Snapshot

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged Singaporeans to chart the nation's new direction together.

The last major SG50 event, The Future of Us exhibition, will open in December at Gardens by the Bay and after that discussions will be held around the exhibition themes.

"One important theme which, we will study together, will be the future of our community," Mr Lee said yesterday. "The (People's Association) will start a series of conversations on this subject, we will engage our grassroots leaders, as well as Singaporeans in general, to hear your hopes and aspirations..." he said at the 50th anniversary dinner of the Citizens' Consultative Committees.

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Inculcating the "kampung spirit" at every MRT station could help when a train breakdown happens, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said.

It will be "even more critical if there is a terrorist-led sabotage to our rail system," he wrote in a blog post.

There could be a role for shopkeepers at the MRT stations in contingency plans, Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo had suggested.

"Even if it is simply to help guide the commuters to the right bus stop or to the right queue, it will be a great help to reduce confusion among commuters," he wrote. He has asked the Land Transport Authority, and rail operators SMRT and SBS Transit to see if the idea is practical.

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The Indian government has given its nod for women to fly fighter jets, paving the way for them to assume combat roles for the first time.

In the Indian Air Force, women already fly transport aircraft and helicopters. Countries such as the US, Israel and even arch-rival neighbour Pakistan already allow women as fighter pilots.

But India has kept them out of such roles, reportedly fearing women would be more vulnerable to sexual attacks, and worries over lodging and physical fitness.

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha expressed his reluctance to change tack last year when he said "women are by nature not physically suited for flying fighters for long hours".

- AFP

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A senior police officer charged under Thailand's controversial royal defamation law has died in custody after "hanging" himself in his cell on Friday, officials said.

Earlier this week Police Major Prakrom Warunprapa was charged with lese majeste.

He was charged along with a well-known fortune teller and another person for making claims of closeness to the monarchy to extract benefits, according to a court statement.

Prakrom's body will undergo an autopsy and a fact-finding committee has been set up by the department to investigate his death, it added.

He had faced additional charges including possessing unlicensed firearms and falsifying documents.

- AFP