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Shops reopen, flights resume at Changi Airport Terminal 2 after fire


Changi Airport T2 fire: CAG to conduct detailed after-action review

Fire at I12 Katong mall is under control; no casualties reported

Photos: I12 Katong Mall cordoned off after fire breaks out

20 cents for a massage, 60 cents for instant noodles: Peacehaven nursing home residents 'earn' and 'spend' on activities

Singapore biologist captures never-before-seen cannibal 'T-Rex' ants

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An ant named after the fierce, carnivorous dinosaur Tyrannosaurus rex has recently been discovered in Singapore by biologists Mark Wong and Gordon Yong. They stumbled across an entire colony of it while doing an ant diversity survey in a forested area in Mandai.

According to National Geographic, the Tyrannomyrmex rex (T. rex for short) had eluded scientists since 2003, when entomologist Fernando Fernandez revealed that a single dead ant from Malaysia represented a never-before-seen ant genus.

The ant's tiny jaws reminded Fernandez of the stubby arms of Tyrannosaurus rex and other carnivorous dinosaurs, hence its name.

They say that in the years since, only a handful of Tyrannomyrmex ants have been found in India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and probably the Philippines, all of them deceased and incidentally collected from leaf litter.

Wong explained to Gizmodo the reason behind its naming, "Tyrannomyrmex would actually translate into "tyrant ant" (Tyranno is Latin for "tyrant"; myrmex is Greek for "ant").

Despite being named after a pre-historic savage carnivorous killing machine, the ants are actually shy and reserved. This probably contributes to why these ants are so difficult to find in the first place.

Both scientists collected an entire live colony and observed them for 10 days. The colony consisted of 13 adult workers, two worker pupae, one male pupa, nine larvae and five eggs, according to Live Science.

The male pupa was unfortunately eaten up when he turned into an adult, but it is something "not unheard of", Wong told LiveScience.

In an experiment in which Wong tried to determine the ants' diet, he found out that they pretty much run away from anything.

He was quoted by National Geographic as saying, "I had a good laugh when I saw them respond in this manner to little millipedes, mites, smaller ants, and basically whatever prey I tried to offer them. They wouldn't even get close to honey-and only gently prodded [a] honey droplet with their antennae."

Below is the footage of the ants that Wong has provided to National Geographic.

They are found to be picky eaters, and can resort to cannibalism if needed. During the captivity, one of the male pupa emerged as an adult, but the other ants immediately ate him. Wong told Live Science that it was "unfortunate", but not unheard of.

After the experiment, the ants are euthanised and preserved for further studies. Both scientist had gone back to Mandai to collect more samples, but to no avail. However, Wong remains positive.

"It's a pretty exciting time to be an ant scientist who enjoys 'scraping it out' in the dirt," he told National Geographic.

akosasi@sph.com.sg

 

Thursday, May 18, 2017 - 16:44
This fierce-looking 'T-Rex' ant is found in Singapore
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NDP 2017 tickets application opens from May 23

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SINGAPORE - This year's National Day Parade (NDP) 2017 makes a comeback to the Float @ Marina Bay. 

Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents can apply for tickets to the two previews and the actual day from May 23 to June 4, 2017.

Applicants can choose to apply for two, four or six tickets to Preview 1 on July 22, 2017, Preview 2 on July 29, 2017, or NDP on Aug 9, 2017.

Applicants should note that the fewer the number of tickets applied for, the higher the chances of obtaining them, according to Mindef.

Successful applicants will be notified from June 26 to July 3, 2017 via the contact number provided in their application.

Those successful may collect their tickets from July 7-9 and 14-16, 2017, between 10am and 9pm, at the National Gallery Singapore, Basement 1, The Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium Foyer.

There will be three ways to apply: via SMS, through the official NDP website or by visiting any SAM or AXS stations.

Each NRIC holder will only be able to submit one application, regardless of which method they apply for.

For more information, click here.

akosasi@sph.com.sg

 

 

Thursday, May 18, 2017 - 15:41
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Nearly 9,000 BTO and balance flats for sale in May launch

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SINGAPORE - Over 8,700 flats were launched for sale on Thursday (May 18) under the Build-To-Order (BTO) and sale of balance flats exercise, the Housing Development Board (HDB) announced in a press release.

More than half of the flats are being made available under the BTO exercise, with 4,802 flats in Woodlands, Yishun, Bidadari (Toa Payoh) and Geylang. This is the second BTO launch of the year.

The flats are priced from $73,000 for a two-room Flexi in Woodlands, to $622,000 for a Three-Generation (3Gen) flat in Bidadari.

Prices of BTO flats available in the May 2017 launch.

For couples who wish to live with their parents, 3Gen flats have been launched at Marsiling Grove and Woodleigh Hillside.

In addition, 3,946 balance flats will also be up for sale in 11 non-mature towns and 14 mature towns and estates.

Majority of these balance flats are reserved for first-time family applicants, and prices range from $73,000 for a two-room Flexi in a non-mature town to $480,000 for an executive flat in a mature town.

Prices of balance flats available in the May 2017 launch.

About 48 per cent of the balance flats are already completed and the rest are under construction.

The Deferred Downpayment Scheme, which aims to ease cash flow for senior citizens planning to "right size" their homes, is also being implemented starting from this sales exercise.

Flat owners, aged 55 years and above, who purchase an uncompleted two-room Flexi or three-room flat under this scheme can defer the downpayment on their new flat until they collect their keys.

Application for the new flats can be submitted on HDB InfoWEB from May 18 to May 24.

Applicants can only apply for one type of flat in one town. They can also check their loan eligibility and apply for a letter at http://www.hdb.gov.sg/hleapply.

In a Facebook post, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong encouraged homebuyers who are flexible with location to consider applying for flats in non-mature estates such as Woodlands or Yishun, as the mature estates of Bidadari and Geylang would "tend to be more popular and the application rates higher".

on Facebook

The Housing & Development Board has just launched new flats for sale - close to 5,000 BTO flats, along with another...

Posted by Lawrence Wong on Wednesday, 17 May 2017

Today's launch brings the total number of flats put up for sale in the first half of this year to 12,804.

The next launch of BTO flats will be in August, where about 3,850 flats in Bukit Batok and Seng Kang will be offered, said HDB.

pariel@sph.com.sg

Thursday, May 18, 2017 - 16:32
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Singaporean goes on 800km Mongolia trek to raise $10k for cancer patients

Man and woman found dead at Marsiling, man at foot of block and woman in HDB flat

NS50 Recognition vouchers can be used at over 6,000 outlets

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SINGAPORE - National servicemen have a reason to rejoice!

To commemorate 50 years of National Service, every former and current NSman will be given an NS50 Recognition package by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The package will consist of $100 worth of NS50 vouchers, a year of complimentary SAFRA or HomeTeamNS membership and a complimentary five-year PAssion Card membership.

Photo: MINDEF

Vouchers are valid until Dec 31, 2018 and can be used to book facilities, register for activities and extend memberships at all SAFRA and HomeTeamNS clubs.

In addition to the one-year complimentary membership, SAFRA and HomeTeamNS will offer a complimentary 2-year extension to those who purchase another one-year by June 30, 2018. In total, servicemen will be able to enjoy a four-year SAFRA or HomeTeamNS membership.

According to the release by MINDEF, vouchers can also be used at over 6,000 participating merchant outlets islandwide including supermarkets such as NTUC Fairprice and restaurants such as Sakae Sushi and BreadTalk.

Photo: MINDEF

Similar to the NS45 SAFRA and HomeTeamNS Benefits, more than one million of these NS50 packages will be distributed to former and current NSmen in phases.

From mid-May, existing SAFRA or HomeTeamNS members who are eligible will receive their packages by mail. Non-members will receive notification letters with information on the registration process for their NS50 packages starting from mid-July.

Those from the SAF or HomeTeam may register online at the SAFRA or HomeTeamNS redemption portals for their packages. Registration portals will remain open until June 30, 2018 and packages can be expected to arrive four to eight weeks after registration.

More details of the NS50 recognition package can be found at the MINDEF, SAFRA or HomeTeamNS webpage.

ljoey@sph.com.sg

Thursday, May 18, 2017 - 18:18
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Luxury, disruption and the exotic in BT Weekend

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RED hot Chile pleasures are on the menu in the Weekend magazine as we visit the South American country that's thin in size but bursting with rich heritage, culture and stunning landscapes.

And if you're still hungry, check out the restaurant Brae, currently the hottest restaurant in Australia that offers fine cuisine in a luxury farmhouse setting.

We also bring you the highlights of the Milan Furniture Fair and test drive the new Infiniti Q60 coupe.

Over in retail, the worlds of the digital and the physical are colliding. Find out what brick-and-mortar stores are doing as e-commerce looms large on the shopping landscape, in this week's Brunch feature.

In Sass and the City, we look at why WannaCry's accidental hero bears lessons for Singapore's education system, while Music to My Ears introduces you to the pleasures of Mike Oldfield's latest offering.

Further afield, Disrupted tours the Microsoft Campus in Hyderabad, and discovers how it is a haven for technologists looking to create disruptive technologies.

If you have had your fill of disruption, take some comfort in this week's Cubicle Files. Sure, coding, analytics and robotics may be some of the hottest skills right now, but not everyone needs to code and that's okay. We find out how workers can go back to basics to add value to their work.

To subscribe, visit btsub.sg/weekend

Friday, May 19, 2017 - 09:00
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Woman had 'died from fear', claimed Bangladeshi on trial for abduction and rape

Bangladeshi man sentenced to 17 years' jail and 24 strokes for rape at MacRitchie Reservoir

Tiong Bahru market reopens tomorrow after 3-month revamp


oBikes have been found in secluded Coney Island, even a hospital: Employee

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Since Singapore's homegrown bike sharing initiative, oBike, launched in April, it has seen its bicycles the subject of misuse and indiscriminate parking.

In a video by Lianhe Zaobao, a reporter followed an oBike employee, Cai Jia Hui, for a day on his mission to return improperly-parked bicycles to their designated parking areas. 

According to Mr Cai, the company's bike repair team sets out everyday to collect the indiscriminately parked bicycles, and make relevant repairs to damaged bikes when needed. 

They are usually notified by users on the app or the authorites as to the location of these bikes, and cover more than 10 locations a day, said Mr Cai. 

After unlocking the bicycles, Mr Cai loads them onto his van. He will also take a photo of the location and send the data back to the company headquarters to notify them that the bike has been removed.

Mr Cai also revealed that he has also been to places as far-flung as Coney Island to collect a bike, and has also unexpectedly picked up another bike at a hospital.

But more often than not, the bikes are usually improperly parked at bus stops, pavements and parks, even if there are designated parking areas nearby.

Mr Cai has also picked up bikes abandoned on the road that he spotted while driving to another location.

Apart from bikes not being returned to their parking spaces, mistreatment of bikes have also been reported, with photos and videos of damaged bikes circulated on the internet.

When it comes to bikes that have been 'used and abused', Mr Cai will first assess the damage and repair it on the spot if possible. If they are beyond repair, they will be returned to the warehouse.

Bicycles from bike-sharing initiatives found in the strangest places

oBike has taken steps to prevent the prevalent misuse of their bikes, implementing a community-policing scoring system in their app last month (April 13). 

Newly registered users would start with 100 points, with deductions made whenever a user parks a bike at an undesignated area. Rental cost will also increase, the lower the score.

At zero points, the user would not be able to use the service.

Created with good intentions, bike sharing initiatives were headed for the convenience and benefit of the community.

However, cases of misuse have instead brought inconvenience to many, cluttering public spaces and obstructing pathways, showing how irresponsible and inconsiderate some people can be. 

 

ongymm@sph.com.sg 

Friday, May 19, 2017 - 13:22

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Do you think it is acceptable for a child to be caned in public?

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Some parents are of the view that caning is an effective means of punishment for children. While that opinion is an acceptable one, questions have to be asked about whether it is appropriate for caning to be done in public.

Stomp contributor Sharan sent Stomp a video showing a man and a woman believed to be parents caning their daughter at the foot of Block 410 in Jurong West on May 16 at around 6.30pm.

In the video, the woman who was holding a cane, can be seen standing with her daughter over a school bag and some books that had been thrown on the ground.

Her daughter was crying and pleading with her. She can be heard saying 'I don't want' in Mandarin multiple times.

At one point, the woman can be seen tearing up a piece of paper.

Later in the video, the man who was holding on to another cane emerged. He hit the girl on her leg with the cane four times.

Thereafter, the girl was instructed to pick up her bag and books that were on the ground as the adults stood nearby.

Towards the end of the video, she still can be heard wailing as she was told to go into a car.

It is unclear what happened thereafter.

Said the Stomp contributor with regard to what she saw: "The child looked to be like she was a Primary two or three student."

"I think this is quite distressing for her. I hope she does not continue to get caned at home."

 
Friday, May 19, 2017 - 15:40

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Former assistant 'Miss H' accused of misappropriating funds sues Edmund Chen for defamation

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'Miss H', former assistant to local celebrity Edmund Chen has sued the star for defamation.

Chen had accused his 'goddaughter', Miss H, of cheating him and his wife out of almost S$10,000, capitalising on his reputation and sabotaging client relations.

Miss H, on the other hand, has denied all allegations, saying that she had never used Chen's money or reputation for her own benefits after working relationship between the two ended, reports Lianhe Wanbao via Lianhe Zaobao.

She also denied having ever been Cheng and his wife's 'goddaughter'.

Miss H told reporters on Wednesday (May 17) morning that she had taken to court to sue Edmund Chen for defamation.

She said: "I have already appointed my legal counsel and will sue Edmund Chen for the various points of defamation which he had brought up."

Miss H also said that in the interest of the clients and herself, she had to take legal action to uncover the truth, and protect her own reputation.

Chen had said during an interview on April 11, 2017, that he had gotten to know Miss H at the end of 2016, and that she had harboured ill agendas, intentionally getting close to his family before asking them for money to finance her air ticket and accommodation on a trip to Hong Kong.

On April 12, Miss H responded to the accusation, saying that she did not have an agenda and that she had never take on jobs using Chen's reputation.

She also emphasised that she wasn't the star's 'goddaughter'.

Miss H said during the time of interview: "Edmund Chen casted aspersions on my conduct online before I had the chance to defend myself in front of the press."

"This constitutes defamation."

"I don't know why he is doing this."

Friday, May 19, 2017 - 15:54
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Tay Ping Hui: I was a fat kid

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SINGAPORE - Everyone has a past and actor Tay Ping Hui is not afraid to talk about it. 

When he was 12, he measured 32 inches around the waist and weighed about 60kg. 

He was slightly overweight then and had self-esteem issues too. 

While the 46-year-old celebrity did not elaborate on that, one thing was for sure - he was determined to shed the excess weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle. 

“When I was in primary school, I was actually a fat kid. I consumed too much junk food that was easily available to us," Tay shared.

So when he was in Sec 1, the actor began to monitor his food intake and exercise a lot, the actor told AsiaOne at an event at Raffles' Girls Primary School on Friday (May 19). 

Tay was present at the school for a canteen takover by Jamie's Italian in support of Food Revolution, a campaign aimed at combating child obesity and celebrating the importance of eating well. 

As early as 6.30am, staff from Jamie's Italian began food preparations to feed 1,800 students from the school. 

Photo: AsiaOne, Alvin Kosasi

Students were each treated to a pasta dish with a 'secret seven' sauce and some fruit. 

A banner of Food Revolution 2017 in the school canteen.Photo: AsiaOne, Alvin Kosasi

"We're eating a lot of processed food (and) foods that are very high in sugar and fats. So I think it would be good for Food Revolution to introduce to students that good-tasting food can also be natural and good for us," Tay said. 

It is no secret that young kids do not like to eat vegetables and it often requires a tremendous amount of effort to make them eat their veggies.

Revealing that the 'secret seven' sauce is made up of seven types of vegetables, Tay shared that by incorporating vegetables into something palatable like the pasta, children would be able to eat vegetables with fiber and all the nutrients in them, without being fully aware of it.

The 'secret seven' sauce pasta.Photo: AsiaOne, Alvin Kosasi
The pasta is served with fruit slices and oven-baked chicken breast.Photo: AsiaOne, Alvin Kosasi

How is it done? The actor, who is also an avid cook, shows just how the pasta is prepared on his twitter account.

 

So does Tay still have char kway teow these days? He does, but "as long as it is not too often".

akosasi@sph.com.sg

Friday, May 19, 2017 - 15:47
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Facebook video likens smell of durian to feet, not everyone is happy about it

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Durian season is just around the corner and once again, the king of fruits has proven divisive. You either love the thorny beast or you don't.

One thing that has got people up in arms though, is the claim that the notorious fruit smells like feet.

Excuse me, what kind of feet have you been smelling? Cue metaphorical eyeroll.

on Facebook

This might be the world's smelliest fruit.

Posted by Mic on Tuesday, 16 May 2017

In a 45 second Facebook clip posted on Wednesday (May 17), news and media site Mic shared some interesting facts about the durian. Since then, the video has been seen more than 790,000 times and shared by more than 1,400 people.

Apparently, the potent fruit is "rich in iron, copper, potassium and vitamins C and B". Durian lovers will also be happy to know, that their favourite fruit is considered a "healthy fat", much like the humble avocado.

Photo: Video Screengrab

The video also reminded us of the time Jimmy Kimmel tried the "bleu cheese of fruit" and felt like throwing up.

Don't worry Jimmy, not everyone can handle the pungent aroma. Just ask Andrew Zimmern, who famously spat the durian out on his travel programme "Bizarre Foods".

Photo:Video Screengrab

So yes, we know the smell can be off-putting, but is it too much to liken it to feet?

These commenters certainly think so.

But others think the smell is worse.

And some likened it to more odorous body parts.

What do you think? Know anybody whose feet smell like durian?

ljoey@sph.com.sg

Friday, May 19, 2017 - 16:20

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