A 34-year-old private bus driver is assisting with police investigations after being involved in a chain collision along the Seletar Expressway (SLE) on Friday (Jan 2). The accident involved 5 cars and the private bus, and took place along the SLE in the direction of Bukit Timah Expressway. The police told AsiaOne that it was alerted to the accident at about 7.30pm. A 19-year-old male car driver sustained minor injuries, but declined to be taken to hospital. Dashcam footage of the accident's aftermath was uploaded to Facebook group Both Checkpoint. It showed a private bus with a shattered windshield at the back of the the pile-up. Investigations are ongoing.[[nid:727386]]bhavya.rawat@asiaone.com

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.

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 

A 37-year-old man will be charged in court on Saturday (Jan 3) for allegedly vandalising a crime alert signage belonging to the police. In a news release on Friday night, the police said that the purported offence occurred along Stadium Place at about 4.10pm on Dec 30. The suspect was arrested on Jan 2 by officers from Bedok Police Division following ground enquires and with the aid of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage. Based on preliminary investigations, the man is also suspected to be involved in another case of vandalising a public banner. If found guilty of vandalism, the man faces a fine of up to $2,000 or jail for up to three years, along with mandatory caning of between three and eight strokes. [[nid:727311]]editor@asiaone.com 

Thundery showers which persisted over the final two weeks of 2025 are expected to continue into the first fortnight of 2026, the Meteorological Service Singapore said on Friday (Jan 2). They are expected over parts of Singapore in the afternoon on most days, extending into the evening on some days, added the weatherman.The total rainfall is expected to be below average over most parts of the island — with daily maximum temperatures between 32 deg C and 34 deg C on most days. The second half of December also saw mostly thundery showers. Temperatures were similar — at between 32 deg C and 34 deg C, with a high of 34.7 deg C recorded at Jurong Island on Christmas Eve. On Dec 26, heavy thundery showers affected the southern, western and central parts of the island in the afternoon, with a total rainfall of 98.4mm — the highest rainfall recorded for the second half of December — at Pasir Laba. [[nid:726838]]editor@asiaone.com 

A total of 32 Singaporean men were convicted and sentenced for drug and money laundering offences in 2025, said the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) in a statement on Friday (Jan 2). The men, who were arrested by the CNB in separate anti-drug operations, were convicted and sentenced to jail terms of up to 31 years and 18 strokes of the cane. The youngest offender was 19 years old at the time of conviction.CNB said it seized about 8.8kg of heroin, 3kg of Ice, 7.8kg of cannabis, about 110g of cannabis-infused candies, 0.9kg of ketamine, 1,160 Ecstasy tablets, 447 Erimin-5 tablets and other controlled drugs during the anti-drug operations. The drugs seized are estimated to be worth about $1.5 million and can feed the addiction of about 7,000 abusers for a week. About $101,000 worth of proceeds derived from the offenders’ illegal drug activities or otherwise linked to them, were forfeited and surrendered to the state, added the police. 

A former national swimmer and a high-ranking National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) member are set to be new Nominated Members of Parliament (NMP).Darryl Lo and Jeremy Tan, the two independent candidates in the last General Election who threw their hats in the ring for consideration, will not be among the eight new faces appointed to parliament.Mark Lee Kean Phi, chief executive officer of apparel company Sing Lun Holdings, will return for a second term, according to a press release by the Clerk of Parliament on Friday (Jan 2).The nine are:

SINGAPORE – Some residents at a Sin Ming condominium were greeted by brown and yellowish water flowing from their taps on New Year’s Day, following a pipe leak near the junction of Sin Ming Avenue and Upper Thomson Road.National water agency PUB said it was alerted to the incident at 9am on Jan 1.“We immediately deployed our service crew on site to trace the source of the leak and commence repair works. Water supply to homes and businesses in the vicinity was not affected,” it said in response to queries from The Straits Times.A PUB spokesman said the agency is investigating the cause of the pipe leak.Residents of the nearby Flame Tree Park condo had reported that discoloured water was flowing from their taps. This was likely due to resuspension of mineral sediments in the water pipe network due to the leak, PUB said.Repair works are ongoing and are expected to be completed by Jan 2, it added.A 42-year-old doctor who lives in the condo told ST that at around 2am, his wife noticed the water in the toilet bowl was brown even after flushing.At around 8am, he saw discoloured water flowing from the kitchen and toilet taps.

Four people were taken to the hospital after a fire broke out in an HDB flat located along Sembawang Drive on Jan 1. In a Facebook post the same day, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to a fire at Block 462 Sembawang Drive at around 3:15pm. Firefighters extinguished the fire, which broke out on a unit on the 11th floor, with a water jet. A person from the affected unit had evacuated before SCDF’s arrival.As a precautionary measure, about 90 people from the affected block were evacuated by the police and SCDF. 4 people were assessed for smoke inhalation, with 3 taken to Singapore General Hospital and 1 taken to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.The cause of the fire is under investigation, said SCDF.[embed]https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AcH1EjX9Z/[/embed][[nid:727539]]esther.lam@asiaone.com 

A van was allegedly involved in multiple hit-and-run accidents on Wednesday (Dec 31) along Towner Road and Lavender Street, before crashing into a signpost along Raffles Avenue.In three separate posts uploaded to Facebook groups SGRV and SGRV Front Man, the same orange Nippon Paint van was seen involved in multiple road incidents, all of which occurred on different roads.In the first post, the driver of the Toyota Hiace is alleged to have been involved in a hit-and-run accident near Block 149A Towner Road, before being accused of fleeing the scene.An uploaded video showed the van ramming through a car park barricade in the process of doing so. According to the post, the van crashed through the barricade after attempting to flee the scene, along Towner Road. PHOTO: Screengrab/Facebook/SGRV According to SGRV, the incident occurred at 1.32pm.

Singapore ushered in the new year with multiple firework displays across the island, some of which were held in heartland areas like Boon Lay and Woodlands.However, based on multiple videos posted online, Tampines residents reportedly started the new year witnessing flames shooting from the roof of Our Tampines Hub (OTH) shortly after the fireworks display.In a TikTok video by @38mlow posted on Jan 1, smoke could be seen rising from the back of the roof of OTH, while multiple ambulances were seen entering the vicinity of the building. Ambulance sirens could also be heard. 

A 16-year-old teenager is among 143 people assisting in police investigations for their suspected involvement in scams as scammers or money mules, where victims reportedly lost more than $3.82 million. Officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and the seven police land divisions conducted a nearly two week-long operation between Dec 19 and 30, said the police in a statement on New Year's Eve (Dec 31). A total of 41 women and 102 men, aged between 16 and 79, are believed to be involved in more than 400 cases of scams, comprising mainly e-commerce scams, friend impersonation scams, job scams, government official impersonation scams, investment scams and rental scams. They are being investigated for the alleged offences of cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence. The latest enforcement operation comes right after two similar operations in November, and another in the first two weeks of December. 

Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh on Wednesday (Dec 31) said the party will continue to defend the rights of workers and all Singaporeans, call for institutional safeguards, and ensure that governance in Singapore remains transparent and accountable. «As we look to the year ahead, the importance of robust checks and balances has never been more critical,» he said in his New Year message.Singh, who is also Leader of the Opposition, noted unprecedented disruption with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence transforming the workplace. «In such times, the government must not only be efficient but also fair. Singaporean workers and families deal with Singaporean cost-of-living issues, job insecurities, and social realities which require policy empathy,» he said.

Celebrations lit up the night sky as thousands of people in Singapore came together to welcome 2026 with festive gatherings and celebration booths on Wednesday (Dec 31). Speaking to AsiaOne at The Kallang on Dec 31, Muhammad Yusri Khalid, 33, said it was the first time in four years that he and his family had come out to see the fireworks. «We came out to watch the fireworks at 9pm, as well as enjoy the activities for the kids, like the tattoo booths,» said the father of three. «This year is different for us because we usually stay home by midnight and miss the fireworks as the kids get tired. It's the first time in four years that we've come out to watch them.» Yusri's wife Amanah Koh also shared their hopes for the new year, including the challenge of preparing their daughter for Primary 1 in 2026, and their second child for school the following year in 2027. 

There was a flurry of activity at the Charis Tabernacle church in Paya Lebar on the morning of New Year's Eve as about 150 volunteers worked to package humanitarian aid bound for Gaza.A hefty 18 tonnes of aid, consisting of 60,000 packs of ready-to-eat bean soup meals and 3,000 pieces of 10-litre collapsible jerry cans will be shipped to Jordan in January and then delivered to Gaza via land crossings or airdrops.The latest tranche of aid facilitated by non-profit organisation Humanity Matters is worth $204,000. It is hoped that the relief supplies will reach Gaza in time for Ramadan, which is expected to start around Feb 18, 2026.At the relief packing event on Dec 31, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam said the situation in Gaza is «still very dire» despite news of a ceasefire in October.«It's not a very happy new year if you're in Gaza right now, nor is it particularly happy if you're in Ukraine or Sudan or Yemen,» he observed in his speech as the event's guest of honour.

Emotions ran high, and fingers were pointed after a commuter was allegedly not allowed on board a bus, supposedly due to durian.A TikTok user, who wanted to be known as Fuse, told AsiaOne that she witnessed the spat at Woodlands Bus Interchange at about 9.45pm on Saturday (Dec 28).The video which she uploaded online shows a SMRT bus captain of service 911 in a stand-off with a woman in a red top.«Bring it out!» says the driver repeatedly as the woman shouts unintelligibly, pointing a finger at the former, while other commuters are seen trying to pacify her.A shriek is heard at one point, after which the bus captain sits down and appears to disengage from the situation.Fuse told AsiaOne that she was not aware of what sparked the dispute, which had attracted the attention of other passers-by.«A few people tried to calm (the woman) down. But it did not work,» she said.Several netizens speculated that durian could have been the cause, noting that it is not allowed on public transport because of its strong smell.

Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers have foiled two attempts to smuggle duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore at Tuas Checkpoint.The incident happened on Dec 12, according to a Facebook post on Tuesday (Dec 30). ICA said that radiographic image analysts spotted anomalies in the scanned images and directed the vehicles for enhanced checks.The first case involved a truck containing more than 2,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden within a consignment declared as «tool box and drawer storage».A second truck with 1,500 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden within a consignment declared as «furniture» was also interrupted on the same day.Three Malaysian men, aged 27, 28, and 33, were arrested in connection with these cases, and the exhibits and suspects referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation.Buying, selling, conveying, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods is considered serious offences under the Customs Act and the Goods and Services Tax Act. 

A local influencer filed a police report after his 12-year-old son was threatened during a TikTok livestream. The father, Singapore-based influencer Alex Lee, posted a subsequent video, which has since garnered over 2.6 million views, describing the incident.According to Lee, a netizen allegedly threatened to beat up his older son Daken at his new secondary school during the livestream. Lee added: «I don't know whether this person is a senior in his new school or just a random person on the internet, but no one threatens my son and gets away with it. »I have screenshots and (a) video recording of the interaction and I've made a police report. I'm waiting for the investigation officer to get back to me."Lee is married to Bonita Ma, the founder of Basic Models Management, with whom he has two sons — Daken and Raiden. Daken recently received his PSLE results and secondary school posting — both of which were documented on their TikTok page. Lee also urged the public to be mindful about their speech and actions, especially in the online space. 

Almost a million Singaporean HDB households will receive rebates on their utility and conservancy bills in January, in the fourth quarterly disbursement for Financial Year 2025. Eligible households will receive U-Save and Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates in January next year as part of the permanent GST Voucher scheme and the enhanced Assurance Package, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in a statement on Tuesday (Dec 30). The rebates help to offset the utility bills and conservancy charges for lower- to middle-income HDB households and are disbursed quarterly each financial year, said MOF. Households will receive rebates according to their HDB flat type. For instance, households living in a one- or two-room flat will receive $190 worth of U-Save and half a month of S&CC rebates. Eligible households do not need to take any action and will have the rebates automatically credited to their utilities accounts by SP Services and their town councils respectively. 

Two male motorcyclists were arrested during a two-day enforcement blitz targeting errant motorcyclists on expressways. In a statement on Tuesday (Dec 30), the Traffic Police (TP) said they conducted checks on 132 vehicles as part of the operation on Dec 15 and 16. The two motorcyclists, aged 21 and 33, were arrested for driving without a valid licence and for using a motor vehicle without insurance coverage. Over the two days, a total of 154 summonses were issued for various traffic offences, including speeding, riding on road shoulders, stopping on road shoulders, and using unapproved helmets, said the police. For driving without a licence, offenders may be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to three years, or both. Repeat offenders can be fined up to $20,000, jailed up to six years, or both. The vehicle may also be forfeited. For using a motor vehicle without insurance coverage, offenders may face a fine up to $1,000, a jail term of up to three months, or both. Offenders will also be disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles. [[nid:727423]]

The police are looking for one of two prime movers involved in an accident which resulted in the death of a 61-year-old motorcyclist on the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) on Monday (Dec 29) evening. The fatal accident occurred in the direction of Tuas after Clementi Road at about 5.45pm. In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police said the male motorist was declared dead at the scene by a paramedic from the Singapore Civil Defence Force. «Efforts to trace one of the prime movers are underway,» it said, adding that investigations are ongoing. A video filmed by an eyewitness shows an overturned motorcycle and trails of blood streaking the rain-soaked road, reported 8world. A taxi driver, surnamed Fu, told Shin Min Daily News that it was a «horrific» accident. The Chinese evening daily reported that the victim is believed to have fallen after being hit by one of the prime movers and then run over by the other heavy vehicle. Fu said that a person had placed an umbrella over the victim to shield him from the rain while waiting for first responders to arrive. 

More than 80kg of rhinoceros horns, lion and tiger bones were seized in Johannesburg on Dec 1, following a joint operation between the National Parks Board (NParks) and South African authorities.In a statement on Tuesday (Dec 30), NParks said it was alerted to a suspicious shipment transiting through Singapore Changi Airport from South Africa on Nov 11.The cargo «bore similarities» to a previous shipment seized by NParks on Nov 8 and found to contain 35.7kg of rhino horns worth $1.13 million and other animal parts, it added.Following an assessment, NParks did not seize the shipment but instead coordinated with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and initiated a controlled return of the shipment to South Africa to enable further investigation. On Dec 1, the DPCI's Serious Organised Crime Investigation’s Wildlife Trafficking Unit launched an operation which traced the shipment to a storage facility in Johannesburg. There, four boxes containing 17 rhinoceros horns weighing 55.4kg, along with 26.2kg of lion and tiger bones, including skulls and claws, were seized.

Households will see lower electricity and gas bills from January to March, following a drop in energy and fuel costs. Electricity tariffs for households will go down by 0.84 cent per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while gas tariffs will decrease by 0.67 cent per kWh, before goods and services tax (GST).  PHOTO: SP Group In a statement on Tuesday (Dec 30), grid operator SP Group said the electricity tariffs, including for non-households, will decrease by 3.1 per cent from the previous quarter. Families living in four-room flats can expect a decrease by $3.17 before GST on their average monthly electricity bill. In another statement on the same day, gas provider City Energy said that the gas tariff for households will drop by 0.67 cent per kWh, from 22.35 cents to 21.68 cents, from January to March. 

SINGAPORE - The Hindu community now has a sheltered space to perform seaside rituals for their departed loved ones with the opening of a new facility at Changi Beach.Announced five years ago, Karma Kaariya Nilaiyam - a one-storey building with four private halls - was officially launched on Dec 29 and is located next to Carpark 2 of the beach.Families can book the private halls online to carry out post-death Hindu rites or Karumathi prayers, performed on the 13th or 16th day after cremation, said the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB), which funds and manages the facility.Previously, most families would place a mat on the ground at Changi Beach to prepare for and carry out the rituals, typically in the pre-dawn hours. This left them exposed to a dark environment, heavy rain and winds, HEB secretary Satish Appoo told the media on Dec 29.Families had to take along their own light sources, and the only sheltered spaces available were empty beach pavilions, he added.«This facility provides a calm, dignified and respectful environment. Families are still mourning, so they need privacy to focus on these rituals,» added Satish.

A Malaysian man linked to an organised criminal group in Cambodia that scammed Singaporeans was arrested on Sunday (Dec 28). The 24-year-old is purportedly involved with the 27 Singaporeans and seven Malaysians wanted by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) over their alleged involvement with that group.The police said in a news release on Dec 29 that Eugene Goh was arrested while trying to enter Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint.Checks by AsiaOne against the list of 34 persons wanted by SPF indicate that Goh's name was not among those listed.According to the police's statement, Goh's involvement was established through ongoing investigations against the 34-man organised crime group. Goh is the second Malaysian to be arrested in relation to the scam ring. 

Two teenagers riding a personal mobility device (PMD) were taken to hospital following an accident in Yishun on Sunday evening (Dec 28).Dashcam footage of the accident, shared on the Facebook group SG Road Vigilante, showed the two 13-year-olds dressed in black riding a black PMD, with one riding pillion. The PMD did not have its headlights switched on.The car was believed to have been making a right turn when the collision occurred, sending both riders flying. The impact also scattered debris across the road.Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force said that they were alerted to an accident involving a PMD and a car at the junction of Yishun Ring Road and Yishun Avenue 2 at about 11.10pm. A 13-year-old male PMD rider and his 13-year-old male pillion were taken conscious to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.Under the Active Mobility Act, motorised personal mobility devices are not allowed to be used on roads. First-time offenders face a fine of up to $2,000 and/or a jail term of up to three months.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) announced it will seek a new operator for One Punggol Hawker Centre in January 2026 after the current operator cut its tenancy short.In a statement on Monday (Dec 29), NEA said that One Punggol Hawker Centre's current operator, Timbre + Hawkers, will conclude its tenancy on Aug 14, 2026 — one year before its current term was scheduled to end.Timbre is in its second term, having completed two of the three years.«Timbre had indicated that the tenancy posed challenges for its ongoing operations at One Punggol Hawker Centre,» the agency said, adding that it came to a mutual agreement with Timbre on its end date.In a separate statement, Timbre said that the decision was made after «taking into account overall operational considerations and prevailing market conditions».One Punggol Hawker Centre opened in 2022 and current has 31 hawkers, according to its website.New operator will retain existing stallholders: NEAAccording to NEA, Timbre has committed to upholding the vibrancy of One Punggol Hawker Centre until the conclusion of its tenancy.

A man who drove a bus along the Pan Island Expressway at 79kmh is among six motorists to be charged on Tuesday (Dec 30) for speeding offences involving heavy vehicles. The 30-year-old was driving towards the East Coast Parkway on Aug 31 and exceeded the vehicle's speed limit of 60kmh, the police said in a statement on Monday. The offences by the six motorists were allegedly committed between August and October. The suspects, who are aged between 30 and 50, were driving heavy vehicles which were not fitted with speed limiters. Two of the cases involved buses, three involved cement mixers and one involved a tipper truck. The motorists were caught driving at speeds which exceeded the imposed limits of their vehicles. Those convicted of speeding can be fined up to $1,000, jailed for up to three months, or both. Subsequent convictions will lead to a higher fine and jail term. Offenders may also face disqualification from driving all vehicles.The number of speeding violations surged 45.5 per cent in the first half of 2025 from the same period the previous year, with more than 118,000 offences recorded. 

A 70-year-old male car driver is assisting with police investigations following a hit-and-run accident in Ang Mo Kio on Sunday (Dec 28). The police told AsiaOne that they were alerted to the accident involving two cars and a lorry at Block 223 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 at about 8.20pm. Dashcam footage shared on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page shows a red Porsche reversing out of its parking lot, before ramming into a stationary lorry next to it. The car reverses and then moves forward again, this time hitting a BMW parked two lots away — causing a severely dented bumper.  No injuries were reported from the accident, said the police. [[nid:726635]]chingshijie@asiaone.com 

A woman's trip on low-cost airline Scoot took an unexpected turn when a gift box fell from an overhead compartment and injured her during a six-hour flight to Singapore last month. The passenger, 43-year-old accountant Dong Mingming (transliteration) was seated in seat 13B on Scoot flight TR187 from Qingdao, China to Singapore on Nov 5. Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Dong said the incident took place about half an hour after takeoff, when she had removed her glasses and closed her eyes to rest. A male passenger opened the overhead luggage compartment and a heavy object fell out, striking her right eyelid. «I immediately felt a sharp pain and I couldn't open my eyes at all; my vision became blurry,» said Dong. She later learned that a gift box had fallen from the overhead compartment. Noticing that her eyelid was bleeding, the flight attendants offered her ice and alcohol wipes. «Because of the eye injury, I dared not move around rashly,» added Dong. After the flight landed at Changi Airport, Dong sought medical treatment at Singapore General Hospital. 

A Muay Thai studio in Bencoolen is appealing to netizens for help to find the culprits after its banner was damaged overnight.Benjamin Lim, co-founder of MT30, a kickboxing gym located in GR.iD mall, uploaded CCTV footage of the incident on his personal Instagram account late last month.Timestamps on the footage indicate that the incident occurred on Nov 11 at 6.05am, showing two men standing outside the glass doors at the entrance of the studio.A man in a white T-shirt appears hunched over, and grabs onto the banner to support himself while his friend in a black hoodie seems to console him.The man in white proceeds to tug on the banner in a fit of rage, causing it to crumple to the ground.He subsequently pushes his friend away and slams his arms onto the glass wall before walking away from the fitness studio.Police report lodgedSpeaking to AsiaOne, Lim said that he only noticed the damaged banner after reaching the studio the next day.Mall security was also aware of the incident, and a police report has been made, he said.

A 39-year-old Malaysian man has been arrested for attempting to smuggle drugs through Woodlands Checkpoint last Monday evening (Dec 22).In a joint statement released on Monday (Dec 29), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said a total of seven bundles believed to contain controlled drugs were found on him.The bundles were assessed to contain more than 3.2kg of cannabis and 1.7kg of Ice.The drugs seized were estimated to be worth more than $237,000, and could potentially feed the addiction of about 1,440 abusers for a week.Based on information received from the ICA's integrated targeting centre, he was referred for enhanced checks, where officers found two black bundles believed to contain controlled drugs in his bag.Officers from the CNB were immediately alerted and further checks led to the recovery of the drugs.