East-West line disruptions expected to continue until 1 October; Expert claims 'human error' led to turbulence on SIA flight: Singapore live news

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Train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista expected to resume on Tuesday (1 Oct) after new cracks were found. (PHOTO: Getty Images)
Train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista expected to resume on Tuesday (1 Oct) after new cracks were found. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

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Hello to all our readers, Yahoo Singapore will be bringing you live news updates today.

The East-West line disruption will extend till Tuesday (1 Oct) after 12 new cracks were found on rail segments. SMRT shared on Facebook that repair and restoration works were completed on Saturday but load testing revealed the presence of 12 cracks that were previously not visible. For more on the extended disruption to the train line, read here.

A former Australian pilot theorised that "human error" caused the fatal turbulence on flight SQ321 in May. He also disputed claims that the flight encountered Clear Air Turbulence – a claim that was fuelled by by initial findings from Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB). For more on his theories on SQ321, read on.

Lee Hsien Yang has paid Ministers Vivian Balakrishnan and K. Shanmugam over $619,000 for defamation. The two senior ministers sued the estranged brother of former Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong last year. He claimed that they received preferential treatment for their bungalow rentals on Ridout Road.

A rental flat at Block 12 Taman Ho Swee was mistakenly listed as $8,000 per month for the entire flat, according to HDB. The listing made headlines across the weekend due to its price tag. To find out more about this Bukit Merah flat, read on.

New Bahru is progressively opening but there's plenty for foodies to explore. From affordable breakfast food, to authentic Mexican cuisine, and even local favourites like laksa, there's much to experience. Check out the list of top 10 dining spots at New Bahru here.

A fire broke out at Suria KLCC on Sunday (Sept 29) evening, resulting in hundreds being evacuated. Shoppers had mixed reactions – some thought it was malfunction or a drill until they saw people running.

LTA provided an update on the ongoing recovery works of the East-West Line earlier on Monday (30 Sept). The damaged rail segments have been replaced and train endurance tests are ongoing. "Everyone toiled through the early morning hours, working towards service recovery," they wrote on Facebook. Train service is expected to resume tomorrow (1 Oct).

UK economists have concluded that a hybrid work model doesn't widen inequality between those who can use it and those who can't. While remote workers enjoy lifestyle benefits, their wage grows at a slower pace compared to in-person staff who saw a boost to their salary.

80-year-old Choi Soon-hwa is set to be the oldest participant in a national Miss Universe pageant. Choi is a grandmother of three and also walked Seoul Fashion Week in 2018. She said, "I want to show that we can live healthily even when we get old." For more on her beauty pageant dreams, read here.

Joseph Schooling joined a venture capital firm, according to a LinkedIn announcement shared on Monday (30 Sept). The former national swimmer had previously expressed interest in joining the venture capital space when speaking about his post-retirement plans. To learn more about his new career choice, read on.

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    EWL disruption: Damaged rail segments replaced, train endurance tests ongoing

    LTA provided an update on the ongoing recovery works of the East-West Line earlier on Monday (30 Sept). (PHOTO: Facebook/Land Transport Authority)
    LTA provided an update on the ongoing recovery works of the East-West Line earlier on Monday (30 Sept). (PHOTO: Facebook/Land Transport Authority)

    All the affected rail segments between Clementi and Ulu Pandan Depot have been replaced and a train endurance test is going, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a Facebook update earlier on Monday (30 Sept).

    LTA shared that workers "toiled through the early morning hours, working towards service recovery". Apart from replacing the damaged rail segments, workers have also completed the locomotive stress test, electric meggering test, and track circuit tests.

    The third rail was also reinstated, added LTA.

    The stress test is to ensure all affected rails are sturdy and welded well before they start the loaded train endurance test. This involves running a fully loaded train across the tracks, with sandbags being used to simulate the weight of a fully loaded train car.

    SMRT announced on Sunday that train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista will be halted till Oct 1. This was due to the discovery of new cracks on other rail sections following the completion of repair and restoration works on Saturday.

    For more updates on the recovery works, read here.

  • Joseph Schooling joins venture capital firm

    Joseph Schooling joined a venture capital firm, according to a LinkedIn announcement shared on Monday (30 Sept). (PHOTO: LinkedIn/Vertex Ventures SE Asia & India)
    Joseph Schooling joined a venture capital firm, according to a LinkedIn announcement shared on Monday (30 Sept). (PHOTO: LinkedIn/Vertex Ventures SE Asia & India)

    Former national swimmer Joseph Schooling has joined a venture capital firm as an associate.

    The announce was made via a LinkedIn post by the company, Vertex Ventures SE Asia & India, on Monday (30 Sept).

    They wrote, "Joseph brings with him a unique perspective to our firm. As he embarks on this new journey, he will be working alongside our seasoned investment professionals to gain more experience and insights into assessing and making investments in high-growth startups."

    This shouldn't come as a surprise considering that Schooling had already publicly expressed interest in the venture capital space during an interview with The Straits Times in April 2024.

    He shared that he was going in with two partners, adding, "We’re going to slice that up into three pillars: health and wellness, tech, and sustainability."

    As for joining Vertex Ventures, Schooling said, "Vertex Ventures is known to be one of the top VC names in the region. As our ecosystem evolves, we must be willing to pivot."

  • 80-year-old grandma is a Miss Universe Korea hopeful

    80-year-old Choi Soon-hwa is set to be the oldest participant in a national Miss Universe pageant. (PHOTO: CNN)
    80-year-old Choi Soon-hwa is set to be the oldest participant in a national Miss Universe pageant. (PHOTO: CNN)

    Age is just a number.

    At least for this 80-year-old who is serving face and looks at the annual Miss Universe Korea competition.

    Choi Soon-hwa was unveiled as a finalist earlier this month and will compete with 31 others for the tiara on Monday (30 Sept).

    The grandmother of three said she wants to subvert expectations of people being old and sickly. "I want to show that we can live healthily even when we get old," she said. Choi is also a trained model and made her debut at 74 during the 2018 Seoul Fashion Week.

    She is set to be the oldest participant in a national Miss Universe pageant.

    Organisers of this year's Miss Universe Korea has said that "age doesn’t matter when it comes to dreaming". They have also removed the swimsuit segment of the competition.

    For more on Choi's beauty pageant dreams, read here.

  • Non-WFH workers get compensation, study reveals

    UK economists have concluded that a hybrid work model doesn't widen inequality between those who can use it and those who can't. (PHOTO: Bloomberg)
    UK economists have concluded that a hybrid work model doesn't widen inequality between those who can use it and those who can't. (PHOTO: Bloomberg)

    Hybrid work doesn't just benefit those who can do it.

    According to a new study, those who can't saw bigger gains to compensate for their lack of work-from-home (WFH) benefits.

    Economists from the University of Nottingham, the University of Sheffield, and King’s College London observed that the wages of remote workers grew two to seven per cent slower than other occupations.

    However, remote workers do get benefits like access to free child care or a company car, which outweighed the slower wage gains.

    For non-remote workers, the salary boost was more than enough compensation for having to work in person everyday.

    In fact, researchers pointed out that when considering total compensation (wage and in-kind WFH benefits), a hybrid work model didn't increase inequality between both groups. It had no effect on the gap, they concluded.

    If anything, it resulted in a "substantial increase in average compensation across the board".

    Could this be something to consider when addressing the WFH situation in Singapore? To understand more, read here.

  • Hundreds evacuated from Suria KLCC after fire was detected

    A fire broke out at Suria KLCC on Sunday evening, resulting in hundreds being evacuated. (PHOTO: Getty Images)
    A fire broke out at Suria KLCC on Sunday evening, resulting in hundreds being evacuated. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

    An evening out at Suria KLCC for shoppers turned into a panic-filled experience after the fire alarm sounded.

    The alarm sounded at 8.10pm on 29 Sept, with smoke being observed at the food court and the motorcycle parking area.

    Shoppers shared their experience online and it was varied. Some thought it was a drill while another thought it was a malfunction until they saw people running.

    Netizen Zaid Zakir said he panicked because when he asked security guards what was going on, they replied, "Firing, some firing."

    "At least teach the guards to use the correct words," he wrote.

    Suria KLCC shared on Facebook that the fire department arrived at the scene within minutes and located the source of the fire.

    For more on the Suria KLCC fire, read here.

  • A top 10 guide of the best dining spots at New Bahru

    New Bahru is progressively opening but there's plenty for foodies to explore. (PHOTO: New Bahru)
    New Bahru is progressively opening but there's plenty for foodies to explore. (PHOTO: New Bahru)

    It's hard to miss the buzz that New Bahru has been generating over the last couple of weeks.

    From influencers to foodies, many have flocked to this new creative lifestyle concept that is home to over 40 independent, made-in-Singapore brands. (Fun fact: It is built at the location of the former Nan Chiau High School.)

    New Bahru is progressively opening, but there's plenty that caters to different needs – from wellness and fitness, to fashion, and of course, dining.

    Here's a list of top 10 dining spots at New Bahru, but let's see the highlights.

    Firstly, breakfast spot Dearborn has evolved from its home-based fine dining roots that serves simple, yet sophisticated dishes. Its Potato and Egg dish consists of a soft-boiled egg, mash, and potato foam. Despite its classy heritage, you can also get affordable breakfast food like Smoked Cheddar & Chilli Sourdough for $7.

    There's also Huevos, a no-frills Mexican place that serves affordable and authentic cuisine. You can try their popular Baja Fish Taco ($14 for two) or their Tacos De Camaron ($18 for two), a tiger prawn taco with mint and pineapple salsa.

    The Coconut Club has set up shop there as well, if you're craving some local favourites like laksa, nasi lemak, or traditional kueh.

    Check out all the top 10 dining spots in New Bahru here.

  • $8,000 rental for 3-room Bukit Merah flat a typo: HDB

    A rental flat at Block 12 Taman Ho Swee was mistakenly listed as $8,000 per month for the entire flat. (PHOTO: Screengrab from Google Maps)
    A rental flat at Block 12 Taman Ho Swee was mistakenly listed as $8,000 per month for the entire flat. (PHOTO: Screengrab from Google Maps)

    A rental flat at Block 12 Taman Ho Swee made headlines across the weekend because of its $8,000 price tag.

    However, that is a "typographical mistake", according to a statement by the Housing Development Board (HDB).

    HDB said, "Upon further checks, the owner clarified that a typographical mistake was made in the application form, listing a rental rate of $8,000 per month for the entire flat, instead of $900 per month for a single bedroom rental, as intended. The error has been corrected in the portal."

    The data was listed on HDB's Market Rental Rates service, which is based on declarations from flat owners in their rental applications. It was reported by local media that the data was removed on Friday and replaced with the updated listing.

    HDB verifies applicants' eligibility before the rental application is uploaded to the website, however, The Business Times reported that they do not check the accuracy of the rental data since the price is a "private matter [agreed] between owners and tenants".

  • Lee Hsien Yang pays Shanmugam, Balakrishnan over $619k for defamation

    Lee Hsien Yang said that he has paid Ministers Vivian Balakrishnan (left) and K. Shanmugam (right) for defamation. (PHOTO: Bloomberg)
    Lee Hsien Yang said that he has paid Ministers Vivian Balakrishnan (left) and K. Shanmugam (right) for defamation. (PHOTO: Bloomberg)

    Lee Hsien Yang, estranged brother of former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has paid two senior ministers who sued him for defamation.

    In a Facebook post on Sunday (29 Sept), Lee said he has paid Law Minister K. Shanmugam and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan a total of $619,335,53. The amount included damages, costs and disbursements related to a Singapore High Court order in May.

    The ministers sued Lee last year over his allegations on Facebook that they received preferential treatment for their bungalow rentals on Ridout Road.

    To find out more on the defamation charge, read here.

  • Expert claims 'human error' led to turbulence on SIA flight

    A former pilot said the crew on flight SQ321 made a "terrible miscalculation" resulting in the fatal turbulence. (PHOTO: Getty Images)
    A former pilot said the crew on flight SQ321 made a "terrible miscalculation" resulting in the fatal turbulence. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

    An ex-pilot has a theory about the fatal turbulence on flight SQ321 in May.

    Richard Woodward, former Australian Air Force and Qantas pilot, claimed that the flight hit a thunderstorm due to "human error". Based on satellite images over Myanmar, Woodward concluded that the Singapore Airlines crew made a "terrible miscalculation".

    On an Australian news show, he said, "With my background, I’m fairly certain that they had an encounter with or were very close to a thunderstorm."

    Woodward, with 33 years of flying experience, also disputed the claims that the flight encountered Clear Air Turbulence – a claim that was fuelled by initial findings from Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB).

    "It’s very rare to have a clear air turbulence encounter in the tropics," he said, adding that there is "compelling evidence" that the flight encountered a thunderstorm instead.

    The flight departed London on 20 May and encountered severe turbulence 10 hours into the journey.

    A 73-year-old British man died from a suspected heart attack, seven people were in critical condition, and dozens more taken to the hospital.

    Recently, SIA has been accused of trying to 'lowball' payouts to victims of the flight.

    For more on the theories around SQ321, read here.

  • East-West line disruptions expected to continue until 1 October

    Train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista expected to resume on Tuesday (1 Oct) after new cracks were found. (PHOTO: Getty Images)
    Train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista expected to resume on Tuesday (1 Oct) after new cracks were found. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

    Train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista will be halted till Tuesday (1 Oct).

    SMRT had originally planned to resume services on 30 Sept, but delayed it by a day after new cracks were found on Saturday.

    In a Facebook post, the train operator shared that repair and restoration works were completed on Saturday. However, "12 new cracks that were previously not visible appeared on unreplaced rail segments" during load testing.

    "We are working towards restoration of train services on 1 Oct (Tue), subject to weather conditions and after thorough testing have been successfully completed to ensure safety of commuters," added SMRT.

    Train services have been disrupted since Wednesday (25 Sept), making this the longest unplanned train disruption to hit Singapore.

    To learn more about the train disruption, read here.