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.

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.