The thawb is a traditional Arabian tunic for men, a loose ankle-length robe commonly worn in the Arabian peninsula. Like the Japanese yukata (or to a lesser extent, the Scottish kilt) it's meant to provide unrestricted movement to the wearer and generally be a breezy garment that'll stay cool in the heat.
Today was a great start to hump day. In an unusual astronomical event, nearly 90 percent of the sun was hidden from view by the moon this morning. It happened just minutes after sunrise, around 7.20am, peaked an hour later, and ended at 9.30am. What made it all the more special was that this marked Singapore's first partial solar eclipse in three years. Needless to say, the hype drew throngs of people (and their cameras) out. Here are some stunning photos posted by the public.
Almost a year since sensationalist sociopolitical site The Real Singapore (TRS) got shut down, its former chief editor Ai Takagi has pleaded guilty to four counts of sedition for publishing false articles that encouraged xenophobic tendencies.
The 23-year-old Australian appeared in court yesterday, admitting to being the owner and chief editor of the website, as well as editing articles to exaggerate anti-foreigner sentiments — especially against citizens of the Philippines, India and China. Channel NewsAsia reports that Takagi also admitted to using multiple false identities, and intended for TRS to "instill fear" in employers who favoured foreigners over locals.
Our intrusive thoughts have often involved horrible envisions of lift-related accidents. For one foreign domestic worker, it came true.
On Monday evening, Indonesian maid Evi Lisnawati held on for dear life as the HDB lift she was in suddenly shot up from the third floor to the 20th floor in a matter of seconds. There, she remained trapped for more than an hour before she could finally walk on solid ground.
Feathers were ruffled yesterday when it was revealed that 13 fresh chicken distributors — accounting for over 90 percent of their market share — were accused of jacking up prices together.
The fowl foul move was uncovered by the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS), who published their findings yesterday. It's already been dubbed as one of the worst anti-competitive cases involving an industry here, with approximately half a billion dollars in combined annual turnover under their collective wing.
Apparently, CCS were alerted to cocky complicity after receiving a complaint on the alleged anti-competitive conduct. Investigations revealed that the involved parties had engaged in discussions from at least 2007 to 2014 on prices and price increases.
Privacy is becoming a thing of the past, it seems. In the last three years alone, more than 52,000 police CCTV cameras have been installed in 8,600 HDB blocks across the nation, according to The Straits Times. They've apparently been quite useful in catching litterbugs in action, preventing illegal parking and fending off loan shark harassment methods. Of course, they also give residents the reassurance of safety. If anything bad happens, you know they've got your back.
Here's a new side to that uproar concerning AIA Singapore, social media agency DSTNCT, and freelance photographer Tan Zexun. Everyone and their mother has weighed in on the issue, responding to his rebuke of the insurance firm for having the balls to ask for his photos to feature as part of their campaign - with credit as compensation.
Can’t resist the rich, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of Jenny Bakery’s butter cookies? You’re in luck. The Ang Mo Kio store closes its shutters to set up shop right smack in the heart of Orchard Road for the second (and last) weekend in a row. So take a break from all that retail therapy and make your way to Pedder on Scotts to indulge in offerings like coffee cookies, almond cookies, macadamia and cranberries nougat, and walnut and date candy. If you decide to treat yourself to 4 tins, you'll get a complimentary Jenny Teddy Bear (otherwise $10) to cement your obsessed status.
People do the darndest things when they're drunk.
Zhang Quanfu had downed a mere five bottles of beer, but that was enough to embolden the Chinese national to call the police hotline and demand an audience with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
When told that he can kiss his dream goodbye, Zhang theatened to blow up the Parliament building and harm the First Family. "I immediately want you to get me a line through to the Prime Minister's home...I will wipe out the whole family immediately," he allegedly said, according to Channel NewsAsia.
A new development has emerged in the Dominique Sarron Lee case.
After confirming with MINDEF and the lawyer of one of the officers involved in the lawsuit, TODAY reports that legal costs will be slashed for the family of the NSF, who died three years ago during military training after an allergic reaction to the chemicals in smoke grenades.
There were no criminal charges against the two officers involved in the training exercise, but SAF claims that both have been punished in accordance with military law.
They say you should try and try again until you succeed — well, that's not exactly how it works with identify theft.
Two millennials from Malaysia, best friends Tan Jiunn Hou, 23, and Kong Chek Hoe, 24, were in Singapore last year expressly to buy mobile phones using credit cards that did not belong to them. They were issued by two women believed to be a part of a syndicate in their hometown. The duo were also provided with fake Hong Kong identity cards that they were to use to enter Singapore from Johor Bahru.
Watch out, telcos, MyRepublic is gunning for a place beside the big three.
Yesterday, they released two mobile plans for the public — a 2GB plan for $8/month (with $8/extra GB) and an unlimited data plan for $80/month.
Existing broadband customers get even better deals — a 2GB plan for $6/month or unlimited data for $60/month.
Wait, hold up, it sounds too good to be true, right? Well, there's a slight catch. It's a data-only network, which means no talk time or text messages, but you can use Skype or Whatsapp to make calls, and incoming SMSes will be free.
Whoever did this probably needed a ton of spare change. Like, literally.
On Monday morning, hawker Bao Guang Qing noticed something amiss at this stall. There were footprints on the ledge and table of his fish head steamboat stall — an unusual sight. So he checked his pail carrying about $600 worth of coins and found it empty, according to The New Paper.
Bust out your freakiest green wardrobe and head over to these bars for St Patrick’s Day on Mar 17. Tuck into an Irish burger and down a pint of Guinness as you check out live performances by Irish bands.
Listen to Celtic musicians while chomping on soda bread slathered with bacon and whiskey marmalade at Singapore’s first-ever Irish pub as it throws a four-day shindig that extends to the weekend and spills over to Circular Road. Live music featuring The Disclaimers, The Shambollicks and The Craic Horse starts from 7pm on Mar 17. 56 Circular Rd; 6536 2029. Mon-Wed 11am-1am, Thu & Sat 11am-2am, Fri 11am-3am.
Yep, we're officially still the world's most expensive city to live in. Hooray.
In the latest worldwide cost of living survey done by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Singapore has kept its reigning title for the third year straight. We're just ahead of Zurich and Hong Kong in their second place tie, with Geneva and Paris trailing behind. London and New York are next in line, and all the way at the end of the list are Lusaka (the capital of Zambia), and India's Bangalore and Mumbai.
If you're a big fan of the defunct TV series Glee, then you must be familiar with the concept of all-male a cappella groups (think: The Warblers).
Visiting the Little Red Dot soon are The Yale Alley Cats, comprised of real-life (goodlooking) Yale undergrads. Fourteen performers will serenade guests at The Fullerton Hotel (Mar 19, 2pm-2:45pm) and The Fullerton Bay Hotel (Mar 20, 3pm-4:15pm), but you'll need to reserve a table and dine-in at the venue.
Expect pop, classical, Motown and more dance-y tunes from the group that's performed for the likes of President Barack Obama and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Hell, they might even sing "Coconut".
Local city website network Coconuts Media began measuring Total Reach – a combination of website unique users, Facebook unique reach, Youtube views, and Twitter impressions – in 2015, and had its biggest month ever in November, reaching an audience of 14.6 million people across these platforms.
Rejoice, 'cause it's the return of Singapore Restaurant Week. And that means great value-for-money deals at top dining establishments. Back for its 12th edition from Mar 19 to Mar 26, the event brings together the city's best with specially crafted menus to the theme of 'Feasts of the Ocean'. Choose from over 100 participating restaurants, including names like Il Lido, Forest, Dehesa, Portico Prime, Long Chim, Adrift and Bacchanalia. Each will offer three-course menus for lunch and dinner at $28++ and $38++ respectively; those awarded with a DiningCity Star have an additional charge of $12++ for lunch and $20++ for dinner.
Friday, Mar 11
Throw on your coolest batik shirts and head over to Armenian Street for a weekend of breezy fun. There won’t be a dull moment here, what with all the music performances, Peranakan dances, entertaining skits, Emily the Musical, a mass outdoor workout, express gel manicures, instant photo prints and tours of the exhibition Great Peranakans: Fifty Remarkable Lives.
Until Mar 12; 7pm-11pm at Armenian St. Free.
In Bed With Designers x Naiise Pop-up Store
If April 23 holds a special place in your literature lovin' heart, you're probably already prepared to celebrate Shakespeare Day. Thanks to Brit Prime Minister David Cameron, who launched 'Shakespeare Lives' in January, you can expect a worldwide year-long programme to celebrate The Bard's works.
In Singapore, the British High Commission and British Council have put together a bunch of events happening over the next few months. Even if you've never read the playwright's works, these activities are easy to digest — all you gotta do is check them out with an open mind.
Notable ones include the 'Letters to Shakespeare' exhibition at various libraries, a 'Shaking it with Shakespeare' exhibition at the Singapore Philatelic Museum, Shakespeare in the Park — Romeo & Juliet, and The European Union Film Festival.
