The Workers' Party leadership has directed that a disciplinary panel be formed to determine if party chief Pritam Singh has contravened the constitution of the party. In a media statement on Saturday (Jan 3), the party said its central executive committee (CEC) met on Friday to deliberate on matters arising from the High Court judgment last month on Singh's failed appeal against conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee. The Friday meeting also discussed the request for a special cadre members' conference (special CMC). «The CEC has concluded that it is appropriate to call the special CMC after the disciplinary panel has completed its work, considering the need for due process,» WP said in its statement on Saturday. «To prevent undue delay, the CEC has set a timeline that the disciplinary process be concluded within three months. The notice of the special CMC will be issued within two weeks after the conclusion of the disciplinary process.» [[nid:726880]]bhavya.rawat@asiaone.com

Canned and bottled drinks will come with an additional 10-cent charge under a new scheme which will be implemented from April 1. The 10-cent container return deposit will be refunded when consumers return the empty can or bottle at designated reverse vending machines. This was announced by Senior Minister of State of Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary in a Facebook post on Saturday (Jan 3). «This initiative is a significant step towards Singapore's circular economy goals, encouraging the recycling of beverage containers like metal cans and plastic bottles,» he said. The scheme was originally set to start in April 2025, but was pushed back at the request of major beverage producers who said they needed more time to operationalise it.In response, the authorities have extended the transition period to six months — spanning April 1 to Sep 30, said Dr Janil.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) was the fourth most punctual airline in the Asia-Pacific region in 2025. It was ranked third in 2024. The national carrier's on-time performance score was 78.58 per cent, a dip from the previous year's score of 78.67 per cent, according to a report released by aviation analytics firm Cirium on Friday (Jan 2).The top spot was clinched by Philippines Airlines, which scored 83.12 per cent.The airline had an impressive climb from its number 7 spot in 2024 with a score of 76.06 per cent.The second and third place went to Air New Zealand and Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) respectively.In 2024, Air New Zealand was in fourth place — just behind Singapore — while ANA took second place.Responding to AsiaOnes queries, an SIA spokesperson said that they «remain firmly committed to operational excellence, and enhancing the end-to-end travel experience for all [their] customers.»Aeromexico is world's most punctual airlineIn global rankings, Mexico's Aeromexico retained its title as the world's most punctual airline, with a score of 90.02 per cent.

Servicemen from units, including unmanned systems, destroyed 14 vehicles, an electronic warfare station, two field artillery pieces, and three warehouses of Ukrainian armed forces

A unit of the 6th Army repelled two attacks by a formation of the 92nd assault brigade and 15th National Guard brigade in the area of Palamarevka and Blagodatovka

Amir Saeed Iravani called for condemnation and the assessment of the «reckless and provocative statements by the US President regarding Iran as a serious violation of the principles of the UN Charter»

«History will prove that the more the American side indulges with separatist forces that advocate ‘Taiwan’s independence’ in their provocations, the more bitter fruits it will have to reap,» Zhang Hanhui stressed

Twelve of them were destroyed over the Republic of Crimea

Samson Molkis of Laringmat village on East Pentecost said six families spent Christmas and New Year celebrations with electricity for the first time.

The gazettal of Amendment No. 12 to subsection 56(2) of the Vanuatu National Provident Fund (VNPF) Act has opened a new legal pathway for workers to recover unpaid employer contributions that were previously barred by statutory time limits.

Five days after a daring robbery at Port Vila International Airport, police have not yet confirmed any arrests, and the location of the minibus used by the suspects remains unknown.

It was a tragic start to 2026 after three people, including two young children, lost their lives in a devastating house fire in the Agathis area of Port Vila early Thursday morning.

Four officers of the Department of Correctional Services involved in the G-742 incident at Banana Bay on New Year’s Day have been suspended from duty.

India's first Bullet Train project, the Ahmedabad-Mumbai High Speed Rail Corridor, has seen its cost surge by 83% to Rs 1.98 lakh crore due to a four-year delay. The first leg between Surat and Bilimora is slated for August 2027, with the entire 508-km route expected by December 2029.

Indian students who began medical studies abroad before November 18, 2021, will be subject to older screening test rules, allowing them to practice in India via the FMGE. This exemption, however, mandates an additional year of internship in Indian hospitals for these students.

India has significantly enhanced patient safety by implementing uniform pharmacopoeial standards for blood components used in transfusions for the first time. This move, alongside stricter quality specifications for essential medicines like those for tuberculosis, diabetes, and cancer, aims to curb risks from unsafe blood products and substandard drugs nationwide.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special envoy Qiu Xiaoqi met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on Friday Read Full Article at RT.com

A New Year’s Eve celebration at a popular Swiss ski resort bar turned into one of the nation’s worst tragedies with at least 40 falatities Read Full Article at RT.com

India is set to construct its first twin-tube underwater tunnel across the Brahmaputra River in Assam, connecting Gohpur and Numaligarh. This 15.8km project will feature one tube for a single rail track and the other for vehicles, significantly reducing travel time and boosting connectivity to northeastern states. The Rs 18,600 crore project is expected to be completed in five years.

The Swiss ski bar that catastrophically burst into flames on New Year's Eve used the same insulation foam as Grenfell Tower, a former firefighter commander has claimed.

Paolo Campolo, 55, prized open an emergency door on the side of the Le Constellation club as it filled with smoke and flames, allowing struggling revelers to escape.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong kicked off the first working day of 2026 with a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Friday (Jan 2). In a statement on Friday night, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the two leaders noted that this year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.  The leaders reaffirmed the enduring strength of the mutually beneficial partnership that spans multiple domains, and looked forward to deepening cooperation in established areas and expanding into new ones, added MFA. Writing on his Facebook page, PM Wong said these new areas include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and civilian nuclear power. Singapore is studying the potential deployment of nuclear energy to diversify its energy mix. 

An 18-year-old male teenager was arrested on Friday (Jan 2) for his suspected involvement in a case of motorcycle theft. In a news release, the police said the alleged theft occurred at about 9.45am on Friday at a carpark in the vicinity of Hougang Street 92. Officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division arrested the suspect within six hours of the report being made. They identified him via ground enquiries and with the aid of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly did not possess a valid riding licence. He will be charged in court on Saturday. If found guilty of motor vehicle theft, the suspect may be jailed for up to seven years and also fined. [[nid:727215]]editor@asiaone.com