SINGAPORE — Indian eyewear chain Lenskart is offering support to affected staff of Nanyang Optical amid news that the home-grown eye-care business plans to shutter most of its outlets in Singapore.In response to queries from The Straits Times on Feb 2, Lenskart Singapore’s head of business Jarrod Chua said: “We are offering interview opportunities across all roles and designations.“We have reached out to ask to be connected with affected retail staff, opticians and optometrists. As Lenskart opens two new stores this week, with more planned throughout the year, we could use extra employment.”Those interested in applying for a role at Lenskart can e-mail help@lenskart.sg, he added.The brand is also providing full cash credits to cover the losses of Nanyang Optical customers on a case-by-case basis.Affected customers will need to provide valid proof of purchase, said Chua. They will also need to provide a “description of what had transpired leading to the loss, and what actions they have taken to retrieve their order”.

A man had already been arrested for threatening his family members with a gun-shaped lighter, and police had seized various toy guns he kept at home.But Poh Jing Yang was undeterred and continued buying such toy weapons online, before being caught again.On Feb 2, the 38-year-old was sentenced to 14 months’ jail and fined $6,500 after he admitted to four charges, including one count of criminal intimidation and two offences of possessing guns without a licence.Under the Arms and Explosives Act, the definition of arms includes any kind of gun from which a shot, bullet or missile can be discharged.Poh also admitted to a separate Customs Act offence involving duty-unpaid cigarettes. Eight other charges were taken into consideration for his sentencing.The court heard that at around 9pm on Feb 10, 2024, Poh went to his uncle’s home and began shouting vulgarities. It was not stated what caused him to do so.When Poh and his uncle got into a verbal dispute, Poh pulled out a black pistol-shaped lighter and pointed it towards his uncle and cousin, shouting in Hokkien and Mandarin: “I will shoot you.”

Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers have literally thrown their hammers at «furniture pieces» transported by a Malaysia-registered van during an enhanced check at Woodlands Checkpoint on Jan 22.In a video posted on its social media, ICA officers are seen breaking up «furniture pieces» transported in the back of a Malaysia-registered van.  As the «furniture pieces» were broken up, cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes could be seen concealed within them.ICA said that the vehicle was profiled and directed for enhanced checks where its search and examination officers found more than 150 cartons and 60 loose packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes.AsiaOne understands that such profiling are typically conducted by ICA's Integrated Targeting Centre (ITC). 

Three public transport operators are offering up to $20,000 in sign-on bonus in a bid to woo more local bus captains.AsiaOne has found on Monday (Feb 2) that the three are SBS Transit, SMRT and Go-Ahead Singapore. Tower Transit, meanwhile, offers a $7,200 bonus to applicants who are new to the industry, or have been away for at least a year.SBS Transit, which employs the largest pool of bus captains with about 5,400 full-timers, offers a sign-on bonus of $20,000 from October 2024— up from $10,000 — with another $5,000 in training incentive, along with a starting pay of $4,500 a month.There is also $1,000 for successful job referrals.Applicants must be Singaporeans or permanent residents and hold a Class 3 driving licence with at least a year of driving experience. Go-Ahead Singapore is also dangling a $20,000 carrot on top of up to $4,200 monthly salary.Go-Ahead, which will take over from SBS Transit and run 27 bus routes in Tampines from July 5, has expanded its workforce to around 2,000 employees, and is recruiting about 300 bus captains.

A GrabFood rider has likened his delivery experience to a «ghost story» after arriving at a customer’s address which turned out to be an vacated industrial building.In a TikTok video shared on Jan 24, Alfian, 34, panned across an empty corridor of the building at Depot Lane in Bukit Merah. The unit which he was supposed to deliver to — #04-04 — appeared to be padlocked.«This block, whole stretch, is already abandoned,» said Alfian. «It is a scary thing.»The site had been vacated since last year to make way for new housing development, the Straits Times reported in June. @nuralfianahmad ♬ original sound - Nuralfian

If you've been wondering about the smell of smoke in the air over the past two evenings, here's why.In a Facebook post at about 7pm on Monday (Feb 2), Singapore's National Environment Agency said that it has continued to detect «persistent hotspots» near the city state, during its satellite pass at 2.20pm the same day.The agency added that dry conditions are expected until Wednesday (Feb 4), when showers are forecast. In an earlier release on Monday, the Meteorological Service Singapore said that thundery showers are forecast over parts of the island in the afternoon, on most days of the second half of this week.

All private organisations will have to stop using NRIC numbers for authentication by the end of the year, said the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). In a press release on Monday (Feb 2), the authority said that organisations have up to Dec 31 to review their current authentication practices. From Jan 1, 2027, the use of NRIC numbers for authentication to access personal data may be considered a breach of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) will step up enforcement action against such misuse, said IMDA. Possible penalties include imposing directions or financial penalties for such breaches where appropriate. Government agencies have ceased NRIC authenticationIn June last year, the PDPC and Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) issued a joint advisory against the use of NRIC numbers for authentication purposes. 

A 61-year-old man was found dead at the foot of a HDB block in Serangoon on Tuesday (Feb 2). The incident happened at about 7.55am at Block 231 Serangoon Avenue 3. When AsiaOne reached the scene at about 8.30am, a police cordon extended from an area beside one of the lift landings to the back of the HDB block. A lone slipper could be seen in a corner next to a blue police tent covering the body. Blood stains were also seen in the drain. 

If you are heading out for reunion gatherings, or visiting friends and family to unwind, there's now more reason to «gallop» into the Year of the Horse.Public transport operators SBS Transit and SMRT will extend the operating hours of train services on the eve of Chinese New Year (Feb 16). In addition, the operating hours of 55 bus services will also be extended to complement the extension of train operating hours. Commuters are advised to plan their journeys early and to note the changes. NSL, EWL, CCL and TELThe last train will depart North-South Line's City Hall MRT station for Marina South Pier and Jurong East at 1.54am and 2.09am respectively.Meanwhile, the last train to depart from the East-West Line's City Hall MRT station for Tuas Link and Pasir Ris will be at 1.59am and 2.14am respectively.On the Circle Line, the last train leaving from Dhoby Ghaut and HarbourFront MRT stations will be at 1.15am and 1.28am respectively.The last train departing from Bayshore and Woodlands North MRT stations are at 1.30am and 1.42am respectively.

SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Education (MOE) is considering making changes to the way PSLE results are used in secondary school admissions, as well as to the difficulty of examinations, among other things.Education Minister Desmond Lee said the ministry is looking at curbing the education “arms race”, along with examining issues such as direct school admissions (DSA) and co-curricular activities (CCAs), which have become increasingly competitive.The MOE will soon start a series of conversations with Singaporeans to hear their views before making any changes, said Mr Lee on Jan 26 in an interview with the media.Asked whether MOE would study alternative assessment models or if the PSLE would remain, he said: “We do not want to pre-judge, we do not want to circumscribe... it may or may not be a tweak. It could also be quite major.”His remarks come amid growing recognition that the “arms race” in education has not abated, despite significant changes made by the Government to dial back excessive academic pressure by ending streaming and revamping PSLE scoring.

A 46-year-old male cyclist died after an accident with a private bus in Tuas on Friday (Jan 30) morning.The accident happened at about 7.55am at the junction of Tuas South Avenue 4 and Tech Park Crescent. In response to media queries, the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force said that the cyclist was taken unconscious to Ng Teng Fong Hospital where he later died. Chinese-language daily Shin Min Daily News reported that the cyclist is believed to be a Bangladeshi worker.A 68-year-old male bus driver is assisting with investigations, the police added.Police investigations are ongoing.[[nid:729111]]editor@asiaone.com 

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).