Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) is working with Sats to refine bento meals, recipes and food presentation, and exploring establishing an on-site kitchen, said principal Lee Peck Ping on Thursday (Jan 15). On Thursday (Jan 15), members of the media were invited to tour the new hybrid canteen and sample the bento boxes served by Sats.Lee, 47, said: «We have been engaging students and parents since 2024 as part of our plans to roll out this new canteen model. This is to really address the sustainability of the existing school canteen as well as to address the queue times.» The bento set options sparked online attention recently after a netizen likened the offered pre-packed meals to «cookhouse food» served in the military.On Jan 3, Reddit user Taenyfan95 shared photos of two bento lunch options, claiming it was what Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) students were offered. The two meals shown consisted of rice with a side of vegetables and protein, plated in turquoise-coloured trays. 

A 41-year-old male motorcyclist was taken to hospital on Wednesday (Jan 14) afternoon after an accident with another motorcycle along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE).The accident happened at about 3.05pm, along the BKE towards the Pan Island Expressway.In a video posted by SG Road Vigilante, two motorcycles were seen travelling - one behind the other - between the first and second lanes of the expressway. The 41-year-old was riding in the rear motorcycle. As they neared a lorry on the second lane, the motorcycle ahead slowed down. The 41-year-old tried applying his emergency brakes but still came into contact with the other motorcycle.The impact caused him to skid and bump into the lorry, now on his left. This second contact presumably caused the motorcyclist to skid towards the railing on his right. He then crashed into the railing, narrowly missing the other motorcycle.

Two SBS Transit bus captains have received plaudits for jumping in to extinguish a car fire in Ang Mo Kio.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to a vehicle fire along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 at about 7.45am on Thursday (Jan 15).Footage of the incident posted by TikTok user rjlovesdriving on Thursday afternoon shows a black BMW stopped in the middle of the road as plumes of thick smoke billow out of its shut front bonnet.The driver, who had got out of the car, then opens the bonnet to reveal fiery flames which engulfs the front of the car.At the same time, a bus captain of service 133 races over with a fire extinguisher and douses the car and the blaze wanes slightly.

The body of a 76-year-old man was found dead at the foot of an HDB block in Punggol on Thursday (Jan 15).He is believed to have fallen from height.A video of the incident posted on Facebook group Singapore Incidents on Thursday shows a police tent placed over the body. A police cardon is seen around an area of the estate's driveway, in front of the centralised refuse chute of two blocks.Four police fast response cars are also seen in the video.

Pritam Singh's designation as the Leader of the Opposition (LO) will end «with immediate effect», Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 15).In his statement, PM Wong highlighted how Parliament had voted to express its view that Singh was unsuitable for his role as LO, adding that Singh had disagreed with court findings and «maintained his innocence».Explaining that Singh is entitled to his personal views on the matter, PM Wong asserted that «questions of guilt or innocence are determined through the impartial court process».His conviction by the District Court on two counts of lying to the Committee of Privileges (COP) followed by the dismissal of his appeal to the High Court is a «final and conclusive» legal outcome that must be respected, PM Wong said.«Having considered the matter carefully, I have decided that Singh’s criminal convictions, taken together with Parliament’s considered view of his unsuitability, make it no longer tenable for him to continue as the LO,» he stated.

A 2025 survey found that 90 per cent of polytechnic students got jobs within six months of completing their final exams or full-time National Service.The Polytechnic Graduate Employment Survey (GES), conducted jointly by all the five polytechnics — Nanyang, Ngee Ann, Republic, Singapore and Temasek — found that students obtained jobs, accepted an offer, or started a business. In a joint statement on Thursday (Jan 15), the polytechnics said that the GES, which captured graduate's employment outcomes tweaked as at Oct 1, 2025, also showed that the median gross monthly salary for graduates in full-time permanent employment rose from $2,900 in 2024 to $3,000 in 2025.Salary for humanities and social sciences graduates was $3,200, while graduates from health sciences took home $3,011.Despite the rise in median salaries, the polytechnics noted that the proportion of graduates getting jobs has remained relatively steady over the years, despite a slight dip. 

A SBS Transit bus captain allegedly made a crass remark when he was confronted by a passenger who believed he did not sufficiently accommodate her open stroller during boarding and alighting.«Your husband never give [sic] you last night?» he purportedly asked mother-of-two Athirah Khairwan.The 28-year-old content creator, who took to TikTok to share her upsetting encounter, told AsiaOne she had boarded bus service 145 at about 10.26am on Monday (Jan 12) with her young children in a double stroller. As she was in the process of wheeling the stroller onto the bus from its rear door, the doors suddenly shut on the stroller with her kids, shocking her and other passengers.«My baby was panicking but thank God there's no injuries,» Athirah said, adding that she had been angry as the bus captain did not check on them or express any concern afterwards.When they reached Toa Payoh Bus Interchange, Athirah found that the vehicle was stopped some distance away from the kerb, which hindered her from alighting with the «heavy» stroller.

Ongoing geopolitical uncertainties - including recent developments in resource-rich Iran and Venezuela - have placed renewed spotlight on the issue of energy security.But what happens if these uncertainties deteriorate further into an energy security crisis - one that cripples our power supplies, including critical information technology (IT) systems? Themed «Are you ready for disruptions?», this year's Total Defence exercise, named Exercise SG Ready (ESR) 2026, will see businesses, communities and homes face simulated prolonged power outages, as critical IT systems struggle to operate under the energy strain.It is aimed at encouraging the public to plan for potential disruptions, including strengthening their continuity plans.

Grouping HDB blocks with fewer units to vote for the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) as a single cluster so that there are sufficient households participating in the process is being considered by the Ministry of National Development (MND).In a written parliamentary reply on Wednesday (Jan 14), National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said that MND will be reviewing the voting process for HIP. He was responding to a parliamentary question from Fengshan MP Hazlina Abdul Halim, who asked if the HIP voting framework would be reviewed in light of a recent case where some Tiong Bahru residents narrowly missed the threshold.«We understand that under the current voting process, blocks with fewer eligible units may face greater risks of not reaching 75 per cent of votes to proceed with HIP,» he said.«We will review the voting process for such blocks to balance between helping older estates to benefit from the HIP, while respecting the decision of flat owners.»

The rear-view markings of an advertisement on a taxi have stirred discussion among drivers online, due to their resemblance to a police car.A photo shared on the Roads.sg Facebook page on Tuesday (Jan 13) showed the rear of a ComfortDelGro taxi with two red-and-blue lines over its boot, with the poster pointing out its similarity to the markings on police vehicles.While the red bands are in a 'V'-shape on police vehicles, the red-and-blue lines are in an inverted 'V'-shape on the taxi. Based on a logo printed on the vehicle wrapping, the advertisement belongs to Bando, a manufacturer of driving belts, conveyor belts, and various other rubber and plastic products.When contacted, a spokesperson for Bando told Lianhe Zaobao that the taxi advertisements are visibly different from police car markings, and expressed surprise that there could be any confusion.Bando added that the advertisement was created by advertising agency Moove Media, which they believe had ensured the design complied with relevant laws before it was launched.

Singapore's Parliament on Wednesday (Jan 14) backed a motion which stated that Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh was unfit to continue in his role as Leader of the Opposition, in light of his court conviction and conduct. The motion was passed by a voice vote of ayes. All nine other WP MPs and NCMP Andre Low who were present stood up after Singh requested that the Speaker record the dissenting votes; WP had lifted the party whip. NCMP Eileen Chong was away on a business trip. The motion, tabled by Leader of the House Indranee Rajah, sought that Parliament «affirms that honesty and integrity are fundamental pillars of Singapore's parliamentary and political system».It also requested that the Parliament express regret at Singh's conduct, describing it as «dishonourable» and «unbecoming» of a MP.The motion noted that the High Court had upheld Singh's conviction for lying to Parliament's Committee of Privileges and also guided former WP MP Raeesah Khan to continue with her lie to the House.

A diced beetroot product is being recalled after the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) found the potential presence of rust within the can. The product — Community Co's Diced Beetroot — is being recalled by its importer Redmart, the agency said in a news release on Wednesday (Jan 14). The recalled product batch — 3700/01131-L24155 — originates from China and expires on June 3, 2027. SFA said that the potential presence of rust is due to a packaging fault, adding that the integrity of the can may be affected. Consumers who have purchased the affected product are advised not to consume it. Those who have consumed the affected product and have concerns about their health should seek medical attention. Consumers may direct their enquiries to their respective points of purchase. [[nid:727888]]editor@asiaone.com 

A motorcyclist and his pillion were taken to hospital after an accident along the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) towards Tuas Checkpoint on Wednesday (Jan 14). Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the police said they were alerted to an accident involving a motorcycle and a van at around 5.30pm. The male motorcyclist, 41, and the female passenger, 39, were conveyed conscious to hospital. In dashcam footage uploaded to Facebook group Tuas Woodlands Checkpoint, two motorcyclists can be seen directing the flow of traffic along the rightmost lane, while a third can be seen sprawled on the ground just ahead of a fallen motorcycle. To the left, a van can be seen parked along a road divider. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority notified motorists of the accident in a Facebook post, warning of expected delays for travellers departing Singapore via the checkpoint. 

Singapore's Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu has ascended the «family ranks» to become a grandmother. Fu took to Facebook on Wednesday (Jan 14) morning to announce the arrival of her granddaughter. «Finally get to meet you. Welcome to our family. I am now a grandmother,» Fu said in her post.The minister, who will turn 62 in March this year, is married to technopreneur Ivan Lee. They have three children. Several social media users congratulated Fu on her «promotion» and left messages of well-wishes. As of 3.40pm, the post has received over 3,700 reactions and more than 800 comments.  [[nid:724711]]editor@asiaone.com 

Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh has disagreed that his conduct was dishonourable and unbecoming of an MP, he stated in Parliament on Wednesday (Jan 14).He was responding to the motion by Leader of the House Indranee Rajah questioning the suitability of Singh as the Leader of the Opposition.This comes after Singh was found guilty and fined $7,000 each for two charges of lying to the Committee of Privileges (COP) in February last year.«I disagree that my conduct was dishonourable and unbecoming of an MP, as I disagree with the finding of guilt by the courts and the COP,» Singh said, explaining that he would refer to statements taken by the police from former MP Raeesah Khan's aide, Loh Peiying, which had been denied use in court.Singh further claimed that a convicted person is able to retain their belief that they are innocent, highlighting how President Tharman Shanmugaratnam had responded to media queries relating to his 1994 criminal conviction with: «They got the wrong man».

A domino effect of mistakes beginning with former Workers' Party MP Raeesah Khan's lies in the House in 2021 has put Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh's parliamentary position in doubt. Leader of the House Indranee Rajah tabled a motion which was heard in Parliament on Wednesday (Jan 14) questioning Singh's suitability to continue in the role. Here's a timeline of how events unfolded, beginning with Khan's untruths. Aug 3, 2021: WP puts forth a motion in Parliament on empowering women. Khan delivers a speech claiming to have accompanied a purported sexual assault victim to a police station, and alleging that the case was mishandled by the police. Aug 7, 2021: Khan admits to Singh that her anecdote was untrue. Aug 8, 2021:  Khan tells WP leaders Singh, Sylvia Lim and Faisal Manap that she was a sexual assault victim and admits to lying in Parliament. Singh is alleged to have said: «this would probably be something that we would have to take to the grave». 

The decision on whether Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh should continue as Leader of the Opposition rests with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, said Leader of the House Indranee Rajah on Wednesday (Jan 14). She had filed a motion in Parliament stating that Singh's conduct was dishonourable and unbecoming of an MP, and that it renders him unsuitable to continue as Leader of the Opposition. This comes after he was convicted and fined $14,000 in February last year on two counts of lying to a parliamentary committee over the case of former MP Raeesah Khan. His conviction was upheld in December after an unsuccessful appeal. In her speech, Indranee said that the motion does not call for the removal of the Leader of the Opposition. Since the Leader of the Opposition is designated by the Prime Minister, PM Wong will decide if Singh is to be stripped of this appointment — not Parliament. 

Pritam Singh’s approach to the Raeesah Khan lying incident showed a «failure of leadership» on his part, Leader of the House Indranee Rajah said on Wednesday (Jan 14),Speaking on the motion of Singh’s suitability as Leader of the Opposition which she had tabled before the Parliament sitting, Indranee summed up on what she said are a number of “dishonesties” from the Workers’ Party (WP) chief.Singh had told Khan, a former WP MP, to maintain her lie to Parliament, even though she had confessed to him in August 2021.He then lied to the public and concealed material information from his own party, according to Indranee.«There are simply too many lies — they pile up, one on top of another, each to cover up a previous lie,» she said.«And that is a problem as Mr Singh is also the Leader of the Opposition.»Singh was convicted and fined $14,000 in February last year for lying to a parliamentary committee. His conviction was upheld in December after he appealed against it.

Adoption agencies in Singapore are expected to carry out due diligence to ensure that the children they bring in are of «correct background and origin», Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming said on Wednesday (Jan 14).Goh was responding to a parliamentary question from Workers' Party chair Sylvia Lim on concerns over Singaporeans' confidence in adoption processes, despite the affected parents having followed all legal requirements amid the alleged Indonesian baby-trafficking case. «I have constituents affected by this situation and they have already been caring for these babies for more than a year, and this uncertainty is a torture to them,» said Lim, who also wanted to know how long investigations are expected to take. The exchange in parliament follows reports by Indonesian media last September that police in Indonesia were working with Singapore authorities to investigate an alleged baby trafficking syndicate operating out of West Java. 

A 31-year-old Malaysian man will be charged in court on Wednesday (Jan 14) for his alleged involvement in several cases of government officials impersonation scam (GOIS).The police said in a news release on Tuesday that they received a report involving the impersonation of a Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) official.Similar to a series of cases reported in November 2025, the victim was also told that her identity was misused and that she was being investigated for money laundering offences.Same repeated modus operandi: Identity misusedThe female victim who filed the report was allegedly told over the phone, by an unknown person claiming to be from UnionPay, that she had to pay for an insurance policy which she had purchased.When the woman denied having signed up for any insurance policy, the person told her that her identity may have been misused and that he would file a case with the police for her.Shortly after, the victim received another call from a person claiming to be an MAS official.

Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) has impounded another 10 foreign-registered vehicles for illegally ferrying passengers across the Singapore-Malaysia border.The recent round of enforcement operation brings the total number of such vehicles impounded since July 2025 to 162.In a Facebook post on Tuesday (Jan 13), LTA said the drivers were nabbed at land checkpoints and areas such as Bedok Reservoir. It added that more than 3,000 vehicles have been checked since July 2025.  Weighing in on the recent enforcement, Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling reiterated that passenger safety and the livelihoods of Singaporean drivers are of «utmost importance» to the authorities.

Law enforcement officers at Woodlands Checkpoint recently uncovered almost 3kg of drugs hidden inside pet food and beverage packaging in an inbound Malaysia-registered car. In a Facebook post on Tuesday (Jan 13), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said its officers who conducted checks on the car on Dec 29 detected the drugs and referred the case to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB). CNB officers then conducted further checks on the car. In total, officers found 20 bundles of drugs — comprising about 1.46kg of heroin and 1.44kg of methamphetamine, commonly known as Ice. A 20-year-old Malaysian man was arrested in relation to the incident. Earlier the same month, on Dec 22, ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint found two black bundles in a passenger's bag after performing a search of another Malaysia-registered car.Further checks by CNB officers uncovered 3.27kg of cannabis and 1.7kg of Ice.A 39-year-old Malaysian man was arrested in relation to that incident. 

A 63-year-old male Singapore permanent resident, who allegedly refuelled his Singapore-registered vehicle with Ron95 after partially concealing his licence plate, will be charged in court on Wednesday (Jan 14).Assistant Commissioner of Police Tan Seng Lee from the Kulai district police headquarters said in a statement on Tuesday that the man will be charged for altering or obscuring a vehicle registration plate intentionally. The man is alleged to have obscured the first and last letters of the Singapore-registered car he was driving with black tape to make it look like a Malaysian plate.Malaysian media outlet The Star reported that the Singapore PR will be charged at the Magistrate's Court in Kulai. In a now-viral video on social media, the 63-year-old, who was wearing a striped shirt is seen refuelling his white Volkswagen sedan as another driver, a Malaysian man, pulls up from behind and calls out to him. «Singaporean ah,» the male driver questions, to which the Volkswagen driver replies «bukan» («no» in Malay). 

The Singapore Civil Defence Force's (SCDF) traffic priority system for emergency ambulances — which transitions lights to «green» at certain junctions for expedited passage — has saved close to 2 minutes per urgent trip to the hospital.In a Facebook post on Tuesday (Jan 13), the SCDF said the system has been used more than 2,500 times since its implementation in July 2024, «achieving average time savings of up to 1 minute and 57 seconds per emergency conveyance». «Building on these positive operational outcomes, SCDF will continue to review and expand the deployment of the (system) to suitable locations, as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance emergency ambulance response for life-threatening medical emergencies,» it said.  

Sport Singapore (SportSG) will work closely with the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) ahead of the national team's Asian Cup campaign in Saudi Arabia next year.This update was given on Tuesday (Jan 13) by Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo in a written response to a parliamentary question by MP Elysa Chen (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC).The Lions celebrated their biggest accomplishment in Singapore football history on Nov 18 when they secured a maiden Asian Cup qualification with a comeback 2-1 away win over Hong Kong at the Kai Tak Stadium.A day later, they returned home to a rousing welcome. 

Singapore's passport has once again been named as the world's most powerful going into 2026, according to the Henley Passport Index, published on Tuesday (Jan 13). The index, which ranks 199 passports, places Singapore in first place with visa-free travel to 192 out of 227 destinations. Japan and South Korea are ranked joint second with access to 188 destinations without a prior visa, while Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland came in third with access to 186 destinations. Malaysia ranked ninth, with its passport giving access to 180 visa-free destinations, ahead of the United States in 10th place with access to 179 destinations. Henley Passport Index says it is the «original, authoritative ranking of all the world's passports» based on the number of destinations that holders can access without a prior visa. This number is determined by data from the International Air Transport Association. Last year, Malaysia placed 12th although its passport gave access to slightly more destinations at 182. 

Hundreds of passengers were left stranded onboard a Singapore Airlines flight for over seven hours when it was told to turn back shortly after take off. SIA flight SQ661 was originally scheduled to depart from New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido at 9.30am (8.30am Singapore time) and arrive in Singapore at 5.05pm on Jan 10. However, the flight was delayed until 10.33am and 50 minutes after it took off, it was told to return to the airport, reported Shin Min Daily News. A passenger, who gave her name as Taylor, said the plane departed at around 10.30am before passengers were told about 55 minutes later that it would turn back to the airport, reported Mothership.Taylor said that SIA cited technical issues for the turnaround and that the plane «might be able to fly by 1.15pm». «1:15pm came and went, and at 2:15pm we were finally told our plane would no longer be able to take off,» added Taylor. He recalled that some passengers only disembarked the plane after 5pm as they had to wait for buses to bring them to the main terminal.

Justice Choo Han Teck will be stepping down from his role as judge of the Supreme Court on Feb 20 after three decades in the public service.He has presided over a diverse range of cases with significant contributions to the development of Singapore's jurisprudence in criminal law, revenue law, employment law and the law of tort, said the Singapore Courts in a statement on Tuesday (Jan 13).Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon described Justice Choo as a judge with «exemplary judicial temperament». «Han Teck has been held in the highest regard by the profession and by his judicial colleagues for his exemplary judicial temperament, his fairness in conduct of proceedings and for his clear and concise judgements.»He added: «He (Justice Choo) played a vital role during a formative period for our legal system, and his many and diverse contributions helped build the foundation on which our justice system stands. His departure will be keenly felt throughout the judiciary and the broader legal fraternity»

About 70 per cent of residential blocks in Tengah, Singapore's newest HDB town, will be fitted with automated external defibrillators (AED) by February this year. The update was given on Tuesday (Jan 13) by Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann in an oral response to a parliamentary question (PQ) by MP Choo Pei Ling from Chua Chu Kang GRC. Dr Choo had asked for the estimated time for AED installation in newly-developed estates such as Tengah and what interim measures are in place to support emergency preparedness in new estates pending AED deployment. Her PQ follows similar questions on community emergency preparedness posed by MPs on Monday, in the wake of the deadly Tai Po blaze which has claimed the lives of at least 161 residents from Wang Fuk Court. The Senior Minister of State shared that infrastructural and security works have to be in place prior to installation works.

An elderly woman who lived in a cockroach-infested HDB flat in Yishun returned to a freshly-cleaned home, after 50 volunteers came together to declutter and revamp the unit while she was hospitalised. On Jan 11, more than 50 volunteers from charity organisation AMKSS Social Move, Nee Soon East and Hougang Chao Ying Kong Temple spent six hours decluttering and cleaning the three-room HDB flat, transforming it into a clean and comfortable living space. The homeowner, identified as 75-year-old Huang Saiyin (transliteration), was injured last year after being hit by a student riding a bicycle while crossing the street, reported Shin Min Daily News. She told the Chinese daily that a hospital social worker had accompanied her home to look for her phone but could not find it. The worker was shocked by the messy living conditions and, out of concern for Huang's health, contacted a volunteer organisation for assistance. One of Huang's neighbours had also called the police due to her absence and the foul stench from her house, Shin Min reported.

Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow has urged Circle Line commuters to consider taking other train lines or weekday shuttle bus services to get to their destination, as planned tunnel works on the line begin this Saturday (Jan 17) for three months.While trains will continue to service the Circle Line, commuters at Paya Lebar, Dakota and Mountbatten stations may face longer journeys of up to 30 minutes more during weekday peak hours, he noted.From Jan 17 to April 19, only one platform at these three stations will be in use as a segment of tunnels will be partially closed. Shuttle trains connecting the three stations will run at 10-minute intervals.«If you can avoid taking this route, I suggest you do so. If there are alternative pathways along the train network, please try to take them,» said Siow during a visit to Serangoon Circle Line station on Tuesday (Jan 13).

Two men, aged 40 and 67, were arrested on Sunday (Jan 11) for their suspected involvement in a case of housebreaking and theft.The alleged crime took place at about 6.26am on Jan 9, at a coffee shop along Circuit Road in MacPherson.In a statement on Monday, the police said more than $2,400 in cash were recovered from the duo on Jan 11, adding that they were identified with the aid of police cameras and follow-up investigations by officers from Bedok Police Division and the Police Operations Command Centre.The stolen cash and tools used for housebreaking were seized from the duo as evidence.Police said that investigations are still ongoing against the 40-year-old man, adding that the 67-year-old man will be charged in court on Tuesday.If found guilty of housebreaking and theft, the older man could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.[[nid:727840]]editor@asiaone.com 

SINGAPORE — Catfished by a 15-year-old boy posing as a woman, a teenager was made to perform a sexual act in front of a camera, subject his private parts to humiliating acts, cut and burn his hair with a lighter and play football naked.The offender, who is now 18 and had posed as the woman, was sentenced to 21 months' probation on Jan 12 after he pleaded guilty to one count each of cheating and extortion. He cannot be named because of a gag order to protect the victim's identity.As part of his sentence, he has to remain indoors from 10pm to 6am every day, and perform 110 hours of community service.His parents were also bonded for $5,000 to ensure his good behaviour.In February 2023, the offender posed as a woman online and misled the victim into entering a romantic relationship with «her», identified in court documents as «X1».From then until December that year, the offender made the 18-year-old victim, who is his former schoolmate, perform the degrading acts as well as send him iTunes gift cards and cash amounting to a total value of $390.

The sudden closure of childcare centre Out of Box Academy (OBA) has sparked concern among parents, with many lodging complaints and police reports over fears of losing their deposits and prepaid tuition fees.The centre, which provides care for pre-school and primary school students, informed parents on Dec 11, 2025, that it would cease operations the very next day, citing financial and operational difficulties.When Shin Min Daily News reporters visited OBA's headquarters at 733 Bukit Timah Road, the main gate was found locked. Another branch at 619 Bukit Timah Road appeared completely empty.According to OBA's website, the company operates 33 centres islandwide. With around 30 students in each centre, the sudden shutdown could potentially affect hundreds.Shin Min reporters attempted to contact at least five OBA centres but were unable to get through. It remains unclear how many have been taken over by other operators.Parents blindsided by sudden closureMs Lin (transliterated), a 38-year-old parent, said her child had been attending the centre at Block 517 Jurong West Street since January 2025.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on Sunday (Jan 11) for his alleged involvement in a case of loanshark harassment in Bukit Batok.The alleged crime took place at about 6.25pm at a residential unit along Bukit Batok Street 33, the police said on Monday (Jan 12).A photograph of the scene provided by the police shows the main gate of the victim's unit splashed with red paint. The main door was also affected.The suspect was identified by officers from Jurong Police Division through follow-up investigations and with the aid of police cameras.Preliminary investigation revealed that he is also believed to be involved in other similar cases of loanshark harassment island-wide., the police added.He will be charged in court on Tuesday (Jan 13).The offence of loanshark harassment carries a penalty of imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to $50,000.In addition, those found guilty may receive up to six strokes of the cane.[[nid:727825]]editor@asiaone.com