The photos were supposed to bring back sweet memories of their big day but made Ms Jaclyn Ying and Mr Kelvin Tang unhappy soon after their wedding instead.

In a post that has become the talk of social media here, Ms Ying, 25, an education executive, recounted on Facebook on Sunday the couple's shock at how badly their wedding photos had turned out.

The 21 wedding photos she put up with her post include those taken at odd angles and processed with odd colour filters. Her post has been shared more than 17,000 times.

Ms Ying said they had signed up for an all-in-one package with a "pretty reputable bridal shop" which included photography on the wedding day.

While she was told that she could not choose her photographer, she was promised that the "standard of the talent pool was consistent" and shown sample photos.

The couple, who had their wedding dinner at The Halia in the Singapore Botanic Gardens on March 26, were shocked after getting their wedding photos last Saturday.

"I was in disbelief. I cried too. A lot," Ms Ying told The Straits Times.

For example, one photo showed the groom posing in a bush at the edge of the photo and featured a black-and-white filter, while the background is filtered green.

Ms Ying and Mr Tang, 32, a court stenographer, paid more than $3,000 for the package, which included outfits, hair and make-up sessions, as well as 10 hours of photography on their wedding day.

"I had expected that the photos would roughly fall within what we wanted - not blurred, well lit, reasonably well edited," said Ms Ying.

While wedding photographers The Straits Times spoke to said photography is subjective, most agreed the photos were not well taken.

Mr Melvin Lau of Multifolds Photography said: "As much as the photographer attempted to be creative in his tilted shots and colour editing, it has not been done tastefully."

Hilarious mishaps in wedding photography

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

facebook

Mr Benny Low of Colliding Luster added: "It is important to look at the actual work of the photographer to understand his eye for photography and his concept."

Ms Ying said they met the photographer only on the morning of the wedding. She added: "He is a really nice guy and we really don't have anything bad to say about his attitude or demeanour."

While the photographer was not named, Mr Chung Siew Goh said yesterday on his Facebook page that he took the photos.

Calling Ms Ying's post unfair, he said he edited more than 900 photos but the couple put up just 20 to express their dissatisfaction. Some netizens also asked if the couple had picked only the unflattering pictures.

In response, Ms Ying said: "We believe that all the photos released so far speak for themselves."

Mr Chung later turned around and apologised to the couple on Facebook last night for the "terrible photos".

Mr Chung, who said he received $350 for the full-day photo job, said he should have removed the 20-odd "bad" photos.

"I sincerely hope you find the remaining 800 plus photos good," he wrote.

The couple are now talking to the bridal shop about compensation.

Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) executive director Seah Seng Choon said non-performance or unsatisfactory performance by a company could be a breach of contract and consumers can ask for compensation. From January to March, Case received 106 complaints of unsatisfactory services, with two against bridal shops.

Surprised by the outpouring of sympathy, Ms Ying said her post was not to "flame-and-shame" the shop or photographer, but to highlight the industry practice where couples on wedding packages cannot choose the photographer.

This article was first published on April 13, 2016.
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A high-profile art gallery owner, who disobeyed four court orders to disclose her assets in a US$1.6 million (S$2.2 million) art deal dispute, was yesterday sentenced to eight weeks in jail for contempt of court.

Judicial Commissioner Edmund Leow said a fine was not sufficient, even though Jasmine Tay has settled the dispute with Indonesian tycoon Tahir, who goes by one name.

He noted that her breaches were serious and she took active steps to "frustrate" the court orders. She suppressed bank statements to hide the fact that she withdrew $3,000 from her OCBC account - a breach of an injunction to freeze her assets.

"Being on the verge of bankruptcy does not give debtors an excuse to disregard court orders," he said.

The jail term was stayed after her lawyer, Mr Dason L., said she intends to appeal.

Ms Tay, 49, who opened Jasmine Fine Art in 1993 and MAD Museum of Art and Design in 2009, was made bankrupt last November by one of her long list of creditors.

Mr Tahir's lawyer, Ms Loh Jien Li, told the court that the police and the Official Assignee, which manages the affairs of bankrupts, have requested some of the documents disclosed in the case.

Ms Tay was sued by Mr Tahir, 63, for the recovery of US$1.6 million which he paid her in 2014 for a sculpture by Colombian artist Fernando Botero.

The deal was called off. Mr Tahir contended that she failed to show the sculpture was being delivered to him. She claimed he backed out after alleging it was a fake.

Mr Tahir lodged a police report against her and also filed a civil suit, which he eventually won after she failed to respond to it.

To enforce the judgment, Mr Tahir applied for Ms Tay to be questioned in court to determine the assets she had available for paying him back. She ignored two court dates and failed to answer a questionnaire about her finances.

After Mr Tahir obtained a Mareva injunction - which stops Ms Tay from disposing of her assets - she was ordered to disclose her assets but she disregarded this.

When Mr Tahir found out she was bankrupt, he took out contempt proceedings against her last December.

In January, Ms Tay finally turned up in court and admitted contempt. The next month, she took the stand to explain why she flouted the court orders, but the judicial commissioner said she could not give any satisfactory explanation.

She eventually disclosed the required information, admitting that she used US$1.4 million from the sum paid by Mr Tahir for "operational expenses for other purchases /deposits and drawings to myself".

This article was first published on April 13, 2016.
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When another airport staff handed him a laptop bag left behind by a passenger on a departing flight in November last year, Mr Haresh Chandran could have just left it at the information counter with other lost-and-found items.

Instead, the Certis Cisco Aviation Security service operations executive, who oversees 150 customer service officers, called a phone number he found in the bag to try and return it.

Mr Haresh, 28, then learnt that the flight the passenger, an Indian national, was on had already departed. The laptop contained documents vital for the passenger's business meeting the next day.

When Mr Haresh found out that sending the bag by courier services would take at least three days, he went beyond the call of duty and flew to Trichy, India, to return it.

To do that, he used $910 he had put aside for his annual prayer trip to India as well as the entry visa he had earlier applied and received for that trip, which he ended up forgoing.

For his kind deed, on top of his consistently good conduct, he won the Gold Award for Outstanding Service Staff of the Year at the Changi Airport's 2016 Annual Airport Celebration held on March 2.

Mr Haresh, who has worked with Changi Airport Group for almost five years, was one of 21 award recipients at the ceremony, 18 of whom were individual award winners.

Some might find flying to India to return the laptop a little extreme, but Mr Haresh has a motto.

"Your daily actions are your daily prayers," he said.

"I can always earn the money back, but I can never get back a chance to help others."

He added: "Sometimes, we do meet rude people, but we also meet good people. The important thing is to just try your best and help people sincerely."

Mr Haresh, who started off as a front-line customer service officer, said he sympathised with the businessman, who said he needed the documents for a final business pitch to a group of investors.

This reminded him of his own family's financial struggles when his father, the main breadwinner of the family, lost his job two years ago, said Mr Haresh.

He added: "We struggled a lot. I can understand how it feels and I don't want another family to go through that."

The Indian businessman was so grateful he invited Mr Haresh to dinner with his family and offered him accommodation.

When he tried to reimburse Mr Haresh for the flight, the latter declined. "It was my decision and I will take responsibility for it," Mr Haresh said.

The laptop bag was among more than 34,000 items received by the airport's lost-and-found department last year. Among them, 40 per cent were returned to their owners. Common items include mobile phones, tablet computers and passports.

Such items are tagged and their descriptions recorded, before being kept for up to 60 days. If nobody claims them, they will be donated to the Singapore Red Cross Society or disposed of if they potentially contain sensitive material.

Another award winner, trolley service officer Wahid Said, was also honoured for his dedication in returning lost-and-found items. He and Mr Haresh each received $1,500 worth of Changi Airport vouchers, a trophy and a certificate.

Mr Wahid had returned numerous items, including wallets, passports and, most notably, a pouch containing A$10,000 (S$10,300).

The 71-year-old, who has worked at Changi Airport for more than eight years, did not even open the pouch before returning it.

When asked why he did so, he said simply: "It is my duty."

This article was first published on April 13, 2016.
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Despite her apology, some netizens continued to doubt Ms Ho Ching's claim that the photo of a monkey appearing to show a rude gesture was the result of her "playing around with Twitter".

The self-proclaimed "Twitter newbie" said that she had been "trying out different buttons, seeing what can or cannot be done".

She then added: "Discovered Twitter posts pictures, without captions, and unfortunately one of the pictures could be misunderstood on its own. Took down as soon as a friend alerted me."

The photo was posted on the same day - April 8 - Dr Lee Wei Ling made accusations about her brother Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

While some netizens accepted Ms Ho's explanation, others questioned if her post was unintentional.

Facebook user Paul Chen said on a comment thread discussing the issue: "Ho Ching, so coincidental that you unintentionally posted this monkey photo at a sensitive time when your sister-in-law (Dr Lee Wei Ling) is having a feud with your husband?

"Don't insult our intelligence."

On Monday night, Ms Ho did several tests to prove how a "Twitter newbie" could re-post a Twitter photo on Facebook, with no indication that the post had first appeared on the former.

We tried it her way. What happened?

Embarrassed apologies to lovers of entertaining political drama but it appears that Ms Ho could have just committed an ill-timed, unintentional Twitter gaffe.

A STEP-BY-STEP EXPLANATION:

STEP 1: Select a tweet that has a photo.

STEP 2: Tap on photo. You will see that the photo pops up on a black background.

STEP 3: Tap and hold the photo. A screen pops up with several avenues to share the photo, including Facebook.

STEP 4: Tap on the Facebook icon. Another screen will pop up with just the photo. Facebook also gives you the option of captioning the photo.

STEP 5: Click 'Post'.

djenn@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 13, 2016.
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There could be less space for parking, which will be more expensive, in future, as Singapore adjusts its policies and norms to be in line with other global cities, said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan in Parliament yesterday.

This was a key part of the "quantum leap" the country needed to make to go car-lite, he said.

In future, developers would also have to submit a "Walking and Cycling plan" for approval, to show their buildings provide safe and convenient access, and infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.

Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo said this would improve accessibility so walking would be a more attractive commuting option. "Sometimes, large plots of privately owned land and buildings can get in the way of a more direct walking route," she said.

In the bigger picture, these measures would help Singapore reduce its reliance on the car.

Mr Khaw also said Singapore needed to rethink its car and parking policies, as it was already housing one million vehicles - a population that was nearing its peak.

"London, Paris and many Japanese cities have introduced car- free days, and reduced carparking norms," he said. "These are measures to help reset their motorists' attitudes towards cars. We should gradually adjust too."

Just a day earlier, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong pointed out that public parking charges in Singapore were lower than in other cities and might have to be raised.

This is the first time that two ministries have made overtures to raise parking charges to curb car use.

Transport expert Henri Blas from global engineering group Aecom felt this was a good move. He said that while it might be expensive to own a car due to the vehicle quota system, the system facilitates use of cars after they are bought.

"If you look at the Central Business District, actual provision of parking is very good and cost of parking is low compared to other cities," he said.

He pointed out that cities like Paris have reduced parking provision by as much as 20 per cent, and this could be reasonable here too.

Mr Khaw also said yesterday that in the next 15 years, the transport landscape would change dramatically, with more active mobility, first-and-last-mile connectivity, on-demand point-to-point transport options and greater pedestrianisation.

He added that learning to drive and owning a car might be a thing of the past, and Singapore needed to prepare for such a future now.

The Japanese have observed a loss of interest in cars among their young and have coined a term - "kuruma banare" or demotorisation - for the phenomenon.

"Indeed, why is there a need to own a car, when you can easily summon up a driverless pod (a small autonomous vehicle) with a few strokes on your mobile?" he said.

"Private cars will likely start to go the way of horse carriages, if not in 15 years, definitely in 20 or 25 years' time... We need to prepare Singapore, Singaporeans and our industries for this brave new world."

This article was first published on April 13, 2016.
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Almost half a year has passed and he still blames himself for his grandson's death last December.

Mr Tan Tiong Him, 66, misses Galen Ong Zi Jie, eight, so much that he will sleep in the boy's room about five times a week.

They were jaywalking across Eu Tong Sen Street at around 7pm on Dec 9 last year when a car hit them. The impact flung Galen to the middle of the road about 10m away.

He died in hospital a few hours later.

"I've always thought I was a responsible grandfather, but now that this had happened, there is no way to turn back time to how things were before," Mr Tan told Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao.

When The New Paper went to his flat at Everton Park yesterday, Mr Tan's wife said he was resting and was too depressed to do another interview.

The slim, soft-spoken woman said the family is still trying to pick up the pieces after the tragedy. She said that her daughter and son-in-law do not blame Mr Tan for their son's death.

REMINDERS

"My daughter and her family emigrated to Australia two weeks ago as they don't want to be reminded of the tragedy any more," Mrs Tan said.

"We still keep in contact via WhatsApp and e-mail. Only my husband and I live in this flat now."

Tears welled in her eyes as she spoke lovingly of Galen.

"We raised him since he was very young. He was a very obedient boy," she said.

Her husband told Lianhe Wanbao that Galen was their eldest grandson and the apple of his eye.

He now carries Galen's photographs with him everywhere so he can feel as if his beloved grandson is always with him.

His toys are still in his bedroom.

Boy, 8, was flung 3m after being hit by car

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Lianhe Wanbao, Lianhe Zaobao, Facebook screengrabs

Pointing to a table filled with toys and photographs, Mr Tan told Wanbao: "These are his favourite toys and I've kept them all. I will sleep in his room whenever I think about him."

He and Galen had gone swimming at Delta Swimming Complex that fateful day and were heading home when the accident occurred.

Mr Tan had decided not to use an overhead bridge about 30m from where they were, near the New Bridge Road Bus Terminal, because he felt climbing the stairs would be too strenuous at his age.

So they crossed at the traffic lights near the bus terminal though it was not a designated pedestrian crossing.

As they were crossing, the lights turned green for oncoming vehicles and they made a run for the other side. But a car driven by student Tan See Woon, 22, crashed into them.

An ambulance took an unconscious Galen to Singapore General Hospital where he was found to have injuries including multiple skull fractures.

He died shortly before 1am the next day.

Mr Tan told Lianhe Wanbao he does not go swimming any more because he does not want to relive the painful memories.

He added: "I thought that if I held his hand, I would be able to protect him. It's all my fault."

tnp@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 13, 2016.
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From July, Singaporeans who are unable to work and support themselves will get more cash as part of their Public Assistance allowance.

A recipient living alone will get $500 per month from July, $50 more than currently. A two-person household will get $870 per month, up from the current $790.

These details were made public during the debate on the Ministry of Social and Family Development's budget yesterday.

"We are aware that the cost of living is high and our low-income households are struggling," Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin told the House.

The increase "is to keep pace with the cost of living", Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Faishal Ibrahim added.

Those on Public Assistance - also known as ComCare Long Term Assistance - are citizens who cannot work due to old age, illness or disability. They also have little or no means of income or family support.

About 3,800 households, many of them elderly, are expected to benefit from the cash allowance increase.

Apart from the cash allowance, Public Assistance includes assistance for recurring expenses such as medical consumables and household appliances, and free medical treatment at public hospitals and polyclinics.

One recipient is Madam Angela Goh, 90, who has no children and lives alone in a one-room rental flat in Ang Mo Kio. She is glad for the raise, saying it will go a long way in helping her to make ends meet.

"I'm happy about it. The $50 increment is enough since I'm alone and don't have to pay for anyone else," she added in Mandarin.

This article was first published on April 13, 2016.
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Singapore - US-based cruise liner Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCL) is on track to venture into China next year with a ship tailor-made for the Chinese market, a company official said Tuesday.

Demand for cruises is rising in China, driven by the country's growing middle class, said Steve Odell, NCL senior vice president and managing director for the Asia Pacific.

About 2.2 million, or 10 per cent, of the 23 million passengers who made cruise trips worldwide in 2014 came from Asia, with this figure only set to rise, industry data showed.

China accounted for about 50 per cent of the cruise trips within Asia that same year, according to the data from the Cruise Lines International Association.

Odell spoke to AFP Tuesday as the firm opened an office in Singapore for the Southeast Asian market, with an eye also on the bigger Chinese pie.

Cruise operators are eager to grab a slice of the Chinese market, which could grow to nearly $10 billion in cruise package sales by 2018 from around $6.8 billion in 2013, according to data from Euromonitor.

In spite of the economic slowdown, NCL is going ahead with plans to launch the Norwegian Joy, a ship tailor-made for the Chinese market which will come into service in next March.

Based at ports in Shanghai and Tianjin, offers on the ship will be geared to Chinese tastes, including more Chinese food options, casinos, mahjong rooms and duty-free shopping.

The 20-deck liner will have a capacity of 3,900 passengers and joins 12 other liners that have homeports in China, nine of them foreign owned.

"If you think of things on the macro scale, there's a lot of confidence that (ships) going to China (are) going to get filled up. What will happen probably is that there'll be a lot more pressure on price than before, but that is normal supply and demand economics," Odell said.

With only about 1.5 million passengers making cruise trips in China last year, the potential is huge, considering the country's population of 1.3 billion, he said.

"We're still in the... infancy of developing a cruise market in China," Odell added.

If you're looking to give your child an insight into adult working life as their playtime, here's your chance.

KidZania Singapore, now open at Sentosa's Palawan beach, offers your child the opportunity to role play as working adults and gain an understanding of how they may want to contribute to society when they grow up.

It has 60 role-playing activities in a kid-sized city that allows children, between the ages of 4 to 17, to work in a hospital, police station or F&B outlet.

The activities aim to help children decide at an early age which profession would be best suited for them.

Every KidZania revolves around the concept of role play for kids but they all have different characteristics that differentiate them. This is largely due to the different sponsors each KidZania has depending on its location.

In Singapore, some local sponsors include Killiney Kopitiam, Kiss92, and Singapore Civil Defence Force.

KidZania opens in Singapore

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

AsiaOne, KidZania

William Edwards, chief executive officer for KidZania said, "We learn from the sponsors here and incorporate what we learn into the design of the city, therefore making every KidZania a different KidZania".

He told AsiaOne at the launch event on April 12, that it is extremely important that KidZania's industry partners bring localised characteristics to their own parks.

This is so that the kids going to the different KidZanias have something new to look at, and are able to participate in other activities that they may not see in their own local cities.

For now, there are plans for Kidzania to expand to India, South Korea, and Vietnam in the near future.

Singapore is predicted to be the flagship in the region for KidZania since it is a hot spot for tourists.

It is also expected to receive more attention since it is about 20 per cent bigger than other KidZania parks - at 7,600 sq m or equivalent to six Olympic-sized swimming pools - and has many unique features such as flight simulators and a museum.

Safety is also one of the top priorities for KidZania. Families and children stepping into KidZania Singapore will be issued wrist tags to ensure that children do not leave the premises unknowingly as the maximum capacity for the premises at any one time is 1,500 people.

Safety features such as specially designed doors are also incorporated into the park's design to ensure a safe and child-friendly experience.

"There was a very high demand in Singapore from parents asking for these kinds of places where their children are able to role play and yet stay safe at the same time," said Xavier Lopez Ancona, president and chief executive officer of Kidzania.

"What we have basically done is to take role-playing and make it more sophisticated for children to play and experiment with," added Mr Lopez.

KidZania Singapore operates seven days a week, with tickets ranging from $25 to $58.

ryanho@sph.com.sg

Remember the age-old belief about coconut water being good for your body?

Well it may just be true.

Being a tropical country, Fiji has an abundance of coconuts throughout the year. So instead of guzzling plain water or isotonic drinks, Fiji's National Rugby team drinks fresh coconut water to stay refreshed during and after trainings.

How lucky!

"We have the green coconuts (young coconuts) after training and the older coconuts before training," said Ben Ryan, head coach of the Fiji National Rugby team, in an interview with AsiaOne.

And who knows? That might have just been the main source of energy which fuelled their recent victory at the Hong Kong leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series (HSBCWRSS).

"Hong Kong was a very draining event over three days so we now need to recuperate, reinvigorate and train again before the match this week," said Mr Ryan.

HSBC World Rugby Seven Series comes to Singapore

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Handout

Currently standing at first place above rugby favourites New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, the Fiji 7s will need to keep their energy levels up in order to defend their HSBCWRSS title this Saturday, when the Singapore leg of the competition kicks off at the National Stadium after a decade-long hiatus.

But before making their way for training today (April 13), the Fiji 7s made a special appearance at the Singapore Changi Airport to celebrate Fiji Airways' inaugural direct flight to Fiji from Singapore which launched last week on April 6.

At the launch, passengers and rugby fans got treated to a meet-and-greet session with the Fiji 7s as well as a pre-game war dance known as the Cibi (pronounced 'thimbi'), performed by the 12-man team.

As part of a month-long 'Changi Rugby Sevens' event at Terminal 3, travellers can expect to view actual game memorabilia such as the Fiji national team's previous winner's trophy as well as try out the new virtual rugby game simulator.

Through the new flight service by Fiji Airways, travellers can also fly to Pacific Islands like Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

An Englishman turned Fijian, head coach Mr Ryan is a celebrity in Fiji as well as a brand ambassador for Fiji Airways. Following on from the World Championship win, there have been songs made aand even babies named after him by the locals.

So we thought it wise to ask the 44-year-old to recommend some places to visit in Fiji.

"There are some nice five-star commercial resorts around Denarau and you would probably like to chill out there and have all your modern comforts," he said.

However if you wish to have an adventure or go somewhere more Fiji centric, then Pacific Harbour would be ideal.

"Pacific Harbour is what you'll expect - palm beaches, coconut trees, beautiful people, great food, and you can try shark diving, snorkelling, golfing or go into the villages as well," he suggested.

The Changi Rugby Sevens exhibition runs till April 29 at the Central Departure Transit area of Terminal 3.

And if you're free this weekend, you can try to catch the Rugby Sevens teams play live at the Singapore National Stadium. Ticket prices range from $2-$150.

mldas@sph.com.sg

Media tycoon Tong Kooi Ong, in yet another salvo in an ongoing suit in the High Court of Singapore, has sought to strike out Swiss national Xavier Justo's reply to the former's defence papers.

The move comes after Justo's lawyer in February dismissed Datuk Tong's defence as groundless.

A closed-door High Court pre-trial conference was held yesterday in the closely watched case. A pre-trial conference before an assistant registrar manages the run-up to the actual High Court hearing, monitoring timelines for documents to be submitted and ruling on interlocutory matters such as striking out actions.

Justo is the former employee of PetroSaudi who allegedly leaked details which led to claims that billions of ringgit were misappropriated at 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), an investment arm of the Malaysian government.

He is suing Mr Tong, the owner of Malaysia's The Edge media group, and two others. He claims that he was never paid the US$2 million (S$2.7 million) promised for two storage drives containing data which he supposedly handed over in Mr Tong's presence at a Fullerton Hotel meeting in February last year.

Along with damages, he wants the items, said to contain data about global oil services firm PetroSaudi and its business partner 1MDB, to be returned and for any copies to be destroyed, according to amended court documents filed by his lawyer Suresh Damodara last November.

Mr Tong, defended by lawyer Doris Chia, argues that Justo is not entitled to the items.

Mr Tong's latest move to strike out a key document by Justo to his defence follows another preliminary bout last December.

That was when he succeeded in persuading the court to order that Justo place a $50,000 deposit as security for costs before the case is allowed to proceed further.

Justo, 48, who worked for PetroSaudi International (UK) as an IT manager until April 2011, is serving a three-year jail term in Thailand for blackmail of his former employer.

The owner and editor of the Sarawak Report, Ms Clare Rewcastle-Brown, though named as a defendant in Justo's suit, told The Straits Times on Monday that she has not been served with court papers in relation to the suit.

This article was first published on April 14, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Cabbies around the world have rallied against ride-hailing apps such as Uber, staging protests in cities from Kuala Lumpur to Buenos Aires.

Their main complaint is that unregulated and unlicensed drivers are competing unfairly with them.

On Tuesday, the Singapore Government announced a set of "light-touch" regulations requiring drivers from services like Uber and GrabCar to be licensed, undergo background checks and medical screenings and register their cars.

The rules, revealed after a six-month review of the sector, have provided clarity on what were grey areas. They are welcome news for commuters who may have once been hesistant to tap an app to order a private car, driven by a non-professional .

By the middle of next year, all Uber and GrabCar drivers will have to display their licences and mark their cars with decals, offering reassurance to passengers that their service is bona fide.

As private entities, Uber and GrabCar have had no access to their drivers' criminal records for background checks. They worked around this by either requiring drivers to make a legal declaration of their criminal history or hiring a third-party screening agency to find out.

This will likely no longer be an issue as the Government plans to license each of the 8,000 to 10,000 private-hire car drivers here.

But the rules, targeted mainly at drivers, only address one cog in the wheel of the Uber business model, which also involves car rental firms and insurers.

Uber and the likes are tech companies responsible for pairing up driver and passenger, and leave the actual business of transportation to third-party independent contractors.

In Singapore, many private-hire car drivers lease vehicles from rental firms, which maintain the cars and insure them commercially. While taxi operators must send their cabs for inspections every six months and maintain fleets that are no older than eight years, the same rules do not apply to rental firms.

Uber and GrabCar said they evaluate the condition of the cars before accepting them for use. After that, it is up to the rental firms to keep them road-worthy.

While all cars used for private chauffeuring must be insured commercially, it is unclear whether they all possess the same level of coverage in terms of protecting passengers or drivers in accidents.

National Taxi Association executive adviser Ang Hin Kee has suggested that the regulations spell out a standard level of insurance coverage, as they do for cab firms.

Along with the new regulations, changes have also been made to the taxi driver vocational licence course, such as shortening it from 60 hours to 25 hours.

This is still more than twice as long as the 10-hour course which has been created for private-hire drivers.

While taxi drivers have to be at least 30 years old and Singaporean, Uber and GrabCar drivers do not have such age restrictions. They can be permanent residents or work-permit holders and only have to possess a driver's licence for two years.

The bar has been lowered and rightfully so, because the bulk of private-hire car drivers - between 60 and 70 per cent, going by industry estimates - are part-timers. But will these disparities make private-hire driving a more attractive proposition than taxi driving?

Uber and GrabCar drivers are free to go onto the roads whenever they please, but cabbies face standards requiring them to clock a certain minimum daily mileage.

Taxi firms are already setting up subsidiaries to run their own private-hire fleets - an indication of where drivers' preferences are swinging towards.

The lines are becoming blurred, and in the age of the GPS and the use of apps to hail a ride, taxi driving seems to be heading towards oblivion.

To remain relevant, taxi driving must be more than just transporting a passenger from Point A to Point B. Customer service, going the extra mile, a good knowledge of routes, and knowing how to skirt traffic jams will become increasingly important in why a customer chooses a taxi.

This article was first published on April 14, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Two weeks ago, lawyer Murali Pillai's team posted a 30-second video on Facebook to introduce him to residents in Bukit Batok.

The video is entirely in Mandarin, and in it, the People's Action Party (PAP) candidate for the upcoming Bukit Batok by-election asks residents to call him "Ah Mu".

Although the 48-year-old is familiar with the area, since he began volunteering there 16 years ago, he said every bit helps him to reach out to the 27,000 voters in the constituency.

But he dismisses the suggestion that the video is prompted by the fact that he is the first Indian PAP candidate since 1988 to vie in a single-seat ward that has a higher proportion of Chinese residents than the national average.

"Friends and colleagues have been calling me Mu for aeons," he told The Straits Times in an interview at a coffee shop last week.

"The issue of reaching out to Singaporeans who do not speak English is not a new one for me."

He has dealt with similar demographics in the Paya Lebar ward of Aljunied GRC, where he contested in September last year as part of a five-man PAP team that narrowly lost to the Workers' Party.

"To be effective community leaders, we need to understand residents well. That's why I've resolved to learn a little bit of Mandarin. I am glad to say I have no shortage of teachers," said Mr Murali, who attended Hwa Chong Junior College.

For PAP leaders looking for a candidate who is familiar with the ground and can reach out to voters, Mr Murali was a natural fit.

By-election battle for Bukit Batok SMC

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The Straits Times, The New Paper, Lianhe Zaoabao, Berita Harian

Before moving to Aljunied GRC in 2012, he was secretary of the Bukit Batok PAP branch for five years from 2007. He also tended to residents when their MP, Dr Ong Chit Chung, died in 2008.

They are again without an MP after Mr David Ong resigned from the post and the party on March 12 over an alleged extramarital affair.

Mr Murali also responded to criticism from some quarters that he is being moved from one hot seat to another.

"I've never really left Bukit Batok," he said.

Mr Murali, who is married to a teacher with whom he has four children, first got involved in grassroots work helping to advise residents on legal matters in Bukit Batok in 2000 and joined the PAP a year later.

"Relationships once forged do not end just because you go to another place. As and when I'm asked to help, I'll help," he said.

Since the announcement of his candidacy on March 21, he has been "re-acquainting" himself with residents, covering at least one to two blocks every night, and making the rounds of markets on weekends.

Residents have been warm to him during these visits. He finds it especially encouraging when some tell him that they remember him from when he served there previously.

He did not want to be drawn into saying how he intended to distinguish himself in Parliament. His opponent, Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan, has said that Mr Murali, if elected, will be no different from the 82 other PAP MPs in Parliament.

Mr Murali's response? Getting to know residents and dealing with their concerns are bigger priorities.

These, in turn, will shape the issues he will raise in Parliament if elected. So far, two stand out: employment opportunities for the retrenched, and helping the elderly age with dignity and as few worries as possible.

"These are not issues I came up with on my own. These are issues that matter to Bukit Batok residents," he said.

This article was first published on April 14, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Decked in red party T-shirts, Dr Chee Soon Juan and his team of volunteers have been down in Bukit Batok almost daily for the past month.

The 53-year-old secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) said his team has knocked on every door in the single-seat constituency as they gear up for a by-election.

And they are going for a second round, he told The Straits Times, as not all residents were home when they went round.

The SDP was the quickest of the opposition parties to stake a claim in the ward, organising a walkabout in the constituency just a day after the PAP announced that Mr David Ong had resigned as MP.

"We are in it to win. We want to make sure that we put in maximum work," Dr Chee said in an interview at his party's Ang Mo Kio headquarters last week.

He is aware of the task ahead. At the 2015 General Election, the SDP's Mr Sadasivam Veriyah won just 26 per cent of the vote. In nearby Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, the four-man SDP team that Dr Chee led won 33 per cent of the vote.

But SDP volunteers recall that at the 1991 General Election, their candidate, Mr Kwan Yue Keng, won over 48 per cent of the vote in the Bukit Batok single seat.

Dr Chee believes it is a plus that this is a by-election. But he still needs to get out and convince residents. This includes talking about how the SDP can manage the town should it win.

"A lot depends on our own fight, our own strategy rather than it being a by-election," he added.

By-election battle for Bukit Batok SMC

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The Straits Times, The New Paper, Lianhe Zaoabao, Berita Harian

Dr Chee's first political contest was in the 1992 Marine Parade by-election. His team got 24 per cent of the vote in a four-way race.

He sat out the 2006 and 2011 elections as he was an undischarged bankrupt, but stood in September last year.

His team relies heavily on technology, live-streaming press conferences and posting videos online. They also use the slogan "Now is the time" and tell residents Dr Chee will be a more useful voice to have in Parliament than another PAP MP.

Dr Chee cited retrenchment concerns and cost of living as the two most pressing issues for residents. He told them that he will raise these issues if he is elected.

He said the SDP will launch programmes to help residents raise their quality of life, and pledged to surpass PAP-run town councils in terms of transparency. He announced a transition team to take over estate matters and form a new town council should he win.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, Berita Harian, Shin Min Daily News

Asked how residents have taken to him, Dr Chee paused, then said that they are generally polite.

But they have complained about rising prices and how Mr Ong initially did not provide a proper explanation to them of why he had resigned.

And what does Dr Chee's family have to say about his latest bid?

"My children said, 'Oh no! Again? Didn't you just have one?'" he said. "But they take it in their stride. I tell them it is always an opportunity to make that difference, even if it is incrementally."

This article was first published on April 14, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

On Tuesday, unwed mothers achieved a measure of relief.

Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin announced that the Government is ready to extend the full 16-week maternity leave to them.

Their children will also have access to a Child Development Account (CDA), a savings scheme meant to pay for childcare and healthcare costs.

These benefits were previously unavailable to unmarried mothers, despite years of campaigning by several MPs and women rights groups such as the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware).

Before, unwed mothers could get only eight weeks of maternity leave, paid for by their employers.

In 2007, the Government said it would give the full 16 weeks - if the women walked down the aisle within a year of giving birth.

Still, for the latest move, the Government made it clear that the benefits are to help children of unwed mothers, not to condone having children out of wedlock.

Said Mr Tan: "I feel that we can do more to support their efforts to care for their children and reduce the disadvantages that their children may face at birth.

These benefits are useful in the child's developmental or caregiving needs. They also support the unwed parent's efforts to provide for the child.

"The extension of these benefits to unwed parents does not undermine parenthood within marriage, which is something that we do encourage and it is still the prevalent social norm."

Unmarried mothers will still not get the Baby Bonus cash gift and parenthood tax rebates that other singles, such as widows and divorcees, receive. They also have to wait until they turn 35 to buy a Housing Board flat under the singles scheme.

While calling Tuesday's announcement a step in the right direction, Aware's programmes and communications senior manager, Ms Jolene Tan, said being a single mother still carries stigma.

Aware is trying to change mindsets. Last month, it launched its most public campaign yet on single parents, whether divorced, widowed or unwed.

Posters have been put up along the North East MRT line, showing single parents with slogans such as: "What makes one mother less than another?"

That is also the key thrust of their video, which is screening at Queensway Shopping Centre, challenging viewers to guess which of the mothers talking about their children are not married.

HOW MUCH TO GIVE

The issue of how much assistance to provide single mothers is not unique to Singapore and vexes even countries like the United States.

The basic argument is that single motherhood is bad for society and for the child. Supporters of the traditional family unit cite studies which show that a two-parent household is better for children.

Those who grow up with only one parent do less well academically and emotionally, partly because they are without the perspective of one gender.

The single-wage family is less financially stable. In America, links have even been drawn between crime and children of single-parent households.

There is also a worry that legitimising single parenthood will add to the erosion of the traditional family unit.

This is a stance the Singapore Government has repeated time and again. In 2010, Mr Vivian Balakrishnan, then Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, said families are a social pillar of Singapore and that its breakdown is a key social issue.

In March last year, Mr Chan Chun Sing, then Minister for Social and Family Development, also said Singapore needs to find a balance between supporting unwed mothers and the policy to support parenthood within marriages.

The Government is still navigating that same tightrope today. As it has always said, the Government can only move as far as society is prepared to.

And it seems that most Singaporeans, while ready to give children of unmarried mothers a leg-up, are reluctant to accept such family structures as the norm.

A survey in 2012 of around 4,650 people by the National Population And Talent Division - part of the Prime Minister's Office - found that 80 per cent of single respondents and 85 per cent of married ones felt only married parents should have children.

Still, most were supportive of Tuesday's announcement. Comments on The Straits Times Facebook page were generally positive, and MP Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC) said "everyone has welcomed the news".

MP Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) did receive some concerns.

He wrote on his Facebook yesterday that he was asked by two of his friends if this will encourage people to not marry. "Another asked if this will lead to more children out of wedlock," he wrote.

But there is also research which shows that it is not the number of parents which count, but the quality of family relationships. A child with parents at each other's throats could have worse developmental outcomes, than one being raised by one parent.

What is most important though, said National University of Singapore (NUS) sociologist Paulin Straughan, is that single mothers often need more support than their married counterparts.

"When the child is raised in a single parent household, there might even be more need to step in, compared with children in intact family households."

While there are no figures for unwed mothers in Singapore, there were 446 babies registered in 2014 - almost a quarter of which were born to women below 19 - without the fathers' names.

In 2013, there were 448 babies registered without their fathers' names.

A DIFFICULT CHOICE

There are still many challenges for unwed mothers, but those who spoke to The Straits Times highlighted three key ones - housing issues, employment and discrimination.

Unlike a divorcee or widow, an unwed mother and her child are not considered a family nucleus, and that means she cannot buy a flat.

The only option is to wait until she turns 35, when she can purchase a flat under the singles scheme.

This means having to rent and may become a financial burden, or living with relatives, sometimes in overcrowded conditions.

"Is that living environment conducive and safe for a newborn child? Do other people living in the house pose a threat to the child?" asked Mrs Jennifer Heng, director of communication and education at DaySpring New Life Centre, which helps pregnant women in need of support.

Housing laws also affect divorced parents, especially low-income ones who had to sell their marital home to pay off housing loans, yet cannot rent a public flat for 30 months.

Employment is another issue.

Logistics executive Charlotte, 39, who asked to be identified by just her first name, had her son two years ago.

She said it is difficult to find a job that pays well enough to support mother and child - and pay for infant care - yet is flexible enough to give her the time to care for her son.

Worse, she experienced discrimination from her friends.

"When I said I was a single mum, I had reactions from disgusted looks to people asking me if the father was already married and why did I not use a condom," she said.

"Just because my ex left us before we got married, instead of after, my child and I get discriminated? It is very important for the Government to treat all parents equally."

Business owner Bibiana Neo, whose son was born a year ago, is glad that the extension of maternity leave will benefit those who come after her.

The 33-year-old, who now runs her own business, but was once in sales and marketing, found it hard to cope with a new baby by herself.

While her bosses allowed her to bring the baby to work or work from home, the demands of child-rearing ate into her performance.

Ms Neo believes she could have stayed in her job if she had been given the full maternity leave and CDA benefits.

"It is not right to separate unwed mothers and mothers who are married. Mothers are still mothers," she said.

WINDS OF CHANGE?

This week's announcement does not indicate a shift in Government policy away from the traditional family, said MP Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC), who has been speaking up for unwed mothers since he entered Parliament in 2006.

But he said it is still a significant move that should not be downplayed. "It was always 'no' before," said Mr Seah.

Asked if he thought Singapore could be ready for more change, he said: "I think sentiments are changing and the next big move could cover housing - that is probably the need, the next most important area.

"Am I saying that I support people to bear children out of wedlock? Of course, I don't.

"But if it so happens this way, we need to do what we can to help the mother and the child."

NUS' Professor Straughan believes that policies will change as long as there are gaps that children of unwed mothers fall into.

"If the Government continues to focus on the well-being of the child, I won't be surprised if more will be done."

Aware also believes that the current changes are not only pragmatic but also "symbolically helpful".

Said Aware's Ms Tan: "This suggests that winds of change are blowing and we are hopeful the Government will review all policies that affect unwed parents."

While the Government's stance towards unwed mothers has not changed, the move to equalise maternity leave could persuade more to see that their children should be helped.

It could also slowly reduce stigma. Said Prof Straughan: "Raising a child in marriage is already so difficult, what more doing so without a father. Equal benefits all around will not shift our focus on marriage."

This article was first published on April 14, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE - Actress Rui En has apologised in a media statement this afternoon (April 14) for the accident on April 12 that attracted much public interest.

She told Lianhe Wanbao this morning (April 14) in an interview: "As I am a public figure, this accident has resulted in public attention and caused inconvenience to everyone. I am sorry for this."

The actress also clarified her "Do you know who I am remark?" that she made to the owner of a bike that she had knocked down in the recent incident.

Speaking on her behalf, her manager said the actress made the remark to assure those at the accident scene that she would not run away from the incident since she is a well-known person.

In the statement issued by Hype Records on her behalf, she admitted her driving was "careless", and apologised to the owner of the parked motorbike she had knocked down. She also wished she had handled the situation with more tact, saying her choice of words used then were "inappropriate".

Read also: Rui En allegedly involved in another accident earlier this year

Rui En knocks down bike in alleged drink-driving accident

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The New Paper, Lianhe Wanbao

Below is Rui En's full statement issued today:

I refer to the recent media reports regarding my involvement in the incident that took place on 12 Apr 2016.

There are various interpretations as to the conversation that took place between the motorcycle owner and myself. To address the context of that conversation, I would like to share what I can without causing any interference to the ongoing investigation.

Tuesday, 12 Apr 2016. I was about to reach home. Upon driving into the open-air car park where I usually park, I misjudged a turn and accidentally knocked over a stationary motorcycle parked directly in front of a kerb. No other driver was involved during the incident.

I was very disappointed with myself for knocking down the motorcycle. My initial intention was to move my car to a traffic-free spot before addressing the matter.

I was subsequently stopped by a man. He continuously knocked on my car window while I was attempting to move my car. I later discovered that the man was the owner of the motorcycle.

I tried to signal to him to allow me to move my car first but he persistently hit my screen and gradually, his knocks got louder.

I got out of my car. I attempted to explain that I would take full responsibility. He probably had the impression that I looked like someone that would run away from the scene.

In my state of anxiety, I told him "Do you know who I am, I live upstairs and won't run"

He appeared to be very angry. I was unsure what I said came out sounding entirely different from what I meant. I was simply trying to convey that I live here, people would know and recognise me if I ran away.

Rui En puts on 4kg to play an 'auntie'

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Shin Min, Lianhe Wanbao, facebook, The New Paper, My Paper, MediaCorp

On hindsight, my choice of words used were inappropriate and I agree that it caused unnecessary misunderstandings. What was said next was a process similar to most traffic incidents.

I offered to compensate for the damages.

I offered him monetary compensation in the form of cash. He was not satisfied with the amount offered and asked for more.

By this time the police has been called in.

I would like to reiterate that it was a judgmental error on my part, there is absolutely no excuse on my careless driving and more importantly, I truly regretted it.

I will also like to take this opportunity to apologise to him for the inconveniences and distress caused.

Looking back I wished I handled the situation with more tact.

I sincerely apologise for the unnecessary inconveniences caused and I thank everyone again for your care and concern.

Yours sincerely

Rui En

Rui En 'black face' at Star Awards draws online brickbats

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The New Paper, Twitter, SGAG, facebook, MediaCorp

chenj@sph.com.sg

Did you know I have something in common with Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat and his predecessor Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam? We all wear glasses. And while the three of us might be literally short-sighted, there's nothing short-sighted about the government's consistent commitment to business growth in Singapore.

And the maiden Budget speech that Mr Heng gave last month echoed the Budget speeches of his predecessor DPM Tharman, in that he continues to recognise the importance of supporting small and medium enterprises in Singapore. Measures to strengthen local industries, such as the creation of new industrial spaces to cluster companies within the same industry and support to Trade Associations and Chambers to strengthen their capabilities and drive industry-wide solutions to common challenges were announced.

SMEs stand to benefit from having greater industry support as well as a more competitive industry. SMEs also enjoy financial support from a wide range of measures such as grants and tax rebates. But too often, it's not clear what measures are available for businesses, or whether you're eligible for them. Well, we've done the legwork for you.

Regardless of where your company is on your enterprise journey, here is what Budget 2016 has for you:

1. What Budget 2016 means to fresh start-ups

The first step to getting help is knowing what help is actually available. Mr Heng admitted that although there's a range of incentives schemes, some firms may often be confused as to which applies to them, or which agency is relevant to their interests.

Hopefully, this problem will be solved with a new Business Grants Portal, expected in the fourth quarter of 2016, as a centralised source of information on all grants available from government agencies. Through the Portal, SMEs should be better equipped to tap on the various financial aid available at different stages of their development.

In addition to the grants, the government is introducing an SME Working Capital Loan scheme for an initial period of 3 years, which lends up to $300,000 for each SME. This is especially useful for an SME starting out, when cashflow issues are a major problem. The government will co-share half of the default risk with participating financial institutions. This announcement comes on the heels of DBS's announcement that they are the first bank in Singapore to offer SMEs bridging loans, which are collateral-free and have preferential interest rates.

However, start-ups also need to be aware that the cash payout rate under the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) scheme will be reduced from 60 per cent to 40 per cent for expenditures incurred on or after 1 August 2016, and the PIC scheme will expire after the Year of Assessment 2018. According to Mr Heng, this move is to shift away from broad-based support to more targeted measures. The implication is clear - firms cannot just do their own thing and expect the government to subsidise you. If you want state aid, you're going to have to move in the same direction that the most competitive firms are going. Ultimately, however, this stands to benefit the company as it is somewhat of a partnership towards improving the performance of the company overall.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times

2. What Budget 2016 means to start-ups looking to grow and scale-up

"Increase productivity, scale up and internationalise" became quite the catchphrase for Mr Heng during his Budget speech. But he's also putting his money where his mouth is - literally, and most of the announcements will benefit companies looking to scale up in the next few years.

It's 2016, we're a year AFTER the future in Back to the Future, and Mr Heng knows it. Recognising that companies will only move towards automation if there are subsidies behind it, he has announced a new Automation Support Package. This is a combination of measures that includes a grant of up to $1 million that funds up to 50 per cent of the automation project costs, a 100 per cent Investment Allowance for approved capital expenditure, better access to loans for qualifying projects by SMEs, and assistance for such firms to enter overseas markets.

Needless to say, if your firm can take advantage of this Automation Support Package, you should. It's expected to provide support of over $400 million over the next 3 years.

If your company is not thinking of automation but looking at growing the business at this point, there are other avenues to support you in your endeavour. First, Mr Heng announced that another $50 million has been added to the SME Mezzanine Growth Fund, bringing it to $150 million. Introduced in Budget 2014 to help SMEs obtain more flexible funding, the additional funding will provide more capital to support SMEs in growing their business locally and internationally.

Second, SMEs seeking opportunity to grow via acquisitions can also get more support for their mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals. The value of qualifying deals eligible for M&A allowance has been raised from $20 million to $40 million. This means that companies can now enjoy up to $10 million of M&A tax allowances per Year of Assessment (25 per cent of the value of the deal) instead of $5 million. This move will hopefully encourage larger SMEs to cast the net wider when looking to acquire other companies with the higher tax savings.

There's also good news in the form of an increased Corporate Income Tax rebate, from 30 per cent to 50 per cent of tax payable with a cap of $20,000 rebate per year for the Years of Assessment 2016 and 2017. With this increased Corporate Income Tax rebate, grants and a slew of other ways to manage the tax costs such as through tax deductions and allowances, a smart SME owner has the opportunity to sit down and think through how the company can maximise the value from these measures. With the additional cash flow from the tax savings, you can use it to fund your business expansion plan.

In addition, the Special Employment Credit scheme has been adjusted and extended for another three years. This extension will help to defray the costs of hiring workers aged 55 and above and paid up to $4,000 a month. In fact, companies hiring Singaporeans aged 65 and above can currently have their wage costs be defrayed by up to 11 per cent of their monthly wage till the re-employment age is raised in 2017. If you are scaling up your business and the work can be performed by older workers, there really is no reason not to give this a shot. Not only will you be able to leverage on their rich work experience, you can also keep your cost down even as you grow your business.

3. What Budget 2016 means for companies looking to go international

Once your business has reached a certain level in Singapore, it's time to look to expansion overseas where the markets are significantly larger. To that end, Mr Heng also announced several measures to help. Some initiatives such as the Global Company Partnership and Market Readiness Assistance programmes can help to prepare SMEs for what might seem like a daunting and costly task, reducing the perceived risks companies might envision before taking a jump overseas.

Speaking of taxes, the Double Tax Deduction for Internationalisation has been extended by another four years to 31 March 2020. This allowed companies to claim 200 per cent tax deduction on items like airfare, hotel accommodation for overseas business development and investment study trips, and even salaries of Singaporeans posted overseas.

So no matter what stage your company is at, Budget 2016 has something for you. Seen in the light of existing schemes and programmes from previous Budget announcements, it's clear that there is now a specific direction that the government is encouraging firms of all sizes to move towards - towards greater innovation, internationalisation, and enterprise. SMEs should take advantage of this to restructure accordingly and maximise the benefits available to them.

This article first appeared on MoneySmart

MoneySmart.sg is Singapore’s leading personal finance portal, and aims to help people maximise their money with powerful tools and engaging content.

Signapore - Good news for Captain America fans!

The highly-anticipated blockbuster 'Captain America: Civil War' in the Marvel series will see its Southeast Asia premiere in Singapore on April 21. Not only that, fans can meet the stars of the movie at the occasion.

Actors Chris Evans (Captain America), Sebastian Stan Winter Soldier), Anthony Mackie (Avenger The Falcon) and film director Joe Russo will show up at premiere host Marina Bay Sands' Skating Rink to meet fans.

The movie will premiere at the MasterCard Theatres on April 21, a short walk away from the rink.

Also invited to meet the 'action heroes' are 25 beneficiaries from the integrated resort's designated charities.

Hot Toys, a high-end collectible figures company, will be presenting life-size collectibles of the two leaders of the opposing factions in the movie: Captain America and Iron Man Mark XLVI.

Two life-size statues will be showcased at the Marvel Civil War Festival, a four-day event at the Event Plaza at Marina Bay Sands starting from April 21.

More dazzling action continues on April 22, when a special #TeamCap Lights & Fireworks show will light up the Marina Bay. Catch the display from 8pm at the Helix Bridge or at the open area outside the ArtScience Museum.

Those attending the 'blue carpet' event on April 21 are advised to take public transport to avoid getting caught in expected traffic jams in the area.

Marvel's Captain America: Civil War opens in Singapore theatres on April 28.

chenj@sph.com.sg

Beware of Ray-Ban ads on Facebook.

Crooks are luring social network users to visit bogus Ray-Ban e-shops to buy 'heavily discounted' sunglasses, but their main intention is to steal their personal and payment information.

Sounding the alert, ESET, a company dealing in cybersecurity solutions, said the Facebook scam targets Chinese language users of the popular social networking website.

The company said in a media statement: "Spam ads, promoting fake Ray-Ban sunglasses with discounts as high as 90 per cent, are spread via hacked Facebook accounts that attackers have taken control of using malware and social engineering tactics. Subsequently, attackers post pictures and ads via individual Facebook accounts without the owner's consent.

"Victims that fall for the scam and click on these ads are taken to fraudulent websites where they can make a purchase."

Besides the possibility of losing money on counterfeit goods, the victims' payment card details may also be at risk as the transactions run via bogus sites rather than secure payment portals.

This allows their credit card details to travel unencrypted across the Internet before being sent to the attacker's server in plain text, thus allowing them to use these details in the future.

ESET said the fraudulent websites are available in different language mutations, notably Chinese and English. However, users in countries such as the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic, Chile, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom are also targeted.

Most of these fraudulent websites are also situated in China and use a similar design, according to ESET. Many of them are newly-created domains registered only this year, showing that the scam is still very prevalent, despite being around for a number of years.

More details about the scam, as well as ESET's recommendations on how to avoid falling victim to it, can be found in an article on ESET's official blog,WeLiveSecurity.com.

chenj@sph.com.sg

Singapore - Four persons have become instant millionaires after winning nearly $2 million each in the Toto draw this evening - that is if they were not millionaires before getting their stroke of luck.

Announcing the Group 1 prize payout of about $7.8 million, Singapore Pools said four winning shares would be entitled to $1.967 million each.

The winning numbers were 3, 4, 19, 26, 28 and 34, with 30 as the extra number.

On Monday (April 11), no one won the Group 1 prize worth $4.6 million. There were also no Group 1 prize winners for both the draws last week.

The last Group 1 prize which was awarded saw one winner walking away with $2.6 million in the March 31 draw.

Who wants to be a millionaire? Next Monday's draw (April 18) offers an estimated $1 million prize.

chenj@sph.com.sg

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Google Maps, The Straits Times, The New Paper, Shin Min Daily News, PoMo, Stomp