Bangkit Road coffee shop caught fire, everyone evacuated safely

March 16, 2016, 1:53 am

≫ Next: Blogging now taxable for non-monetary benefits like sponsored products

≪ Previous: It's $9++ cocktails and dishes all day at David Thompson's Long Chim

$

0

0

The Singapore Civil Defence Force must be having a busy week. It's only hump day, and they've already put out two fires along Orchard Road.

The latest location to be hit in this series of fires is the Bangkit Road coffee shop, which saw several stalls engulfed by flames and billowing smoke this morning, said Channel NewsAsia.

At around 10.30am, members of the public and residents were evacuated from the first two storeys of Block 257. It took 20 minutes for the SCDF to extinguish the fire with two water jets, and thankfully no one was hurt. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

---

Blogging now taxable for non-monetary benefits like sponsored products

March 16, 2016, 2:47 am

≫ Next: Someone wrote a letter to The Straits Times, asking to build a 'singles village'

≪ Previous: Bangkit Road coffee shop caught fire, everyone evacuated safely

$

0

0

Ah, bloggers. There are the great ones who garner huge followings, and then there are those who strive to grab as many freebies as they can. Well, these 'freebies' now come at a price.

Yesterday, several bloggers were taken aback by an Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore letter notifying them that all non-monetary benefits have to be declared as part of their annual Income Tax Return, reported Channel NewsAsia. Basically, that includes any sponsored products or services they receive. 

Someone wrote a letter to The Straits Times, asking to build a 'singles village'

March 16, 2016, 3:32 am

≫ Next: 4 Singaporeans caught, dealt with under Internal Security Act for radical actions

≪ Previous: Blogging now taxable for non-monetary benefits like sponsored products

$

0

0

Sometimes, forum letters on The Straits Times are the best form of entertainment. In response to the newspaper's story titled 'More young people in Singapore staying single', someone named Chua Boon Hou penned a note suggesting the absurd idea of building a singles' village for the unattached to mingle. 

"We have to think out of the box to increase the odds of a meeting exponentially," he stressed.

4 Singaporeans caught, dealt with under Internal Security Act for radical actions

March 16, 2016, 7:58 pm

≫ Next: Congrats to Changi Airport, the world's best for the fourth year in a row

≪ Previous: Someone wrote a letter to The Straits Times, asking to build a 'singles village'

$

0

0

If you've engaged in overseas armed conflict — or even if you haven't acted upon your intention to do so — prepared to be dealt with by the Internal Security Act. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, that's what happened to four radicalised Singaporeans in separate cases. 

For Mohammad Razif Yahya, 27, and Amiruddin Sawir, 53, they were detained in August 2015 for voluntarily taking up arms and being a part of the sectarian conflict in Yemen. 

Congrats to Changi Airport, the world's best for the fourth year in a row

March 16, 2016, 8:29 pm

≫ Next: Remember last year's haze that wouldn't go away? It cost us $700 million

≪ Previous: 4 Singaporeans caught, dealt with under Internal Security Act for radical actions

$

0

0

If there's one thing all Singaporeans are proud of, it's Changi Airport. And it seems like the world agrees with us. 

This year's World Airport Awards bestows the number one crown on Changi Airport for the fourth time in a row, making it our seventh win in 16 years, reports Channel NewsAsia. The annual Skytrax survey includes 550 airports, and results are compiled from the opinions of over 13 million travelers across the globe. 

In second place is, of course, Incheon International Airport, followed by Munich Airport, Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) and Hong Kong International Airport.

Remember last year's haze that wouldn't go away? It cost us $700 million

March 16, 2016, 9:06 pm

≫ Next: Singapore named happiest country in Asia, 22nd in the world

≪ Previous: Congrats to Changi Airport, the world's best for the fourth year in a row

$

0

0

Ugh, the haze. Last year's episode was bad, caused by Indonesia's forest fires and made worse by the relentless El Nino effect. But the worst part? It cost Singapore a whopping $700 million in losses, declared Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli (no word on how they actually came up with that estimate, though). 

He claimed Singapore has officially asked Indonesia for the identities of the directors whose companies contributed to the haze, as well as the locations of the fires. 

Singapore named happiest country in Asia, 22nd in the world

March 16, 2016, 9:46 pm

≫ Next: This tribute to the late Lee Kuan Yew and his wife lets you take photos with them

≪ Previous: Remember last year's haze that wouldn't go away? It cost us $700 million

$

0

0

What's with all these surveys and the need to rank everything in the world? Are we not contented just being who we are, without endlessly comparing ourselves to our counterparts?

This latest comes courtesy of the World Happiness Report 2016, produced by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations. It takes into account factors like per capita Gross Domestic Product, healthy life expectancy and freedom from corruption.

This tribute to the late Lee Kuan Yew and his wife lets you take photos with them

March 16, 2016, 10:13 pm

≫ Next: Don't believe the hoax — March will be hot, but not up to 40 degrees

≪ Previous: Singapore named happiest country in Asia, 22nd in the world

$

0

0

How fast a year has flown by. Our founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, passed away almost a year ago on Mar 23. There's no doubt we all remember the mourning that arose in the wake of his death. 

In a sweet tribute to Mr Lee and his wife, Madam Kwa Geok Choo, Madame Tussauds Singapore will be displaying its iconic wax figures of the couple at a courtyard outside the attraction from Mar 23 to Mar 27. The timings are: Wed and Thurs 10am to 7.30pm, and Fri to Sun 10am to 9pm. 

The heartwarming scene of the smiling pair was sculpted in 2014, based on a photo that Mrs Lee's niece took in Sentosa on Valentine's Day in 2008.

Anyone can take complimentary pictures with the duo or bring flowers to commemorate the first anniversary of LKY's passing. 

---

Don't believe the hoax — March will be hot, but not up to 40 degrees

March 16, 2016, 10:41 pm

≫ Next: Cats rescued from hoarder in Yishun due to get new homes soon

≪ Previous: This tribute to the late Lee Kuan Yew and his wife lets you take photos with them

$

0

0

Recently, you might have received a text or seen a message on social media warning everyone to beware of temperatures skyrocketing to 40 degrees Celsius in the next couple of days. The memo, riddled with grammatical errors, proclaims that this is likely to cause a heat wave, which will result in dehydration and sun stroke. It even dishes out tips on how to take care of your body, and goes so far as to predict fainting and organ failure to those with heat stroke.

If you freaked out and pressed the panic button immediately after that, relax. Now you can rest assured that the note was a hoax (probably written by some weather fanatic or someone looking to cause trouble), as the National Environment Agency has debunked it and called it untrue.

Cats rescued from hoarder in Yishun due to get new homes soon

March 17, 2016, 1:50 am

≫ Next: Now there are guidelines on how to use Lee Kuan Yew's name and image

≪ Previous: Don't believe the hoax — March will be hot, but not up to 40 degrees

$

0

0

Last month, 39 cats were rescued from a home in Yishun, where 63-year-old Roslani Ahmad had been hoarding them since 2000. Two cats have since died — one shortly after being saved and the other put to sleep — according to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore. Roslani may be charged for mistreating the animals. 

The road to recovery has been a bumpy one for the felines, reports Channel NewsAsia. They were all found malnourished and in poor health, having been squeezed into cages covered in poop and cockroaches for so long.

Now there are guidelines on how to use Lee Kuan Yew's name and image

March 17, 2016, 2:24 am

≫ Next: Times opens its largest lifestyle concept bookstore at this new mall in Punggol

≪ Previous: Cats rescued from hoarder in Yishun due to get new homes soon

$

0

0

There are ground rules for almost everything in Singapore. So it was only a matter of time before the government issued commands — okay, guidelines — concerning the legacy of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth laid out what it considered "appropriate use" of the name and image of the late Mr Lee, said Channel NewsAsia. 

"Since the passing of our founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, individuals and organisations have come forward to commemorate him in different ways," announced MCCY.

Times opens its largest lifestyle concept bookstore at this new mall in Punggol

March 17, 2016, 3:24 am

≫ Next: Try this: specially concocted treats inspired by the Blue Man Group

≪ Previous: Now there are guidelines on how to use Lee Kuan Yew's name and image

$

0

0

If you're one of the last remaining people who actually pick up hard copies of books, this will be music to your ears. Local book retailer Times has just opened its seventh and biggest outlet at Waterway Point in Punggol (who knew bookstores were still in existence — much less thriving). And it's a doozy.

Stretching across more than 7,000 sq ft, the space features dedicated sections for kids, lifestyle products and, of course, all kinds of books. There's also a workshop area to hold activities like art and craft classes, storytelling sessions and cooking demonstrations.

We're kind of psyched. This might be worth the trek to Punggol. And perhaps it'll signal the revival of bookstores. Here's hoping.

Try this: specially concocted treats inspired by the Blue Man Group

March 17, 2016, 3:40 am

≫ Next: Morning rush on MRT delayed by track fault on East-West Line

≪ Previous: Times opens its largest lifestyle concept bookstore at this new mall in Punggol

$

0

0

The Blue Man Group are here in town, and boy, have they got a treat in store for you. The trio of bald, blue dudes famous for performances that blend theatre, comedy, music and dance will kick-start a new worldwide tour in Singapore come Mar 29 at the MasterCard Theatres in Marina Bay Sands.

But before you catch them on stage, head over to Adrift by David Myers, the celebrity chef restaurant, and sip on Blue Electricity ($23), a rum-based concoction crafted in honour of the show. It'll available from Mar 18 to Apr 24. 

Morning rush on MRT delayed by track fault on East-West Line

March 17, 2016, 7:28 pm

≫ Next: Police Peeping Tom jailed for photographing female officers in the shower

≪ Previous: Try this: specially concocted treats inspired by the Blue Man Group

$

0

0

To those who were affected by the East-West Line train delay this morning, our sympathies go out to you. As reported by The Straits Times, the reason for the hold-up was a track fault near Paya Lebar. 

Around 7am, SMRT announced on Twitter that commuters should expect an extra 15 minutes piled onto their travel time from Tanah Merah to Aljunied, in the direction of Joo Koon. Slightly after 9am, the jam seemed to worsen, and SMRT estimated a delay of 30 minutes from Pasir Ris to Aljunied. By 9.30am, the fault was fixed, and although trains were still slow, things were starting to pick up speed again.

Police Peeping Tom jailed for photographing female officers in the shower

March 17, 2016, 8:12 pm

≫ Next: Watch out — there's a rising trend of fake travel insurance claims

≪ Previous: Morning rush on MRT delayed by track fault on East-West Line

$

0

0

Last year, a full-time police national serviceman was caught for being a sneaky Peeping Tom. The crime was committed at Tanglin police divisional headquarters (very ballsy, indeed) on Jan 26 while he was on night duty. Abdul Qayyum Mohd Hashim, 20, made up an excuse to go to the toilet and had a colleague cover for him, so he could secretly 'investigate' the CCTV footage he saw of a female officer in the locker room.

He was apparently 'interested' in the 21-year-old — even more so when she walked out in a towel and headed for the showers — and decided to follow her. After snapping photos of her naked, he snatched her bra and stashed it in his bag in the male locker room. 

Not cool, dude. Not cool at all.

---

Watch out — there's a rising trend of fake travel insurance claims

March 17, 2016, 9:07 pm

≫ Next: Weekend Warrior: Mar 18-20

≪ Previous: Police Peeping Tom jailed for photographing female officers in the shower

$

0

0

When it comes to cases of fraud, companies in the insurance business are used to dealing with vehicle owners and their accident claims. But a new trend is surfacing: fake travel insurance claims. 

With more people consumed by wanderlust and becoming rather savvy about international travel, buying insurance to protect yourself is the natural next step after booking your flight. 

As reported by The Straits Times, besides personal accident and health, travel insurance made up about 21.6 percent of the industry's business in 2015 — higher than years before, but still losing out to motoring coverage.

Weekend Warrior: Mar 18-20

March 17, 2016, 9:36 pm

≫ Next: Work out and jam to good tunes at The Music Run in Sentosa

≪ Previous: Watch out — there's a rising trend of fake travel insurance claims

$

0

0

Friday, Mar 18

August is the Cruellest – Album Launch

Local band The Observatory are putting on a two-day gig to debut their eighth and latest album, August is the cruellest. They describe the new record as “an abstraction of the blues in the mode of C, influenced by the power of the riff and the energy of heavy rock.” Wondering what that means? It's not too late to get your tickets and find out.
Until Mar 19; 8pm-10pm at The Substation Theatre, 45 Armenian St. $15-$25.

Saturday, Mar 19

-M-: The Extraordinary Live Show

Work out and jam to good tunes at The Music Run in Sentosa

March 17, 2016, 10:03 pm

≫ Next: Four suspects arrested after knife fight that injured two others

≪ Previous: Weekend Warrior: Mar 18-20

$

0

0

Back for its second edition, The Music Run stretches out over 5km of beach area in Sentosa, with 120 speakers scattered throughout the track to pump out thumping tunes. To cater to a crowd of diverse music tastes, five themed zones cover different genres.

Rock features banging beats and Harley Davidson bikers, while Pop welcomes you into a psychedelic Candyland complete with huge candy pops and bubble machines. Get your selfie game on at Old School, where doppelgangers of retro bands will be strolling around, then get creative at the Graffiti Wall in the Hip Hop zone. Last but not least, the Dance area lets you pretend to be a DJ at the photo booths.

Like last year, you get to throw your vote into the music selection — just hit up the official website and nominate your favourite hits. 

Four suspects arrested after knife fight that injured two others

March 18, 2016, 12:08 am

≫ Next: Woodlands is hiding a steamy little secret — a makeshift jungle brothel

≪ Previous: Work out and jam to good tunes at The Music Run in Sentosa

$

0

0

A squabble broke out just after midnight on Wednesday at Block 191 Boon Lay Drive. When the police arrived at the scene, they found two injured men, aged 23 and 34, claiming they were just involved in an altercation with four strangers.

These four men, aged 17 to 21, allegedly hurt the victims with knives — two of which were confiscated by the police. On the same day, the suspects were caught and arrested after investigations, according to The Straits Times. 

If guilty as charged, the men could face jail time for up to seven years, and be fined or caned as punishment.

Woodlands is hiding a steamy little secret — a makeshift jungle brothel

March 18, 2016, 1:27 am

≫ Next: Foreign vehicles banned from driving into Thailand — is Singapore affected?

≪ Previous: Four suspects arrested after knife fight that injured two others

$

0

0

Nestled in one corner of a small jungle in Woodlands lies a shoddily put-together brothel. If you ever find yourself traipsing through the clandestine site (for whatever reason), you'll probably end up knee deep in used condoms and wrappers.

Okay, we exaggerate. But you get the point: the grounds are littered with rubbers — hundreds of them. It's no surprise, given the red-light forest district has been operating sporadically near the junction of Woodlands Avenue 4 and 9 for the last 14 years.

The dirty discovery was first made by The New Paper in May 2004, and when Lianhe Wanbao paid it a visit the other night, business was booming. After the women (mostly foreign workers) arrived in cabs, 30 men were spotted strolling into the area — allegedly from the surrounding dormitories — in the space of 30 minutes.