If you are still wondering why the public warning system (PWS) sounded earlier today (Feb 1) at 3pm, that's because Singapore has kicked off its annual Total Defence exercise, codenamed Exercise SG Ready (ESR).This year's ESR, now in its third run, will involve over 1,000 organisations participating in a series of simulated activities over a two-week period from Feb 1 to 15, to test their readiness for disruptions. It will focus on digital disruptions and the ensuing impact on businesses, communities and homes.Speaking at the launch of the Total Defence Commemoration Event at Our Tampines Hub on Sunday (Feb 1), Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo pointed to the one-off sounding of the PWS on Sunday, instead of the usual Feb 15, to illustrate the need for Singaporeans to be prepared.«This year, we sounded it (PWS) early to mark the start of the exercise. Why? Because crises often emerge when we don't expect it,» the minister explained.

A video of a passenger vaping next to a bus captain has gained attention on social media.Posted by the Instagram account Sgfollowsall on Friday (Jan 30), a young man films himself vaping in bus 974. He discreetly approaches the bus captain, who was unaware of the man blowing out smoke in his direction.The 10-second clip has reached 198,000 views and over 2,000 likes at the time of writing.Netizens in the comments section criticised the passenger, with some tagging the Singapore Police Force and Health Sciences Authority.Since Sept 1, 2025, vape users have faced increased fines of $500 for those under the age of 18, and $700 for adults, up from $300 and $500 previously.Repeat offenders will face a maximum fine of $2,000.Over the last four months of 2025, 51 individuals were caught at land, sea and air checkpoints for smuggling regular e-vaporisers. More than 41,000 e-vaporisers and related components were seized overall.[[nid:729155]]syarifahsn@asiaone.com

If you're into aircraft and aviation, this may just be the event for you - especially if you've yet to attend your first airshow.The Singapore Airshow 2026, taking place between Feb 3 and 8 at the Changi Exhibition Centre, has returned for its 10th edition and will feature crowd-favourite aerial and static displays, Experia Events managing director Leck Chet Lam shared with media on Sunday (Feb 1).This year's airshow will involve over 1,000 participating companies with over 100,000 attendees representing 136 countries and regions, according to Leck, with 16 country pavilions.In 2024, the airshow had brought $391 million economic spending contributed to Singapore's economy, with this year's edition poised to deliver similar scale, and perhaps more.The aerial display will see military aircraft of six air forces taking to the skies during the airshow, including our own Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

A total of 24 persons will be charged in court in the coming week for allegedly acting as money mules in various scams.The 16 men and eight women, aged between 16 and 51, are suspected of perpetuating scams such as government officials impersonation scams, job scams, e-commerce scams, investment scams, internet love scams and sexual services scams.Police said in a media release on Sunday (Feb 1) that more than $3.1 million were lost in these scams.They are accused of facilitating scam activities by relinquishing or selling their bank accounts, assisting to receive or transfer funds or collecting cash from scam victims and enabled criminal syndicates to commit money laundering.Some allegedly tricked banks into opening personal accounts before handing over their internet banking credentials to unknown people.Examples of their alleged offences include: disclosing Singpass credentials unlawfully thereby enabling criminal syndicates to misuse his identity in the opening of bank account; and assisting criminal syndicates to register SIM cards in return for promised monetary rewards.

The police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of a missing 31-year-old man, Cavan Yeo Ying Yong.In a news release on Sunday (Feb 1), the police said Yeo was last seen on Saturday, at around 6.40pm along Koon Seng Road. He was wearing a green top and dark blue shorts at that time.Checks by AsiaOne indicate that the area comprises landed residential units with peranakan shophouses nearby.Those with information are 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. editor@asiaone.com 

A video of a passenger vaping next to a bus conductor has gained attention on social media.Posted by the Instagram account Sgfollowsall on Friday (Jan 30), a young man films himself vaping in bus 974. He discreetly approaches the bus conductor, who was unaware of the man blowing out smoke in his direction.The 10-second clip has reached 198,000 views and over 2,000 likes at the time of writing.Netizens in the comments section criticised the passenger, with some tagging the Singapore Police Force and Health Sciences Authority.Since Sept 1, 2025, vape users have faced increased fines of $500 for those under the age of 18, and $700 for adults, up from $300 and $500 previously.Repeat offenders will face a maximum fine of $2,000.Over the last four months of 2025, 51 individuals were caught at land, sea and air checkpoints for smuggling regular e-vaporisers. More than 41,000 e-vaporisers and related components were seized overall.[[nid:729155]]syarifahsn@asiaone.com

SINGAPORE – Two of the PAP's reserve candidates from the May 2025 general election have hit the ground in Tampines and Punggol, less than a year on from the polls.In-house lawyer Ahmad Firdaus Daud, who previously volunteered in Nee Soon GRC, is now vice-chair of the Punggol North PAP branch, while entrepreneur Mustaffa Kamal has been seen with the party's Tampines Central branch. He had previously volunteered in Joo Chiat.The two have regularly attended the party's Meet-the-People sessions and have been pictured with the GRCs' MPs at community events since at least late 2025.

SINGAPORE – Water activities such as swimming and kayaking have been suspended at Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong Beach in Sentosa until further notice after a crocodile was spotted in the waters off Sentosa Cove.The Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) said it and the National Parks Board (NParks) were alerted to the presence of the reptile on the evening of Jan 31.«As the sighting was assessed to be valid, a joint team was immediately activated to search for it. The search by NParks and SDC is currently ongoing,» SDC said in a Jan 31 Facebook post.While the beaches remain open, SDC said water activities are not allowed on the three beaches.It also said it has stepped up patrols and monitoring across the island's beachfront areas.«Members of the public are advised to adhere strictly to safety signages and instructions on the ground,» it added.The public are advised to remain calm and back away slowly if they encounter a crocodile.Any sightings and encounter should be reported to NParks Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600.

A car was sent spinning across four lanes of the Seletar Expressway (SLE) towards Central Expressway (CTE) on Friday (Jan 30) after it was allegedly sideswiped by a tipper truck.The accident, which involved four cars and a tipper truck, happened at about 5.10pm, near the Lentor Avenue exit.In a video posted on its Facebook page by SG Road Vigilante, a Malaysia-registered tipper truck was seen driving on lane four of the expressway, while a black Honda hatchback was seen overtaking it from the leftmost lane.Moments later, the car came into contact with the tipper truck and started to careen across five lanes of the expressway. It first crashed into a white Honda before crashing into the central divider where it was hit by an oncoming silver Mercedes car. The Mercedes' abrupt stop then caused another black multi-purpose vehicle to rear-end it.

There's always an element of risk that comes with taking to the skies, whether it's to perform or to defend the nation.For Captain Yew Chee Hao of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), it is his family that keeps him motivated, he shared in an interview with the media at the Singapore Airshow 2026 on Saturday (Jan 31).CPT Yew is a first-time participant in the aerial display segment of Singapore Airshow 2026, which will be held at the Changi Exhibition Centre.The Singapore Airshow 2026, spanning Feb 3 to 8, is Asia's largest airshow, and is expected to attract over 1,000 companies including aircraft manufacturers, airlines and military delegations from around the world, Reuters reported.It will also have a segment for the RSAF - which Yew is a part of - to perform in the skies, dazzling the audience with displays of skill seen in complex stunts from the AH-64D Apache helicopter and F-16 fighter jet. Yew, 30, is the aerial display team's lead and also the pilot of the Apache helicopter that will be present in 11 of the 17 stunts performed in the show sequence.

A total of 1,316 Build-to-Order (BTO) flats to be launched by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) in the February 2026 sales exercise will be Shorter Waiting Time (SWT) flats. In a media release on Saturday (Jan 30), HDB said the SWT flats will be offered across three projects in Tampines and Sembawang, with the shortest wait time being just one year and 11 months. The other two SWT projects will have wait times of two years and eight months, and two years and nine months respectively. A total of 4,692 BTO flats will be offered during the exercise, with two projects each in Tampines and Sembawang, one in Bukit Merah and another in Toa Payoh. Tampines Bliss, Tampines Nova and Sembawang Deck are the three SWT projects that will be launched in this month's sales exercise. Tampines Bliss, bordered by Tampines Avenue 2 and Tampines Street 22, will take just one year and 11 months to complete. 

Supermarket chains Hao Mart and Ang Mo Supermarket are no longer required to charge patrons for plastic bags after being deregistered from the disposable carrier bag charge scheme.Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the the National Environment Agency (NEA) said that the two supermarket operators successfully applied to withdraw from the scheme at the end of 2025.Both operators were able to withdraw from the scheme because their annual turnover for each of the last three years did not exceed the threshold of $100 million under the Resource Sustainability Act.They were initially enrolled in the scheme — first introduced in July 2023 — which required supermarket operators to charge a minimum of five cents for each disposable carrier bag provided.Being deregistered from the scheme also means that Hao Mart and Ang Mo Supermarket will no longer need to report to NEA on the number of carrier bags issued or the proceeds collected from their issuance.While they are no longer obliged to charge for issuing plastic bags, the choice to charge customers will be at their discretion, said NEA.

The Government has engaged the family operating Warong Nasi Pariaman to discuss ways to offer more support following news of their upcoming closure.The popular nasi padang eatery had announced their closure in an Instagram post on Jan 20, saying that they will cease business on Jan 31. The eatery, located in a shophouse at 738 North Bridge Road in Kampong Glam, has been operating since 1948 and is set to close after 78 years.The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), in a statement on Jan 31, said the relevant agencies have engaged members of the eatery's family to explore various support options to render greater assistance.These include an inter-agency task force which studies ways to support heritage businesses such as in the areas of skills transfer and business transformation.