Bus commuters can expect the Expected Time of Arrival (ETA) system for buses to be mostly available by Wednesday (Jan 28) morning, although more time is now required for a full restoration, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA). In an update issued on Tuesday evening, the transport regulator said that its engineers and contractors have completed the manual updating of firmware for the 3,000 buses that were identified last week. «The availability of bus arrival timings will be restored to 85 per cent by tomorrow morning,» said LTA. The authority added that bus services will continue to operate as usual. System to be fully restored next week: LTAThe root cause, a memory cache build-up in the on-board system of some buses, had disrupted data transmissions between on-board bus systems and the central ETA processing servers. According to LTA, this led to the issue of missing bus arrival timings. 

Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan will make a two-day visit to the Philippines from Wednesday (Jan 28) to attend an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) retreat for foreign ministers and related meetings. In a statement on Tuesday, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the visit, from Jan 28 to 29, is at the invitation of the Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Theresa Lazaro. Apart from the foreign ministers' retreat, Dr Balakrishnan will also attend the informal consultation on the implementation of the Asean Five-Point Consensus, and the extended informal consultation on the consensus. The consensus was issued by Asean leaders following their meeting in April 2021. It calls for the immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar; constructive dialogue to seek a peaceful solution; the appointment of a special envoy to facilitate mediation of the dialogue process; humanitarian assistance; and visits by the special envoy to meet with parties in the ongoing Myanmar conflict. 

A brand of biscuits meant for babies aged 10 months and above is being recalled after the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) was informed of the potential presence of foreign matter in the form of soft plastic and/or paper pieces in the biscuits. Nestle Singapore, the importer of the affected product — Gerber's arrowroot biscuits — has been directed to recall the implicated product, the agency said in a news release on Tuesday (Jan 27). Three batches of the USA-made product are being recalled. Product nameBatch numberPackaging sizeExpiry dateGerber arrowroot biscuits5209565504155gOct 27, 2026Gerber arrowroot biscuits5252565505155gDec 9, 2026Gerber arrowroot biscuits5259565505155gDec 16, 2026SFA said that foods known to unsafe for consumption should not be sold, adding that consumers who have purchased the implicated products are advised not to feed it to their children.

Youngsters have often received flak from older generations for being perceived as wilting under pressure easily, but Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong was impressed with one student’s response at being part of the «strawberry generation». It refers to those born from 1990s onwards, and is labelled as such due to the perception that they are easy bruised, entitled and pampered. During the Institute of Policy Studies’ (IPS) annual Singapore Perspective conference at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre on Monday (Jan 26), IPS director Janadas Devan, who acted as the moderator in a dialogue with DPM Gan, gave the label to students in the audience.«Don’t you want to object to a 'strawberry generation' label put on you?» DPM Gan then asked one of the students. To his surprise, Darren, who introduced himself as a Nanyang Polytechnic student, simply replied: «No, it doesn’t bother me.»«The self-confidence,» said the impressed DPM Gan to Janadas. «This is our hope for the future». Darren had asked DPM Gan on how the Government can engage foreigners without sidelining Singaporeans. 

Steven Pang Chee Wee and Yip Wei Kiat have been appointed Singapore's ambassador to Cambodia and high commissioner to Brunei respectively, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced on Tuesday (Jan 27).Pang, who previously headed the ministry's consular directorate, has served in various appointments since joining MFA in 1999.He was formerly Singapore's consul-general in China's Chengdu from 2017 to 2019, and had also served as Singapore's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations' office in Geneva.A graduate of The University of Tokyo, Pang is married to Lynn Cha Siew Yen. They have one daughter.

PropertyLimBrothers chief executive Melvin Lim's name has been removed from the website of the real estate agency, amid allegations of adultery which surfaced over the weekend.Lim, 45, is the co-founder of the agency — under the PropNex umbrella — along with Adrian Lim, 48.Allegations that Melvin — said to be married with four children — is having an affair with a colleague began circulating online on Sunday (Jan 25).Videos of him leaving an office unit with another woman, alleged to be in a «senior management role», went viral on social media. She is apparently an influencer and is married, according to the contents of an email received by AsiaOne on Sunday.Video of alleged affair recorded in office unitVideos circulating on social media platforms and posted to Reddit were allegedly recorded from the office unit facing Melvin's office. Moaning could be heard in the clip, as the people behind the video attempt to get closer to the source of the sound.

The posting results for the 2026 Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) will be released at 9am on Feb 3.Applicants can obtain their posting results through the JAE website or short message service (SMS).Those posted to a junior college (JC) or Millenia Institute (MI) should report to their posted institutions on Feb 4 morning.These students may refer to their posted institutions' websites for additional information such as the reporting details and purchase of uniforms. The Ministry of Education (MOE) also advised those who are unable to report to their posted institution on the first day of school for valid reasons should contact the institution they are posted to to reserve their places.Applicants posted to polytechnics or Institutes of Education (ITE) will receive their enrolment details via email by end-February 2026 and Feb 3 respectively.In its statement on Tuesday (Jan 27), MOE also advised those who wish to seek a transfer to JC/MI course to appeal to the institution directly.

From Feb 1, medical qualifications from eight more overseas schools will be recognised in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Singapore Medical Council (SMC) in a joint statement on Tuesday (Jan 27). «The additions will allow Singapore to better meet the growing demand for doctors as our population ages,» the agencies said. The newly recognised schools are: Adelaide University, College of Health in AustraliaManipal Academy of Higher Educaation, Kasturba Medical College in IndiaUniversity of Galway, School of Medicine in IrelandUniversiti Sains Malaysia, School of Medical Sciences in MalaysiaThe Aga Khan University Medical College in PakistanTsinghua University, School of Medicine in ChinaCity St George’s, University of London, School of Health & Medicinal Sciences in BritainUniversity of Exeter, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences in BritainThis addition brings the total number of recognised overseas medical schools from 112 to 120. 

Singapore's public transport network is «horsing up» for the Chinese New Year with specially-decorated trains, buses and MRT stations. This is a collaboration between the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, as well as public transport operators SBS Transit, SMRT, Tower Transit Singapore and Go-Ahead Singapore.From Tuesday (Jan 27) to Mar 3, selected trains on all six rail lines — Circle Line, Downtown Line, East-West Line, North-East Line, North-South Line and Thomson-East Coast Line — as well as bus services 51, 67, 70, 78, 87, 143, 183, 187 and 960 will feature these decorations.Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bukit Panjang, Downtown, Outram Park, Punggol, Serangoon and Shenton Way MRT stations will also be similarly decorated.The Chinese New Year-themed decorations feature colourful horse illustrations, festive lanterns, traditional Chinese New Year Yu Sheng and auspicious greetings.«The introduction of themed public transport is part of LTA's continued efforts to enliven the commuting experience during festive seasons and to foster a positive commuter culture,» said the authority.

Eleven motorists, aged between 29 and 60, will be charged in court on Tuesday (Jan 27) for speeding offences involving heavy vehicles not fitted with speed limiters.In a media release on Monday, the police said that the alleged offences were committed between October and November 2025.Six cases involved bus drivers who exceeded their vehicles' imposed speed limit of 60kmh.Of these, five were travelling along expressways at speeds of between 73kmh and 77kmh, while a 53-year-old male driver was found driving a bus along Jalan Buroh towards West Coast Road at a speed of 81kmh.There were three cases involving drivers of cement mixers, which have a speed limit of 40kmh.The first driver travelled at 57kmh along Upper Bukit Timah Road, while the second and third drivers travelled at 54kmh and 63kmh along Bartley Road East in separate incidents.A 38-year-old man was also caught while driving a prime mover along the same road at a speed of 68kmh.

A police report has been filed by public transport operator SBS Transit after a car was caught on video hogging a bus lane on the afternoon of Friday (Jan 23).In a statement to AsiaOne, SBS Transit spokesperson Grace Wu said a service 51 bus was travelling along Geylang Road when a car entered the extreme left lane occupied by the bus.Wu added that, as a result of the car's actions, the bus had to slow down and also repeatedly brake abruptly, even though there were no other vehicles ahead of the car.«We have filed a police report regarding the incident, as the car driver had driven in a manner that posed a potential safety risk to other road users, particularly to our bus commuters,» she said. A video of the incident was posted on TikTok, showing the bus driver growing visibly frustrated with a car ahead. In the footage, the silver car can be seen moving slowly in the far-left lane. At one point, the bus driver is heard on a call, explaining that the car was travelling at just 10kmh. 

A woman was caught on video hitting a wheelchair user on the back of the head at a bus interchange, sparking online concerns that the latter may be a victim of abuse. In the video shared on Facebook, the woman, wearing a mask, can be seen at a bus interchange standing behind the wheelchair user who is dressed in a yellow T-shirt. As the woman attempts to move the wheelchair to board a bus, she appears to push it forcefully before striking the back of the victim's head. According to the post's caption, an eyewitness said the incident occurred at Hougang Central Bus Interchange on Friday (Jan 23) at around 3 pm. The post stated that the woman, believed to be a domestic helper, had allegedly struck the wheelchair user on the head multiple times. 

If you've noticed a burnt smell in the air on Monday (Jan 26) night and are wondering if its the haze at work, here's why. According to the Meteorological Service Singapore's (MSS) regional haze map, two hotspots were detected — in Pengerang and in Punggai.  MSS' regional haze map showing the two hotspots in Pengerang and Punggai on Monday (Jan 26) evening. IMAGE: MSS While the hotspot in Pengerang may be due to heat generated by the Pengerang power station, a fire was reported in Punggai, about 26km away from the eastern tip of Changi Airport. Punggai Fire and Rescue Station chief Ezam Mistorerrodin said they were alerted to peat soil fires in the Punggai area at about 11am on Monday, adding that the fire had spread from 5.26ha to 12.14ha due to dry weather. 

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday (Jan 26) congratulated Vietnam's To Lam following his re-election as the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam last Friday (Jan 23).Lam has been party chief since mid-2024 when he replaced the late general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who died at the age of 80.In his congratulatory letter, PM Wong, who is also the People's Action Party's secretary-general, extended his «warmest congratulations» to the party chief.He noted that relations between Singapore and Vietnam are underpinned by a shared vision to build mutually beneficial ties for the prosperity of both countries and its people."We have developed strong ties in the economic, political, and people-to-people spheres. 

A family has been offered temporary accommodation after a fire broke out in the bedroom of their Yishun HDB flat on Saturday (Jan 24) afternoon. In response to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force said it was alerted to a fire at Block 120 Yishun Ring Road at about 4.50pm. Firefighters extinguished the blaze in the eighth-floor flat using a water jet.No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is being investigated.Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam, who is MP for Nee Soon GRC, visited the flat on Sunday morning to check in on the affected family. In a video posted to Facebook, he speaks to the homeowner, surnamed Ong, who shared that they were away during the incident. Six people live in the flat, including three schooling children. The fire had blackened the ceiling and walls. Soot and debris are seen on the floor. 

Several pieces of what appears to be large cable trunking were seen falling off the back of a lorry travelling along the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) on Saturday (Jan 24), narrowly missing nearby vehicles as the unsecured load fell onto the road. The incident involving a silver Toyota lorry, believed to have happened at around 10.30am, was captured on dashcam footage and shared to the Facebook group SG Road Vigilante the same day. A woman in the vehicle driving behind the lorry can be heard screaming as its cargo started falling in front of her, while her driver swerved to the right. The latter then caught up to the lorry and sounded his horn to alert the heavy goods vehicle's driver, who seems unfazed, of the incident.  

A driver of a Singapore-registered vehicle allegedly drove off without paying for a full tank of petrol in Johor on Jan 21. According to a Facebook post shared in the Singapore Road Vigilante group, the incident happened at around 10.30pm at a highway service station in Skudai. As the Lexus left the Caltex station without footing the bill, its employees tried to stop it while another vehicle honked the driver. «If you are the owner of the vehicle, please contact us immediately to settle the arrears,» said the post. «A police report will be made after 48 hours if we do not receive any response.»  

A Singaporean man's wallet was stolen while he was shopping at a Batam market.The incident occurred at around 11am on Friday (Jan 23) in Pasar Jodoh on Batam island, reported Batam News Online.The victim, identified as 73-year-old Lim Choon Hua, was shopping for fruit in the market when a man approached him from behind, touched his legs and claimed to be giving him a massage, reported Batam News Online. As Lim bent over in shock, the man took his wallet from his trousers pocket.In an Instagram video posted by Batam News Online that same day, Lim, dressed in a checkered shirt, black shorts and slippers, can be seen speaking to bystanders as he anxiously paced back and forth.  He pulled out what appeared to be his Singaporean passport and was heard saying in Malay: «My identity card is missing.» Surrounding onlookers told him to make a police report, reported Shin Min Daily News.Lim's wallet reportedly contained $1,700, 3.2 million IDR (S$244), three debit cards and his identity card.A vendor told Indonesian media that Lim was alone at the market when he felt someone step forcefully on his foot. 

Unruly cycling behaviour on our roads have come into the spotlight again after two groups of youths were seen allegedly flouting cycling rules in separate incidents.Two youths were seen riding what appears to be fixies along Cantonment Road, according to a video posted to the Sgfollowsall Instagram page on Sunday (Jan 25).A fixie, or fixed-gear bicycle, generally does not come with hand-operated brakes, and rely on the rider's pedal resistance to stop.One of the duo, dressed in black, was not wearing a helmet in the video.As they were crossing the junction, which had an uphill section, the youth dressed in black was seen swerving out of the leftmost lane. The duo were then seen on the middle of three lanes before the video cuts off.The government has required, since September 2021, that all bicycles on public paths and roads have at least one working handbrake.Those caught riding a bicycle without brakes can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both. Their bicycles will also be confiscated. 

A 94-year-old man was discovered to have died alone at his MacPherson home on Saturday (Jan 24) morning after volunteers noticed a foul stench and learnt that he had not been seen for days.The senior citizen had lived in a one-room rental flat at Block 90 Pipit Road for over 10 years, reported Shin Min Daily News.When reporters arrived at the scene that afternoon, a police note was left on the padlocked gate.A reddish-brown fluid had reportedly seeped through the front door and pooled in the corridor.A neighbour surnamed Wu, 70, told the Chinese daily she had last seen the man five or six days before his body was found.About two days later, she smelt an odour which she believed to be from cat faeces. The funk only grew stronger, leading her to suspect that a stray cat may have died nearby.On Saturday morning, volunteers distributing Chinese New Year goodies at the block had knocked on the man's door but he did not answer. Learning that the smell had lingered for several days, and that no one had seen the man in a while, they called the police.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade - but what do you do when life takes durians away?Durian seller 99 Old Trees has made the most of a situation where a man allegedly stole durians from their shop in Chinatown, according to an Instagram post last Wednesday (Jan 21).The post, which has since garnered over 3,500 likes, comes with the caption: «If you get caught committing a crime, we are (going to) squeeze and milk as much content out of your crime.»In the timestamp on the video attached to the post, the incident likely took place at around 2.45pm on Jan 15.Describing the situation as the «greatest magic show in Singapore's history», 99 Old Trees co-founder Kelvin Tan gave a summary of events.According to security footage, a man with a small black duffel bag hanging on his shoulder can be seen strolling around outside the shop, picking up two boxes of durian.As he steps into the shop, however, footage from a different camera shows that the two boxes have disappeared from his hands, prompting Tan to jokingly call the man «Master Houdini».

Seventy people were evacuated after a fire broke out at a 12th-floor unit in a Housing and Development Board (HDB) block in Bukit Merah on Saturday (Jan 24).The incident happened at about 5.30pm at Block 103B Depot Road in Bukit Merah.The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post that the fire involved one of the rooms in a residential unit on the 12th-floor. When firefighters arrived at the scene, black smoke was seen emitting from the affected unit. The fire was put out with two water jets.«As a result of the fire, the rest of the unit also sustained heat and smoke damage,» SCDF said in its Facebook post.About 70 people were evacuated by the police and SCDF as a precautionary measure.One person from the affected unit, who had evacuated before firefighters arrived, was taken to Singapore General Hospital after he felt unwell.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Scoot have avoided the airspace of Iraq and the Red Sea as a precautionary measure amid tensions between US and Iran.In a reply to AsiaOne's query on Sunday (Jan 25), SIA Group stated that the measure has «no significant impact» on operations.SIA and Scoot does not fly over Iranian airspace, it added.«The SIA Group will continue to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East, and will adjust our flight paths as needed,» said a spokesperson.The spokesperson added that the SIA Group's top priority is the safety of its customers and staff.Airlines rerouting, cancelling flights across Middle EastAirlines have been rerouting and cancelling some flights across the Middle East as tensions ramp up between Iran and the United States, reported Reuters. President Donald Trump said on Thursday (Jan 22) that the US had an «armada» heading towards Iran, while a senior Iranian official said on Friday that Iran will treat any attack «as an all-out war». 

A motorcycle was seen moving without a rider back and forth across three lanes on the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) on Saturday (Jan 24) after being rear-ended by a car.The accident happened at about 11.40am, along KPE towards the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE), after the Airport Road entrance.  The accident happened at about 11.40am, along the KPE towards MCE, after the Airport Road entrance. PHOTO: Google Maps In a video posted to its page by SG Road Vigilante, a white Mercedes sports utility (SUV) vehicle is seen travelling on the merging lane after the Airport Road entrance.A motorcycle, which was travelling to the SUV's right, lines up ahead of the SUV towards the end of the merging lane as traffic slowed down near the bend. 

A woman was seen spitting water onto other commuters and the floor of a train, in a viral video posted online on Friday (Jan 23).The video, which was reportedly first uploaded to Xiaohongshu and then re-circulated online, stated that the train was travelling from Bukit Gombak to Choa Chu Kang on the North-South Line when the incident occurred.The clip, posted by Instagram user Summeryeow, has since garnered over 58,000 likes.In the video, the woman can be seen drinking water from a plastic bottle before spitting it onto the floor and at commuters, who looked exasperated at her behaviour.She did this several times before another female commuter confronted her by attempting to snatch the bottle away from her hands.«What's wrong with you?» the commuter asked her. «Nobody is offending you right?»«This is not the first time you do this [sic],» she continued.

A police officer responding to a case of noise disturbance in a Housing and Development Board (HDB) estate in Punggol on Thursday (Jan 22), ended up with nearly 20 stitches on his face, allegedly caused by a male teenager dragging him for some distance while fleeing.The incident happened at Treelodge@Punggol, a HDB estate along Punggol Road, at about 10.30pm. A 17-year-old male teenager, who was seated on his personal mobility device (PMD) was stopped by a police officer, who had held on to the device's handlebar and the teenager's arm.Despite this, the teen allegedly sped off, causing the officer to be dragged for some distance before falling off. The teen later crashed into a nearby pillar and was arrested.

The haze detected in eastern Singapore on Saturday (Jan 24) was likely due to a detected hot spot and smoke plume in Johor, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) in a statement.The one-hour PM2.5 level, which refers to the air particles that measure less than 2.5 micrometres, was 57 at 7pm that evening, or in the “elevated” range.Several residents also took to social media to report a faint burning smell.In a Facebook post at about 8pm on Saturday, NEA wrote: «PM2.5 levels in the eastern part of Singapore are currently slightly elevated. Some residents have reported a faint burnt smell. This is likely due to a detected hotspot and smoke plume in Johor that is near to Singapore.»It added that with prevailing winds blowing from the North and Northeast, some haze could have drifted over and affected air quality. As of 1pm on Sunday, air quality in all parts of Singapore fell within the normal range, according to readings posted on NEA's website. The one-hour PM2.5 was 11 in the East.

SINGAPORE - Years of concern over Mary's (not her real name) phone use came to a head in June 2025, when her parents discovered she had an online boyfriend.Now 16, she has had two such relationships since she was 15, meeting both boys through Roblox, an online game platform hugely popular among the young.Mary, a Secondary 4 student, told The Straits Times that she had been cautious, screening these individuals - who are not in Singapore - through video calls to ensure they were around her age before getting into a relationship. She had never met them in person.But her parents, alarmed and upset, made her cut off contact.In the most recent incident, her father smashed her phone in a fit of anger when he realised she had continued messaging one of the boys.When she falls out with her parents, she seeks solace online, resulting in a cycle of tension and unhappiness at home.Her mother has lashed out in frustration, sometimes comparing Mary with her twin sister.«I'm not as pretty, slim or smart (as her). I feel hurt when my parents compare us,» she said.

New initiatives, including digital signages and visual cues, are being piloted at Serangoon MRT Station to help commuters navigate their way during rail disruptions. The measures are being implemented by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and public transport operators SMRT and SBS Transit. The digital signages at fare gates and linkways, among other locations, provide colour-coded status updates for all rail lines. During normal operations, they also double as mobile advertising panels. Previously, station staff would have to place physical signboards during delays or disruptions. The digital signages allow staff to focus on assisting commuters. 

Three's not a crowd when it comes to baby leopards. On Friday (Jan 23), Mandai Wildlife Reserve announced that one of their rare Sri Lankan leopards had given birth to a litter on New Year's Day at the Singapore Zoo. «Sri Lankan leopards are Vulnerable (under the IUCN Red List) in the wild, making the births extra meaningful,» the wildlife park operator wrote in a Facebook post. «These little ones help keep the global zoo population healthy and ensure the species has a safer future.»The accompanying video shows three tiny cubs squeaking as their mother licks them clean. The Sri Lankan leopard subspecies has been listed as Vulnerable since 2020, with the wild population estimated at less than 800 mature individuals and their numbers likely decreasing. While the cubs at the Singapore Zoo are not out and about just yet, they can be seen via a live camera feed at the leopard exhibit.[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DT0BjrRE3Ch/[/embed]The Straits Times reported that the last time a leopard had given birth at the Singapore Zoo was 29 years ago in 1997. 

Speaking Singlish doesn't mean Singaporeans are bad at English. TikTok influencer Nini posted a video in defence of the creole on Monday (Jan 19), stating: «In fact, everyone really misunderstands Singaporeans. »At various occasions, the English they use can be converted [into standard English]. They use Singlish in their daily lives because Singlish is easy to understand.«The Singapore-based Chinese content creator who uses the TikTok handle _k_yn added that Singaporeans did not have to speak a long sentence for it to be comprehensible. Instead of a long spiel like, »Put your wallet away, the bill is on me,« a Singaporean can say: »I pay, I pay. No need, I pay.« Likewise, instead of holding up the queue at a coffee shop by asking, »Excuse me, auntie, can I have a cup of kopi C kosong? Thank you«, a simple »Auntie, kopi C kosong" would suffice.Nini added that the notion of Singaporeans being unintelligible to non-Singaporeans is another misunderstanding, as they can code-switch. 

SINGAPORE – Democracy is under pressure because some governments have failed to deliver, not because there is something intrinsically wrong with the system, said Law Minister Edwin Tong.Some governments have abused their power and have been elected by unfair means, and through these means, have remained in power and abused their position, he said at a dialogue on Jan 22 titled Is Democracy in Trouble? at the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland.This has caused many citizens to be cynical about the process, he said.Some governments have also failed to carry out and discharge their obligation to improve their societies, said Tong, who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs.Trust in institutions has eroded, and there is now more misinformation than previous generations had to contend with that has undermined many elections.“So all these factors and forces, I think, are buffeting the process of democracy,” he said during the dialogue which saw politicians and an academic debate the future of the political system.

SINGAPORE – For Carla Castle, 29, a public servant, the City Direct bus journey from her home in Jalan Kayu to her workplace in Bugis takes about an hour.Previously, she relied on the MRT, a trip that could take between 1hr 20min and 1hr 45min.At a focus group discussion held by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Jan 23, she suggested running City Direct bus services – which ply express routes between housing estates and the city – more frequently, and extending Travel Smart incentives for train commuters into the evening peak.“That would incentivise people to travel at different times... I think that’s a good way to disperse the crowds,” she said.The Travel Smart Journeys programme is aimed at encouraging passengers to avoid the busier segments of the MRT network in north-eastern Singapore during the morning peak. By doing so, they can earn rebates worth up to 80 per cent of the journey fare.Castle said including the evening peak in the scheme would spread the office crowd over a few hours, adding: “It seems like that’s one of the more immediate solutions [to crowding on the MRT] that could be implemented.”

No threat was identified at Paya Lebar Air Base at the end of security sweeps after a bomb threat, said the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) on Jan 23. In a Facebook post at 11.35pm, RSAF said that it was made aware of online posts alleging a bomb threat at its air base. “Precautionary measures were taken and bomb sweeps were conducted at the air base. No threat was identified,” a Ministry of Defence spokesperson told AsiaOne at around the same time. The spokesperson added that investigations are ongoing. In a post made on a social media platform seen by AsiaOne, the user alleged that bombs were planted at various parts of the air base, including the security trooper squadron. Making a bomb hoax is a crime punishable by up to seven years' jail, a fine of up to $50,000 or both.AsiaOne has contacted the police for more information. [[nid:727082]]editor@asiaone.com

A 17-year-old male teenager will be charged in court on Saturday (Jan 24) for allegedly causing a  police officer to suffer facial injuries which required about 20 stitches.The police officer was responding to a case of noise disturbance caused by a group of youths at about 10.30pm on Thursday (Jan 22) at Block 305A Punggol Road.Police said in a statement on Friday (Jan 23) that the group began to disperse in various directions upon the officers' arrival. The teenager, who was seated on his personal mobility device (PMD) was stopped by the injured officer, who had held on to the PMD's handlebar and the teenager's arm.Despite this, the teen allegedly sped off, causing the officer to be dragged for some distance before falling off. He later crashed into a nearby pillar and was arrested.The officer sustained cuts on his forehead, left eyebrow and left cheek, and received about 20 stitches for his facial injuries. He was also given 13 days of medical leave.