Play a part in assimilating: PM Lee, Khaw to new Singapore citizens

By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – 

Join community activities and reach out to others who have newly arrived in Singapore, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan to new citizens on Saturday.
 
Speaking at separate national citizenship ceremonies held on Saturday morning and afternoon, both encouraged the newly-minted citizens to serve the community with other Singaporeans and called on residents to invite the new arrivals to community events and for meals at their homes.
 
Lee welcomed some 150 new citizens in Ang Mo Kio and Sengkang West constituencies, while Khaw awarded citizenship certificates to 194 new citizens in Sembawang, including 32 families who applied for citizenship together.
 
Acknowledging that changing citizenship is a big decision, the prime minister said it is certainly more than doing a cost-benefit analysis on a spreadsheet. "(It is in) committing your heart — what identity do you adopt? What values will you make your own? Where will your loyalty lie?" he added.
 
Meanwhile, Khaw said the state of affairs in Singapore is "truly extraordinary" given the many racial and religious conflicts that are occurring around the world now.
 
"We must treasure it, and it requires every one of us to continue to preserve what is important to us: social harmony, mutual respect for one another and graciousness when sharing the common spaces," he said.
 
Khaw also encouraged new citizens, being better-able to understand the challenges of adjusting to a new environment, to reach out to other newly-arrived residents in Singapore.
 
Singapore's population grew 1.6 per cent between 2012 and 2013 to 5.4 million, while its citizen population moved up by just over 26,000 or 0.7 per cent over the same period to 3.8 million, according to figures from the Department of Statistics.
 
Its population density has risen from 7,529 to 7,540 per sq.km in 2013, a pain point for many who have complained in recent years of overcrowding in public spaces and competition for jobs and housing.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/play-a-part-in-assimilating--pm-lee--khaw-to-new-singapore-citizens-014112028.html

Friday #sgroundup: Nicole Seah quits National Solidarity Party

By Nurul Azliah Aripin | What's buzzing? – 

Here are today's top trending stories in case you missed them.

Nicole Seah quits National Solidarity Party
Nicole Seah speaks at a rally for presidential candidate Tan Jee Say in this file photograph. (Yahoo file phot … 
Opposition politician Nicole Seah has resigned from the National Solidarity Party, both she and its secretary-general Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss have confirmed.

In an email response to queries from Yahoo Singapore on the matter, Seah said leaving the party was "an extremely difficult and painful decision to make", stating that there was nothing that happened to trigger her departure.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/nicole-seah-quits-national-solidarity-party-052810094.html

Local comedian David Bala passes away at age 67
 
Veteran Singapore actor David Bala has passed away at the age of 67 due to heart disease, said MediaCorp. TV station Vasantham posted the announcement on its Facebook page on Friday, 29 August.

https://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/local-comedian-david-bala-passes-away-061518648.html

Malaysia Airlines to cut 6,000 staff in overhaul
 Malaysia Airlines planes are seen parked at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on June 17, 2014
Malaysia Airlines will cut 6,000 workers as part of a $1.9 billion overhaul announced Friday to revive its damaged brand after being hit by double passenger jet disasters.

Current CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya will continue to head Malaysia Airlines until its new incarnation is established in July next year.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/malaysia-airlines-cut-6-000-071637612--finance.html

PM Lee pledges to strengthen ties with Malaysia
 Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivers a speech during the 20th International Conference on the …
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong treated his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Najib Razak with great hospitality in return for the latter's treatment when they met in Putrajaya last April.

He also pledged to continue to cooperate and strengthen ties with Malaysia.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-pm-pledges-strengthen-ties-031057088.html

Ex-Myanmar beauty queen accused of stealing crown
 Former Miss Myanmar stripped of her beauty pageant title.
A Myanmar beauty queen who was stripped of her title for allegedly being rude and dishonest has run off with the $100,000 jeweled crown, a South Korea-based pageant said Friday.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/dethroned-myanmar-beauty-queen-takes-crown-055600555.html

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/friday--sgroundup--nicole-seah-quits-national-solidarity-party-095120326.html

YOUR VIEW: Recognising non-religious Singaporeans

Yahoo Newsroom – 

This email by a reader was sent to us via reachus@yahoo-inc.com. We welcome your views. Please include your full name, age and occupation if you want your emails to be considered for publishing. Please note that all submissions will be subject to these terms.

Two years ago, a social work volunteer rang up my organisation. A 95-year-old man, she said, had a dying wish to join my humanist group – currently Singapore's only organisation for non-religious people.

The man, Mr Ang Hock Guan, lived alone and had been non-religious for over 50 years. Unfortunately, hours after becoming our oldest ever member, he passed away.

Like many Singaporeans of the pioneer generation, he died before his stories could be recorded and told. Mr Ang was a young man when Singapore experienced the deadly racial riots of 1964, but lived to see Singapore transform from a Third World to First World country.

As Singapore prepares for its 50th anniversary next year, it is worth remembering that non-religious Singaporeans have a long history on this multi-religious island and gave their fair share to nation building.

Mr Ang was already a free-thinker before Singapore's independence, although non-religious Singaporeans were not classified as so in the national census until 1980.  While violent tensions existed between religious groups back in the 1960s, Mr Ang was free to be non-religious for most of his life, in a country where more than eight in 10 citizens have a religion.

This is because safeguards were put in place to ensure secularism and the freedom of belief in public spaces such as schools, community centres and Government offices. Housing, healthcare and education policies contain no discrimination on the basis of faith.

Strained family relations

Yet Singaporeans may not be as accepting of their loved ones' having other religions. A recent Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) survey on race and religion found that while people here were comfortable having bosses, colleagues and neighbours of other religions and being close friends with people from other religions, they were less comfortable when it came to close relatives such as spouses and in-laws.

This can lead to strains in family relations. Those who convert to a new religion for reasons such as marriage or personal conviction are able to find emotional support in new religious communities to tide over painful transitions.

Such transitions can be harder for some Singaporeans who leave their religion when they no longer believe in it and rely on science, evidence and empathy to guide their lives. They are an under-represented group without support from any large network or organisation. Some who become freethinkers face hostile disapproval from religious groups for leaving the religion.

In more extreme cases, their morality is also questioned at workplaces and some are forced to leave home for their refusal to participate in the family's religious activities. Others have to take on pseudonyms to express their feelings. Fearful of strict laws governing criticism of religion, a few are even considering migration.

While their numbers are probably small, it is regrettable some freethinkers have to hide their views to gain social acceptance within their families and communities in Singapore, a multicultural nation which prides itself on inclusiveness.

Part of such hostility stems from a misconception that freethinkers lack moral codes. This is not true. Many freethinkers still share universal human values with the religious, such as the cardinal rule of treating others as one would like others to treat oneself.

Understanding free-thinkers

As Singapore prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, I have two suggestions which can help religious Singaporeans better understand their non-religious countrymen and free them from any existing prejudice.

The first: Stronger recognition for non-religious Singaporeans and their contributions in the national narrative.

Singaporeans have always embraced religious traditions as part of our moral code, heritage and national identity. Religious buildings, monuments and festivals can be seen easily around the country. With no temples, monuments or festivals of their own, freethinkers leave behind only individual memories and ideas for posterity.

For a more holistic narrative, non-religious Singaporeans should be given a stronger mention in school textbooks and local literature, alongside the various modern religions.

My second suggestion: More academic research should be done on non-religious Singaporeans. What do they believe? What motivates them to do their best in life? When they marry or die, what kind of rites do they go through?

Such research will be timely as non-religious people are becoming more common in Singapore. In 2010, they made up 17 per cent of resident population – or about 640,000 Singaporeans. This is up from 13 per cent in 1980 according to the Singapore Census of Population.

Regretfully, we are not able to turn back the clock and listen to Mr Ang share his life experiences.

But there are many more Singaporeans today, like Mr Ang, whose non-religious world view has helped shape our nation over the past 50 years in big and small ways.

Paul Tobin, 53
Engineer

Paul Tobin, together with 11 others, founded the Humanist Society (Singapore), a community of freethinkers, atheists, agnostics and humanists, in 2010.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/your-view--recognising-non-religious-singaporeans-075825779.html

Nicole Seah quits National Solidarity Party

By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – 

Opposition politician Nicole Seah has resigned from the National Solidarity Party, its secretary-general Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss has confirmed.
 
Speaking to Yahoo Singapore over the phone on Friday, Chong-Aruldoss said Seah tendered her resignation on Monday, 25 August. The party is sorry to see her go but respects her decision to leave, she added.
 
"We thank her for all the contributions she has made during her time with us, and we are very appreciative of all her efforts… but we respect her decision, which I'm sure she has considered and not made lightly," she said.
 
Chong-Aruldoss acknowledged that the 28-year-old has become "quieter than before" in terms of her involvement with party activities and correspondence in the months since she moved to Bangkok to work.
 
"We wanted to give her some space to get her own things organised and haven't been running after her to tell her to do things," she said.
 
She also stressed that no incident, altercation or animosity had taken place between Seah and the party's leaders.
 
"She's been with us for quite a few years, and I do have fond memories… it's sad that I have to see anyone go, but that's her decision and we respect it. I take comfort that she took some time to think about it," she added.
 
Seah moved to Thailand in March to work at IPG Mediabrands's Bangkok office and has been based there ever since.
 
Yahoo Singapore has contacted Seah for comment on her departure from the party, which she has been a key face of since Singapore's watershed general election in 2011. A new face on the scene, she grew to prominence with her strong speeches and grassroots work, and also became very popular online.

Her last-held position in the party was second assistant secretary-general. She previously was a member of the Reform Party, which she subsequently left alongside other current NSP members like Hazel Poa and Tony Tan in 2011.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/nicole-seah-quits-national-solidarity-party-052810094.html

SMRT encourages more schools to charter off-peak trains

By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – 

Despite drawing some criticism from a recent incident, Singapore train operator SMRT is urging schools to consider chartering of trains during off-peak hours in case they need to move a large number of students around.
 
Its managing director for trains, Lee Ling Wee, took to Facebook on Thursday in a lengthy letter to the public to shed more light on its recent chartering out of five trains to ferry students and staff from the Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) to the National Stadium for a rugby match.
 
"We are grateful that the school informed us beforehand as it gave us time to make the operational scheduling decisions that minimised inconvenience to other commuters along the line," said Lee, who noted that staff were able to work with the school to transport the 3,000 students and staff smoothly while keeping all stations open to other commuters.
 
She explained that while the current train fleet on the Circle Line is overloaded at morning and evening peak hours, only 20 to 30 per cent of its trains are used for the rest of the day. "We are able to withdraw some trains from service because of low passenger loadings," she added.
 
"The story may have been different had 3,000 students descended on the Circle Line with no prior notice at the same time without crowd control measures in place, catching commuters and our station staff by surprise," she continued, adding that normal Circle Line services ran smoothly throughout the charter period for ACS (I). "Prior notice by ACS (I) allowed SMRT to put in place crowd control measures at the two stations as both the school and the destination were close to MRT stations."
 
Lee also made it a point to mention that SMRT had never sought permission from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for previous occasions when it chartered trains for "tens of thousands of students from many schools" for the National Education shows in recent years, noting that they "all moved efficiently and safely and without fuss".
 
"We encourage more schools in the neighbourhoods located close to MRT stations to consider such charters, during off-peak periods, should they see a need to move a large number of students along our network," she continued. "All things considered, we feel the effort was genuine and worthwhile as it transported a large number of students efficiently and safely."
 
Earlier this week, the LTA said it was mulling action against the train operator for failing to seek its approval ahead of its train charter for the ACS (I) students, saying SMRT was required in terms of its licence to do so.
 
Responding at that point, SMRT stressed that regular operations were unaffected, and that it would inform the authorities of such arrangements in the future.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/smrt-encourages-more-schools-to-charter-off-peak-trains-022427214.html

Thursday*s #sgroundup: Hello Kitty is not a cat

By Elizabeth Soh | What's buzzing? – 

Here are today's top trending stories in case you missed them:

What Mrow? Hello Kitty Is Not a Cat

  如果你是 Hello Kitty 的忠實粉絲，你未必想繼續看下去，因為可能會破壞你一直以來的夢想。沒錯，Hello Kitty 並不是貓。   為了準備在日本美國國家博物館舉行 Hello Kitty 歷史展，負責的人類學家竟然收到來自 …
Think Hello Kitty is a kitty? She is anything but.
The LA Times reported Wednesday that University of Hawaii anthropologist Christine R. Yano was corrected firmly. She was told, "Hello Kitty is not a cat. She's a cartoon character. She is a little girl. She is a friend. But she is not a cat. She's never depicted on all fours. She walks and sits like a two-legged creature."

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/mrow-hello-kitty-not-cat-200700589.html
 
Singaporeans, animal welfare groups react in anger to HDB debarking notice

One of the founders of Exclusively Mongrels Limited, Sharon Oh, talks about her love for stray mongrels and her …

Dog welfare groups in Singapore are responding in anger to a notice issued by a government board advising dog owners to "debark" their pets if they are having difficulty keeping them quiet.
"We strongly condemn debarking, even as a last resort, to stop a dog from barking," wrote nonprofit Exclusively Mongrels Limited in a post on its page.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singaporeans--animal-welfare-groups-react-in-anger-to-hdb-de-barking-notice-051315264.html
 
Singaporean football fixer who blew millions has 'no regrets'

Singapore's Wilson Perumal attends his match-fixing trial at the Lapland district court in Rovaniemi, on June …

Singapore's Wilson Perumal attends his match-fixing trial at the Lapland district court in Rovaniemi, on June 22, 2011
Notorious Singaporean football match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal has said he has "no regrets" despite gambling away the millions he earned through rigging nearly 100 games worldwide over two decades.
In a wide-ranging interview with CNN, Perumal said he earned "five to six million dollars" from influencing "80-100" matches in his two-decade fixing career.

https://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/singaporean-football-fixer-blew-millions-no-regrets-073639450--spt.html
 
Australia deports Malaysian surgeon linked to death of 2 prostitutes

Australia deports Malaysian surgeon linked to death of 2 prostitutes

A Malaysian-born neurosurgeon in Sydney linked to the deaths of two prostitutes has been deported to Malaysia, Australia's Daily Telegraph reported today.

Dr Suresh Nair, who worked at the Nepean Private Hospital in Sydney's western suburbs left Australia on Tuesday, the paper said.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/australia-deports-malaysian-surgeon-linked-death-2-prostitutes-015831155.html
 
Six nudists jailed one month, fined S$2,000 each over Penang nude games

A screen capture of the video showing a group of so-called 'naturists' participating in the 'Malaysia-International …

Six men were sentenced today to one month's jail and S$2,000 fine each for committing obscene acts during the controversial "Penang Nude Sports Game" held in May.

Magistrate Mohd Najib Ismail ordered the six to serve their sentences from today after listening to their individual pleas for a lenient sentence.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/six-nudists-jailed-one-month-fined-rm5k-over-050300189.html

 

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/-sgroundup--hello-kitty-is-not-a-cat-103519695.html

New book shines light on Singapore’s Gurkha community

By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – 

Upon a Nepalese Gurkha soldier's arrival on Singapore shores, he is taken straight from Changi Airport to Mount Vernon Camp, and then promptly to Pulau Tekong to commence rigorous field training the average full-time National Serviceman will be glad he never has to experience.
 
Thrust into hotter and more humid conditions after growing up in the mountains, the elite military men spend months in infantry and especially jungle training — one of the areas of warfare they are specially known for.
 
Meanwhile, the sprawling campus in Aljunied is pretty much a self-contained world for the Gurkhas, their wives and children, who move together with him. Mount Vernon camp houses sporting facilities, a medical centre and minimarts stocked with basic groceries and supplies, says the author of a new book on the community, Chong Zi Liang.
 
"They really live their entire lives in the camp; even grocers are brought in to sell vegetables to them," the 29-year-old said at the launch of The Invisible Force: Singapore Gurkhas, co-produced over a five-year period with his former university mate Zakaria Zainal, a freelance photographer. "They don't have to go out (of the confines of the green barbed-wire fences) if they don't want to."
 
The area around the camp has also evolved to reflect the presence of the Nepalese, with Nepalese restaurants and essential ingredients in Nepalese cuisine sold in shops in the Joo Seng estate. Yet, working and living for decades in Singapore necessitates thorough knowledge of all the best food available, and exactly which hawker centres serve the best-tasting versions of them, and the Gurkhas are no different, he adds.
 
Chong, who now works as a sub-editor for national broadsheet The Straits Times, discusses in one chapter of his book the routines of Singapore's Gurkhas — chiefly rotating between guard duty and rest, with three months of home leave every three years, and they are only allowed to bring their wives and children back to Singapore to live with them after their second home leave.
 
Wives who move to Singapore are not allowed to work. Children are allowed to receive their education here, but once their fathers retire, they are only allowed to stay to complete their stint in the educational institution they are studying in at that point, before having to head home as well.
 
Sharing these details at the book launch over the weekend at the Arts House, Chong and Zakaria shared that the realisation that precious little has been written about the Gurkhas in Singapore motivated them to publish the book. After meeting a community of retired Singapore Gurkhas when they were on internship together in Nepal in 2009, the two set about telling the stories of these elite soldiers.

The Singaporeans' efforts culminated in their final-year project at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University, which highlighted the issues of pensions not being adjusted to inflation, widows of retired Gurkhas being denied their husbands' pensions and children having to uproot and return to Nepal after spending all their lives in Singapore.

Zakaria also returned to Nepal in 2011 to photograph the retired Gurkhas, putting their portraits together into a book he published on his own to raise awareness about the difficulties riddling the community. After that, the duo decided to work together to produce a third, more comprehensive hardcover, launched coincidentally on the year of the 65th anniversary of the Gurkha contingent's presence in Singapore.
 
The new book contains an account of the insanely rigorous, and at some points heartwrenching, selections that young Nepalese boys go through to become selected to the elite contingent, as well as exciting tales from retired Gurkhas about the strikes and riots they dealt with in the 1950s and 60s. It even features a chapter on the children of retired Gurkhas, their passion and inspiration to step into their fathers' shoes and serve time in the army.
 
"Very modestly, we just want more Singaporeans to know about the stories of the Gurkhas, since they've been here for so long but so little is known about them," said Chong at the book's launch at the Arts House over the weekend. "It's really a story that's worth telling and worth knowing."
 
Online orders for "The Invisible Force" can be made here.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/new-book-shines-light-on-singapore-s-gurkha-community-091940414.html

Singaporeans, animal welfare groups react in anger to HDB debarking notice

By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – 

Dog welfare groups in Singapore are responding in anger to a notice issued by a government board advising dog owners to "debark" their pets if they are having difficulty keeping them quiet.
 
"We strongly CONDEMN debarking, even as a last resort, to stop a dog from barking," wrote nonprofit Exclusively Mongrels Limited in a post on its page.

"This is against the order of nature and is considered animal cruelty," it added, while encouraging fans to share their feedback on the notice with the Ang Mo Kio Town Council.
 
Dog welfare group Action for Singapore Dogs posted a lengthy message with a photograph of the notice, saying it "strongly object(s)" to the suggestion of debarking dogs, even as it agrees with the premise of the letter, being that consideration for one's neighbours is important.
 
"This is an extremely cruel and painful procedure of removing the vocal chords which can cause constant physical pain," the group said. "Such recommendations should not be publicly put out without due advice from experts as it sets a wrong mindset that such solutions are ethical or safe."

Fiona Foo, founder of Hope Dog Rescue, also told Yahoo Singapore that debarking is a procedure widely considered to be animal cruelty, and that not all vets in Singapore are willing to do it.

"Incessant barking can be corrected," she said. "The owner just needs to put in more effort to correct the behaviour."

She also pointed out that if a dog is barking, it usually points to factors like neglect, abuse, separation anxiety, hunger or thirst. "(In any of those circumstances,) The owner should consider rehoming the dog, as it is not fair for the dog to be left alone for so many hours," she added.
 
The Housing Development Board's Ang Mo Kio branch posted a notice, dated 22 August, at the lift landing of Block 601, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, seemingly in response to feedback from residents about "dog barking nuisance in the middle of the night".
 
"We wish to remind all dog owners to take proper care of your dog and ensure that your dog does not cause any nuisance by barking incessantly," the notice reads, before suggesting three measures: taking the dog for obedience training, using training collars to "control your dog and modify its behaviour", and "debarking your dog through surgery".
 
It also points to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority's website, asking owners to seek more information there.
 
Resident Shawn Boo posted a picture of the notice on his Facebook page on Wednesday night.
 
"Definitely I am quite shocked and disgusted by the third suggestion," he told Yahoo Singapore. "I am a dog owner myself and I do not think our furkids deserve such treatment. The person who wrote this notice should reflect on his actions and not make such a blunder again."
 
Boo, who is 26 and has lived at Block 601 all his life, added that he has never once heard dogs barking in the middle of the night.
 
Neither has his friend and neighbour, Lim Wei Ling, a trader, who has lived on the other side of the same block for the past 16 years.
 
"I honestly have not heard any dogs barking," she said. "Even if there is, it's not the unbearably loud and persistent kind. We get random dogs barking in the day, but I don't think there is any 'in the middle of the night' like what the poster said… so I'm not sure who the target audience (of the notice) is."
 
Boo said he found the notice posted at the lift landing of Lim's side of the block.
 
His friends immediately reacted in shock and anger to his picture of the notice, calling HDB's suggestion of it "inhumane" and "disturbing".
 
Overnight and on Thursday morning, the photo was shared widely on Facebook, with many leaving comments in outrage as they shared it.
 
Other individuals have said they have written letters expressing their concern to HDB's chief executive officer Cheong Koon Hean, with one user, Lorna Khoo, calling it "cruel and unusual punishment", asking for the letter to be withdrawn and for an apology to be issued.
 
Yahoo Singapore has contacted the Ministry of National Development, which oversees the HDB, as well as the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, for a response.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singaporeans--animal-welfare-groups-react-in-anger-to-hdb-de-barking-notice-051315264.html

Singaporeans, animal welfare groups react in anger to HDB de-barking notice

By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – 

Dog welfare groups in Singapore are responding in anger to a notice issued by a government board advising dog owners to "debark" their pets if they are having difficulty keeping them quiet.
 
"We strongly CONDEMN debarking, even as a last resort, to stop a dog from barking," wrote nonprofit Exclusively Mongrels Limited in a post on its page. "This is against the order of nature and is considered animal cruelty," it added, while encouraging fans to share their feedback on the notice with the Ang Mo Kio Town Council.
 
Dog welfare group Action for Singapore Dogs posted a lengthy message with a photograph of the notice, saying it "strongly object(s" to the suggestion of debarking dogs, even as it agrees with the premise of the letter, being that consideration for one's neighbours is important.
 
"This is an extremely cruel and painful procedure of removing the vocal chords which can cause constant physical pain," the group said. "Such recommendations should not be publicly put out without due advice from experts as it sets a wrong mindset that such solutions are ethical or safe."
 
The Housing Development Board's Ang Mo Kio branch posted a notice, dated 22 August, at the lift landing of Block 601, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, seemingly in response to feedback from residents about "dog barking nuisance in the middle of the night".
 
"We wish to remind all dog owners to take proper care of your dog and ensure that your dog does not cause any nuisance by barking incessantly," the notice reads, before suggesting three measures: taking the dog for obedience training, using training collars to "control your dog and modify its behaviour", and "debarking your dog through surgery".
 
It also points to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority's website, asking owners to seek more information there.
 
Resident Shawn Boo posted a picture of the notice on his Facebook page on Wednesday night.
 
"Definitely I am quite shocked and disgusted by the third suggestion," he told Yahoo Singapore. "I am a dog owner myself and I do not think our furkids deserve such treatment. The person who wrote this notice should reflect on his actions and not make such a blunder again."
 
Boo, who is 26 and has lived at Block 601 all his life, added that he has never once heard dogs barking in the middle of the night.
 
Neither has his friend and neighbour, Lim Wei Ling, a trader, who has lived on the other side of the same block for the past 16 years.
 
"I honestly have not heard any dogs barking," she said. "Even if there is, it's not the unbearably loud and persistent kind. We get random dogs barking in the day, but I don't think there is any 'in the middle of the night' like what the poster said… so I'm not sure who the target audience (of the notice) is."
 
Boo said he found the notice posted at the lift landing of Lim's side of the block.
 
His friends immediately reacted in shock and anger to his picture of the notice, calling HDB's suggestion of it "inhumane" and "disturbing".
 
Overnight and on Thursday morning, the photo was shared widely on Facebook, with many leaving comments in outrage as they shared it.
 
Other individuals have said they have written letters expressing their concern to HDB's chief executive officer Cheong Koon Hean, with one user, Lorna Khoo, calling it "cruel and unusual punishment", asking for the letter to be withdrawn and for an apology to be issued.
 
Yahoo Singapore has contacted the Ministry of National Development, which oversees the HDB, as well as the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, for a response.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singaporeans--animal-welfare-groups-react-in-anger-to-hdb-de-barking-notice-051315264.html

Lorry collision along PIE leaves five injured, multi-vehicle pile-up

By Nurul Azliah Aripin | Yahoo Newsroom – 

A collision involving two lorries occurred along the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) near the Toa Payoh exit on Wednesday afternoon, leaving five people injured.

One of the lorry drivers and a child were among the injured.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the accident at 5:21pm.

The SCDF discovered a lorry driver trapped in the vehicle, whom they freed using a hydraulic spreader cutter.

The driver was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital with serious injuries along with three others who were conscious. The child also sustained serious injuries, and was taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital, said the SCDF.

TODAY reported that the accident slowed down traffic and disrupted three lanes.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/lorry-collision-along-pie-leaves-five-injured--multi-vehicle-pile-up-143037509.html

Wednesday #sgroundup: Malaysian women join Middle East jihadists as ‘comfort women’, reveals intelligence report

By Nurul Azliah Aripin | What's buzzing? – 

Here are today's top trending stories in case you missed them.
 
Malaysian women join Middle East jihadists as 'comfort women', reveals intelligence report
 Malaysian women join Middle East jihadists as 'comfort women', reveals intelligence report
Malaysian women are believed to have joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) forces to offer Jihad Al-Nikah or sexual jihad, senior intelligence officials told The Malaysian Insider.

Authorities confirmed that three Malaysian women have journeyed to the Middle East to join up with Isis forces.

Jihad Al-Nikah refers to a controversial concept where Sunni women allegedly offer themselves in sexual comfort roles to fighters for the establishment of Islamic rule.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/malaysian-women-join-middle-east-jihadists-comfort-women-231547345.html

Interpol looking for sex blogger Alvin Tan
Interpol looking for sex blogger Alvin Tan 
Interpol is looking for controversial sex blogger Alvin Tan Jye Yee to face trial in Malaysia following his failure to return and surrender his passport to the court, his lawyer said.

Chong Joo Tian said Tan and his partner Vivian Lee May Ling went to Singapore to shoot a documentary last May but the lawyer was unsure if Tan was still in the island republic.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/interpol-looking-sex-blogger-alvin-tan-012318912.html

Millions Of Dollars Burned Every Day As MAS Flights Go Empty
 FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2014 file photo, a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane sits on tarmac at Kuala Lumpur …
The Malaysia Airlines has had a bad year after the loss of 2 airlines earlier this year: the disappearance of MH370 and the rocket attack on MH17 over Ukraine.

But just how badly has that affected Malaysia Airlines?

According to a Howard University Professor, the Southeast Asia air carrier burns its cash reserves at nearly $2.16 million each day.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/millions-dollars-burned-every-day-033043976.html

Singapore investors shun equities as geopolitical tensions escalate: survey
  
Escalating global tensions are driving Singapore investors from equities. Manulife's Investor Sentiment Index revealed that investors are increasingly turning to fixed income and mutual funds due to their perceived quality and stability.

Respondents cited market stability and higher returns in fixed income as the main reasons for their increased optimism towards this asset class.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/singapore-investors-shun-equities-geopolitical-022200762.html

Skies calm over Gaza as long-term truce takes hold
 Celebrations erupt in Gaza as a long-term ceasefire agreed by Israel and the Palestinians goes into effect, ending …
The skies over the Gaza Strip were calm Wednesday as a long-term ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians took hold after 50 days of the deadliest violence in a decade.

Millions in and around the war-torn enclave enjoyed a welcome night of peace during which there were no strikes on Gaza, nor Palestinian rockets fired at Israel, the Israeli army said.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/long-term-gaza-ceasefire-goes-effect-174726831.html
 

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/wednesday--sgroundup--malaysian-women-join-middle-east-jihadists-as--comfort-women---reveals-intelligence-report-103025989.html

Yahoo Fast Flicks: 8 easy tips on making an award-winning two-minute video

By Alycia Lim | Yahoo Newsroom – 

It's been four weeks since we first announced the first-ever Yahoo Fast Flicks competition and we hope that you and your pals are well on your way to planning and producing a two-minute video entry worthy of the S$15,000 first prize. With the submission period coming up between October 7 - 21, we catch up with the co-founders of Asian short film portal Viddsee, Ho Jia Jian and Derek Tan, who dish out a few handy tips on how to create a winning two-minute video that's going to make our distinguished panel of judges as well as viewers online sit up and go "Wow".  

1.     A video that evokes emotions

Videos become much more shareable when it stirs emotions, as people can relate to the characters. Examples of some videos that have transcended cultural boundaries include Gift and The Promise.

2.     Know your target audience

Saying that your audience is "the masses" isn't good enough.  While we all want our videos to travel far, have a target audience in mind (ie male/female, age group).  Your target audience will be your first 1,000 viewers who will share it with their friends, and the pattern continues.

3.     Have a quick story pick-up

Many filmmakers are used to creating content for the big screen, where the audience will wait patiently for the video plot to pick-up. But the online audience is far less patient and can very quickly move on with a click of the mouse. Seize the viewer's attention immediately with a great hook in the first 3-5 seconds. This is especially so if the entire video is only two minutes long.

4.     Quicken the pace

Following on from the above point, the video storyline has to move – quickly. With a much less forgiving audience on a platform where every second counts, make sure your video develops quickly and coherently.

5.     Focused plot

Don't try to tell too many things but stay to one focused plotline. With a total duration of just two minus, sub-plots can wait for a longer feature next time.

6.     Good casting

The biggest mistake for amateur filmmakers is to overlook casting. If you have a great story and weak casting, the story will not shine. Take time to choose the right people for the role (Ie. Don't get a young girl to play a role of an old woman, because audiences won't be fooled). With a good cast, 90% of your work is done.

7.     Good lighting

Keep in mind that your video will be watched on computer screens and mobile phones, where the screen brightness varies. Even if your scene is set in a dark room, there are different techniques and some movie magic you can use to brighten the face of your character.  Explore close-ups, where the characters' faces are lit while the surrounding remains dark, for example. 

8.     Shareability

At the end of the day, what you really want is for your video to be shared, commented and viewed by a wide audience. So while the technicalities are important, keep in mind that a good story is the beginning of a viral trend.

 

 

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/yahoo-fast-flicks--8-easy-tips-on-making-an-award-winning-two-minute-video-033055272.html

Tuesday*s #sgroundup: Body found in waters near Collyer Quay

By Elizabeth Soh | What's buzzing? – 

Here are today's top trending stories in case you missed them.

Body of man found floating in waters near Collyer Quay

Police cover the body of a man found floating in the waters off Collyer Quay with a police tent.

The body of a man in his 40s was found floating in the waters near Collyer Quay early Tuesday morning.

The man, who is believed to be Singaporean and was described as "dark-skinned", had fallen into the water late Monday night.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/body-of-man-found-floating-in-waters-near-collyer-quay-092700282.html

Singapore's manufacturing output up 3.3% in July: EDB

 

It declined 2.2% excluding biomedical manufacturing.

Data released today by the Economic Development Board (EDB) revealed that the country's manufacturing output grew 3.3% in July, but decreased 2.2% when biomedical manufacturing is excluded.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/singapore-manufacturing-output-3-3-062500928.html

Singapore boosts cyber security after hacking incidents

File photo shows a person claiming to speak for activist hacker group Anonymous issuing a warning to the Singapore …

Singapore on Tuesday announced new measures to strengthen cyber security to prevent a recurrence of attacks on government websites incuding those of its president and prime minister.

Information minister Yaacob Ibrahim said the government is upgrading its Cyber-Watch Centre, allowing it to track malicious activities and respond swiftly when there are security breaches.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-boosts-cyber-security-hacking-incidents-080822411.html

Bryan Cranston Reminds 'Seinfeld' Co-Star Julia Louis-Dreyfus How Good a Kisser He Is

From left, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn and Bryan Cranston, members of the cast of "Breaking Bad," winner of …

Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston proved he's still got his comedy chops — and his kissing skills, too, apparently — as he congratulated former Seinfeld co-star Julia Louis-Dreyfus with a big smooch during Monday night's 66th Annual Primetime Emmys.

Cranston and JLD had presented the Emmy for Best Comedy Actor together moments earlier, during which she joked that he looked like the guy who guest-starred as dentist Tim Whatley on Seinfeld (because Cranston was that guy, of course).

https://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/blogs/tv-news/bryan-cranston-reminds--seinfeld--co-star-julia-louis-dreyfus-how-good-a-kisser-he-is-013015401.html

Balmy Singapore contends with rising protests

An estimated 3,000 Singaporeans spent their afternoon at Hong Lim Park to attend the CPF protest organised by blogger …

Singapore is synonymous with efficiency and order but rising discontent sparked a recent wave of protests, raising questions about social stability in the tightly controlled city-state.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/balmy-singapore-contends-rising-protests-225331758.html

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/tuesday-s--sgroundup--body-found-in-waters-near-collyer-quay-103631849.html

COMMENT: Are we becoming unhappy in the pursuit of happiness?

By Daniel Wong | SingaporeScene – 

Daniel Wongis a learning and personal development expert, as well as a certified youth counselor. A speaker and coach, he is also the best-selling author of "The Happy Student: 5 Steps to Academic Fulfillment and Success". He offers programmes to help students attain exam excellence while also finding happiness and fulfillment, and to empower parents to motivate their unmotivated teenagers. He writes regularly at www.daniel-wong.com. Download his FREE e-books, "The Unhappiness Manifesto: Do You Make These 150 Mistakes In The Pursuit Of Happiness?" and "Singapore Scholarship Guide: The $500,000 Decision". The views expressed are his own.

Over the past 50 years, we've made tremendous economic progress. But our overall happiness levels haven't progressed at the same rate, even though there have been recent improvements.

(Of course, we could have a long debate about how accurate these happiness studies are, given that happiness is difficult to both define and measure.)

I've had the privilege of speaking to and working with close to 15,000 people on topics related to happiness and success. Through these interactions, it's become clear to me that people pursue happiness with a passion, but that the majority haven't found the fulfillment they're looking for. This is despite the fact that they've achieved many of their goals and have made progress in different areas of their lives.

Based on my own life experiences, I can say for certain that realising your goals, on its own, doesn't lead to enduring happiness.

Goals are useful, but we need to be clear about why we're setting them in the first place.

I'm sure you have all sorts of goals, as do I.

What job title you want to have.

How much money you want to make.

What car you want to drive.

What kind of vacations you want to go on.

Maybe even what you want your family life to be like.

But have you ever paused to think about why we like setting goals so much?

"If you're not happy now, you won't be happy because of money"

Goals give us hope, something to look forward to. And when we achieve our goals we feel good about ourselves, which increases our self-esteem.

In addition, if we know where we want to go in the long term, then goals serve as markers to guide us to that final destination.

At the heart of it, we believe that by realising our goals, we'll be happy.

But this article, written by someone who made $15 million before he was 30 years old, highlights the fact that this belief is flawed, especially when our goals are focused on material wealth.

Here's an excerpt from the article:

"Most people hold the illusion that if only they had more money, their life would be better and they would be happier. Then they get rich, and that doesn't happen, and it can throw them into a serious life crisis.

If you're part of the middle class, you have just as many opportunities to do with your life what you want of it. If you're not happy now, you won't be happy because of money.

Whether you're rich or not, make your life what you want it to be, and don't use money as an excuse. Go out there, get involved, be active, pursue your passion, and make a difference." (emphasis mine)

How to achieve meaningful goals, not just more goals

Your attitude and choices determine your happiness much more than your wealth—or number of goals accomplished—does.

Goals are a means of attempting bigger things, so that you can become a bigger person who's able to serve others more effectively.

We need to focus on achieving meaningful goals, not just on achieving more goals.

This is a challenging task, because we live in a culture of "more":

More money More time More benefits More food More holidays More houses More education More Facebook friends More Twitter followers More projects More profit

But we need to realise that more isn't always better; sometimes less is better.

It's better to have one good pair of shoes than it is to have 20 pairs of poorly made shoes that give you blisters every time you wear them.

In the same way, it's better to lead a simple life with less "stuff" than it is to become overwhelmed by trying to do more, achieve more and accumulate more.

Are you reacting to the urgent or investing in the important?

If we're obsessed with "more", we'll end up reacting to the urgent, instead of investing in the important.

For example, what if your boss asks you to work late to finish writing a report, but that would mean that you'd miss your monthly family dinner?

Most of us, myself included, would find it hard to say no to the boss.

Her request seems so urgent, and—if you were to say no—you might get a less satisfactory year-end appraisal.

At the same time, you know that your family will forgive you for missing the dinner. You could convince yourself that it's not a big deal. After all, you'll be there at next month's family dinner.

You don't "have" to do anything

In these kinds of situations, it can often feel as if we have no choice but to give in to the boss' demands.

But we need to remind ourselves that we do have a choice, even if it doesn't seem like it. There are no perfect solutions. There are only choices and tradeoffs.

No matter what dilemma we're faced with, we have the power to choose.

We don't have to go along with the crowd.

We don't have to choose the urgent over the important.

We don't have to choose the easy option, if it isn't the better one.

We don't have to get sucked into the culture of "more".

It might not feel this way, especially if your friends are working around the clock in an attempt to "get ahead". And they're constantly talking about buying a bigger home. And they're obsessed about enrolling their children in the most exclusive schools and tuition centres.

But you can make simple choices like…

Stop hanging out with people who are a negative influence on you Reading books that inspire and empower you Thinking positive thoughts and speaking positive words Deciding what values and principles you want to live by Defining success for yourself, instead of allowing others to define it for you

Think different, act different, be different

At the end of the day, it's about choosing to lead a great life, not just a mediocre or good one.

I'm not referring to greatness in terms of material wealth, although it could include that. I'm talking about leading a life of great service, great contribution, great attitude, great commitment, great kindness, and great depth of relationships.

I know I still have a long way to go in building a great life, but it's a journey we're on together.

The meaningful pursuit of happiness isn't about chasing after a positive feeling or a temporary high. It's about making the daily choice to think different, act different and be different from the crowd.

Let's choose carefully, so that we won't become unhappy in the pursuit of happiness.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/becoming-unhappy-pursuit-happiness-093128849.html

Monday*s #sgroundup: White tiger at S*pore zoo put down

By Elizabeth Soh | What's buzzing? – 

Here are the top trending stories from today in case you might have missed them:

White tiger at Singapore Zoo put down after developing tumour

Winnie (left) and Omar, two white tigers at one of the Singapore Zoo's most popular enclosures. Winnie was put …

A rare white tiger at the Singapore Zoo in Mandai was put to sleep earlier this month after it developed a tumour, leaving just one male behind in the popular enclosure.
 
Winnie, who was one and a half months shy of being 15 years old, was terminally ill after developing a tumour in her jaw bone and was euthanised on 12 August after the zoo's keepers and vets found that her condition had worsened over time.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/white-tiger-at-singapore-zoo-put-down-after-developing-tumour-081939241.html

Singapore July inflation eases to 1.2% on back of lower private transport costs

Singapore's central bank forecast this year's overall inflation rate at 1.5-2.5%

Accommodation and food costs also fell.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Ministry of Trade and Industry today revealed that the country's consumer price index eased to 1.2% in July, compared to 1.8% in June.

The decline was driven mainly by lower private transport costs, which fell by 1.6% in July following the 2.8% surge a month earlier.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/singapore-july-inflation-eases-1-051500134.html

Where's our National Spirit? 'Courtesy Ghost' campaign surprises and delights Singapore

Did Singa, the Courtesy Lion, die and return as the Courtesy Ghost?

Not really, but the adorable ethereal creature that's been popping up in posters at various locations around the island appears to have been styled after him, and the ads have served small doses of cultural awareness and education to people who see them in a friendly, pleasant way.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/photos/where-s-our-national-spirit-courtesy-ghost-campaign-surprises-and-delights-singapore-slideshow/

NSmen to get Adidas and Zoot running shoes by year's end: Ng Eng Hen

National servicemen will get Adidas and Zoot running shoes from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) at the end of the year, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Sunday.

"Like most of you, I was delighted with the ASICS shoes that the SAF supplied. They were high quality and have given me many hours of happy walking and jogging," Ng wrote in a Facebook post.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/nsmen-to-get-adidas-and-zoot-running-shoes-by-year-s-end--ng-eng-hen-001314262.html

Stampede at Hindu holy procession kills 10 Indians

 Map locating a deadly stampede Monday in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh

A pre-dawn stampede killed 10 people Monday as tens of thousands of Hindus were worshipping in an annual procession in central India, police said.

Some 50,000 devotees had been marking the holy day of Somvati Amavasya by walking or lying down and rolling for 5 kilometers (3 miles) in a wide circle around the spot where the Hindu god Ram is believed to have spent time during his 14 years in exile.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/10-dead-india-temple-stampede-police-045157632.html

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/monday-s--sgroundup--white-tiger-at-s-pore-zoo-put-down-114626544.html

White tiger at Singapore Zoo put down after developing tumour

By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – 

A rare white tiger at the Singapore Zoo in Mandai was put to sleep earlier this month after it developed a tumour, leaving just one male behind in the popular enclosure.
 
Winnie, who was one and a half months shy of being 15 years old, was terminally ill after developing a tumour in her jaw bone and was euthanised on 12 August after the zoo's keepers and vets found that her condition had worsened over time.
 
"Recent reassessment has seen worsening of (Winnie's) tumour and the decision was made to euthanise her to prevent deterioration of her quality of life," spokespersons for the zoo said in a statement to Yahoo Singapore. "Her keepers and the veterinary team (had) been providing supportive care to her for the past few months to ensure her quality of life (was) maintained."
 
Wildlife Reserves Singapore, which runs Singapore's zoo, Night Safari and River Safari, as well as the Jurong Bird Park, said it is saddened by Winnie's passing.
 
She, her sister Jippie and their brother Omar, were born together in Taman Safari in Indonesia, alongside other cubs, and were bred in captivity. They arrived in Singapore on 6 April 2001 when they were a year and seven months old.

White tigers typically have a life span of between 10 to 15 years in the wild, and 16 to 20 years in captivity on average. Winnie lived to the age of 14 years, 10 months and 16 days.
 
The rare white tiger exhibit has always been popular with visitors to the Singapore Zoo, even though in 2008, Omar and Jippie attacked 32-year-old Nordin Montong, a cleaner, who had voluntarily entered their enclosure and waded toward them.
 
Nordin's death was ruled as a suicide in 2009, and the zoo later introduced safety enhancements to more dangerous exhibits including signs, emergency buttons and increased patrols by keepers and staff.

Jippie had previously also fallen terminally ill and was euthanised on 28 March 2012.

Watch Winnie and Omar in action just a month ago in this clip:

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/white-tiger-at-singapore-zoo-put-down-after-developing-tumour-081939241.html

NSmen to get Adidas and Zoot running shoes by year*s end: Ng Eng Hen

By Yahoo! Singapore

By Yahoo! Singapore | Yahoo Newsroom – 

National servicemen will get Adidas and Zoot running shoes from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) at the end of the year, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Sunday.

"Like most of you, I was delighted with the ASICS shoes that the SAF supplied. They were high quality and have given me many hours of happy walking and jogging," Ng wrote in a Facebook post.

"More good news for NSmen. The next set of running shoes will be from Adidas and Zoot and will be available at the end of the year," he added.

The new set will reportedly be the fourth switch in running shoes since 1995. The third switch had been in August 2011 to ASICS, after New Balance and Brooks models were made available in 2007.

There are currently more than 300,000 active full-time, regular and operationally ready NSmen in service.

The Ministry of Defence will release more details about the new shoes in time to come.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/nsmen-to-get-adidas-and-zoot-running-shoes-by-year-s-end--ng-eng-hen-001314262.html

How to survive a baby fair in Singapore

By Elizabeth Soh | Yahoo Newsroom – 

As the doors open to Suntec Exhibition Hall 401, the crowds — faces tight and eyes wide with anticipation, maps, cash and huge bags clutched to their chests — descend like a human wave into the huge, cavernous halls. Within minutes, the shelves are cleared out as people shovel baby essentials into their giant bags, oblivious to the chaos around them.
 
No – this is not the plot of a great escape from an impending zombie apocalypse, but what goes on for three traumatic days at Singapore's mega baby fairs (this weekend's Super Mom Bazaar at Suntec is on until this Sunday).
 
A twice-yearly affair that evokes intense, quivering excitement in young parents all across Singapore, baby fair crowds alone are enough to make a normal person want to turn his back and run for dear life.
 
But pass up on huge savings from heavily discounted baby diapers? Give up the chance to save $4 on a tin of annoyingly expensive infant formula?
 
"Never!" screams the tiny kiasu Singaporean voice hidden in all of us.
 
So gird your loins, and get ready to swarm these fairs – armed with our top tips, shopping strategies and inside info gleaned from interviews with baby fair experts (read: broke parents).

Stocks fly off - but are also replenished for popular brands, so don't worry about coming on the last day.
 
Survival Tip #1: Don't bring your pram. And if you can, don't bring the baby either
 
Unless you want to end up stuck at the back of every line or sweating in frustration when you can't get to the toy that you so desperately want, don't bring your stroller. No one is going to give way to you, and your baby isn't going to enjoy being hit in the face by boxes, shopping bags and bodies as you bulldoze your way through the masses.
 
If your baby can't handle crowds, leave him or her at home. The last thing you need as you stand in line for 45 minutes to pay for your items is a red-faced screaming toddler who may or may not vomit his lunch on you after being deprived of his afternoon nap.
 
"The first time I brought my baby when he was a month old, I spent the whole shopping trip worrying about people knocking into him and his crying, so I left after 15 minutes empty-handed. Now, I only bring him if I need to try out a new pram, carrier or playmat," said teacher Lim Wei Ting, 31, who also stores her son's clothes size and measurements on her phone so she can instantly check if the baby clothes will fit.
 
Survival Tip #2: Plan, print and bring cash

Print out maps, guides and vendor lists so you can plan your route in advance and won't be overwhelmed by the  …
 
Most baby fairs release "maps" or "guides" of the various vendors up to a month in advance of the fair. Print out or download the map on your phone and plan, plan, plan.  Plan the route you want to take, or the stores you want to make a beeline for. Mark out key landmarks so you get a feel for the layout even before you get to the fair.  

Not everything is cheaper at the fair – supermarkets also have sales on diapers, which are comparable to fair prices. Online sites like Qoo10 and Rakuten also hold diaper sales for Japanese and Korean brands.
 
"When you buy your diapers in bulk, remember to ask for multiple sizes as babies outgrow the smaller sizes very fast," said frequent fair-goer Damien Ng, 35.
 
"I ended up with 3 extra packs of newborn diapers as my son put on weight very fast and wasting money as I gave them away."
 
Remember to bring cash and also your Nets card – many smaller vendors do not accept credit cards or charge extra for credit card use.
 
Survival Tip #3: Go off-peak or tag-team
 
Contrary to popular belief, not all the good stuff is gone on the first day. Most diaper brands re-stock daily and other big names like TollyJoy and Pigeon regularly replenish finished stocks. Go early on the last day and you'll probably stand as good a chance (and  only endure half the crowd) as the first day.
 
To be more efficient, consider these strategies:
 
1) Tag-team as a couple. One person makes the purchases while another waits outside, watching over the larger ones. Carrying all your purchases with you as you shop will weigh you down and tire you out quickly.

Use a tag-team strategy - one person waits outside watching the shopping loot, the other goes in and out picking …
 
2) Ask if there is a delivery service and if it's free with a minimum purchase – especially for diapers and formula, which are a pain to lug home.

The final rule that applies to all shopping in general? Stay focussed.

"I once went to buy a pacifier but ended up coming home with a playpen, a tricycle and a whole bag full of musical toys," said baby fair shopaholic Sindy Nee, 29, who estimates that she can spend up to $1,000 at baby fairs.
 
My hubby and I set out to test all these tips and rules at the ongoing Super Mom Bazaar at Suntec on Friday, and stuck to every rule except the last.
 
Discipline – just a baby carrier, I told my husband -- our five-month-old daughter needs a bigger one.
 
Which is how we ended up with everything but the carrier – a new mini baby grand piano, four tins of formula, sachets of overpriced organic powdered puree (the packaging of the exotically named chi-chi Kale, Squash and Banana mash were just too pretty to resist).

But what's the fun in only getting what you really need?
 
And judging by the steady stream of parents staggering under the weight of coveted Jumperoos, organic creams, diapers and high chairs, their faces shining with triumph, we were not alone.
 
The smell of victory, mixed with sweat, sour milk and baby powder, fills the air. They are satisfied.
 
Till the next baby fair.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/how-to-survive-a-baby-fair-in-singapore-015334403.html

Friday*s #sgroundup: MDA drops planned self-regulation scheme after opposition

By Elizabeth Soh | What's buzzing? – 

Here are the top trending stories from today in case you might have missed them:

MDA drops planned self-regulation arts scheme after pushback from 45 groups

The MDA says it will drop a proposed self-regulation scheme for the arts industry, after facing strong opposition …
Singapore has scrapped plans to roll out a self-regulation scheme for the sector after an unprecedented mass pushback from arts groups.

The Media Development Authority (MDA) on Friday announced this on its website after the close of public consultations on several amendments to its Public Entertainments and Meetings Act.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/mda-drops-planned-self-regulation-arts-scheme-after-pushback-from-45-groups-105909981.html

UN: death toll from Syrian civil war tops 191,000

Iraqi Yazidi refugees gather in a tent at Newroz camp in Hasaka province, north eastern Syria on August 14, 2014, …

The death toll from three years of Syria's civil war has risen to more than 191,000 people, the United Nations reported Friday.

The figure, covering the period from March 2011 to April 2014, is the first issued by the U.N.'s human rights office since July 2013, when it documented more than 100,000 killed.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/un-death-toll-syrian-civil-war-tops-191-084718973.html

Is Singapore driving away property investors?

A man walks on an observation deck overlooking private high-rise residential condominium properties in the prime …
Property plays are near and dear to Singapore's heart, but at least one manager doesn't think the city-state is particularly friendly to real-estate investors.

"For Singapore, which is one of the most business friendly countries in the world, it's possibly one of the least real estate investor friendly countries because of constant policy changes," said Andrew Jackson, head of real estate funds at Standard Life Investments (London Stock Exchange: SL.-GB), which has around $318 billion under management.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/singapore-driving-away-property-investors-025712174.html

In somber homecoming, Malaysia lays MH17 dead to rest

Soldiers carry a coffin with the remains of a Malaysian victim from Flight MH17 during a ceremony at Kuala Lumpur …

Millions of black-clad Malaysians fell silent Friday in tribute to their 43 countrymen killed in the MH17 disaster as the first remains were brought home and laid to rest amid deep sorrow and anger.

People across the country of 28 million observed a minute's silence at 10:55 am (0255 GMT), shortly after a Malaysia Airlines jet landed with the remains of 20 people killed when MH17 was blasted from the sky by a suspected surface-to-air missile over Ukraine.

https://my.news.yahoo.com/remains-mh17-dead-arrive-malaysia-023939364.html

England braced for Balotelli return

Italy striker Mario Balotelli warms up prior to a World Cup match between England and Italy at the Amazonia Arena …

Mario Balotelli was set for a shock move to Liverpool on Thursday as AC Milan acknowledged that the controversial Italy striker was on his way out.

The Milanese club have agreed to let the 24-year-old move to Anfield in a transfer worth 20 million euros (16 million pounds, $27 million), according to reports in England and Italy.

A Milan spokesman said he could not confirm any talks or deal. But the club's website reported that Balotelli had said his goodbyes to the Milan players and staff after training on Thursday morning, suggesting only personal terms remain to be finalised.

https://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/super-mario-brink-shock-liverpool-move-113255053--spt.html

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/friday-s--sgroundup--mda-drops-planned-self-regulation-scheme-after-opposition-113844128.html

18,000 affected in 9-hour NEL breakdown

By Yahoo! Singapore

By Yahoo! Singapore | Yahoo Newsroom – 

In what was the longest North-East Line (NEL) breakdown since March 2012, MRT train services between Punggol and Sengkang stations were disrupted for nine hours yesterday.

Local paper Today reported that the stoppage took place between 6am and 3pm, and affected some 18,000 commuters.

NEL operator SBS Transit reportedly said the disruption was caused by a power fault caused by a dislocation of cantilever arms. As a result, power supply to the trains was cut off. SBS Transit added that this is the first time the arms have dislodged.

Almost 40 shuttle buses were in operation during the disruption, while commuters were able to board public bus services for free at designated bus stops near the affected stations.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/18-000-affected-in-9-hour-nel-breakdown-003121830.html

Thursday #sgroundup: Woman murdered in Tampines flat

By Elizabeth Soh | What's buzzing? – 

Here are the top trending stories from today in case you might have missed them:

Woman murdered in Tampines flat, 80-year-old man arrested: police

A 54-year-old Chinese woman was found dead in a flat at Tampines St 43. An 80-year-old man has been arrested.

A 54-year-old woman was murdered in her Tampines flat on Thursday morning, and police have arrested a man, 80, in connection with the case.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singaporean-woman-in-her-50s-found-dead-in-tampines-flat--reports-091848120.html

Two cars catch fire on AYE, ECP

One car caught fire on East Coast Parkway (ECP) and another on the Ayer-Rajah Expressway (AYE) in separate incidents on Thursday.

In the first fire, a car burst into flames along the ECP towards Changi Airport near the Bayshore Road exit around 7am, leaving the driver with mild injuries.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/two-cars-catch-fire-on-aye--ecp-103102463.html

A $3 million Bugatti that you cannot use (here)

A Singaporean has forked out over S$3 million for a custom bespoke Bugatti Veyron, and he can't even drive the …

Most Singaporeans will probably agree that we pay some pretty ridiculous prices for our cars here, especially with rising COE prices. But one Singaporean in particular doesn't really seem to mind that, for he has just forked out over $3 million for his new car. And the craziest thing is, he isn't even allowed to drive it on our roads here.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/3-million-bugatti-cannot-193304385.html

Zouk gets conditional 3-year extension at Jiak Kim location

Google Street View screengrab of Zouk exterior

Popular nightclub Zouk will get extra time to source for a new location when its tenancy at Jiak Kim Street expires on 31 December 2014.

According to a statement released by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the duration of the extension depends on when Zouk finds an alternative premises.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/zouk-gets-extra-time-to-find-new-location-060923882.html

Israeli airstrike kills 3 senior Hamas leaders

Smoke rises from buildings following an Israeli air strike on Gaza City on August 20, 2014

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed three senior commanders of the Hamas military wing on Thursday, the group said, in what is likely to be a major blow to the organization's morale and a significant achievement for Israel's intelligence agency.

The pre-dawn strike leveled a four-story house in the southern town of Rafah, killing six people, including the three senior military commanders, identified by Hamas as Mohammed Abu Shamaleh, Raed Attar and Mohammed Barhoum.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/hamas-says-3-senior-leaders-killed-gaza-strike-060219638.html

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/thursday--sgroundup--woman-murdered-in-tampines-flat-111132492.html

Woman murdered in Tampines flat, 80-year-old man arrested: police

By Nurul Azliah Aripin | Yahoo Newsroom – 

A 54-year-old woman was murdered in her Tampines flat on Thursday morning, and police have arrested a man, 80, in connection with the case.

According to a police spokesman, the woman was found lying motionless in her flat around 10:18 am in the morning, and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Yahoo! Singapore understands that she was found in her bedroom covered in blood, and that the elderly man arrested is her father-in-law.

According to The Straits Times, officers combed through rubbish chutes at about 2pm and retrieved a one-meter long metal rod, a purple handkerchief and a grey t-shirt appeared to be stained with blood.

Police have classified the case as murder and investigations are ongoing.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singaporean-woman-in-her-50s-found-dead-in-tampines-flat--reports-091848120.html

Zouk gets conditional 3-year extension at Jiak Kim location

By Yahoo! Singapore

By Yahoo! Singapore | Yahoo Newsroom – 

Popular nightclub Zouk will get extra time to source for a new location when its tenancy at Jiak Kim Street expires on 31 December 2014.

According to a statement released by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the duration of the extension depends on when Zouk finds an alternative premises.

If the nightclub can find a new location by 30 June 2015, they will be allowed to remain at Jiak Kim Street up to 31 December 2017.

If Zouk is unable to or chooses not to secure a new location by 30 June 2015, the Jiak Kim Street tenancy expires on 31 December 2015.

Zouk's lease was supposed to end in 2012. However, it received a year of reprieve till June 2013, and another till June 2014.
 
Under the Urban Redevelopment Authority Masterplan for 2014, the area in which the club is located has been zoned for "residential with commercial at 1st Storey".
 
Residents in the area have also complained about the noise caused by party-goers at the club.

In June, Singapore celebrities and radio deejays produced a video as part of a campaign to save the iconic club.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/zouk-gets-extra-time-to-find-new-location-060923882.html