Many things (most of them bad) have been said of Chay Yu Wei and his badly 'shopped photo that won a contest put up by Nikon, but the most unexpected entry came from Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
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SCDF gets into the Nikon photoshop saga with their own 'Look Up' photo
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18 years' jail and caning for police NSF who extorted money and raped girl
Seemingly getting off on watching couples going on all out public displays of affection a young police officer abused his authority by extorting money from them in exchange for keeping quiet.
The crimes of the full-time national serviceman went beyond disgusting when he moved in to rape one of the girls he was extorting money from.
21-year-old Muhammad Shazwan Sapuwan has since been sentenced to jail for 18 years and given 15 strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to rape, oral sex, outrage of modesty and extortion, The Straits Times reports.
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Video: Drunk driver sends motorcyclist flying in collision at South Bridge Road
Another drunk driver makes headlines again — this time involving a car colliding into an innocent motorcyclist and a pedestrian at the junction of South Bridge Road and Pickering Street.
Last Friday afternoon, a 34-year-old man was arrested for alleged drink driving after he ploughed straight into a scooter, sending the motorcyclist flying into the air. The Straits Times reports that a pedestrian was involved in the accident too — both casualties were conveyed conscious to Singapore General Hospital.
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Singapore second most vacation deprived nation in Asia Pacific: Expedia
There's a reason why Singaporeans are often seen as uptight, wound-up folks — we aren't taking enough vacations. In fact, Singapore is considered the second most vacation deprived nation in Asia Pacific and third globally.
A survey conducted by travel site Expedia highlighted that Singaporeans would rather take a pay raise than have more leave days. Such dedication to careers aren't actually due to pressure from bosses — Expedia found that nearly half of the 356 respondents surveyed shared that their employers were supportive of them taking vacations.
"However, it might come as no surprise about the practicality of Singaporeans trumping the need for holidays with nearly seven out of 10 respondents sharing that they would rather take a pay raise than have more vacation days," says AirAsiaExpedia CEO Jonty Neal.
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Oil spillage shuts down 2 lanes along PIE in evening rush hour
Headed home right now? Best avoid the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) towards Changi — two lanes have been closed since afternoon today due to an oil spill.
In yet another accident involving an oil tanker, the Land Transport Authority has advised motorists to seek alternative routes as clean-up operations are still ongoing. In particular, two PIE lanes after the Jurong Town Hall Road exit and the slips roads of Bukit Batok Road and Jurong Town Hall Road into PIE (Changi) are closed to facilitate recovery.
"Motorists are advised to seek alternative routes such as the slip road of Toh Guan Rd into PIE (Changi)," says LTA in a Facebook update. "LTA will reopen the affected lanes when recovery works are completed."
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Train and bus service operating hours extended this Chinese New Year eve weekend
We're just a couple of days away from the big Chinese New Year weekend and luckily for all of us, public transport operation hours are extended to accommodate our late night revelry.
This weekend will see both SMRT and SBS staffers working extra late into the night just so we'll be able to get home safe on trains and buses. Check out the schedules below:
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Police issue statement in response to criticism after death of accused 14-year-old boy
Scores of people were outraged when a 14-year-old boy was found dead at the foot of his HDB block last week— an alleged suicide after a highly distressing day.
Benjamin Lim Jun Hui had apparently jumped off a ledge outside his 14th floor flat in Yishun after returning him from police interrogation for allegedly molesting a girl.
Though initial reports provided very little information about the case (mainstream media refused to report that it was a suspected case of suicide), The Online Citizen managed to piece together what happened from Lim's family.
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AVA shuts down silly rumours that bak kwa sold here contains rat, fox and mink flesh
If you've been suspecting that bak kwa sold here taste a wee bit too exotic, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) would like to dispel all your freaky notions.
No, your favourite barbecued pork jerkies don't contain rat, fox and mink flesh.
The scare comes after gullible folks have been receiving and spreading email messages claiming that most bak kwa originate from China — and as such may contain those exotic ingredients, or pretty much anything other than pork.
AVA however assures that the Chinese New Year staple sold here is produced locally from raw pork sourced from countries such as Australia, Brazil and Spain. In fact, only less than 5 percent of bak kwa is sourced from China — and even those ones are approved as semi-processed frozen sliced pork.
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Heavy rainfall and warmer temperatures will make a humid Chinese New Year this year
If the rainy morning has been any indication, it'll be a wet and rainy Chinese New Year with rainfall expected to surge in the first two weeks of February.
The weather wizards at Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) forecast that short-duration thunder showers will occur mostly in the afternoon on four to five days during the fortnight. Showers may be particularly heavy on days when there is convergence of winds coupled with strong solar heating of land areas.
"For two or three days around the Lunar New Year period, a monsoon surge is forecast to affect the region and this is expected to bring widespread rain and occasionally windy conditions to Singapore," says the MSS.
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Carousell cheat pays for $31.8k Rolex watch with fast food fliers before fleeing
Ah Carousell. Sometimes you're the best thing that've ever been made to aid our endless cycle of material consumption — other times you're just a swamp of marauding crocodiles.
In one of the most dumbest stories of CarouHell we've heard so far, one dealer almost traded his $31,800 Rolex for a fistful of fast-food restaurant fliers, according to a report by The New Paper.
Watch dealer Jonathan Lian had agreed with an interested buyer to sell his Rolex for $31,800, setting up a deal to take place on Friday night at Block 822 along Jurong West Street 81. The buyer, who gave his name as Andy Ong, contacted him and agreed to meet at 11.30pm.
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Local photographer fights against public breastfeeding discrimination with stunning photo series
It's baffling how breastfeeding in public suddenly became an increasingly controversial issue in the past couple of years, sparking off debates across the world on whether it should be a norm or not.
With hypocrisy and double standards surrounding the issue of public breastfeeding, one husband and wife duo is standing up against the discrimination lodged at mums — especially working ones — who choose to do so in the workplace. Local photographer couple Jen Pan and Ray Co chose to take a stand against workplace discrimination in the way they know best: a stunning photo series.
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"Large number of bank accounts" seized in relation to 1MDB probe: MAS
Despite Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak being cleared of all allegations of graft concerning to millions of dollars channelled into his bank accounts, Swiss authorities are less than convinced.
Malaysia's attorney general cleared Najib himself of any criminal offences or corruption, declaring that $681 million deposited into his personal bank account was a gift from Saudi Arabia's royal family.
Swiss authorities mentioned that they found serious indications about $4 billion being misappropriated following a criminal investigation into state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
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Laneway Takeaway: 8 highlights of our experience in Laneway Festival Singapore 2016
Before the year’s biggest indie music festival kicked off, there was already trouble in paradise. The new rule that disallowed re-entry into the festival warranted some nasty comments on its event page, with some threatening to boycott the festival altogether, and some saying it will be their last this year. And then tragedy struck again. Just a day before, it was announced that shoegazey lads DIIV became yet another act to pull out at the last minute (due to “family emergencies”). Woe.
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Motorist impressed that lorry driver practiced Japanese way of saying thank you on the roads
Japanese motorists have a rather clever way to thank each other on the roads when a kind deed is carried out. To show their gratitude to anyone who's shown them goodwill — like letting them enter your lane for example — they simply say thank you by giving a few blinks of their hazard lights.
Without saying a word, motorists are able to acknowledge the good turn and show that they appreciate the courtesy. Such gestures are sorely lacking among the often inconsiderate motorists on Singapore roads— and that's why Facebook user Azry Al'mukz was so impressed when he saw it practiced here.
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Despite problematic 2014 concert, Jay Chou will return to perform at National Stadium in September
The king of Mandopop is back with a world tour, and he's making Singapore his first Southeast Asian stop come Sept 3.
As part of his seventh world tour, massively popular Taiwanese singer Jay Chou will be performing at the National Stadium — despite the troubling issues that marred his concert in 2014 at the very same venue.
What issues you ask? Oh not much — just leaky roofs that let rain water seep in from above; bad sound; worse sound technicians; little ventilation; and poor handling by service staff.
Anywho, Singapore Sports Hub has been given a chance to redeem themselves after that disastrous outing when Jay Chou returns. Tickets go on sale on Feb 24 at $118 and up.
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Over 3,560 cartons of contraband cigarettes seized at Woodlands Checkpoint last weekend
Smugglers just don't give up attempting to bring in contraband cigarettes into Singapore, and Singaporean authorities just can't stop foiling their plans. Over 3,560 cartons of duty unpaid cigarettes were uncovered in two of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)'s latest bust — both of which took place at Woodlands Checkpoint.
In the first bust that transpired on the afternoon of Jan 29, ICA officers stopped a Singapore-registered bus driven by a 50-year-old Singaporean. Inspections uncovered 3,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes located in modified compartments at the luggage compartment, chassis and even the emergency exit staircase.
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Istana opens its gates to the public on Feb 9 for CNY celebrations
The second day of the Chinese New Year will see the Istana opening up its gates to the public from 8.30am till 6pm in celebration of the festivities. No wandering the Istana lawn though, it's closed for renovations till end of the year.
What's there to do at the Istana this coming Lunar New Year? There'll be a display of birds carried out by Wildlife Reserves Singapore, a hip hop dance show by Singapore Management University dancers, a non-hip hop Lion dance performance and other traditional displays.
If those cheesy programmes aren't your cup of tea, you can always go on a tour around the Istana grounds. Explore the site's flora and fauna and check out the President's gifts by foreign dignitaries, which will be up on display.
More details about the whole affair on the Istana website. Have fun.
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MOE assures that schools ensure well-being of students under police investigations
With the police issuing a statement on the tragic death of young Benjamin Lim, the Ministry of Education (MOE) have also commented on the controversy, stating that schools here have an obligation to cooperate with the police.
14-year-old Lim was found dead at the foot of his HDB block after he was questioned by the police over allegations of molesting a girl. Outrage ensued over the fact that the young boy was unaccompanied by his parent or guardian during the interrogation, and also about the fact that the experience might have traumatised him enough to take his own life.
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As Zika virus looms closer, A*Star and Tan Tock Seng Hospital work on detection kit
As experts agree that it's only inevitable that the mosquito-borne Zika virus will arrive here, the race is on among the medical and scientific community to prepare for an outbreak of the affliction.
The brainiacs of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital are reportedly working on a kit that should be able to detect the Zika virus.
Channel NewsAsia reports that both institutions are modifying an existing diagnostic test kit (that already detects dengue and chikungunya viruses) to have the capability to detect the new virus too.
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Waste management firm fined $135k for super-massive chemical explosion in 2013
Back in November 2013, an explosion rocked an incineration plant in Tuas in a chemical accident, causing a blaze that unfurled over an area the size of two football fields.
Years since the incident, waste management company Veolia Environmental Services Singapore has since been fined $135,000 over the explosion that injured three of their workers, The Straits Times reports. The firm pleaded guilty to contravening the Workplace Safety and Health Act — they failed to conduct thorough testing of a waste liquid before mixing it with a chemical liquid.
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