The task force formed by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and train operators SMRT and SBS Transit has convened an independent advisory panel of rail experts to assist in improving rail reliability in Singapore.The task force, chaired by LTA chief executive Ng Lang and includes the CEOs of SMRT Group and SBS Transit Group, aims to address the recent spate of train service disruptions.This will be done by reviewing the incidents to identify worn out components and conducting full audits of the maintenance and operation of critical systems.It will also look at reducing the impact of service delays to commuters, LTA, SMRT and SBS Transit said previously.On Monday (Oct 6), the task force, formed in September 2025, said the independent panel will review the findings of the technical audits and share international best practices that can improve rail reliability.The five-member panel consists of Ir Dr Tony Lee Kar Yun, Patrick Bauchart, Dr Cai Chang Jun, Professor Tsay Huel-Sheng and Kon Shinichiro, who each have different expertise in areas including operations and maintenance, signalling technology and power supply systems.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) will be getting a new leader after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced a leadership change on Monday (Oct 6).How Kwang Hwee, 46, will be appointed Commissioner of Police on Jan 6. He will take over from Hoong Wee Teck, 62, who is retiring after 10 years in the role.How joined the SPF in 1998 and rose to his present post as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Policy) in 2024.He had previously led the Operations Department as its director and was also the Deputy Commissioner for Investigation and Intelligence. How is credited with leading the planning and execution of several major operations, including the security operations of the Trump-Kim Summit in 2018 and the anti-money laundering cases which resulted in the arrest of 10 foreign nationals. 

The police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of an 18-year-old woman who was reported missing on Oct 3.In a news release on Monday (Oct 6), the police said Nurin Huraiyah Binte Hasnizam was last seen on Oct 3 at around 5pm in the vicinity of Block 556 Bedok North Street 3.Anyone with information is urged to contact the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness. All information will be kept strictly confidential, said the police. [[nid:723311]]editor@asiaone.com 

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will be making his first official visit to Australia and New Zealand as head of government from Oct 6 to 11.His visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with both countries, and also reaffirms the excellent state of bilateral ties, said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in a statement on Oct 6. PM Wong will visit Australia from Oct 6 to 9, and will hold the 10th Singapore-Australia leaders' meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.The leaders will also participate in the signing of the joint declaration to launch the upgraded Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. PM Wong will also call on Governor-General Sam Mostyn and meet with leader of the opposition Sussan Ley.He will then leave Canberra for Sydney where will meet with New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, senior business leaders, and have a dialogue at the Lowly Institute. 

Three people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a HDB flat kitchen in Toa Payoh on Monday (Oct 6).Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to a fire at Block 63, Lorong 5 Toa Payoh at around 9.45am.Upon arrival, SCDF found that the kitchen of a third-floor unit was on fire and that the blaze was extinguished using a water jet.As a precaution, about 50 residents from the affected block were evacuated by the SCDF and the police.Two people were assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to Singapore General Hospital, while another person who felt unwell was sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.SCDF added that preliminary findings indicate that the cause of the fire is likely from an electrical origin in the kitchen.

SINGAPORE — A sandbox pilot to offer influenza vaccination at retail pharmacies has proven so popular that more outlets will soon offer this service to the public.The three major retail pharmacy chains participating in the sandbox — Guardian Health & Beauty, Unity Pharmacy, and Watsons Singapore — will expand the service after obtaining approval from the Ministry of Health (MOH).While a regulatory decision has not been made whether to mainstream this service, MOH will run this sandbox for at least another year.Influenza vaccination has traditionally been offered at private general practitioner (GP) clinics, travel clinics and polyclinics.In October 2024, MOH launched a trial allowing the public to be vaccinated at three retail pharmacies — Guardian at Nex in Serangoon, Unity at Parkway Parade in Marine Parade, and Watsons at Paragon in Orchard.It was initially targeted to minimally run for a year before MOH licenses such community services under the Healthcare Services Act.

The man suspected of murdering a 30-year-old Vietnamese woman outside a HDB flat in Yishun was taken back to the crime scene by the police on Monday (Oct 6).Koh Ah Hwee, 66, arrived at Block 323 Yishun Central just before 10am in an unmarked police vehicle, dressed in a red polo T-shirt, navy blue shorts and clear slippers. The Singaporean was restrained at his wrists and ankles and led up by about five police investigators to the fifth floor of the block, where he resides.Koh, who appeared stoic, was questioned there for about an hour before being taken to the sixth floor, where the deceased Nguyen Phuong Tra and her husband lived.

The police has nabbed seven men - aged between 28 and 53 - for their suspected involvement in a transnational illegal betting syndicate.The arrests occurred during an operation which was made possible by a collaboration with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Meta, said the police in a news release on Monday (Oct 6).The police stated that they had received several reports of victims in Singapore being enticed to open accounts with an online gambling website since March 2023. These victims would then be asked to transfer money to anonymous bank accounts in exchange for gambling credits. They could initially redeem their winnings through bank transfers from these anonymous bank accounts. However, after these victims continued to gamble and attempt to redeem more winnings, the syndicate would inform them they need to either accumulate more winnings or purchase more credits in order to redeem the funds they won. Several victims lost more than $175,000 as a result of this scam, said the police.

SINGAPORE - Ms Rinchen Koh and Mr Benjamin Burke were on their usual walk in the neighbourhood with their shih tzu, Casper, when a German shepherd dashed out and attacked the smaller dog.As Casper was bleeding profusely from a ripped jaw, the couple could not get any taxis to take them to an animal hospital. Thankfully, a neighbour stepped in and sent them to Beecroft Animal Specialist & Emergency Hospital, where Casper underwent surgery to stop the bleeding. They arrived at the hospital about an hour after the incident occurred.The horrifying ordeal in June 2023 left Casper with a ripped jaw, and he had to have his lower jaw replaced.Ms Koh and Mr Burke were then working in veterinary clinics as a vet nurse and a vet technician respectively. The couple wondered if the response time could have been shortened if there had been an emergency service available.Thus, in September 2023, together with a private investor, Ms Koh and Mr Burke pooled together $10,000 and set up Royal Animal Rescue (Rar). The goal is to provide swift pre-hospital care for all pets and transport them to a pet hospital as quickly as possible in an emergency.

A 33-year-old man was taken to hospital after an accident involving two cars and a lorry in Hougang just after midnight on Oct 5.The police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to the accident along Hougang Avenue 8 and the junction of Hougang Avenue 7 and Hougang Street 52 at about 12.05am on that day.A 29-year-old male car driver is assisting with investigations, the police said.Another male car driver, 33, was taken conscious to Sengkang General Hospital, the authorities said. SCDF added that it assessed a person for injuries, but the person declined to be taken to hospital.A photo uploaded to social media platform Reddit by user Various_Bluejay_1004 showed the aftermath of the accident.A white GetGo car with a damaged bonnet can be seen facing the flow of traffic on the right of a two-lane road.Several onlookers can be seen gathered on a nearby grass patch.In another video posted on TikTok by user annaphylaxisb, a black car with its back part severely damaged can be seen stationary in the yellow box on the road. Debris can be seen strewn across the ground.

Mercedes driver George Russell claimed the chequered flag in dominant fashion at the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix on Oct 5, as the Briton crossed the finish line in 1hr 36 min 45.5 sec to set off celebratory fireworks at the Marina Bay street circuit.He is the sixth different winner in six editions of the night race since 2018.Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was second in his Red Bull and McLaren's Lando Norris rounded up the podium in F1's first «heat hazard» race. Championship leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren finished the 62-lap race in fourth.While Russell was quickest in Singapore, the champagne will be flowing in the McLaren garage on Oct 5, after the team sealed the Constructors' title for back-to-back wins after Norris and Piastri's results.The Woking-based outfit needed just 13 points in Singapore to confirm their 10th Constructors' title.But the night belonged to Russell, 27, who stayed cool in a «heat hazard» race in 33 deg C heat and 81 per cent humidity to convert from pole position for his first race victory in Singapore.

SINGAPORE - Ms Rinchen Koh and Mr Benjamin Burke were on their usual walk in the neighbourhood with their shih tzu, Casper, when a German shepherd dashed out and attacked the smaller dog.As Casper was bleeding profusely from a ripped jaw, the couple could not get any taxis to take them to an animal hospital. Thankfully, a neighbour stepped in and sent them to Beecroft Animal Specialist & Emergency Hospital, where Casper underwent surgery to stop the bleeding. They arrived at the hospital about an hour after the incident occurred.The horrifying ordeal in June 2023 left Casper with a ripped jaw, and he had to have his lower jaw replaced.Ms Koh and Mr Burke were then working in veterinary clinics as a vet nurse and a vet technician respectively. The couple wondered if the response time could have been shortened if there had been an emergency service available.Thus, in September 2023, together with a private investor, Ms Koh and Mr Burke pooled together $10,000 and set up Royal Animal Rescue (Rar). The goal is to provide swift pre-hospital care for all pets and transport them to a pet hospital as quickly as possible in an emergency.

As they say, one good turn deserves another. A foreigner living in Singapore has been inspired to give back after witnessing a motorcyclist's kind act while on the road. TikTok user @annieinasia posted a video on Friday (Oct 3) about seeing a fellow motorcyclist giving out food to some construction workers near a junction along Thomson Road.In the 15-second clip, the woman was initially puzzled as to why the male biker was signalling to the workers while waiting at the red light.«He is calling the workers? He has something for them?» she wrote.She then realised that he was actually giving them a container of food.«So nice... is this a Singapore thing?» she wondered.[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DPaIgq6FGkQ/[/embed]'Heartwarming'In her replies to AsiaOne's queries, the female biker, who gave her name as Annie, said that the incident had happened in mid-September.The Dutch national in her late twenties shared that the kind act has inspired her to give to others as well.

Just over a week after clinching gold for Singapore at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships, national paralympian Yip Pin Xiu has yet another reason to celebrate.The 33-year-old swim queen tied the knot with her pilot boyfriend Bruce Boo, 34, on Saturday (Oct 4).The event was held at the Jurong Lake Gardens Guesthouse with 228 guests in attendance, reported The Straits Times. Yip and Boo had reportedly met in a dating app in 2023, and announced their engagement in December 2024.According to The Straits Times, Yip shared a sweet message in the wedding programme, offering guests a glimpse into what makes their relationship tick.«I love his vibe and how goal-oriented he is. He's never once been intimidated by my success.»He leads the relationship with confidence — but somehow always makes sure I'm supported in all my goals too. Basically, he's the best co-pilot.«Boo shared too, that he knew she was »the one« just two months into their relationship. »Just being with her felt right," he noted.

SINGAPORE — George Russell put Mercedes on pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday (Oct 4) with Red Bull's Max Verstappen taking the second spot on the front row and complaining of being obstructed as he tried to chase down the Englishman.George Russell crashed in practice on Friday but drove brilliantly around the Marina Bay track in the final round of qualifying to put in two laps worthy of pole,a his best timed at one minute 29.158 seconds.«Amazing to be on pole position,» said George Russell, who might take some encouragement from the fact that the driver on pole has won 10 of 15 editions of the Singapore Grand Prix.«Yesterday was a very challenging day for many different reasons, but it's good to come back and get a good result today. Of course, there's a long, sweaty race tomorrow.»

Three persons aged between 17 and 27 were charged for the alleged trafficking of etomidate e-vaporiser pods on Saturday (Oct 4).In a media statement, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said its investigation on a suspected male etomidate abuser on Oct 2 led the agency to two of his alleged suppliers, Vernette Heng Cui Teng, 23, and a 17-year-old female teenager, who cannot be named as she is protected under the Children and Young Persons Act.A total of 64 and 16 e-vaporisers and related components suspected to contain etomidate were seized from the residences of Heng and the 17-year-old respectively. Further investigations led HSA officers to the 17-year-old's supplier, 27-year-old Amir Shah s/o Anwar Shah. Four e-vaporisers and related components suspected to contain etomidate were seized from his residence. Amir was also alleged to have supplied etomidate pods to another female abuser via Telegram.Both etomidate abusers were fined on the spot and will be required to attend rehabilitation if their e-vaporisers are found to have contained etomidate.

SINGAPORE — A total of 44 people, including 34 pupils, across two pre-schools of the same brand have developed gastroenteritis symptoms — with one child hospitalised for a day — and the authorities are investigating.From Sept 18 to Oct 1, 20 pupils and four employees at E-Bridge Pre-School in Dawson Road reportedly developed such symptoms, according to a joint media reply by the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Oct 3.Among them, one pupil was hospitalised on Sept 26 for a day. As at Oct 1, 12 children and four employees have recovered and returned to the school, according to the statement.«Preliminary investigations suggest that this outbreak is likely caused by norovirus, a virus that can spread from person to person and cause gastroenteritis,» the three agencies said.Gastroenteritis, which is a medical condition where the stomach and intestines are inflamed, is commonly known as stomach flu or food poisoning.People can get infected through contact with other people, or through contaminated food or water.

SINGAPORE — An electrical firm project manager was sentenced to four weeks' jail on Oct 3 after seeking confidential information from a Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) employee over a project worth $3 million.Tan Kian Meng, 47, pleaded guilty to two charges under the Official Secrets Act over receiving information from Hsu Yee Chern, who was a DSTA employee at the time and has since resigned.Hsu, 52, was sentenced to four weeks' jail in July. He had shared with Tan — an employee at John Holland Electrical & Service (JHES), a firm that specialises in generator and electricity supply installation and maintenance — information linked to the budget of a DSTA-managed project, for which JHES would later bid.In the end, DSTA did not award the project to the company.Deputy Public Prosecutor Ronnie Ang told the court that DSTA's tasks include managing the design, development and maintenance of defence infrastructure for the Ministry of Defence.DSTA is also responsible for the procurement process involving external vendors' contracts. This includes sourcing for vendors and evaluating their bids.

A man has been arrested for drink driving after an accident involving a car and a pedestrian on Friday (Oct 3) at the junction of Lavender Street and Serangoon Road.The Singapore Police Force said that they were alerted to the incident at about 9.10pm.The car driver, a 37-year-old man, was apprehended for drink driving, while the 71-year-old male pedestrian was conveyed to a hospital, said the police. He was conscious.Photos of the incident were shared online on the Facebook group SGRV Front Man, where a dark blue car with a damaged bonnet appears to have smashed into a traffic light, which has been bent. Debris can be seen scattered across the road and the grass patch adjacent to it.Police investigations are ongoing.daoen.wong@asiaone.com

SINGAPORE — Workers' Party leaders involved in long-running civil suits brought against them by two town councils have closed their joint bank account used to raise funds from the public, and donated the remaining monies to charity.WP chief Pritam Singh, party chairman Sylvia Lim and former party chief Low Thia Khiang said in an Oct 2 post on their fund-raising blog that the conclusion of the court cases in July 2024 following an out-of-court settlement meant there was no longer a need to maintain the bank account.The balance in the bank account of $5,826.14 has been donated to the WP Community Fund, a registered charity set up by the WP to serve families in need, they added.«The court proceedings have taken seven years to conclude,» they said. «We thank everyone who has, in one way or another, walked with us through this episode.»Separately, the three WP leaders said they had donated more than $57,000 to Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) and Sengkang Town Council (SKTC).