Are these conditions livable?  A video of a loft bed installed inside a condo unit's bomb shelter has recently surfaced on Reddit (July 24), sparking a discussion among netizens if it was ethical for the space to be used as a bedroom.  From the video, an additional slider door had been installed in the bomb shelter. To accommodate the loft bed, a flight of steps were also built inside the space. According to the video's description, the bomb shelter was converted into a bedroom for the home owner's maid.  The post quickly garnered a flurry of comments from netizens concerned about the amount of ventilation in the small space.  «No windows, no ventilation, no phone reception. How would maids know if there's war? She won't even know if it's day or night,» said one netizen.  Others also mentioned that it was illegal to remove the bomb shelter door.  https://www.tiktok.com/@anniewang91/video/7393320142479822087 A quick check by AsiaOne showed that the video was originally uploaded on TikTok by Annie Wang, who runs a company that builds customised loft beds. 

The existence and preparedness of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is one of the main reasons why the country has enjoyed peace and stability for the last 60 years, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.  Although the SAF has never had to fight a war to defend Singapore, this may not always be the case, said Lee, who was speaking at the SAF Day dinner at the Safti Military Institute on Friday (July 26).  «While we hope for the best, we must prepare for the worst,» he said.  The price of peace, however, is eternal vigilance, said Lee — where SAF servicemen are on guard every day, in the air, on land, at sea, and even in the digital domain.  «During these decades, whenever we have needed the SAF, it has always delivered.»  The annual SAF Dinner is held to recognise the dedication, commitment and contributions of Singapore's service personnel in maintaining the nation's peace and security.  At the event this year, Lee – who graced the event as the Guest of Honour – was recognised for his support and contributions to both the progress of the SAF and Singapore. 

When it comes to a good bowl of bak chor mee, Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles along Crawford Lane easily comes to mind. While the taste of their food may rarely be in question, it seems price is fair game - the shop has defended itself over claims that it increased prices, reported Shin Min Daily News on Friday (July 26). This comes after a Shin Min reader observed that the starting price of their Michelin-starred noodles have increased from $6 to $8. Speaking with a reporter from the Chinese publication, two members of staff clarified that it wasn't an increase in price, but the removal of the $6 bowl that they used to serve. A staff member who declined to provide their name said that the $6 bowl had less ingredients and lacked dried sole fish and dumplings. «Customers told us that the $6 version lacked flavor, so we eventually made the decision to remove the $6 option,» the employee said. Comparatively, the $8 version has more ingredients, including two meatballs, two dumplings, a portion of dried sole fish and seaweed among other additions, reaching a total of seven or eight ingredients in the dish, they added.

A couple lodged a police report against their maid after discovering that the latter had been hitting their one-year-old son multiple times a day. The father-of-two, surnamed Quek, told Shin Min Daily News that he and his wife had hired the Filipino helper last September to help care for their youngest child. «She said she has children, and hence has experience in looking after kids,» recounted the 36-year-old. The boy attends a childcare centre during the day and returns home at about 7pm. He sleeps with the maid at night, who is also responsible for his night feeds. Quek said that the childcare centre's principal had informed him and his wife of a bruise on their son's body last December. When asked, the maid said she did not know about the bruise and suggested it may be a birthmark. The couple did not suspect anything wrong at that time. On Tuesday (July 23) night, the Queks were getting ready for bed when they heard their youngest son wailing. «The maid said it was nothing, but I found it strange and checked the CCTV footage of the room, and saw her hitting my son's head,» said the father.

An elderly woman lost nearly $250,000 after scammers tricked her into believing she was implicated in a drug-related case. Her son surnamed Lin, 43, told Shin Min Daily News that his mother, 74, had received a call last May informing her that she owed a hospital a $1,000 bill for her medicine. The woman had indeed visited the hospital recently but said she did not have any unpaid bills. The call was then transferred to another person, who claimed to be a police officer. The 'police officer' told the woman that a bank card with her name was found during an anti-drug operation and sent her a photo of an 'arrest warrant'. If she did not co-operate with investigations by handing over her personal information including details of her bank accounts, the accounts would be frozen for 16 months, said the 'cop'. Lin said his mother believed the scammers as they knew her recent spending transactions and she then complied with their instructions as she was worried that their joint bank account would be affected.

SINGAPORE — Two Raffles Institution (RI) students have been disciplined, after a photo circulated online showing one of them dressed inappropriately during the school's Racial Harmony Day celebrations. The photo shows two people standing together, with one — wearing a black top and white trousers — putting his arm over the other. The second person is seen with fair-skinned hands but a darkened face, and is wearing the long-sleeved T-shirt of a food delivery company and white trousers. In response to queries, RI principal Aaron Loh said on July 25 that the school has taken disciplinary action — without elaborating — and counselled the students involved, to remind them of «the importance of being sensitive to the feelings of others, and to be mindful of their actions». He added that the school had told students they could dress in traditional ethnic attire for its commemoration of Racial Harmony Day, observed here annually on July 21. It was not clear when the photo was taken, but the school's Facebook posts stated that students in the first to fourth years celebrated Racial Harmony Day on July 17.

In land-starved Singapore, a home garden may be a pipe dream for many. But one man living in an HDB flat made it work, and he is enjoying the fruits of his labour.  Since May, Maurice Chow has been sharing photos of the melons he's grown on Facebook group Home Gardening Singapore. In a video posted on July 4, Chow showcased a rock melon which he had been tending to since over a month ago. He was seen cutting into the melon, still attached to the plant, and showing its vibrant orange interior. «Harvested my rock melon today,» read the caption. When asked by a netizen how the melon tasted and whether it was ripe, Chow responded: «Tastes okay. Yes, it's ripe.» The home gardener also posted a picture of his current home gardening project, a watermelon, to the Facebook group on July 18, garnering more than 4,600 likes and 300 comments. Manually pollinates flowers Speaking to AsiaOne on Tuesday (July 23), the 58-year-old interior designer said that he managed to grow, as well as harvest various fruits using seeds over the course of five years.

Meet the Mbutus, a family that beautifully blends their rich African heritage with the dynamic culture of Singapore. They share their experiences of navigating a complex identity, balancing their ancestral roots with their new life, and what it means to be Singaporean. Through their eyes, we see how Singapore is a melting pot of cultures, where people from all over the world come together to create a unique and diverse community. Here to Stay is a series dedicated to telling the stories of foreigners who have moved to Singapore and made it their home. Each episode explores themes of identity, cultural integration and the vibrant community spirit that defines Singapore. For more heartwarming stories like this, check out YouTube Channel Portraits by AsiaOne. ALSO WATCH: How safe do you feel on public footpaths? | What The Fuss editor@asiaone.com

A basketball coach is being investigated by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) for allegedly taking money to secure students’ admissions into secondary schools. He allegedly used his connections to get children into prestigious schools through the Direct Admissions Scheme (DSA), reported Chinese newspaper Shin Min Daily News on July 24. The scheme allows Primary 6 pupils to secure spots early in secondary schools using non-academic talents such as sports and the arts. In response to queries from The Straits Times, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on July 25 that it is aware of the case.  “The individual has been de-registered since April 2024, and is no longer working in any MOE school,” the ministry said.  “MOE takes a serious view of such reports, and will investigate to ensure that DSA selection was conducted in accordance with our selection guidelines,” it said, adding that it will continue to ensure that the DSA selection process is fair and accessible to all students. 

A woman was left devastated after her pet corgi died on Wednesday (July 24) while under the care of pet grooming business Pawkins. The dog, wearing a leash tethered to the grooming arm, slipped off the table and was left hanging by its neck. No staff member was present at the time of the incident. Fendi's owner Sonia Tan took to social media to mourn, sharing a photo of the corgi's cremation service in an Instagram Story on Wednesday evening. «I just want my baby back,» she wrote. Fendi the corgi was cremated on July 24. PHOTO: Instagram/Sonia Tan Tan also uploaded CCTV footage of the incident online, which shows Fendi falling off the grooming table at 1.42pm. The corgi struggled wildly while hanging from its leash, as five others dogs in the same grooming room barked and ran around. Fendi stopped moving about a minute later.

When it comes to safety at home, this resident believes there's no space for monkeying around.  A Bukit Timah resident has expressed worry over his neighbours' banana trees after monkeys were spotted in their estate, Shin Min Daily News reported on Tuesday (July 23). A resident surnamed Ye, who stays around Watten Heights, told the Chinese publication that he recently spotted a troop of monkeys near his home and was concerned that the newly-planted trees would attract more. «I saw four monkeys outside my neighbour's home a few days ago, climbing on the rafters,» he said. «Considering how there are so many banana trees nearby, I was worried that they were here on a 'reconnaissance mission' and would bring more monkeys along.» He further explained that as his brother is unable to move while recuperating from a stroke, he worried that the latter would get hurt if a monkey were to enter the house. «Ever since I saw the monkeys, I made sure my doors and windows are shut for fear that they might come in,» Ye said.

Online self-radicalisation continues to be the primary terrorism threat in Singapore, with youths remaining particularly vulnerable, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said on Thursday (July 25). Out of the 52 self-radicalised individuals who have been dealt with under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since 2015, 13 were Singaporean youths aged 20 or younger, the agency noted in this year's Singapore Terrorism Threat Assessment Report. The threat of a terrorist attack in Singapore has elevated as the Israel-Palestine conflict re-escalated following Hamas' attack on Israel last October. In the report, ISD highlighted far-right extremism (FRE) — a wide range of beliefs that are often exclusivist and advocate violence as a means to safeguard ethnic purity or achieve political objectives — as a growing security concern. While this is more prominent in Western countries, Singapore is not immune to this threat, the agency said.

An uptick in anti-Singapore sentiments on social media from regional extremist elements has elevated the threat of a terrorism attack in Singapore. One reason behind this is Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023, which led to an re-escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict, said the Internal Security Department (ISD) on Thursday (July 25). «The conflict has generated emotive responses worldwide, including acts of violence, and terrorist elements have leveraged the conflict to further their agenda and called for attacks,» the agency added. ISD, the national agency in charge of monitoring and addressing potential security threats, noted in this year's Singapore Terrorism Threat Assessment Report that there are regional netizens who perceive Singapore to be pro-Israel.  «There have been posts on social media urging for attacks against Singapore using 'bombs' and 'rockets', and calling for Singapore to be 'destroyed' and 'wiped out',» ISD said.

The Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) and Sengkang Town Council (STC) have settled their long-running lawsuits involving former managing agent FM Solutions & Services Pte Ltd (FMSS) and its subsidiary FM Solutions & Integrated Services (FMSI). This was announced by the parties involved in a joint statement on Wednesday (July 24).  The case involved accusations against Workers' Party leaders Sylvia Lim, Low Thia Khiang, Pritam Singh, and town councillors Chua Zhi Hon and Kenneth Foo over alleged improper payments to FMSS. Background The lawsuits, filed in 2017, arose from claims of improper payments made by the AHTC and STC to FMSS and FMSI between 2011 and 2015, totaling $33.7 million. These payments were allegedly made without proper authorisation and were scrutinised for possible overpayments. Settlement details Following mediation at the Singapore International Mediation Centre, all parties agreed to drop their claims for damages and bear their own legal costs on a «drop hands» basis.

Despite being issued a court order prohibiting him from placing his bicycle along the common corridor, a Bukit Panjang resident returned to his old ways two years later. Guo Fangyuan (transliteration), 67, was fined $1,000 on Wednesday (July 24) for breaching a special direction under the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT), reported Shin Min Daily News. The retiree living at Block 626 Senja Road has been involved in a long-standing dispute with a couple who moved into the unit next to his flat at the end of 2018. Guo's neighbours were displeased with him placing his potted plants, bicycle and joss burner along the common corridor. The couple made at least 10 reports about the issue to the town council and subsequently filed a neighbour dispute claim against the man to the CDRT in July 2019. The CDRT hears cases involving neighbour disputes and should be a last resort after other means of resolving the dispute fail. The following month, Guo was ordered by the court to burn joss paper at a designated place and stop placing his bicycle along the common corridor.

In this touching video, a group of junior college (JC) students share their journey of volunteering at AWWA, an agency dedicated to supporting children with developmental needs, the elderly, families with complex social issues and persons with additional needs. These dedicated students volunteer every Saturday for two hours, planning engaging activities such as slime-making to promote sensory therapy and social inclusion. Initially hesitant, they quickly grew passionate about their volunteering after realising the residents are just like them. Over the past three months, they've built meaningful connections, formed new friendships, and experienced the profound impact of their contributions. They also encourage others to take the leap and start volunteering, highlighting the transformative power of giving back to the community. This story is part of AsiaOne's Ordinary People video series, which highlights ordinary individuals doing extraordinary things. To watch more inspiring videos, visit our YouTube channel: Portraits by AsiaOne.

As society evolves, so will the way Singapore manages sensitive matters of race and religion, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on July 24. Over the past decades, the Government has been able to use a lighter touch, and allow wider scope for public discussion on such matters, he said at a dinner to mark the 50th anniversary of the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS). “But these matters, in my view, will never cease to be sensitive. It is most unlikely that we will ever reach the point where a guiding hand is no longer necessary,” he added. SM Lee said this was his reply to a question he is asked now and then: If it is time yet for the Government to let go on matters relating to race and religion, and let the people decide what is acceptable or not. The experience of other multi-religious countries with much longer histories than Singapore shows how ethnic and religious tensions can quickly flare up even after generations of living peacefully together, and permanently divide the society, he said. “That must never happen to us.”

SINGAPORE – About 70 flats have been reacquired by the Housing Board (HDB) after it uncovered serious lease infringements committed by the flat owners in the last few years. They were among 800 cases that HDB took action against from 2019 to 2023 for infractions such as unauthorised rental, non-occupation during the flat’s minimum occupation period (MOP), and acquiring an interest in private property during the MOP. In about half of these cases, the errant flat owners were issued written warnings, while around 330 of them were fined up to $50,000, HDB said in a statement on July 24. The remaining owners had their flats compulsorily acquired by HDB. These numbers from HDB come after recent media attention on short-term stays. A media report by CNA in June found that condominium units and HDB flats were being offered for short-term rental on the Airbnb platform, with some claiming to be authorised serviced apartments. The Straits Times understands that the number of cases involving HDB lease infringements for each year from 2019 to 2023 has been consistent.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced that there will be 15,283 Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) made available for the upcoming three-month period from August to October. This represents a 1.2 per cent increase from the preceding three-month period of May to July where 15,104 COEs were made available. For Category A, which are used for cars with internal combustion engines (ICEs) of up to 1,600cc in capacity and have a power output of less than 130hp, as well as electric cars with a power output of up to 110kW, there will be 5,864 COEs available for the period, which is a 1.5 per cent increase over the 5,775 COEs allocated for the category in May to July. Cat B COEs, which are used for ICE cars that exceed 1,600cc in capacity or have more than 130hp, and electric cars with over 110kW, will see their quota increase by a mere 36 COEs, with 3,980 of them available for the upcoming period. Cat C, which are for goods vehicles and buses, will see the biggest rise in quota for August to October in percentage terms, with an increase of 5.4 per cent to 1,299 COEs available, 67 more than the previous three-month period.

A 60-year-old man has been fined $2,000 and disqualified from driving for 15 months, after a red-light camera caught him speeding and beating the red light. He was charged and convicted in court on July 3 for dangerous driving, said the police in a media release on Wednesday (July 24). The driver is the first to be prosecuted in court for a speeding violation captured by the new speed enforcement function in a red-light camera. The speed enforcement function in red-light cameras was progressively activated islandwide from April 1, with over 5,000 speeding violations captured since. Red-light cameras, like other fixed enforcement cameras, are prominently painted orange and white. And they are accompanied by warning signs placed before them stating, 'Traffic Police Camera Zone', with the road speed limit sign above it, said the police in March.  In this case, a red-light camera at a junction along the West Coast Highway had captured the car driven by the man travelling at a speed of 111km/h at about 12.40pm on April 9. The road speed limit for that section of the highway is 70km/h.

SINGAPORE — From Aug 1, local mobile network operators will begin to bid farewell to 3G — or third-generation wireless technology that helped to usher in modern smartphones. M1 will be the first to retire its entire 3G network as all its 3G customers have subscribed to 4G or 5G services. Singtel and StarHub will give their remaining 3G subscribers more time to migrate, with plans to discontinue the network from November, said the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in a statement on July 24. Once the network is shut down, those still on 3G devices will no longer receive voice, messaging and data services. The progress update comes after the network operators in July 2023 announced plans to retire 3G networks. IMDA required operators to ensure that those who used 3G were migrated smoothly to 4G or 5G networks, and said the companies could shut down the service after July 31. Introduced more than two decades ago, 3G networks ushered in the smartphone era by enabling widespread mobile internet browsing and transforming smartphones like the iPhone 3G and early Samsung Galaxy S devices into mini-computers.

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Airlines (SIA) plane that was hit by severe turbulence on May 21, resulting in one death and dozens of injuries, has made a return to the skies. On July 23, the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft completed a functional check flight — its first flight since returning to Singapore from Bangkok two months ago, according to data from flight tracking website FlightRadar24. This was part of a series of tests being done to ensure that the plane is ready to re-enter commercial service, an SIA spokesman told The Straits Times. Functional check flights are typically performed after an aircraft undergoes heavy maintenance, to make sure that everything on the plane works as it should. According to FlightRadar24, the plane took off from Changi Airport at about 1.50pm, flying about 400km eastward. It then made several rounds over the waters near Kalimantan in Indonesia, before returning to Singapore at about 4pm. SIA said the functional check flight was operated by its pilots, who were accompanied by a team of the airline's engineers.

SINGAPORE - An aviation technology company has been suspended from operating unmanned aircraft (UA) after one of its drones crashed-landed in a condominium development in one-north on July 19. The use of the drone, a Hexadrone Tundra 2, is also suspended, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said on Tuesday (July 23), adding that the affected drone is the only one of its make registered in Singapore. On the day of the crash, the drone's commercial operator, H3 Dynamics Holdings, was conducting a series of flights at the one-north drone estate, over the Pixel Building, to develop a control station for the device. At about 6pm, the drone flew outside the approved activity area on its eighth flight of the day and crash-landed on the grounds of One-North Residences, a 250m walk away from the Pixel Building. There were no reported injuries, the CAAS said. Preliminary investigations revealed that the drone deviated from its planned route because of a faulty positioning sensor, the authority added. 

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA - Her ambitions had her reaching for the skies, but her roots had bound her to the earth - albeit momentarily. 149 Squadron Weapons System Officer (WSO) Captain Hannah Teo had lofty dreams of being part of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) since young, but had to overcome the difficult task of convincing her father that she could achieve her goals, she told AsiaOne in an interview on Tuesday (July 23). «He was a bit hesitant because I'm a girl joining the air force - I think it's a mindset thing,» Teo, 29, said. She spoke with the media as part of Exercise Pitch Black (XPB), a biennial large-scale multinational air combat exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It is her first time taking part in this exercise.  Teo added: «My dad was a bit sceptical because I'm his only daughter.» But Teo was enamoured with fighter jets from youth, beginning with the flyovers that were conducted during National Day Parade (NDP) every year.

An elderly man who was recently spotted on several occasions selling tissues by the road in Bugis has sparked concern among netizens, who expressed concern for his safety.  Photos of the 75-year-old man were posted on Facebook by Richard Song last Saturday (July 20), who spotted the man sitting next to a bus stop at Bugis Junction.  The elderly man was sitting on the ground barefoot, with a bandage wrapped around his left wrist.  In his post, Song urged members of the public to help the elderly man by buying tissues from him.  On another occasion, he saw the man sitting at the traffic junction between Bugis Junction and Bugis Street on July 17 under the blazing sun, reported Shin Min Daily News.  He added that the man also occasionally sold tissues outside the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple at Waterloo Street.  Song's post attracted several comments from concerned netizens who were worried about the elderly man's safety. They also urged others to help the man if they see him.  «The [uncle] selling [tissues] on the road looks really dangerous,» said one. 

After her teenage son was arrested for being a loan shark runner, one heartbroken woman has come out to warn other parents to be vigilant about their children's activities. Speaking to Shin Min Daily News on Sunday (July 21), Luo, 44, said that she learned about her 15-year-old son's arrest at home last Thursday. «I was confused at that time because my husband and I were not at home,» she said. «I rushed home immediately after receiving a call from the police, but I could not see him by then.» In a media statement on July 18, the police said that they were alerted to two cases of loanshark harassment along Woodlands Avenue 6 and Yishun Avenue 11 on July 17 and 18. The main door and gate of the two units were splashed with grey paint and debtor's notes were left on the main gate of both the units. «Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of the teenager and arrested him on July 18 2024,» the police said. « Two debtor's notes were seized as case exhibits.»

SINGAPORE — US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer opened its new $1 billion plant in Singapore on Tuesday (July 23). The 429,000 sq ft plant in Tuas Biomedical Park will produce the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) — the biologically active component of a drug — for Pfizer's cancer, pain, and antibiotic medicines. The new investment will create 250 new highly skilled jobs, said the company. Pfizer said the state-of-the-art facility, an extension of its 20-year-old site in Singapore, has passed all necessary final performance qualification checks and begun commercial manufacturing of products. The facility has also achieved a Green Mark gold certification, a Singapore accreditation for environmental sustainability, and will help Pfizer's goal to achieve the voluntary net-zero standard by 2040. Mike McDermott, chief global supply officer and executive vice-president of Pfizer, said the new plant will be one of the most highly automated among the company's more than 30 manufacturing sites, which are spread across six continents.

Another eatery in Singapore has raised eyebrows with their tongue-in-cheek advertisement.  A signboard, displayed outside the Vision Exchange building in Jurong East, advertised Chocobar's «wet» fried hokkien sotong prawn mee. What caught the public's eye, however, was the dish's Chinese name — loosely translated as «prawn noodles wet wet». A photo of the signboard has garnered over 650 comments on Xiaohongshu since it was posted last Sunday (July 21).  Several netizens found the wordplay on the dish's Chinese name too vulgar, with some attributing «wet wet» to the female anatomy. Others, however, said that the eatery just wanted to clearly state the hokkien mee they are serving to diners is not «dry». Speaking to Shin Min Daily News on Monday, a staff member at Chocobar said that the eatery's owner was behind the name of the dish. «Our hokkien mee has prawn stock, so the boss thought the pun would be interesting,» he said. Acknowledging the double entendre in the dish's name, the staff said that Chocobar has not received any complaint about the sign since it was displayed two weeks ago.

An elderly man lost his temper at a woman on the bus and the two allegedly got into an altercation upon alighting, causing him to fall and get injured. A video posted to Facebook group Complaint Singapore by user Mai Daquan on Friday (July 19) shows the man in question lying on a patch of grass against a fence beside a bus stop. He is motionless and looking up at the sky. Speaking to AsiaOne, Mai said that at about 10.45am on Friday, an elderly man and a young woman started arguing while on board bus 61, about five minutes away from the Hotel Boss bus stop along Jalan Sultan. Mai told 8World that he was unsure why the two were arguing, but he heard the elderly man shout, «I can hit you!» When another female passenger saw this, she stepped forward to separate the heated pair, he added. The elderly man and the young woman then alighted at the bus stop, and he continued to provoke and even push her, according to the Facebook post. The ensuing scuffle resulted in the elderly man losing his balance and falling backwards, hitting the fence behind him, Mai told 8World.

A woman has lodged several police reports after her friend allegedly stole her identity card (IC) details to borrow money illegally. This reportedly led to loan sharks harassing her old neighbour and her husband's music school. Zhuo, 59, said Lan was one of her husband's students at his music school in Jurong West. «I've known her for more than four years, and we would often get together to sing,» she told Shin Min Daily News. «Ms Lan once bought health products from me and said she'd help me sign up as a member. So I sent her a photo of my IC in 2020. I never expected her to use it to borrow money illegally.» Zhuo moved to a new house in 2021, but she found out that her former neighbour was allegedly harassed by loan sharks the following year. She soon discovered that the 58-year-old Lan was behind the alleged loans. «My neighbour negotiated with the loan sharks for over a month,» Zhuo said. «The loan sharks added the 'borrower' to a chat group. After I got the information, I found out that the borrower was Lan, so I confronted her with my husband.»

An elderly man's choice of chicken manure as fertiliser for his mini 'garden' has ruffled the feathers of some neighbours, who bemoaned the funky stench lingering in the air. A Bukit Panjang resident living at Block 409 Saujana Road told Shin Min Daily News that she could smell the odour as soon as she exited the lift. She then alerted the authorities to the situation over possible health concerns.  When a reporter from the Chinese evening daily visited the block on Monday (July 22) morning, they found a row of plants along a corridor. A foul odour became noticeable as they got closer. The owner of the plants is Chen, 70, who said he had used chicken manure as fertiliser to grow vegetables and herbs. After the authorities asked him to switch fertilisers last week, the man said he now reuses the 'dirty' water collected when rinsing fish for his meals as well as organic fertiliser. «Sometimes there is a smell, but it quickly dissipates. I will keep the mini 'garden' clean, and it won't cause any hygiene issues.»

SINGAPORE — A man who sexually abused his step-granddaughter for close to 10 years, starting from when she was three years old, often prefaced his acts by asking her if she loved him. When she was 11, he raped her while she was getting ready for school. On July 22, the man, who is now 51 years old, was sentenced to 20 years' jail. He cannot be caned as he is above the age of 50. In sentencing him, High Court Judge Dedar Singh Gill described the man's routine of asking the victim if she loved him as «wicked». «This was a cynical manipulation of a granddaughter's love for her grandfather,» said the judge. Noting that the man had also violated the girl before he took her to school, Justice Gill added: «This is not a way any girl should start her school day.» The man had pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated rape, one charge of aggravated sexual assault by penetration, and two charges of aggravated outrage of modesty.

Singapore is sending 1,000 tonnes of white rice and 300 tonnes of canned sardines to alleviate the hunger crisis in Gaza.  This will be Singapore's fourth tranche of air to the region, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday (July 22).  The supplies will be shipped from Singapore to Cyprus, then to Gaza.  Since the outbreak of the conflict on Oct 7, 2023, Singapore has contributed more than $17 million in cash and in-kind donations to support humanitarian relief in Gaza.  The last tranche of aid — comprising of 20 tonnes of food and critical supplies — was delivered in March this year. The delivery involved two Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aircraft and 69 personnel, who flew to Gaza.  During the handover ceremony on July 22, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan noted that the conflict in Gaza is into its ninth month. «Singaporeans are deeply distressed and grieved over the situation, the dire humanitarian situation, in Gaza. The suffering, which we are all aware of and have seen, is deeply heart wrenching,» he said. 

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA - At 39 years old, Colonel Lee Mei Yi of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is leading Singapore's participation in this year's Exercise Pitch Black (XPB), becoming the first woman to do so. «I think it's not so much about gender, but it's just the opportunity I was given, being at the right place, at the right time,» Lee said in an interview with the media on an airfield at the Royal Australian Air Force's Darwin base on Monday (July 22). «The difficulties I faced along the way to get to where I am today didn't differ too much from the men.» Lee also revealed that she had experienced her first XPB a decade ago in 2014, back when she was still a «young wingman». «It's really heartening 10 years on that I'm back here in Pitch Black, but in the role of an exercise director,» she commented. Now, her role is no longer about flying as a wingman in her formation, but also ensuring that the entire RSAF contingent are doing well and achieving mission success, she said. In 2022, Lee also made history as the first female F-16 squadron commander for the National Day Parade.

SINGAPORE — Singapore's revised voter rolls have been certified and are ready for public inspection, the Elections Department (ELD) said in a statement on July 22. There are a total of 2,715,187 electors in the updated registers, an increase of 5,732 from the 2,653,942 electors at the last revision in July 2023, before the 2023 Presidential Election. There were 2,653,942 eligible voters at the last general election in 2020. The revised Registers of Electors were certified on July 21 and will be available for public inspection from July 23, ELD said. Singapore citizens may check their particulars in the registers electronically via Voter Services on the ELD website, or with the Singpass mobile application, it added. Those who are unable to do so can check their particulars in-person at community centres and clubs, ServiceSG Centres or at ELD's office by making an appointment. Certification of the registers is a routine exercise that must be done after the registers are revised between elections, and is meant to bring voter rolls up to date.