Monday #sgroundup: LTA to fine SMRT, SBS Transit S$1.65 million for disruptions

By Jeanette Tan | What's buzzing? – 

Here are the top trending stories for today in case you missed them:

LTA to fine SMRT, SBS Transit S$1.65 million for disruptions

Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Monday it will slap S$1.6 million in fines on train operator SMRT for four train service disruptions that occurred between October last year and May this year.
 
In a statement, the LTA said it found that SMRT had failed to comply with established procedures and processes in the incidents, noting that they were all "fully preventable if the operators had exercised due diligence and vigilance when carrying out their duties".
 
It will also fine SBS Transit, which runs the North East Line (NEL), $50,000 for a disruption in March this year that was traced to a staff error during maintenance work at Potong Pasir station.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/lta-to-fine-smrt--sbs-transit-s-1-65-million-for-disruptions-103519804.html

Ukraine workers find more bodies at MH17 crash site

Ukrainian Emergency workers carry a victim's body in a bag at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …

Rescuers retrieved more bodies Monday in the sprawling fields of east Ukraine where Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed, killing all 298 people aboard.

The chaotic rescue effort, which was marred by an outage in the refrigerated train that was to transport many of the dead, continued ahead of an expected vote later by the U.N. Security Council on an Australia-proposed resolution demanding international access to the crash site and a cease-fire around the area.

The pressure has been growing on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who the U.S. and others say has backed and armed the rebels, to rein in the insurgents in Ukraine and allow a full-scale investigation. The rebels have been blamed around the world for Thursday's downing of the Boeing 777.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ukraine-workers-more-bodies-crash-084432101.html

UN calls for immediate truce as Gaza death toll tops 500

Medics evacuate the body of a man from Gaza's eastern Shejaiya district on July 20, 2014

The UN Security Council called for an "immediate ceasefire" as Israel pressed on with a blistering assault on Gaza on Monday taking the Palestinian death toll above 500.

US President Barack Obama echoed the call in a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu early Monday, as Secretary of State John Kerry headed to the region to join truce efforts.

A fresh air strike on Monday morning killed a family of nine, including seven children, after a weekend of incessant shelling by land, sea and air sent thousands of terrified civilians fleeing their homes.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/medics-another-16-palestinians-found-dead-toll-passes-045111171.html

'Singapore and Malaysia' YouTube spoof by American brothers goes viral

Los Angeles based YouTubers Fung Brothers have come up with a tongue-in-cheek "Guide to Singapore and Malaysia" music video that is quickly going viral, with over 200,000 hits in six days.

The two-part video, filmed in collaboration with local foodstuff company Ayam Brand, features classic (albeit mangled) Singlish phrases like "Wah Lau" and "Kiasu" and instructs learners on the art of using "lah" to end their sentences.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/-singapore-and-malaysia--youtube-spoof-by-american-brothers-goes-viral-084125304.html

Philippine sect opens 'world's largest indoor arena'

The $175-million Philippine Arena, which can seat 55,000 people, was hailed as a showcase that will serve as a …

Philippine President Benigno Aquino presided over the opening on Monday of what is billed as the world's largest indoor stadium, erected by a politically-influential religious sect.

The $175-million Philippine Arena, which can seat 55,000 people, was hailed as a showcase that will serve as a major venue for concerts and sports events as well as gatherings for its owners, the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) sect.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/philippine-sect-opens-worlds-largest-indoor-arena-083917197.html

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/monday--sgroundup--lta-to-fine-smrt--sbs-transit-s-1-65-million-for-disruptions-103957717.html