081/singapore-busker-stunned-vegetable-after-ex-pm-lee-spotted-performance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344081/singapore-busker-stunned-vegetable-after-ex-pm-lee-spotted-performance?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:30:08 +0000 CNA CNA When told that her taxi fare was S$24 (US$19), a woman said she had no cash and refused the payment options suggested by the cabby. After the woman challenged him to take her to a police station, the elderly taxi driver did so – and she then slapped him. Shalini Devarajan, a 36-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced to two weeks’ jail on Thursday for one count of voluntarily causing hurt. The court heard that the victim, a 73-year-old man at the time, was driving a taxi that was flagged down by... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343983/singaporean-woman-jailed-slapping-taxi-driver-after-refusing-pay-us19-fare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343983/singaporean-woman-jailed-slapping-taxi-driver-after-refusing-pay-us19-fare?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 06:20:08 +0000 CNA CNA Cleaning up his act through a court-ordered community service in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, the first Singaporean convicted of littering under Malaysia’s stricter law had a simple message for others: follow the rules and do not litter. Mohamed Nuh Qurasaini Kayat, 25, performed the community clean-up work in the heart of Malaysia’s capital, near the famous Dataran Merdeka, along with three others. He told reporters that he was in Kuala Lumpur to catch the new year celebrations and fireworks and was... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343470/singaporean-sweeps-kuala-lumpur-road-after-malaysia-littering-conviction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343470/singaporean-sweeps-kuala-lumpur-road-after-malaysia-littering-conviction?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 08:27:15 +0000 CNA CNA A man who posed as a teenager online to talk to underage girls was sentenced to 11 years’ jail and 10 strokes of the cane on Tuesday. The Singaporean, now aged 25, who cannot be named due to gag orders protecting the identity of two victims, pleaded guilty to two counts of statutory rape, one count of sexual grooming of a minor and one count of sexual penetration of a minor. Another 14 charges were taken into consideration for sentencing. The court heard that the offender held various jobs such... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343128/singaporean-man-gets-11-years-jail-posing-teen-online-and-raping-girl?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343128/singaporean-man-gets-11-years-jail-posing-teen-online-and-raping-girl?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 01:53:15 +0000 CNA CNA The median monthly household income in Singapore rose to S$12,446 (US$9,250) last year, up from S$11,558 the year before, an increase of 6.8 per cent after adjusting for inflation. After accounting for household size, the median monthly household income per household member rose by 7.5 per cent in real terms, from S$3,837 in 2024 to S$4,160 in 2025. The figures were released on Monday in the Key Household Income Trends 2025 paper by the Singapore Department of Statistics (Singstat). In a video... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3342918/singapore-wage-growth-outpaced-inflation-most-2025-wong-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3342918/singapore-wage-growth-outpaced-inflation-most-2025-wong-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:06:41 +0000 CNA CNA A man who was sentenced to jail in Singapore over an altercation with the police was released on the same day he was sentenced due to an error in calculating the jail term. Muhammad Fathurrahman Mohd Adzlan was contacted and returned to jail four days later to complete his sentence. In a statement on Friday, a judiciary spokeswoman said Muhammad was sentenced to 32 weeks’ jail on October 27, last year. However, this was erroneously reflected as 20 weeks. According to court papers, Muhammad, then... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3341935/singaporean-convict-returns-jail-voluntarily-4-days-after-being-freed-accident?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3341935/singaporean-convict-returns-jail-voluntarily-4-days-after-being-freed-accident?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 07:35:55 +0000 CNA CNA The site at 38 Oxley Road was gazetted for acquisition on Thursday, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the National Heritage Board (NHB) said in a media release. This follows the gazetting of the site as a national monument on December 12, 2025. The site was the home of Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. It was also where events took place that shaped the country’s independence movement and national history. “The site was gazetted for acquisition today in order to safeguard... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3341629/singapore-acquire-lee-kuan-yews-38-oxley-road-home-preservation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3341629/singapore-acquire-lee-kuan-yews-38-oxley-road-home-preservation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 04:21:54 +0000 CNA CNA Six men who had been sent back to Indonesia after immigration breaches tried to re-enter Singapore illegally on a sampan, but were caught when it sank. On Monday, they were sentenced to jail terms of one year to one year and nine months, and between four and 10 strokes of the cane. The group was led by 23-year-old Asrarudin, who steered the boat despite having no experience. He was joined by 28-year-old Brick, a repeat offender who received the heaviest sentence of nearly two years. Four other... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3341398/singapore-jails-canes-6-indonesians-after-illegal-re-entry-sinking-boat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3341398/singapore-jails-canes-6-indonesians-after-illegal-re-entry-sinking-boat?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:34:46 +0000 CNA CNA The United States on Tuesday announced the approval of a US$2.3 billion sale of P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, torpedoes and related equipment to Singapore. “The proposed sale will improve Singapore’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible maritime force capable of deterring adversaries,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement. It will “enhance the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3340684/singapore-buy-us-aircraft-torpedoes-boost-asia-maritime-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3340684/singapore-buy-us-aircraft-torpedoes-boost-asia-maritime-security?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:45:37 +0000 CNA CNA A man reached out to a 21-year-old woman who had declined a job offer from his employer and arranged to meet her for dinner in Singapore. After dinner, they went to a park where the man went into the woman’s toilet cubicle and sexually assaulted her and attempted to get her to perform sex acts on him. The assault was stopped only when the man heard footsteps outside and left in a hurry. The sex offender, 34-year-old Singaporean Choy Zisheng, was sentenced on Monday to seven years’ jail and four... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3340508/7-years-jail-singaporean-who-sexually-assaulted-jobseeker-after-dinner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3340508/7-years-jail-singaporean-who-sexually-assaulted-jobseeker-after-dinner?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:01:02 +0000 CNA CNA The man who was caught on video pumping subsidised RON95 fuel into his Singapore-registered car in Johor was on Wednesday fined 9,000 ringgit (US$2,217) for obstructing the registration number of his vehicle. Malaysian Long Sa Kow, who is a Singapore permanent resident, was charged under Section 108 (3) (E) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for allegedly exhibiting an altered or tampered vehicle registration number. The offence carries a fine of between 5,000 ringgit and 20,000 ringgit, a prison... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339832/man-fined-us2200-malaysia-masking-singapore-number-plate-buy-subsidised-fuel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339832/man-fined-us2200-malaysia-masking-singapore-number-plate-buy-subsidised-fuel?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 06:01:12 +0000 CNA CNA Malaysia’s top judge has warned that the country does not have enough judges to deal with a growing workload, stressing that this has placed an “immense and growing pressure on the justice system”. In his speech at the Opening of the Legal Year 2026 on Monday, Chief Justice of Malaysia Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh said that the number of court cases in Malaysia had surged in the past few years by about 60 per cent. He cited how criminal case registrations had risen from 1,522,005 cases in 2021 to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339735/malaysias-judiciary-faces-immense-pressure-court-cases-surge-60-chief-justice-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339735/malaysias-judiciary-faces-immense-pressure-court-cases-surge-60-chief-justice-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 08:48:43 +0000 CNA CNA A domestic helper in Singapore abused a 90-year-old woman she was supposed to care for, including slapping her face and hitting her with a diaper. Some of the mistreatment occurred while the victim, who has moderate vascular dementia, was partially unclothed, as her helper, Nwe Nwe San, attempted to help her put on a diaper. Nwe Nwe San, a 49-year-old Myanmar national, was jailed for 52 weeks on Monday. She pleaded guilty through an interpreter to two counts of voluntarily causing hurt to a... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339675/singapore-jails-helper-who-slapped-hit-and-kicked-elderly-dementia-patient?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339675/singapore-jails-helper-who-slapped-hit-and-kicked-elderly-dementia-patient?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 03:42:06 +0000 CNA CNA A Singaporean teenager who made another teenager perform degrading acts, such as soaking his genitals in chilli oil and drinking his own urine, was given 21 months’ probation on Monday. The 18-year-old male pretended to be a female to deceive the male victim, also 18, into believing that they were in a romantic relationship. Both the accused and the victim, who were around 16 at the time of the offences, cannot be named due to a gag order protecting their identities. The gag order also covers... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339563/singapore-teen-who-made-peer-soak-genitals-chilli-oil-drink-urine-given-probation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339563/singapore-teen-who-made-peer-soak-genitals-chilli-oil-drink-urine-given-probation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 06:51:32 +0000 CNA CNA Singapore’s leader of the House, Indranee Rajah, has filed a parliamentary motion on the conduct of Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh and his suitability to continue as the leader of the opposition. The office of the leader of the House said on Friday that the motion will be raised at a sitting on or after Tuesday. Among other points, the motion asks for parliament to consider that Singh’s conviction and conduct render him unsuitable to continue as the leader of the opposition. The full... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339267/singapore-parliament-debate-motion-pritam-singhs-role-opposition-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339267/singapore-parliament-debate-motion-pritam-singhs-role-opposition-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 03:41:06 +0000 CNA CNA Singapore’s Hwa Chong Institution has defended its new canteen programme after photos of student meals sparked an online backlash, saying the images do not accurately reflect the food standards. However, students interviewed on Wednesday confirmed the images showed what was being served. The controversy erupted when photos posted on social media on Saturday showed meals in turquoise trays containing rice, vegetables and protein. They drew sharp criticism from internet users who questioned... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339001/singapore-school-battles-backlash-over-bento-meal-quality-pasta-tasted-grass?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339001/singapore-school-battles-backlash-over-bento-meal-quality-pasta-tasted-grass?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 05:52:51 +0000 CNA CNA The top decision-making body of the Workers’ Party (WP) in Singapore has directed that a disciplinary panel be formed to determine if party chief Pritam Singh has contravened the WP’s constitution, following his recent court conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee. In a media statement on Saturday, the WP said its central executive committee (CEC) met on Friday to discuss matters arising from Singh’s conviction after the High Court dismissed his appeal against it on December 4. Party... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338601/workers-party-singapore-rules-pritam-singh-disciplinary-panel-be-formed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338601/workers-party-singapore-rules-pritam-singh-disciplinary-panel-be-formed?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 05:09:19 +0000 CNA CNA Singapore and the United States have started the new year by reaffirming their partnership, with 2026 marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the nations. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had a telephone call with US President Donald Trump on Friday, the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said. “PM Wong and President Trump noted that 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Singapore and the United States,” the ministry said in a press statement. “They... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338588/lawrence-wong-thanks-trump-g20-invitation-singapore-us-mark-60th-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338588/lawrence-wong-thanks-trump-g20-invitation-singapore-us-mark-60th-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:44:24 +0000 CNA CNA After Singaporean singer JJ Lin seemingly soft-launched his romance with Chinese influencer Annalisa Qi Qi in a family photo posted on social media Instagram on Monday, internet users have been wasting no time hazarding guesses on the who, what, when, where and how of the 44-year-old’s love life. Lin took to social media on Wednesday to provide a recap of an eventful 2025, including difficult moments where his private life was scrutinised. He started by acknowledging the end of the year as well... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338486/singapores-jj-lin-slams-smear-campaigns-after-relationship-reveal-annalisa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338486/singapores-jj-lin-slams-smear-campaigns-after-relationship-reveal-annalisa?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:32:05 +0000 CNA CNA A spiritual medium who sexually assaulted a teenage girl under the pretext of giving her one-to-one wushu lessons in Singapore was sentenced to nine years and four months’ jail on Wednesday. Tan Beng Kwee, 63, had earlier been convicted of sexual offences against the victim, who was then between 14 and 15 years old. The charges are one count of attempted sexual penetration of a minor under 16, one count of sexual penetration of a minor under 16 and one count of procuring an indecent act from a... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338355/singapore-home-temple-founder-jailed-sexually-assaulting-girl-during-wushu-lessons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338355/singapore-home-temple-founder-jailed-sexually-assaulting-girl-during-wushu-lessons?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 01:25:14 +0000 CNA CNA Singapore’s Workers’ Party (WP) on Sunday said that its party cadres have requested a special conference to be held and that the party’s top decision-making body – the Central Executive Committee (CEC) – will be “following up on the request”. WP’s statement comes after party secretary general Pritam Singh’s conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee, with the matter set to be discussed in parliament on January 12 next year. More than 20 cadres have signed a letter calling for the special... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3337926/singapores-pritam-singh-faces-leadership-test-workers-party-seeks-special-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3337926/singapores-pritam-singh-faces-leadership-test-workers-party-seeks-special-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 05:40:45 +0000