Mired in millions of dollars in debt, Cathay Cineplexes' parent company mm2 Asia said on Thursday (July 17) that it is considering closing its cinema business.CNA reported that winding up one of Singapore's oldest cinema's chains is one of the options mm2 Asia is evaluating to address its «ongoing financial challenges».It has been operating since 1939, and was originally known as Cathay Cinema.«The group has been committed towards the continued operation of its cinema business in Singapore,» said the Singapore Exchange-listed company.«However, such commitment requires the support from its landlords which has not been meaningful despite the difficult operating environment for cinemas and the wider retail industry over the past years caused by, amongst other things, the Covid-19 pandemic.»Six Cathay Cineplexes cinemas have closed in the last three years, with the remaining four in operation at Causeway Point, Century Square, Downtown East and 321 Clementi.Mm2 Asia owes $3.3 million to the the landlords of its Century Square and Causeway Point cinemas.

A rare Philippine crocodile has hatched at the Singapore Zoo in June, the first of its species to be successfully bred in captivity in South-east Asia, announced Mandai Wildlife Group.Breeding the critically endangered croc species is no easy task — the reptiles can show aggressive behaviour towards each other especially during mating season and must be carefully paired up.Efforts began in 2022, after Philippine crocodile pair Reginald and Delilah were genetically matched and transferred to the Singapore Zoo from Denmark's National Aquarium.The programme kicked-off after the 11-year-old freshwater crocs were transferred to a new and improved habitat that includes a pond with adjustable dividers and enhanced heat and light conditions.Delilah started to nest, and Reginald was observed guarding the nest alongside Delilah.The animal care team then decided that any eggs laid will be artificially intubated to maximise their chances of survival, as it would allow precise control over temperature and humidity and minimise disturbance.

Police are investigating 93 individuals for suspected involvement in unlicensed moneylending activities following a seven-day operation that ended on Tuesday (July 15).The operation which began on July 9 saw officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and the seven police land divisions conduct simultaneous raids across Singapore.Among the 93 under investigation, the oldest is 67, while the youngest is 13.Preliminary investigations revealed that one person operated as an unlicensed moneylender, while seven others allegedly harassed debtors at their homes. Under investigation are also 43 persons suspected of being runners who would assist in unlicensed moneylending activities through ATM transfers.The remaining 42 people allegedly opened bank accounts, provided ATM cards and personal identification numbers, as well as internet banking tokens to these illegal moneylenders, the police said.Investigations are ongoing.If found guilty, first-time offenders will face jail for up to four years, a fine between $30,000 and $300,000, and up to six strokes of the cane.

SINGAPORE — Suspended police officer Kevin Chelvam was sentenced to 10 years' jail on Thursday (July 17) over his involvement in one of Singapore's worst fatal maid abuse cases.After a trial in April, District Judge Teoh Ai Lin convicted the 46-year-old Traffic Police officer of one count of abetting his then-wife Gaiyathiri Murugayan to voluntarily cause grievous hurt by starving Piang Ngaih Don, 24.Chelvam, who was the maid's registered employer, was also convicted of one count of voluntarily causing hurt by grabbing her hair and lifting her off the ground.The judge also convicted him of one count each of giving false information to a police officer, and causing evidence relating to the case to disappear by dismantling a CCTV recorder installed in his Bishan flat.

Fifteen persons are under investigation for allegedly sharing their Singpass credentials and facilitating scams that led to losses of over $890,000.The island-wide anti-scam enforcement operation was conducted between July 8 and 11, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Thursday (July 17).Led by SPF and the Singpass Anti-Fraud Team, the joint operation resulted in six of the 15 individuals — five men and one woman — being arrested.The six individuals, aged between 19 and 56, were arrested for offences under Section 8A of the Computer Misuse Act 1993.According to the police, they relinquished their Singpass credentials which were allegedly used to open bank accounts that were subsequently implicated in a range of scams.Based on preliminary investigations, the scams had been facilitated in various ways.Some individuals allegedly sold their Singpass credentials, which were then used to open new bank accounts and register for new mobile phone lines.Others allegedly gave unknown parties access to their Singpass accounts without verifying their identities.

SINGAPORE — The National Environment Agency (NEA) has started monitoring levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) at Sentosa's beaches, following news that swimming events at the World Aquatics Championships were twice delayed due to elevated levels of the bacteria in the waters.NEA does not usually assess marine water quality based on E. coli levels.Instead, it follows World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines to determine the suitability of a recreational beach for primary contact activities, by measuring the levels of another group of bacteria, Enterococcus.In response to queries from The Straits Times, NEA said that WHO recommends using only Enterococcus for assessing marine water quality. Epidemiological studies have shown a strong correlation between Enterococcus levels in marine waters and public health risks.

While they are both keen on addressing the needs of Singaporeans, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the Workers' Party MP Jamus Lim disagreed on the means of doing so, according to an exchange between the two on Facebook on Wednesday (July 16).SM Lee had said during a dialogue at the Economic Society of Singapore's (ESS) annual dinner on July 15 — where he was also conferred the title of Honorary Fellow — that introducing considerations for different groups' needs and circumstances into the COE system could «make it unworkable». Prof Lim wrote in his Facebook post that while SM Lee had noted during the dialogue that many people had «legitimate claims on an affordable vehicle», he didn't mention a means to adjudicate between these claims.«He then pivoted to how competitive bidding represented the best way to allocate between these claims,» said Prof Lim.«What's sorely missing, however, is how those with genuine needs may not have the purchasing power to meet those needs, even if their needs may have more merit.»

A 57-year-old man has been arrested after hitting a debt collector with a golf club outside his Simei home. General manager of licensed debt recovery agency SG Collectors Kelvin Ho told AsiaOne on Thursday (July 17) that the incident happened on July 10 afternoon at Block 135 Simei Street 1.He said that they were called into service after their client, a food supplier, sought to recover a debt amounting to $12,412 from a food stall owner.«During a lawful visit to the debtor's residence, the situation escalated rapidly due to aggressive and threatening conduct,» SG Collectors said in a Facebook on July 10.A video shared on SG Collectors' Facebook page showed the man and several debtor collectors taunting each other through the gate.«Do you dare hit [us]?» asked one of the collectors.After one of them kicked the gate, the home owner approached the debt collectors - armed with a wood stick. He was later seen spitting at the collectors.SG Collectors said that the debtor returned with a golf club just when their collectors were leaving.

SINGAPORE — The anti-vaping blitz has extended to areas near schools, with enforcement officers conducting checks outside five institutes of higher learning (IHL) across Singapore on Monday (July 14).In total, 27 people were caught and fined for vaping in enforcement operations conducted at several community hot spots, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) told The Straits Times.Another eight persons were caught for underage smoking.Those caught were aged 17 to 66 years old, said HSA, which added that 31 e-vaporisers were seized in the four-hour-long operation.[[nid:720201]]Work in the East started just after 11am, with HSA officers positioning themselves at various spots where people gather outside the institutes.Within the first hour, a man was caught loitering at a HDB void deck across from the school, with a vape around his neck.HSA officers confiscated his vape, suspected to be a Kpod or etomidate-laced pod.Etomidate is an anaesthetic agent used in clinical practice. It is classified as a poison under the Poisons Act. This means a licence is required for its importation or sale.

ComfortDelGro, Singapore's largest taxi operator, will be implementing a new cancellation and waiting fee policy for customers who book taxis through the CDG Zig app.In a Facebook post on Wednesday (July 16), ComfortDelGro said that the new policy will kick in on July 31, but that there will be a risk-free «waiver period» so that both passengers and drivers have time to familiarise themselves with the changes before they are fully enforced.During the waiver period, customers will not be charged even if fee conditions are met. Cancellation fees will only apply from Sept 1 and waiting fees will apply from Oct 15. Customers will have four free cancellations per month according to the new cancellation policy, which are only applicable to situations when the taxi has not arrived at their pickup point. Beyond the four allowances, each subsequent cancellation will cost $4.Drivers who cancel rides will also face penalties «to ensure that both parties are treated fairly», according to ComfortDelGro on their website. They didn't specify the exact penalties.

SINGAPORE — The National Environment Agency (NEA) has started monitoring levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) at Sentosa's beaches, following news that swimming events at the World Aquatics Championships were twice delayed due to elevated levels of the bacteria in the waters.NEA does not usually assess marine water quality based on E. coli levels.Instead, it follows World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines to determine the suitability of a recreational beach for primary contact activities, by measuring the levels of another group of bacteria, Enterococcus.In response to queries from The Straits Times, NEA said that WHO recommends using only Enterococcus for assessing marine water quality. Epidemiological studies have shown a strong correlation between Enterococcus levels in marine waters and public health risks.

Three judicial commissioners will be appointed as judges of the High Court on Aug 1, while an existing Supreme Court judge will be reappointed as justice of the Court of Appeal for a year, said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Wednesday (July 16).The Supreme Court comprises the Court of Appeal and the High Court. Justice Steven Chong Horng Siong, 67, will be reappointed as a Justice of the Court of Appeal from Sept 23 when his three-year-term ends.He specialises in several areas including arbitration, complex commercial cases, banking, securities, and shipping. Justice Chong was appointed Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court on Oct 1, 2009, and judge of the High Court on June 1, 2010. Between 2012 and 2014, he served as attorney-general and returned to the bench as High Court judge in June 2014, and was appointed as a judge of appeal (now known as justice of the Court of Appeal) in April 2017. He was reappointed as Justice of the Court of Appeal in September 2022.

He was planning to register his marriage to his girlfriend next year, but an accident last month has left 32-year-old Malaysian Guo Jiahuang in a coma for about 20 days.Guo, who hails from Ipoh, was riding his motorcycle from Johor Bahru on the morning of June 25 to drop his girlfriend, Lin Yingying, 37, who works at a food factory in Singapore, when the accident occurred, Shin Min Daily News reported.The couple were on the Seletar Expressway (SLE) towards the Central Expressway (CTE) when two vehicles ahead of them collided. Unable to stop in time, Guo's motorcycle crashed and the couple were thrown off the bike.Both Lin and Guo were taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, confirmed the Singapore Civil Defence Force in a reply to AsiaOne's query.When contacted by AsiaOne, police stated that they were alerted to an accident involving two cars and a motorcycle along the SLE towards the CTE on on June 25, at about 5.15am.A 31-year-old male motorcyclist was taken to the hospital unconscious while his 37-year-old pillion rider was conscious when taken to hospital.

SINGAPORE — Drunk after consuming two cans of beer, a man pushed another intoxicated man he did not know into the Singapore River and caused the latter to drown.Prosecutors said Legha Pawan's act on June 30, 2024, which led to the death of Jasbir Singh, 33, was unprovoked and done for no apparent reason.On July 16, Legha, 22, was sentenced to two years' and 11 months' jail after he admitted to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt which causes grievous hurt.Another charge of using criminal force on a woman the same night was taken into consideration for sentencing.Both Legha and Singh are Indian nationals. Singh, a construction worker, was married and had two young children.The court heard that Legha had come to Singapore to further his studies and was enrolled at the private educational institution Birmingham Academy at the time.That evening, Legha and five of his housemates were in the Clarke Quay area, where they bought beer and snacks and sat on the steps by the riverside talking. Other acquaintances soon joined them.

A group of up to 30 women dressed in revealing clothes have reportedly been hanging out near Orchard Road at night allegedly soliciting business from male passers-by.They have been gathering outside Forum The Shopping Mall about three months ago, according to a tip-off sent to Shin Min Daily News.The anonymous informant claimed that the number of women loitering along the walkway would reach its peak at about 11pm. Most of them would stay till around 1am, with some supposedly staying until 4am.«At the most, there were between 20 to 30 of them, and it is a serious issue,» he said.A reporter from the Chinese evening daily who visited the scene spotted about 10 sexily dressed women, believed to be between the ages of 20 and 40, sitting on benches or stairs along the street.The women would approach male passers-by and allegedly flirt with them, initiating physical contact and saying: «Be my boyfriend tonight.»According to the reporter, both parties will agree on a price before walking to a nearby bus stop or taxi stand and leaving.

Stepping into an eatery, the last thing most diners would expect is a menu entirely in a language they don't understand.After all, English is Singapore's lingua franca and the working language of the civil service, bringing its diverse communities together.While bigger chains like Haidilao, Tanyu, and Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodle cater to all customers with bilingual menus, some Chinese food establishments have been spotted operating without English menus — a trend that some non-Chinese Singaporeans call «exclusionary».A photo of a Chinese pancake stall menu recently went viral for its lack of English. The stall is located in Clementi's Gantral Mall, which one Google Maps user nicknamed «mini-Chinatown» in a review.This is in spite of Singapore Food Agency (SFA) regulations stating that food businesses offering prepacked food for sale in Singapore must provide labels with basic information about the product, such as its source, contents, and net quantity, in English.The labelling requirements do not extend to non-prepacked food like dishes served in a restaurant.

The World Aquatics Championships open water races will proceed as scheduled after a «significant improvement» in water quality at Sentosa, said organisers in a statement on Wednesday (July 16) morning.They stated that water quality tests conducted on Tuesday evening showed levels of E. coli falling between the ranges of «good» to «excellent» according to World Aquatics regulations, allowing the races to resume.The men's and women's 10km open water swimming events will now kick off at 1pm and 4pm respectively, following a postponement announced late on Tuesday due to inadequate water quality.«Regular water quality monitoring and testing continues throughout the competition period to ensure athlete safety, with the health and safety of all participants continuing to guide all competition-related decisions,» said the organisers.Water quality concernsSentosa is the venue for the high diving and open water swimming events at the World Aquatics Championships, which are being held in Singapore for the first time.

A tree falling amid inclement weather isn't unheard of — but what about on a dry afternoon, even striking a passing vehicle? That was what happened along Seletar Expressway (SLE) on Tuesday (July 15), as captured in a video posted on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page the same day.In the 31-second video, a car can be seen travelling along the rightmost lane of the SLE, passing multiple slender, tall trees planted in the centre median of the road.Abruptly, one of those trees falls to the left — just as the car travels towards it, smashing through its branches. The force of the impact instantly causes the tree to splinter, with what's remaining of its trunk landing on the right-most lane.The car that recorded the video — behind the one struck by the falling tree — is forced to slow down as it drives over debris from the accident.Many netizens on Facebook were left astonished by the incident, with some making references to the horror franchise Final Destination, where characters meet their grisly ends in freak accidents.«Luckily no one [was] injured,» a user added.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officials intercepted a Malaysia-registered lorry at Tuas Checkpoint and found 60,000 e-vaporisers and related components concealed in the cabin.In a Facebook post uploaded by ICA on Tuesday (July 15), officers said they had directed the lorry for further checks on July 8, where they also uncovered heat sticks, which are heated not burnt. The case was referred to the Health Sciences Authority for further investigation.  Meanwhile, in a vape-related incident, a man was found unresponsive while holding an e-cigarette on board an SMRT bus early this month.

The first of two new light rail vehicles (LRV) for the Sengkang-Punggol LRT (SPLRT) line began its first passenger service on Tuesday (July 15) where it completed three loops over the course of an hour in the afternoon.The two new trains will ply the 14-station line, and will be deployed to the Punggol West Loop and Punggol East Loop over the two upcoming weekends, announced the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SBS Transit.They will then be deployed for weekday service towards the end of July. These trains are part of the 25 new third-generation LRVs which will be progressively introduced into passenger service beyond the third quarter of 2025 after comprehensive testing and commissioning.Come end 2028, the SPLRT fleet will consist 33 two-car LRVs, which will increase passenger capacity to meet ridership demand, LTA and SBS Transit said.Speaking with the media at the first train's maiden voyage at Punggol station, Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling shared that residents of Punggol and Sengkang «have been looking forward to this development for many years now».