SINGAPORE - TikTokers advertising themselves as debt consultants are charging debtors thousands of dollars to exploit a government bankruptcy avoidance scheme.Checks by The Straits Times showed that there are at least a dozen such consultants on the social media platform.One consultant said that for a fee, he can guide debtors through the Debt Repayment Scheme (DRS) to help them secure a discount on their debt.He said he had helped a client clear a debt of more than $100,000 with a repayment of only one-third of what he owed, or $35,000.«That's $65,000 savings, no shiok meh? (sic),» the man added.ST understands such firms charge debtors between $1,000 and $5,000 for their services.Credit Counselling Singapore (CCS), a non-profit organisation and registered charity, said it has seen a number of debtors falling prey to exploitative debt consultancy firms.CCS general manager Tan Huey Min said it had a debtor who approached the organisation after he paid a consultancy firm in hopes of getting on the DRS.The man had debts of more than $150,000, above the threshold for the bankruptcy avoidance scheme.

SINGAPORE - Singaporean students bound for Harvard University are still pressing ahead with their plans despite uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's ban on foreign students, even as some still do not have their visas.Ms Welly Tantono, the president of its Singapore alumni club, told The Straits Times on June 14 that as far as she is aware, none of the prospective Singaporean students have relinquished their offers.The Harvard Club of Singapore on June 14 organised a pre-departure meeting for the Republic's Harvard hopefuls, which ST understands was attended by more than 10 matriculating undergraduates and postgraduates.Among them, about half have yet to obtain their visas, said a Harvard Club Board member, who declined to be named.Some existing visa appointments at the local US embassy have also been cancelled, and new appointments are difficult to make, he added.A total of 22 people had indicated on the club's website that they would attend the annual event, which was held at Monk's Brew Club in Katong.Ms Tantono said the event had hoped to «offer comfort» to matriculating students.

A Malaysian teacher was found dead in her home in Johor on Friday (June 13) after reportedly missing work for several months.According to Lianhe Zaobao, the body of Lo Kwan Fong was found in an advanced state of decomposition.Her colleagues are now hoping to find her only relative who had migrated to Singapore some time ago.Lo, 39, lived in the Iskandar Puteri district and was a vice-principal at a primary school in Johor, reported Guang Ming Daily and Sin Chew Daily.One colleague who did not want to be named revealed that Lo had not reported to work for an extended period.The colleague also shared that Lo had lived alone after her parents died over 15 years ago, describing Lo as an introvert.Neighbours also noted that they had not seen Lo for a long time.They said that according to another co-worker who had worked with Lo for a longer time, her only known relative is her maternal aunt who migrated to Singapore many years ago and is estimated to be around 74 years old.

Gujarat is likely to declare state mourning for ex-CM Vijay Rupani, who tragically died in the Air India crash. His son provided DNA samples after his sister's didn't match, awaiting confirmation. Rajkot prepares for a grand funeral procession, with markets and schools closed as a mark of respect.

Yasmin Vora, along with her nephew Pervez Vora and his daughter Zuveriya, were among the victims of the AI-171 crash. Yasin, Yasmin's husband, recounted her pre-flight anxiety about a malfunctioning AC and an unsettling feeling.

Tata Group has reaffirmed its pledge to offer Rs 1 crore in compensation to the families of each victim of the AI-171 crash. This includes passengers, crew, doctors, and individuals present on the ground during the incident.

Following the AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, an unusual alliance emerged outside the Civil Hospital. Various organizations, including RSS, Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind, and the police, united to provide food and drinks to relatives awaiting the identification of victims.

Following the Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad, IRDAI has instructed insurers to expedite claim settlements, especially for overseas medical insurance. Insurers are asked to waive certain formalities and rely on official lists for deceased identification.

Israel struck Iran’s oil and gas facilities in the latest wave of hostilities between the longtime rivals Read Full Article at RT.com

Lithuania warns that escalating tensions in the Middle East could play into Russia’s hands Read Full Article at RT.com

Iran’s deputy foreign minister says the country will reduce its cooperation with the IAEA Read Full Article at RT.com

The bizarre outburst by Dr Dewi Evans, 75, the prosecution's chief expert witness, comes amid mounting doubts about the reliability of the evidence used to convict Letby (pictured).

Iran has launched a fresh wave of ballistic missiles at Israel as sirens sound across the country and residents rush to their shelters.

Marina Pinnacle - a residential building home to 3,820 people in the affluent area of the Dubai Marina - went up in flames at around 9.30pm on Friday night.

Synagogues have stepped up security while communities were warned to 'avoid displaying Jewish or Israeli symbols in public spaces'.

A former appointee of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is being sought by police in connection with the fatal shooting of a state lawmaker.

Six young men from Manipur, who have been together since Class 6 at Sainik School in Imphal, were commissioned as Army officers after training at NDA and IMA. These Lieutenants, from humble backgrounds, cleared the NDA exam together in 2021.

Following the recent Air India crash, the airline's Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet is undergoing urgent safety checks as directed by the DGCA. The government has formed a high-level committee to investigate the crash and recommend aviation safety reforms, with a report due by September 13. Air India will provide interim compensation to the families of the deceased and the survivor.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is embarking on a three-nation tour, starting with Cyprus, marking the first visit by an Indian PM since 2002. He will then attend the G7 Summit in Canada, engaging in bilateral meetings, including a potential encounter with US President Trump.

In Assam's Dhubri, communal unrest erupted after cattle remains were found near temples during Eid. Authorities imposed shoot-on-sight orders at night and arrested 38 individuals. Chief Minister Sarma, after visiting Dhubri, reported the discovery of secessionist group posters advocating for merger with Bangladesh.

Mahesh Kumar from Rajasthan, a Hindi-medium student, defied expectations by topping NEET-UG 2025 with a 99.9 percentile score. Initially hesitant to pursue science due to language concerns, Mahesh overcame self-doubt with hard work and determination. His family revealed his initial inclination towards humanities, but his sister's encouragement led him to medicine.

The parade comes amid one of the most tumultuous weeks of his presidency, with troops in Los Angeles, missiles launched in the Middle East and a targeted killing of a Minnesota lawmaker.

Another state legislator and his wife were also shot in the predawn hours in brazen attacks that officials called “politically motivated.”

Just as old as Democrats in Washington, GOP lawmakers argue age is not an issue for their party’s future.

Across the country, relatively few disruptions were reported during protests and marches where the mood ranged from joyful to defiant.

what the latest financial disclosures show about how much money Trump & other officials made from crypto, Bible, speeches and other items

Quatre ans après la première audience opposant la Polynésie française et des ayants droit des îles Actéon au conseil d’administration de la mission catholique de Tahiti, le tribunal foncier de Papeete a rendu sa décision. Les juges considèrent que l’acte était «litigieux» et entaché de «multiples irrégularités» et ont donc annulé les effets d'un acte de notoriété acquisitive sur les îles Actéon, dans l'archipel des Tuamotu.

Singapore's 15th Parliament will hold its first session on Sept 5 at 5pm.The sitting would commence with the election of the Speaker and the swearing-in of Members of the Parliament (MP) who were elected during General Election 2025, said Leader of the House Indranee Rajah in a media release on Friday (June 13).Seah Kian Peng has been serving as Speaker since 2023.President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will then deliver his opening address, where he will outline the priorities, policies and programmes of the Government.Debates on the President's Address will subsequently occur between Sept 22 and 26.The 14th Parliament was dissolved on April 15 ahead of the General Election on May 3.The 15th Parliament will have 99 MPs consisting of 97 elected MPs and two Non-Constituency MPs comprising Andre Low and Eileen Chong from the Workers' Party.

Cashless payments are meant to offer convenience but for one customer at a porridge stall in Westgate, it led to a pricey mistake.While paying for his $5.40 meal at Mung Zuk in Westgate, a Caucasian customer accidentally transferred $540 instead, Shin Min Daily News reported.The transaction occurred on Tuesday (June 10) at around 2pm but it wasn't until later that staff realised the overpayment.In a Facebook post shared a few hours later, the eatery appealed for help locating the customer. «As soon as we realised the overpayment, our team searched around the mall to try and find him, but unfortunately, we could not locate him,» the Facebook caption read.

A Malaysian man's attempt to depart Singapore illegally was thwarted by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Thursday (June 12).Hiding in a Malaysia-registered grey lorry, the man was looking to exit the country via Tuas Checkpoint, said ICA in a Facebook post on June 13.However, ICA officers carried out enhanced checks at the checkpoint and discovered him lying flat in a corner of the lorry's cargo compartment.The man as well as the vehicle's driver and attendant have since been arrested and referred to ICA's Enforcement Division for further investigation. In the Facebook post, ICA stated that it takes attempts to enter or depart Singapore illegally as a serious matter.

Russia has successfully tested eight new anti-aircraft laser-based systems, the government has said Read Full Article at RT.com

The gunman impersonating a police officer also injured another Democratic state senator and his wife, local authorities have reported Read Full Article at RT.com