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  Starting July 1, 2025, cyclists and users of non-motorised personal mobility devices (PMDs) such as kick scooters face strict penalties if caught riding on designated pedestrian-only footpaths in towns across Singapore. These pedestrian-only paths are clearly marked with the words "pedestrian only" and are reserved strictly for pedestrians and users of personal mobility aids (PMAs), such as electric wheelchairs. The new enforcement regime was announced by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in August 2024 as part of an effort to enhance the safety of vulnerable users like seniors and children. Red-painted paths have been designated for cycling, while shared footpaths continue to accommodate both bicycles and non-motorised PMDs. The LTA has converted over 200km of such footpaths to pedestrian-only status across towns including Tampines, Punggol, Sengkang, Yishun, Clementi, and Toa Payoh, which was the first to implement the changes in January 2025. Under the new rules, first-...

  Traffic congestion began soon after midnight on July 1, 2025, as the Malaysian authorities started full enforcement of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) requirement for Singapore-registered vehicles entering Johor Bahru via the Causeway. The implementation marks the end of a grace period and enforces a rule first introduced in October 2024. At the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex, 55 Road Transport Department (JPJ) officers were stationed along the exit road to Johor Bahru. They immediately began stopping and fining Singapore-registered private vehicles found without a valid VEP tag. The fine for each violation is RM300 (approximately S$91), which must be settled before the driver can leave the country. The first motorist to be fined was 19-year-old Singaporean student Safir Farhan, who was heading to Johor Bahru for supper with his family. Although he had already registered for the VEP, he had yet to receive the RFID tag in the mail. He was...

  Chu Sau Ben, 59, former CEO and executive chairman of Libra Group Limited and its subsidiaries, was sentenced on June 30, 2025, to five weeks in jail for his role in a fraudulent scheme involving the issuance of fake employment passes. Chu, who led Libra Group, Libra Engineering, and Libra Building Construction from 1997 until 2020, pleaded guilty to one charge under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. Two additional charges were taken into consideration during sentencing. Libra Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, provided mechanical and electrical engineering services including the installation of air-conditioning, electrical, and plumbing systems. However, in 2018, the company began facing financial troubles. Desperate to attract investment and expand operations overseas, Chu sought external funding. In 2019, Chu was introduced to Wang Jie, a director at Hai Sin International, a firm that specialized in assisting foreign nationals with investment and immigration opport...

  A 30-year-old Operationally Ready National Serviceman (NSman) collapsed and died outside Maju Camp on the evening of June 30, 2025, shortly after completing a National Service Fitness Improvement Training (NS FIT) session. According to a statement released by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the NSman had participated in the scheduled NS FIT session, which ran from 6:50 PM to 8:00 PM at the Maju Fitness Conditioning Centre (FCC). After completing the session, the NSman informed the on-site fitness instructors that he was feeling well and had no issues. Based on this self-report, he was cleared to leave the premises. He officially booked out of Maju Camp at 8:11 PM. Tragically, shortly after exiting the camp gates, the NSman collapsed. A passer-by who witnessed the fall quickly contacted emergency services. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted at 8:16 PM, and an ambulance was dispatched to the scene. It arrived at 8:25 PM. Upon arrival, paramedics began immediate ...

  On June 30, 2025, Singaporean man Kavind Raj Kannan, 25, was sentenced to two years and three months in jail and three strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to a rioting charge linked to a fatal assault that occurred outside the Concorde Hotel along Orchard Road. The attack took place in the early morning hours of August 20, 2023, and ultimately led to the death of 29-year-old Mohammad Isrrat Mohd Ismail. Court documents revealed that Kavind was part of a group of 11 men, collectively referred to as the “rioting group.” Among them were members of a secret society, including Asvain Pachan Pillai Sukumaran, then 30, Sridharan Elangovan, then 30, and Manojkumar Velayanatham, then 32. Although Kavind was not affiliated with the gang, he actively participated in the assault. The confrontation began when the rioting group, including Kavind, visited Club Rumours located inside the Concorde Hotel and Shopping Mall. At around 4:50am on August 20, 2023, the victim, Mr Isrrat, and his f...

  Singaporean citizens will be receiving one-off SG60 vouchers as part of a national celebration marking Singapore’s 60th year of independence in 2025. These vouchers, distinct from CDC vouchers which are issued per household, are targeted at individuals and come under the SG60 Package announced during Budget 2025 by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Starting from 10:00am on July 1, 2025, seniors aged 60 and above will be eligible to claim SG60 vouchers worth $800. Adults aged between 21 and 59 will be able to claim their vouchers valued at $600 from 10:00am on July 22, 2025. The vouchers can be claimed online via the official portal at go.gov.sg/sg60v and will be distributed to approximately three million Singaporean adults. The entire scheme is expected to cost the Government around $2.02 billion. According to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, the SG60 vouchers are intended to recognise the contributions of all Singaporeans in the country’s nation-building journey. Each eligible Singa...