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Drug trafficker who was hanged given every chance to fight sentence: Appeal Court

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Convicted drug trafficker Chijioke Stephen Obioha, who was hanged last Friday, was given every chance to fight his death sentence, including applying for re-sentencing, explained the Court of Appeal in judgement grounds released on Tuesday (Nov 22).

Instead, the Nigerian decided not to be re-sentenced, and launched an 11-hour bid last week to stay the execution by arguing that that the eight years he spent on death row amounted to cruel and inhuman punishment.

Highlighting that this latest argument could have been brought up at earlier hearings over the last year, the Appeal Court said the 11th-hour bid's only purpose was to prevent the carrying out of his sentence, and amounted to an abuse of process.

Read also: Nigerian, Malaysian hanged in Singapore for drug trafficking: CNB

Chijioke, 38, was found guilty and sentenced to death on Dec 30, 2008 for trafficking in 2,604.56g of cannabis here. His appeal was dismissed in 2010. When the review of the mandatory death penalty was conducted between 2011 to 2013, Chijioke was given a stay of execution. For two years after, he was given a chance to be re-sentenced under the new regime which gives judges the discretion not to impose the death penalty.

He repeatedly refused to do until a sudden U-turn in May 2015, after he lost a last-minute bid to overthrow his conviction. After several hearings his re-sentencing, he abruptly withdrew his application in August this year.

On Oct 12, he was informed that his stay of execution would be lifted on Oct 24, and that he had till Oct 21 to show there was a good reason not to. Instead, he filed his latest claim on Nov 16.

Wrote Judge of Appeal Andrew Phang, who sat in the Appeal Court alongside Judge of Appeal Tay Yong Kwang and Judicial Commissioner Hoo Sheau Peng: "A moment's reflection will reveal that, quite apart from there not being any cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment, the applicant has been guilty of an abue of process, as we have already stated."


This article was first published on November 22, 2016.
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Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 09:00
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Changi Airport a high-flier but faces dogfight from Hong Kong

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SINGAPORE sits at one end of four of the world's 10 busiest international air routes, it has been revealed. This boosts the country's aspiration to be Asia's key aviation hub despite the economic downturn.

But experts said Changi faces tough competition from other airports in the region, especially from Hong Kong airport, which features in five of the top 10 routes.

The busiest route, based on last year's passenger numbers, is Hong Kong-Taipei. This is followed by Jakarta-Singapore.

Kuala Lumpur-Singapore, Hong Kong-Singapore and Bangkok-Singapore are also on the top 10 list.

The data compiled by the International Air Transport Association (Iata), which was presented at an industry conference last week, confirms Asia's dominance in global air travel.

All the top routes are flights within the Asia-Pacific.

Changi Airport Group spokesman Ivan Tan said the four cities - Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Bangkok - have been the airport's busiest routes for some time now.

Together, they account for more than a quarter of Changi's total traffic.

He and other experts expect numbers to go up.

This is unfolding as Asia develops and more people are able to afford air travel, especially with the proliferation of budget carriers and cheaper fares.

Alicia Seah, director of public relations and communications at Dynasty Travel, added: "Due to proximity and affordability, Jakarta, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong are top destinations for Singaporeans as well as expatriates residing here looking for short breaks, or meetings and convention venues."

The current global economic uncertainties may, in fact, encourage even more people to take shorter trips as "corporate budgets may be slashed and consumers' confidence is lowered", she went on.

Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, said at the group's annual meeting in Manila last week that Asian airlines will continue to play an important role in shaping the future of the global aviation industry.

Large populations with rising household incomes in China, India and many South-east Asian countries are the driving force behind strong growth in the demand for air travel in the region, he noted.

Singapore is preparing for the growth with plans to open a fourth passenger terminal next year and a third runway by the early 2020s. In the longer term, there are also plans for Terminal 5 which could eventually be bigger than T1, 2 and 3 combined.

karam@sph.com.sg


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Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 07:45
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Boon Lay resident hurt when HDB lift falls and rises unexpectedly

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A 65-YEAR-OLD Boon Lay resident hurt her leg on Nov 15 when the lift in her Boon Lay Housing Board block plunged unexpectedly from the third floor to the ground floor, then rose again to the second floor, Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao reported.

The lift - at Block 207, Boon Lay Place - is currently closed.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said, on Friday, it was alerted to an incident.

BCA engineers, representatives from the West Coast Town Council and the lift contractor visited the site to investigate.

"Based on BCA's investigations, there was an electronic fault that caused the lift to initiate a safety stop between the second and first storey until the lift re-levelled at the second storey," said a BCA spokesman.

The BCA has instructed the town council to work with its lift contractor to do the necessary checks and rectifications to ensure that the issue is resolved.

Patrick Tay, who is the Member of Parliament for the area, said he visited the resident at her home last Thursday after being informed of the incident by the town council that evening.

"In addition to current supervision, audits and checks of lifts in the constituency, I have requested the West Coast Town Council to conduct an additional round of checks of similar lifts across the constituency as a precautionary measure," he added.


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Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 07:49
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4-room Kallang flats draw many applicants

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THE last and largest launch this year of new Housing Board flats kicked off yesterday with a total of 10,118 units and more than 4,100 people applying on Day One.

Analysts expect this launch to be very popular, given the attractive locations of some units.

Of 5,110 Build-To-Order (BTO) units, more than half are in the mature estates of Bedok, Bidadari - a new estate that is part of Toa Payoh - and Kallang/Whampoa. The remaining 2,194 units are in Punggol.

Also on offer are 5,008 balance flats - or flats not sold previously - ranging from two-room flexi units to even executive flats, which are no longer being built.

The preceding three BTO launches this year also included flats in mature estates such as Ang Mo Kio, Tampines and Bidadari. Yet, despite the greater supply, competition for units in mature estates is expected to remain high.

In a Facebook post yesterday, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said: "We are trying our best to provide more options for home buyers. But given limited land and the popularity of projects in these mature areas, we can expect application numbers to exceed the units available."

He encouraged buyers in urgent need of flats to consider non-mature estates instead.

Applications for both BTO and balance flats are open until 11.59pm on Monday.

The next Build-to-Order launch will be in February 2017.

The non-mature estates of Punggol and Woodlands will offer about 1,770 and 170 flats respectively, while the mature estates of Clementi and Tampines will have 1,600 and 620 units up for grabs.

Yesterday's star attractions were the four-room flats in the mature estates of Bidadari and Kallang/Whampoa.

As of 2pm yesterday, there were already 185 applicants vying for the 158 four-room units in Kallang Residences.

This rose to 271 by 5pm.

Four-roomers in Bidadari were also popular, with 481 applicants for 587 units as of 5pm.

The high demand is despite 5,008 flats being offered in a simultaneous Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise.

These balance flats that were not sold in previous exercises are expected to siphon off only a little of the demand for BTO flats, said R'ST Research director Ong Kah Seng.

When the BTO exercise closes on Monday night, PropNex Realty key executive Lim Yong Hock expects four to eight applicants for each unit in mature estates, compared with one to three applicants for each unit in Punggol.

ERA Realty key executive Eugene Lim noted that the projects in the mature estates are close to existing or upcoming MRT stations. Regarding Kallang Residences, Mr Eugene Lim added: "Demand is expected to be overwhelming due to the city fringe location and proximity to the (Kallang) MRT station.

"Many applicants will likely try their luck for a unit as the potential for capital appreciation is very high."

Starting prices for units in the mature towns, before grants, range from $135,000 for a two-room flexi flat in Bedok to $497,000 for a four-roomer in Kallang Residences and $503,000 for a Bedok five-roomer.

janiceh@sph.com.sg

yeosamjo@sph.com.sg

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Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 09:06
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Celeb chef Marco Pierre White to open S'pore eatery

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British celebrity chef and restaurateur Marco Pierre White will be opening a restaurant in Singapore next year.

Called The Old English House, it will be a "restaurant with rooms" in the Robertson Quay area, he told The Straits Times.

Targeted to open in June next year, it will comprise a Western restaurant serving what he calls "simple" dishes such as duck roasted on a spit with orange.

There will be guest rooms above the restaurant, he said.

Most of the dishes will be served in sharing platters instead of individual plates and prices will be kept reasonable, he added. There will be no service charge.

White, 55, owns several restaurants in London, including Kings Road Steakhouse & Grill, and a hotel called The Rudloe Arms in Bath, which is set in 6ha of wooded land with a farm attached.

He also appeared on the reality show MasterChef Australia in 2011, and has been a mentor on the programme for the last three years.

The chef is known for speaking his mind and has a house policy that forbids staff at his restaurants from asking customers how the food is.

His reason is that diners should not be patronised. The Singapore restaurant will have the same policy, he said.

Read also: "Food is now designed for looking, not eating"

ahyoke@sph.com.sg


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Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 09:25
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Man on trial for killing elderly woman over $10k of jewellery

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A 49-year-old Singaporean who needed money urgently to pay for a new flat his wife had bought in Johor allegedly killed the mother of his former employer when she tried to stop him from taking her jewellery worth about $10,000.

On the first day of his trial for culpable homicide with intention to cause death, prosecutors allege that P. Mageswaran had pressed a pillow over Kanne Lactmy's face with one hand, and choked her with his other hand on the morning of Dec 9, 2013.

An autopsy found that the 62-year-old grandmother died from manual strangulation.

The High Court heard Mageswaran used to work for Madam Lactmy's son and joined their family gatherings.

Opening the prosecution's case, Deputy Public Prosecutor Wong Kok Weng said Mageswaran had that morning asked his wife for documents for the new flat purchase, lying that he wanted to use them to convince his employer to lend him money to pay the RM5,000 (S$1,600) deposit.

He then made his way across the Causeway from his rented Johor flat but instead of going to work, he went to Madam Lactmy's flat at Yishun Street 81.

Surveillance footage at the void deck of her block captured him arriving at about 8.35am.

Mageswaran claimed that he asked to borrow $2,000 to $3,000 from her but she replied that she did not have so much money, said the DPP.

Read also: Man and Singaporean son acquitted of killing armed robber in Malaysia

While Madam Lactmy went to brush her teeth in the kitchen toilet, he searched the three bedrooms looking for valuables to steal.

In the master bedroom, he found a box containing jewellery and several pawn shop tickets.

At this point, the woman entered the room and saw him holding the box. She demanded that he return the box of jewellery but Mageswaran pleaded with her to let him take it.

When she said she would be calling her son, he pushed her onto the floor.

He choked and smothered her until she stopped struggling.

He left the flat with the box of jewellery, raising the hood of his jacket to cover his head before heading down the stairs to the void deck.

He was caught on surveillance footage using his hands to shield his face as he walked down the stairs at about 9.35am.

Magesawaran later threw away his jacket and returned to his home in Johor. He pawned the stolen jewellery for RM26,300 and threw away the pawn tickets.

Shortly past noon, a neighbour's domestic worker found Madam Lactmy lying on the bedroom floor. Paramedics found she had no pulse. She was pronounced dead in hospital at 1.30pm.

If convicted of culpable homicide, Mageswaran faces life imprisonment and caning, or up to 20 years' jail, caning or a fine.

Read also: Robbery suspect in Philippines killed while sleeping with his 5-month old baby

selinal@sph.com.sg


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Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 09:30
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Vietnamese couple appeals for donations for premature baby born in S'pore

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A Vietnamese couple staying in Singapore are appealing for donations to relieve the medical costs of their baby son who was born prematurely here.

Stomp contributor Chee Ming alerted Stomp to the couple's plight via e-mail.

Nguyen Van Thang works as a researcher at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and married his wife Hong Thuy a year ago.

She came to Singapore to live with her husband after receiving a Dependent Pass in August while she was pregnant.

The couple had booked tickets to return to Vietnam later this month to prepare for the birth of their first child who was supposed to be due on Valentine's Day next year.

They knew that delivering a baby in Singapore would be expensive.

Read also: KKH lauds premature super babies

Unfortunately, Hong Thuy experienced labour pains and delivered their son early on November 11 at KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

The baby only weighs 1040 grams and needs to be cared for in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for approximately 104 days.

This will set the couple back a whopping $223,000 to $268,000.

They wanted to bring their baby to Vietnam to reduce expenses but were advised by doctors that the plane ride would be risky.

Currently their baby is experiencing brain bleeding, low blood pressure and respiratory distress.

As of November 21 at 11.30pm, the couple have raised $53,935 which is 21 per cent of their $250,000 goal on GoGetFunding.


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Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 11:16
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More than 80 Singapore eateries recognised in Heritage Heroes Awards

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SINGAPORE - More than 80 bakeries, hawker stalls and restaurants have been recognised in this year's Heritage Heroes Awards, which puts the spotlight on time-honoured eateries that preserve local culinary traditions.

Now in its third edition, the annual listing is organised by Slow Food (Singapore), a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to preserving heritage dishes and ingredients, celebrating food culture and traditions, protecting diversity and championing responsible consumption.

New this year is the Heritage Restaurant category, which recognises restaurants that have been whipping up traditional food for at least 30 years.

Fifty-two restaurants have been awarded in this category, and the recipients include Islamic Restaurant in North Bridge Road, which serves briyani; Spring Court Restaurant in Upper Cross Street, which serves Singapore Chinese food; Indian restaurant Ananda Bhavan in Syed Alwi Road; and the Russo-Hainanese Shashlik Restaurant in Orchard Road.

For heritage bakeries and confectioneries, 33 shops have been lauded. They include Chin Mee Chin in East Coast Road and Hainan Xiao Chi in Toa Payoh Lorong 7.

Slow Food (Singapore) is the local outpost of the Slow Food International Association in Italy, which was founded in 1989 by Italian journalist Carlo Petrini.

Mr Daniel Chia, president of Slow Food (Singapore), says: "The Heritage Heroes Awards aim to identify and raise awareness of local food vendors and establishments that prepare Singapore's cherished heritage foods, thus preserving these foods for our current and future generations."


This article was first published on Nov 22, 2016.
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Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 12:08
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Beef rendang, nasi lemak made more convenient

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Convenience stores are raising their game in instant food with fresher choices.

Beef rendang baked rice, salmon with cauliflower quinoa rice and nasi lemak are among ready-to-eat meals that have gone on sale at Cheers and FairPrice Xpress outlets in five Esso service stations from yesterday.

Consumers need only heat up such chilled - not frozen - pre-cooked meals for a minute before tucking in.

And, no, there are no preservatives added.

At convenience store chain 7-Eleven, ready-to-eat meals like braised duck rice, butter chicken briyani and Hainanese chicken rice line store shelves.

By the first quarter of next year, these dishes will replace the current range of frozen meals that need to be thawed.

Caltex petrol kiosks are also in on the action, with the introduction of sandwich vending machines in four of its Star Mart convenience stores.

They also sell beef rendang, chicken rice and claypot rice and pasta.

The interest in ready-to-eat meals is being fuelled, in part, by busy customers. "Today's consumers are time-strapped and this means a greater demand for convenient solutions," said NTUC FairPrice chief executive Seah Kian Peng.

Cheers is FairPrice's convenience store arm. Mr Seah added that market studies have shown the increasing popularity of ready-to-eat meals.

He was speaking yesterday at the launch of a revamped convenience store format for ExxonMobil Asia- Pacific's Esso petrol service stations that features a new ready-to- eat range of products.

The food is from local eateries - such as The Soup Spoon, PastaMania and ice cream shop Udders - supplied by The Common Good Company, a consortium made up of well-known local brands.

The meals are packed in a new type of vacuum skin packaging, which is expected to preserve the flavour and aesthetics of the food, said the consortium's managing director Anna Lim.

She said the food does not contain preservatives and can last for up to six days.

Cheers' refreshed retail format will debut in five Esso stations, including in Holland Road, East Coast Road and Jurong West Avenue 1. It will be rolled out to all 62 stations islandwide over the next two years.

For 7-Eleven, which has more than 400 outlets, besides having ready-to-eat meals replace its frozen food, more outlets are expected to have seats for customers so they can eat at the stores.

7-Eleven Singapore chief executive David Goh said the firm looked to Japan as an example, as well as the consumer-centric nature of the 7-Eleven outlets there.

The change in strategy appears to have helped. So far this year, the firm has seen a 5 per cent to 8 per cent growth in same-store sales over the same period last year, after a steady decline in sales over the past 10 years, said Mr Goh.

He attributed the increase to a widening of offerings to include stationery, groceries, personal care products and ready-to-eat meals.

Mr Peter Anthony Robertson, 53, has taken to these meals. The mixed martial arts instructor said: "I work long hours and the meals are easy to prepare. They taste good and I can store them in my fridge."

The move to ready-to-eat meals is also aligned with the Government's recent food service and retail industry transformation maps, which encourage innovative business formats and technology in those sectors, noted FairPrice.

Another push in the same direction are vending machines that serve hot food - such as seafood horfun - launched in August this year.

Read also: Hot-food vending machines on the rise in Singapore

Mr Denis Ang from Nanyang Polytechnic said that in the past, consumers were sceptical over the nutritional value of packed food. "The adoption of new technology in food handling and food safety has replaced these concerns with optimism, which has since revived demand for cooked ready-to-eat meals in Singapore."


This article was first published on Nov 23, 2016.
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Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 15:00
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Bus driver jailed for negligence, didn't realise he hit woman

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He hit and killed a pedestrian while driving a minibus.

But driver Ong Seng Thiam, now 56, was not aware of the accident at first.

He only realised he had hit Vietnamese national Do Thi Kim Chi, 53, after he heard a metallic sound coming from the bottom of his vehicle.

He got off the bus and saw her lying on the ground near her shopping trolley.

Ong was jailed three weeks and disqualified from driving for five years after pleading guilty to causing a pedestrian's death by performing a negligent act.

He was driving along Delta Avenue at around 8am on July 21 last year when he reached a non-signalised T-junction.

He was turning left into Delta Road towards Lower Delta Road when Ms Do crossed the road in front of him, from his right to his left.

At that time, she was pushing a trolley filled with groceries which included a bottle of milk, fish and vegetables.

FAILED TO KEEP PROPER LOOKOUT

The court heard that he failed to keep a proper lookout while making the turn and hit her.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Teo Lu Jia said Ong was not aware he had collided with Ms Do as he had not seen her at all prior to making the left turn.

Court papers did not mention what exactly made the metallic sound.

After completing the turn, Ong drove forward before stopping on the left side of Delta Road.

When he alighted, he saw Ms Do lying on the ground near her trolley.

An eyewitness, known only as Mr Leow, informed the police.

Ms Do was rushed to the Singapore General Hospital by ambulance and was pronounced dead about three hours later.

She died of multiple injuries.

For causing the death by performing a negligent act, Ong could have been jailed up to two years and fined.


This article was first published on November 23, 2016.
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Thursday, November 24, 2016 - 00:00
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British celebrity chef Marco Pierre White to open restaurant in Singapore

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British celebrity chef and restaurateur Marco Pierre White will be opening a restaurant in Singapore next year.

Called The Old English House, it will be a "restaurant with rooms" in the Robertson Quay area, he told The Straits Times.

Targeted to open in June next year, it will comprise a Western restaurant serving what he calls "simple" dishes such as duck roasted on a spit with orange. There will be guest rooms above the restaurant, he says.

Most of the dishes will be served in sharing platters instead of individual plates and prices will be kept reasonable, he says. And there will be no service charge.

White, 55, owns several restaurants in London, including Kings Road Steakhouse & Grill, and a hotel called The Rudloe Arms in Bath, which is set in 6ha of wooded land with a farm attached.

He also appeared on the reality show Masterchef Australia in 2011, and has been a mentor on the show for the last three years.

The chef is known for speaking his mind and has a house policy that forbids staff at his restaurants from asking customers how the food is. His reason is that diners should not be patronised. The Singapore restaurant will have the same policy, he says.

When he was 33, White became the youngest chef to be awarded three Michelin stars for The Restaurant Marco Pierre White at the former Hyde Park Hotel. But in 1999, he retired from cooking and "returned" his stars.

"I was being judged by people who had less knowledge than me," he tells The Straits Times.

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Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 16:25
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Catch exclusive video shows on AsiaOne and other SPH sites

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Exclusively produced shows on Singapore current affairs, culture, sports, entertainment and lifestyle will be aired on Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) websites and digital platforms such as AsiaOne and Stomp from Friday (Nov 25).

Spanning three to eight minutes each, the programmes will feature local content in English and Mandarin.

The shows come under a partnership between SPH and the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) as part of its pilot Public Service Broadcast (PSB) initiative, said the two organisations in a joint statement today.

The first series, "InstaScram", will debut on Friday and is a fortnightly local travel show that features photo-worthy heritage locations around Singapore inspired by content put up by social media users.

Other anchor series include "AskST", a programme produced in conjunction with The Straits Times' Ask ST initiative that curates and answers readers' questions, and "Why It Matters", a Chinese-language animation series that explains major global issues and trends, and their impact on Singaporeans.

Mr Alan Chan, chief executive officer of SPH, said: "With the digital medium becoming increasingly visual, videos are an important and growing segment of digital content consumption. We are pleased to be working with IMDA to contribute meaningfully to Singapore's PSB media ecosystem."

On the partnership with SPH, Mr Gabriel Lim, IMDA's chief executive said: "The convergence between infocomm and media presents fresh opportunities to showcase and deliver compelling content to a wider, and increasingly digital savvy audience. IMDA is delighted to partner SPH on this initiative to introduce a slate of informative and entertaining PSB content on its digital platforms."

"We hope our collaboration with SPH, known for its strength in factual content, will continue to encourage Singaporeans to watch and appreciate local productions," he added.

English shows:

InstaScram: A socially-networked local travel programme that brings our presenter to "Instagram-worthy" and historical/heritage locations around Singapore. The inspiration for these locations come from Instagram users, and the content will be seeded back into the local Instagram community by crediting idea contributors, as well as being distributed on various social networks.

ST Sessions: A music programme featuring interviews and intimate live performances with local musicians, both established and emerging. International and regional acts will also be curated to appear in at least two shows per season.

Heroes Among Us: Inspiring stories about young Singaporeans who have been tested by hardship and have come up on top. This web-series also showcases youth with talent, those who are different, or those who pursue their convictions.

AskST: Produced in conjunction with ST's Ask ST reader engagement initiative, this series brings the newsroom's seasoned writers in front of the camera to answer readers' questions on health, finance, cars and more. Bridget's Adventures: Join journalist Bridget Tan as she tries out the craziest activities Singaporeans participate in, and if they're not crazy enough, she'll up the ante and take on challenges issued.

Living City: A series featuring some of Singapore's overlooked spaces. The series will feature interviews with long-time residents, business vendors and frequent-visitors of the place. The story will include the history and facts of the living space, and is essentially a short documentary that weaves human stories with the story of the places people dwell in. Locations chosen to be featured need to hold some importance to the collective Singaporean memory and could include those at risk of being demolished or reacquired by the Government.

Mandarin shows: 

The Newsmaker: The series locates past newsmakers and aims to understand how their lives have changed since they have made headline news. Through the series, audiences would also be taken on a journey to revisit major Singapore-related news milestones that these newsmakers were a part of.

Why It Matters: A video animation series explaining major global issues through infographics and illustrations, providing insights into why these issues are relevant in the Singapore context. The series serves both local and overseas Singaporeans with the objective of keeping them well-informed and encourages them to be more outward-looking at the same time.

A Little Somebody: The programme sets out to promote the spirit of learning by featuring young teens aged seven to 12 who are already particularly good in a specific area or who display exceptional passion for an interest in which he/she outperforms his/her peers.

Live Your Dream: The programme aims to promote a positive outlook in life by assisting individuals to achieve a personal dream such as picking up a skill, executing a task or finding a long-lost someone.

chenj@sph.com.sg

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Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 19:18
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Singapore-designed wallet separates coins from notes in a cinch

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It will probably make a cool gift, but you'll probably want one for yourself too.

Here's an amazing Made-in-Singapore wallet that can separate coins from notes in a cinch.

Just tuck the bills and coins into the bill compartment and what's amazing is that the coins will somehow slide into a separate compartment which has a flap to open when you need them.

And there's no danger they will fall out too from the way the wallet is designed.
 

 

Miss Li Xue Lim of Kin Studio is the brain behind the innovative design. She is assisted by two collaborators named Ng Ai Ling and Cheryl on an entrepreneurship support website.

The project, which was launched on Kickstarter.com, saw solid crowd-funding by about 3,050 supporters. More than half are from Singapore, followed by the next biggest group of 218 from America.

After the project was launched on Nov 1, 2016, the funding pledges have exceeded the target of $4,000 by more than 30 times. As of Nov 17, the project has raised more than $125,220.

Although the product is still being refined, there are already orders for it and requests for certain colours too.

If you can wait, the estimated time of delivery is next July.

chenj@sph.com.sg

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Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 22:21
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S'poreans' wanderlust untamed by economy

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THE economy may not be flying but Singaporeans certainly are.

Weaker currencies in some attractive destinations and the lure of catching an amazing spectacle before it fades away have prompted people here to pack their bags and head overseas for a holiday.

As the year draws to a close, travel agencies have reported strong demand for bookings to popular destinations such as Japan, South Korea, Europe and China.

More travellers are also opting for trips to Nordic countries to catch the elusive Northern Lights.

Chan Brothers Travel has seen more than double the bookings to Scandinavia and Iceland this year.

Finland packages are a bestseller at SA Tours.

A spokesman for SA Tours said the spike in demand follows reports that this is the last year to catch the Northern Lights for a while. The next peak of solar activity is not expected till 2025.

The weakened British pound has also driven demand for packages in Britain, said agencies. The Singapore dollar hovered at around 1.77 to the pound on Friday, compared with 2.17 a year ago.

But demand for travel to western Europe has taken a hit after terror attacks in France and Belgium, with more travellers opting for destinations in northern and eastern Europe instead, said Dynasty Travel's director of marketing communications Alicia Seah.

But some agencies said there has been a slowdown in bookings, with more customers going for pocket-friendly options.

SA Tours said bookings have fallen 5 per cent to 10 per cent for the year-end period.

Shannon Hee, a spokesman for ASA Holidays, said more of its customers are "looking for budget- friendly travel packages that will allow them to experience a cool climate and get away from the rainy season in Singapore".

But Zuji Singapore said, despite the slowing economy, the online travel agency has seen a 15 per cent increase in the number of travellers in the first 10 months of this year, compared with the same period last year.

Chief executive Chua Hui Wan said while Bangkok, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo and Taipei are the top five destinations, Singaporeans are also booking trips to less mainstream destinations.

These include Reykjavik in Iceland, Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia and Hamburg in Germany.

Lee Choo Shia, 52, a secretary who is going on a tour to eastern Europe next month, said she had taken advantage of an early-bird promotion to save on fares.

She booked her 10-day trip - which includes stops in Vienna, Austria and Bratislava, Slovakia - for $1,900 in March.

It would have cost over $2,000 otherwise.

"I tend to book early because the packages are cheaper then. The economy may not be doing well but I will still travel.

"At most, I'll cut back on buying branded bags," she added.

mellinjm@sph.com.sg

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With MediShield Life, less rely on Medifund

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THE introduction of MediShield Life and extra subsidies for the Pioneer Generation has led to poorer patients relying less on the Medifund scheme.

Set up in 1993 to help the needy pay for hospital and long-term care, Medifund paid out $155.2 million in its last financial year (FY) ending March 31 - down from $159.3 million the previous year.

This was despite more people seeking help with applications approved rising 9 per cent to nearly 1.1 million.

Chia Shi Lu, head of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health, said the fall in total payouts was anticipated.

Since last November, everyone has come under national health insurance MediShield Life, which subsidises big hospital bills, even for pre-existing conditions.

The Health Ministry (MOH) had also put in additional subsidies for Pioneer Generation patients - on top of the normal subsidies provided at polyclinics and specialist outpatient clinics.

These, said Dr Chia, "act in concert to reduce the remaining amount that patients will have to pay on their own, and this is the part that is covered by Medifund".

MOH added that changes allowing for more funds from Medisave, which is the portion of Central Provident Fund money reserved for medical needs, to be used for chronic conditions and scans have also resulted in less need to rely on Medifund.

From $95 the previous year, Medifund applicants needed only an average of $77 top-up for outpatient bills, according to the latest Medifund annual report.

But Medifund, which last year approved 99.9 per cent of applications, though not all received full assistance, did see one substantial rise.

The amount given to patients in long-term care, such as those in nursing homes, went up by 10 per cent to $26 million last year.

In this sector, only community hospitals are covered by MediShield Life, and if the patient had moved only from a general hospital.

Little has changed in terms of healthcare financing for this sector.

Medifund has a capital sum of $4 billion from the Government. As it is an endowment fund, only income generated can be used.

Even though 2013 and 2014 saw more than 20 per cent increase each year in payouts fuelled by higher healthcare costs and patient numbers, the fund has another $120.3 million.

Dr Chia is happy with the shift in healthcare financing as help from Medifund "may depend on the available coffers and the largesse of the government of the day", he noted.

MediShield Life, on the other hand, "works on risk pooling and is inherently more stable and sustainable, he said, adding: "Certainly, we should still be wary of overconsumption but the current data does not point to this at present."

salma@sph.com.sg


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Man jailed three months for smuggling live birds into Singapore and animal cruelty

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SINGAPORE - A Singaporean man was sentenced to three months in jail for smuggling songbirds in cramped conditions.

Low Seng Hai, 63, illegally imported two Oriental white-eyes or mata puteh, and a zebra dove on May 27.

He was also found guilty of an animal cruelty charge, for subjecting the birds to unnecessary suffering or pain.

The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) was notified by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint of the three live birds on May 27, the agencies said in a joint press release on Wednesday (Nov 23).

The birds were found hidden inside two small pouches under the front passenger console of a car, where they had "hardly any space for movement".

They were also without food and water.

"The birds were transported in a precarious manner," the authorities said.

AVA investigated and confirmed that the birds were imported without an AVA permit.

As part of the investigation, the birds were tested and found to be free from bird flu. They have been successfully rehomed to the Jurong Bird Park.

Importing any animals or live birds without an AVA permit is illegal and carries a maximum fine of $10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to a year.

chuimin@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on Nov 24, 2016.
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Help extended to keep up gains at Primary 1

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A four-year-old programme to help underprivileged children in pre-schools level up has reaped benefits, and is now being extended to ensure that the beneficiaries transition smoothly into Primary 1.

The Circle of Care (CoC) programme, involving 140 children at 10 pre-schools, has social workers and educational therapists working alongside pre-school teachers.

They identify the causes of a child's difficulties and provide help on different fronts.

The scheme, piloted by philanthropic group Lien Foundation and welfare organisation Care Corner, has led to higher rates of school attendance and learning gains among the at-risk children receiving help.

Now, to ensure that the gains do not fade out, the pre-school teachers and social workers, who worked with the children, will collaborate with primary school teachers and counsellors to continue supporting them until they reach Primary 3.

CoC programme manager Lynn Heng said 39 of the 140 children receiving help under the programme are heading to Primary 1 next year.

All the children have progress reports prepared by the pre-school teachers, educational therapists and social workers, which will be shared with the primary schools they are heading to.

Besides detailing the gains that they made in literacy and numeracy skills, it also gives information on other skills that are important for learning, such as their ability to pay attention.

The report, prepared with the children's parents, also gives information on how the parents can be helped to support their child's learning at home.

At two primary schools, Lakeside Primary and Gan Eng Seng Primary, which are receiving 12 of the children next year, the collaboration will be more structured and deeper.

CoC teachers and social workers have already been meeting the teachers and school heads of the two schools since September to share information on the children and look at how various kinds of support can be given to them and their families.

Said Mrs Heng: "Some of them come from difficult home circumstances, it is important that there are various kinds of support in place to enable the family to help the child.

"I have seen some children make good progress in pre-school, only to slide back when they enter Primary 1."

Madam Khafifah, 46, a single mum whose daughter is on the CoC programme, is glad she got to meet the school teacher and principal of Gan Eng Seng Primary last week.

"As a hawker assistant, I don't make much and I work until 9pm every night.

"So, I was glad to hear about all the financial help I can get. The books alone add up to a lot.

"I am also happy that my daughter can go to the student care centre after school hours."

sandra@sph.com.sg


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Dog rescuer charged with kicking and punching Siberian Husky, unlawfully keeping 22 dogs

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SINGAPORE - A 41-year-old dog rescuer who allegedly mistreated a Siberian Husky at his terrace house was on Wednesday (Nov 23) charged with ill-treating an animal.

Alan Chiam Choon San is accused of kicking the dog's body thrice, punching its head once and lifting it into the air by its collar at about 7.05am on May 23, at Loyang Green at Jalan Loyang Besar in Pasir Ris.

He also faces one count of keeping 22 dogs at a place which is not a dog farm, without the permission of the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).

Chiam told the court he intends to plead guilty and wants to engage a lawyer to help mitigate his sentence.

The case will be mentioned again on Dec 28.

Chiam was flamed online after two video clips of him allegedly mistreating a husky went viral on the morning of May 23.

By that evening, one video had garnered over 400,000 views, while the other got more than 225,000 views.

He posted an apology on his Facebook page that afternoon.

In a statement on Wednesday (Nov 23), the AVA said the dog was taken to a vet for a medical examination and is currently being cared for by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

The maximum punishment for ill-treating an animal, for a first conviction, is a fine of up to $15,000 and up to 18 months' jail; and for keeping more than three dogs in a place that is not a dog farm without AVA permission, a fine of up to $5,000.

amirh@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on Nov 23, 2016.
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Joseph Schooling: A bridge between Rio & Singapore

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He glanced to his right, then turned towards the camera flashes and put his foot down.

"This is the last shot, we are going to charge you if want to take some more photos," said Brazil's ambassador to Singapore, Flavio Soares Damico, tongue-in-cheek.

He played host to Singapore's Olympians and Paralympians at his residence off Holland Road last night to commemorate the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the Paralympics.

Sailors Sara Tan, Jovina Choo as well as Yip Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh were among the athletes feted, but it was clear that swimming superstar Joseph Schooling was the main attraction.

Schooling, 21, flashed that trademark megawatt smile for cameras, but Singapore's first Olympic gold medallist could not hide his tired eyes from the ambassador.

With Brazil and Singapore celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations next year, Schooling's victory in the 100m butterfly final in Rio has etched a permanent link between the two countries.

"I was watching Joseph swim that final and win a first gold medal for Singapore, and I thought: God must like me," a smiling Damico told The New Paper.

"That is imprinted in the mind of every Singaporean, and it was done at the Olympics, where athletes come together, regardless of their differences and diverse backgrounds to compete for their country - this is something shared between Brazil and Singapore."

SAMBA BEAT

TNP had earlier reported that the Brazilian Football Association (CBF) is poised to conduct a coaching course here next year as part of the commemoration of 50 years of diplomatic relations, and perhaps Schooling could also play a role.

"We are looking at organising high- level visits and these are among a number of plans that we have to commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations, but we have to get approval from Brasilia first," said Damico, who seems to have found a non-traditional partner in Schooling to aid his cause in building a bigger bridge between Singapore and Brazil.

"In these new modern times, countries have to explore non-traditional partnerships.

"Brazil will look to Asia and, in particular, South-east Asia and Singapore."

"I'll always hold Rio in a special place in my heart," said Schooling.

"Rio was what I was training for (in the lead-up to the Olympics) and it is always on my mind, 100 per cent.

"It was a great feeling flying out of Rio (after winning gold), there was a sense of accomplishment, a sense of relief, excitement too - I was happy the way Rio turned out."

Damico might struggle to pin Schooling down in 2017, though, especially since the 21-year-old is turning his attentions to climbing another summit - breaking the 100m butterfly world record.

The University of Texas undergraduate clocked 50.39 seconds to win the 100m butterfly in August, and his new target is to go below Michael Phelps' world record of 49.82sec.

"It's been pretty hard (being back in Singapore), it was a lot of fun, but it has definitely been tough," said Schooling, who was at one engagement after another since he arrived home last Friday. "I'm ready to go back to the US, get away from all this and start training again."

He leaves for the US tomorrow.

on SPH Brightcove

"This has been fun, don't get me wrong, but my job is to swim, not to do interviews, take pictures and sign autographs. My job is to swim and go to school and get good grades -so that's what I'm going to be doing when I go back."

And Schooling is planning to get that world record the same way he won gold in Rio.

"Just train hard, go back to the drawing board, it's plain old hard work, no secret about that," he said.

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This article was first published on November 24, 2016.
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New tech zone, extra sections at Sitex 2016

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There are times when consumer fairs can feel like an oversized pasar malam or night market.

Not so the annual consumer tech fair, Sitex.

Organised by the Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF) and managed by SingEx Exhibitions, Sitex 2016 will add a new Tech Zone to the three thematic zones introduced last year.

"Consumers are more sophisticated today, and they are looking beyond just the next bargain in a consumer technology show," said SingEx Exhibitions' general manager, Mr Adrian Sng.

Sitex 2015 introduced these thematic zones last year - Smart Home/Smart Living, Adventure IT and Gaming Arena - where exhibition visitors could experience the latest in technology and products.

At Sitex 2016, a new Tech Zone will offer three sections. The first features Pixel Labs by the Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA).

This educational tech area encourages young people to try their hand at such applications as 3-D printing and programmable toys.

The second section is Sitex Innovation Alley 2016 by SiTF. It features young startups with technology innovations ranging from augmented reality to educational tools.

The exhibitors include HeyBuddies, ShopBack and TapKidsApp.

The third and last segment is a Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Intelligent Systems showcase where NTU student teams will demonstrate their latest projects.

This is where you will be able to see their unmanned aerial vehicle or intelligent battle bots in action.

After seeing so much technological innovation in action, you may be tempted to take some gadgets and gizmos home.

And you could win some prizes in the process.

You'll get a lucky draw coupon for every $50 spent in a single receipt at Sitex 2016. The more you spend, the better your chances of winning.

Among the tempting prizes are an Asus ROG gaming laptop (worth $2,898), an LG Smart TV (worth $1,999) and a Mobot e-scooter (worth $1,700). And that's not all.

The popular Ladies Go Tech Instant Lucky Dip promotion is back again this year. Any woman who spends at least $100 in a single receipt gets a chance to win instant prizes such as a SecretLab Omega Gaming Chair (worth $629) or a Nikon DSLR camera (worth $749).

So slip on your most comfy shoes, have your credit cards or cash ready, and get set to scour the show floors to bone up on tech knowledge and scout out the best gadget buys.

Sitex 2016 starts today and ends on Sunday. It is open from 11am to 9pm. Admission is free.

Picks of the Show

  • Jabra Elite Sport
Jabra’s Elite Sport. Photo: Jabra

$368 (available for pre-order); free Jabra Sports Dry Bag (worth $29.90) with every pre-order

Booths 6B07, 6C07 and 6F13

Jabra's Elite Sport is not just a pair of cordless earbuds for you to enjoy music during workouts, it actually monitors your exercising.

Equipped with a heart-rate monitor, the Elite Sport works with the Jabra Sport Life app to track your activity and analyse your fitness.

It even provides you with personalised real-time audio coaching during your workouts.

These waterproof earbuds come with ear gels and wings to ensure optimal fit. A fully charged battery is good for as many as three hours' worth of calls and music.

  • Marbella KR5 Full HD1080P Dual Cam Recorder
Marbella KR5 Full HD1080P Dual Cam Recorder package. Photo: Marbella

$299 (usual price $359); freebies include 32GB SD Card (worth $39.90) and installation voucher (worth $100)

Booth 6D33

Having a dashboard camera or dashcam in your car is good, but having two dashcams is even better.

The Marbella KR5 Full HD1080P Dual Cam Recorder package includes a front camera that can record full high-definition 1080p videos, and a rear camera capable of shooting 720p videos.

This device provide 24-hour surveillance by recording any motion or impact detected around your vehicle. The front camera has a 3.5-inch touchscreen display that allows easy access to all settings from Wi-Fi to battery protection. Its built-in Wi-Fi lets you preview and download footage effortlessly from camera to your smartphone.

  • MyRepublic 1Gbps Fibre Broadband

$49.99 per month (two-year contract); free subscription for the first three months; $250 new router discount and free termination point installation

Booth 5J01

Looking for a new fibre broadband plan? Consider MyRepublic's 24-month contract 1Gbps fibre broadband.

It offers easy video streaming from around the world, thanks to its unique video-streaming optimisation technology.

If you are also buying a new router, the package includes a $250 router discount, plus free termination point installation.

To sweeten the deal even further, MyRepublic will give you three months' subscription free.

Date: Nov 24-27 2016

Venue: Singapore Expo Halls 5 and 6

Time: 11am - 9pm daily

Admission: Free

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Sitex picks: Home
Sitex picks: Mobile


This article was first published on November 24, 2016.
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