Over the past three weeks, residents staying at Blocks 251 to 254 Hougang Ave 3 have been complaining about a foul stench caused by dead rats in the estate.  A resident who stays on the ground floor of Block 254 told Mothership that he saw rats scurrying into his home on Dec 5. He also spotted some rat dead rats on the road and in the drain near the block.  According to him, the carcasses looked like they'd been run over by cars or eaten by cats, as they were covered in blood with their organs exposed. Because the carcasses were left in the estate for several days, they emitted a stench which affected him and his family. In view of the incident, the Aljunied-Hougang town council (AHTC) told Shin Min Daily News that excavation works conducted by PUB likely caused the migration of rats.  The town council added that the dead rats were the result of burrow treatments. It has since increased the frequency of inspections to monitor the rodent situation.  AHTC's pest control operator has also been carrying out site inspections and treatment. 

Scalpers have been selling appointment dates for foreigners here to convert their driving licences for an average price of $350, Lianhe Zaobao reported on Sunday (Dec 22). According to Zaobao, some individuals are believed to have exploited a loophole in the online system to book multiple appointment time slots, leading to a waiting time that has extended beyond six months. The Traffic Police had announced in April the launch of an online appointment system from April 29, in a move towards the digitalisation of certain services. Applications for the conversion of foreign driving licence are now processed via FormSG, and the entire process is expected to take about six weeks. However, one user of the service told Zaobao that when he tried to convert his driving licence some time back, the closest appointment time he could get was for May 2025. The programmer, surnamed Cai, stated: «A friend later told me that many scalpers have been illegally reselling appointment slots online, and you can book a time slot at a closer date for $400.»

The family of the woman who died in a car accident in Taiwan has yet to pick up her body, citing financial and logistical difficulties.  The 33-year-old woman died on Dec 14, after her husband crashed their rental car into a power pole on a highway. They were in Taiwan for a holiday with their three-year-old daughter.  Her husband, a 36-year-old Singaporean, and the girl escaped with minor injuries, but the woman was stuck in the rear seat and eventually succumbed to her injuries.  A family friend of the woman told 8world that her family lives in a remote village in Guangdong, China.  «I heard that her family wanted to fly [to Taiwan] as soon as possible, but they were unable to afford tickets, and they were still trying to settle some administrative matters,» said the family friend.  They are also receiving help from the relevant authorities. 

Canada’s first sustainable Tim Hortons opens in Regina this weekend. The restaurant, located in the city’s east end, features design and operating features that minimize environmental impact.

According to the TV channel Al Jazeera, the refugees were housed at a school in the Al-Daraj neighborhood

As preliminary data suggest, the ISS orbit was raised by 2.3 km to 416.43 km above the Earth’s surface

According to US Central Command, the incident occurred during airstrikes on Houthi facilities

According to the press service of the regional Emergencies Ministry, all three people onboard the plane survived the emergency landing

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized India's independent foreign policy, rejecting external influence on its decisions. He stressed the importance of embracing Indian heritage and tradition in a globalized world, advocating for a balance between progress and cultural identity. Jaishankar highlighted India's growing global influence and commitment to development while acknowledging existing challenges and the need for national self-belief.

[ANGOP] Luanda -- President João Lourenço on Friday appointed the newly elected vice president of the ruling MPLA party, Mara Regina da Silva Domingos Quiosa, as a member of the Council of the Republic, replacing Luísa Pedro Francisco Damião.

[New Times] The Ministry of Health plans to adopt advanced technologies, including GPS tracking, to monitor bat migration and behaviour as part of efforts to enhance prevention and surveillance of zoonotic diseases.

German police were warned about 'unstable' Dr Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen in September last year, but did nothing more than take screenshots of his twisted online threats.

The Gossip Girl actress is suing Baldoni over allegations of sexual harassment and fostering a toxic work environment.

Last night Wilnelia and the rest of the nation saw Bruce again as the phenomenally successful BBC dance show Strictly Come Dancing celebrated 20 Fabulous Years.

Lilly Jay was seen for the first time since breaking silence on her ex-husband Ethan Slater's romance with his Wicked co-star Ariana Grande.

Blake Lively has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni - four months after the film premiered in theaters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a historic visit to Kuwait, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 43 years, attending the Arabian Gulf Cup opening ceremony. Addressing the Indian diaspora, Modi lauded their contributions, describing Kuwait as a «mini-Hindustan» reflecting India's diverse talent. He emphasized India's potential as a global skill capital.

A Foodpanda deliveryman was caught stealing a customer's food with the help of an accomplice - believed to be his friend.  The incident, which happened on Dec 17, was caught by the customer's CCTV camera, and the footage was posted on Beh Chia Lor's Facebook page.  The location where the incident took place was undisclosed.  In the video, the young male rider was seen hanging the plastic bag on the customer's gate and taking a picture of the item as proof.  A second male individual standing beside him subsequently grabbed the bag and the pair quickly fled the scene, after seemingly being startled by a noise coming from inside the house. In response to AsiaOne's queries, a spokesperson from Foodpanda said they have suspended the delivery rider's account following investigations into the incident.  «Foodpanda does not condone any unlawful behaviour, and appropriate action will be taken against offending delivery partners,» added the spokesperson. 

About 20 cats are believed to have been abandoned in a flat filled with garbage. Netizen Deng shared in a Facebook group on Dec 19 that a resident of 147 Bedok Reservoir Road had found a dead kitten at the foot of the block. On the same night of Dec 16, Deng found a gray kitten curled up behind a pillar. «When I took the injured kitten to the vet, I found out that it had fallen from a height,» she revealed, adding that it was not the first time cats were found at the foot of the block - one was found dead on Dec 11. Deng and a few others went floor by floor to search for the unit the cats could have jumped from. They also notified NParks and SPCA. «While I was waiting for the authorities to come and take the cats away for investigation, another cat fell in front of me and blood was coming out of its mouth,» said Deng. She looked up and saw two other cats sitting on a window sill. The authorities, with the help of a locksmith, gained access to the flat, which was in a deplorable condition. The living room was filled with garbage, the floor covered with faeces and urine. There were cats in the flat.

Une centaine de chauffeurs de taxi seront rassemblés dimanche 22 décembre sur les routes de Tahiti. Le cortège partira à 9 heures de la mairie de Faaa vers les grottes de Maraa avant de faire demi-tour direction la présidence. Les manifestants espèrent rencontrer Moetai Brotherson pour rediscuter du projet de loi de pays des transports touristiques, visant à réguler l'octroi de licences professionnelles au fenua.

The Chinese defense ministry has accused the Pentagon of fabricating false narratives in its latest report on Beijing’s military threat Read Full Article at RT.com

The Russian military has destroyed a German-made Leopard tank in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday Read Full Article at RT.com

SINGAPORE - A little blue card, with his name and a few numbers that say who he is and where he lives. To Ricqo Rafiezuwan, a 25-year-old whom The Straits Times featured in September in an article about stateless individuals and the challenges they face, the blue identity card he now guards jealously is more than just a document. He said it confirms he is no longer someone without an identity. As he spoke to ST on Dec 18, Rafiezuwan proudly held up his blue identity card. There it was - his name in big, bold letters. «I cannot believe that I am holding this. I look at it and think, wow, is this real? »Because this is what I have wanted for a very long time, for 25 years," said Rafiezuwan, fighting to hold back his tears. After the photographer was done taking pictures of him holding up the card, Rafiezuwan wiped it with his hands and returned it to his wallet. He slid the wallet into his back pocket, and gave that a gentle pat. His card was safe. Rafiezuwan said he will not forget the day he received the news that he had been granted permanent residency status.

SINGAPORE - The first signs surfaced in February 2024, but 24-year-old Chee Ming Heng, who was healthy and fit, quickly dismissed them. On his first day of work experience on Feb 8, he realised that he struggled to write his name on the time sheet, said the student at LaSalle College of the Arts. «I could hold the pen but I could not find a way to write (my name). It was very mentally tortuous to write it.» He eventually managed to do so, but his writing was a lot more closely strung together than his usual style. It was strange, but he did not think much of it. A day earlier, he had already felt some weakness in his right hand. He also had to miss his family reunion dinner four days earlier because he was unwell. When Chinese New Year rolled around on Feb 10, he went visiting and realised he had difficulty holding cutlery. The next day, he visited a general practitioner, but did not get a referral letter to see a hospital specialist. On Feb 12, his family members noticed that the right side of his face was drooping slightly when they gathered for a family photo.

President-elect Donald Trump had indicated to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that he wanted his daughter-in-law to be appointed.

The federal government avoided a shutdown. Here are some notable takeaways from legislation that cleared the House and Senate this week.

A 20-month investigation by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee found that Justice Clarence Thomas failed to report jet and yacht trips.

Currently, the Oryol Region is yet again under a massive enemy UAV attack

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli forces shelled a residential building in Deir al-Balah and a downtown Khan Yunis

Russian leader stressed that, thanks to their dedication, 'the industry is becoming more and more high-tech with every new year'

No injuries or damage were reported

SINGAPORE - A little blue card, with his name and a few numbers that say who he is and where he lives. To Ricqo Rafiezuwan, a 25-year-old whom The Straits Times featured in September in an article about stateless individuals and the challenges they face, the blue identity card he now guards jealously is more than just a document. He said it confirms he is no longer someone without an identity. As he spoke to ST on Dec 18, Rafiezuwan proudly held up his blue identity card. There it was - his name in big, bold letters. «I cannot believe that I am holding this. I look at it and think, wow, is this real? »Because this is what I have wanted for a very long time, for 25 years," said Rafiezuwan, fighting to hold back his tears. After the photographer was done taking pictures of him holding up the card, Rafiezuwan wiped it with his hands and returned it to his wallet. He slid the wallet into his back pocket, and gave that a gentle pat. His card was safe. Rafiezuwan said he will not forget the day he received the news that he had been granted permanent residency status.

Ukraine’s manpower shortage is reportedly so critical that Kiev is now reassigning highly trained air defence specialists as infantry Read Full Article at RT.com

A Mumbai court sentenced a 37-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping and assaulting his partner's 11-year-old physically challenged daughter. The judge prioritized the victim's testimony, stating that her evidence holds greater weight. The victim recounted the assault, which occurred while her mother was at work. The accused threatened her into silence.

Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the Northeast's economic potential, highlighting its role as India's export gateway via the Chittagong port. He urged banking institutions to tailor financial guidelines to the region's unique context, fostering growth in infrastructure, agriculture, and MSMEs.