SINGAPORE - Fans of Pokemon Go have fanned out across Singapore in search of the critters and to conquer "gyms" - real-life locations where players can hold and defend against other players - after Saturday's (Aug 6) launch.

The Republic's small size and urban environment mean that gyms and Pokestops - locations where players can get virtual items - are never far away. Here are some that you should be aware of:

DRAGON PLAYGROUND AT BLOCK 240, TOA PAYOH LORONG 1

The dragon playgrounds in Toa Payoh are some of Singapore's most beloved. The one at Block 240, Toa Payoh Lorong 1 is not the oldest, but it is estimated to have been around since 1985 and is a nice example of the style.

It is now also the home of a gym that has changed hands constantly since the game launched on Saturday morning. So it may be more than just children who are crowding around the playground.

Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon Go now in Singapore

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ION ORCHARD

The swanky mall in town is not a gym, but is home to several Pokestops. More importantly, it could be the best place to catch Pokemon the next time you're in the area.

The mall's management is releasing lures until Aug 21, which attract more monsters to the vicinity. Players have already been spotted hanging around outside, glued to their smartphones.

CHINESE GARDEN

Some areas seem to have high concentrations of Pokestops and gyms. Chinese Garden, a short walk from the MRT station bearing the same name, seems to be one of them.

The garden and its neighbouring Japanese Garden are home to no less than three gyms and at least 20 Pokestops, going by online reports. And if you can't catch the Pokemon you want, at least you'd have taken a nice walk through some greenery.

PULAU UBIN

You'll need to hop on a ferry if you want to claim the gyms on Pulau Ubin, off Singapore's north-east coast.

The island is home to a number of Pokestops and gyms, but you'll have to traverse almost the entire place if you want to hit them all on Ubin.

Pokemon Go: A beginner's guide

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The New Paper

MRT STATIONS

You'll likely visit one of these today, so why not catch some Pokemon while you're at it. It seems like most MRT stations are either Pokestops or gyms.

Unfortunately, stops on the Downtown Line seem to have been neglected, so factor that in if you're planning a tour.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Whether it's the Singapore Zoo, Sentosa, Marina Bay Sands or Gardens by the Bay, developer Niantic has aspiring Pokemon trainers well covered.

They are all home to plenty of Pokestops and gyms, but expect crowds as both tourists and Pokemon Go fans throng these areas.

YOUR OWN NEIGHBOURHOOD

Seriously, there's no need to go on a far-flung excursion in search of Pokestops and gyms. Chances are that there are a decent number on the streets that you are familiar with, tagged to statues, signs and landmarks that you walk by every day.

A glance at Pasir Ris shows playgrounds, park connectors, community buildings, murals and even floor designs being used as gyms. So why not take a walk and see your neighbourhood in a new light?

This article was first published on Aug 6, 2016.
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Did you see something unusual in the sky near East Coast Park this afternoon?

Many residents in the eastern side of Singapore shared photos on social media, with some of them saying that they had spotted a tornado.

What they saw is most likely a waterspout, a weather phenomenon that occurs about three times every year over Singapore waters, according to the National Environment Agency (NEA).

Compared to tornadoes, waterspouts are generally weaker and not as destructive.

A waterspout is usually observed during thunderstorms, where a column of water is sucked towards the base of the clouds due to lower pressure conditions under the clouds.

The whirling mass becomes visible as the air rotates and rises while the humid air cools and vapour condenses.

NEA said that the speed of a waterspout can reach up to 28km/h, but it is generally short-lived as it usually dissipates rapidly upon reaching the shore.

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SINGAPORE - An alleged attempt to kidnap a child at VivoCity is not true, the police said in a statement on Saturday night (Aug 6).

The case was reported to the authorities on July 31 and cited on several online sites.

The police said in the statement that it had thoroughly investigated the matter and clarified that "it was not a case of attempted kidnapping". The statement added that there were no other reports made to the police of similar kidnapping incidents in other parts of the country.

"The police urge members of the public not to spread unsubstantiated information which may generate unnecessary public alarm," the statement said.

It added that the police took a "very stern view" against people who knowingly spread false information to mislead the public, and that the police "will not hesitate to take action" against these people.

In a Facebook post on Friday (Aug 5), the police advised parents and caregivers of children to always remain vigilant and adopt the following measures to prevent their children from becoming victims of crime:

- Ensure young children are accompanied at all times.

- Do not leave your child out of your sight.

- Teach your children not to follow strangers.

- Inform the school or childcare centre if you have arranged someone else to fetch your child. Childcare centres and pre-schools are advised to ensure that only the rightful parents or appointed guardians are allowed to come in contact with their children.

Parents and caregivers should call 999 immediately if urgent police assistance is needed.

This article was first published on august 7, 2016.
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Radicals who target Singapore are serious about planning an attack, and will look for different ways to do so, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said.

And the authorities have zero tolerance for those who harbour such thoughts, and constantly work with partners in neighbouring countries to detect and deter such threats.

"What you saw being foiled in Batam, this is the nature of things to come," he said yesterday.

"It's not going to go away, and we need to get it right, every single time. The terrorists only need to get it right once to make a statement."

He was speaking to reporters at a constituency event a day after Indonesia arrested six members of a terror cell in Batam, whose leader had been planning a rocket attack on Marina Bay together with ISIS militant Bahrun Naim.

Mr Shanmugam said that co-operation between Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore to combat terrorism was good and had to continue, and he will travel to Bali this week for a regional security conference.

Read also:'Military-grade rocket needed' to hit S'pore from Batam

Yesterday, security in Batam - a 45-minute ferry ride from HarbourFront - was stepped up.

Indonesian police continued tracking down other members of the group, which was set up in 2014 and called itself Katibah GR.

Their leader Gigih Rahmat Dewa, 31, who was among the six nabbed on Friday, had received funds from Bahrun Naim, a leading recruiter for Indonesians fighting alongside the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Indonesian police had said.

Mr Shanmugam said that from time to time, Singapore gets reports and intelligence from regional partners about plans to attack and infiltrate Singapore. He did not elaborate, but added: "What Singaporeans need to understand is that the people who want to do us harm are pretty serious, and they will look for many different ways of doing it."

Different types of plans are being thought of and hatched, he said, adding there are places not far from Singapore "where people can come together and plan to attack us".

He outlined three main sources of threats to Singapore.

Read also: Singapore was aware of terror cell: Shanmugam

One, people who gather just outside Singapore and attack the country or plan an attack from there.

Two, people who enter Singapore to stage an attack here. The minister noted that some 200 million people pass through Singapore's borders every year.

Three, home-grown radicalised individuals. Recent attacks in London and Nice showed how knives and vehicles could be used to cause death.

This is why the authorities are constantly looking out for threats, working with regional partners, and picking up individuals within Singapore - even if they are thinking of going abroad to fight.

More Singaporeans are also aware of the risks of an attack, he added, citing how they were signing up for emergency preparedness workshops - including one in Toa Payoh West yesterday where they learnt first aid skills and witnessed a simulated attack by gunmen.

"The message is getting through, but we need to do much more," Mr Shanmugam added. More such programmes will be held over the next two years to train at least one member from each of the one million households, he said.

It was a message underlined by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean at a National Day dinner in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

"All of us can play an active role to stay alert and prepared, and be ready to respond. In peacetime, we must build up our social resilience, so that we can bounce back as one united community should an attack occur," he said last night.

This article was first published on August 7, 2016.
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TAIPEI - Taiwan's new representative to Singapore, Mr Antonio Chiang, cancelled his Saturday afternoon (Aug 6) flight to the Republic, reported Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA).

He was scheduled to leave so he could take up his post and attend Singapore's National Day on Aug 9, reports from Taiwan said.

But Mr Chiang's booking on a China Airlines flight, along with those of two of his family members, was cancelled, airline staff said.

CNA said that it is not clear if Mr Chiang would take a later flight, or if the cancellation is related to calls for him to be replaced after he admitted to drink driving on Thursday (Aug 4).

Mr Chiang was stopped by police in Taipei's Binjiang Street after having dinner with friends on Tuesday and was found to have a blood alcohol content of almost double the legal limit. He was subsequently arrested and referred to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, then released after questioning.

Earlier that day, he had been sworn in by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen as her government's top envoy to Singapore.

Mr Chiang has apologised, saying that one should never drive after drinking alcohol.

Despite that, a civic group against drink driving organised a protest in Taichung on Saturday, calling him to resign from his post.

Read also: Mother of drink-driving victim urges Tsai to replace Singapore envoy

This article was first published on august 7, 2016.
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Even local celebrities were not spared from Pokemon Go fever when the much-awaited game was launched here yesterday.

Radio DJs Andre Hoeden, Glenn Ong and Vernetta Lopez, actors Andie Chen and Ian Fang as well as local singer and former Caracal frontman K C Meals were among hundreds of excited budding Pokemon trainers.

Hoeden, 41, and Chen, 31, both fathers of young children, debunked the misconception that the craze is just for the young.

Hoeden, the executive producer of ONE FM's #1 Breakfast Show, told The New Paper on Sunday: "I caught my first Pokemon at the airport when I was fetching my mother-in-law. The game is pretty addictive but so much fun."

The father of three, who has been hunting for Pokemon in between errands, added: "My daughter and elder son, aged seven and four, have been suspicious of me constantly being on my phone. But I 'bluffed' them. Usually, it's me trying to get them off the phone when they borrow mine."

Pokemon Go: A beginner's guide

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The New Paper

LAME

Hoeden, who celebrated his 12th wedding anniversary with his wife yesterday, said with a laugh: "My wife told me she thinks I'm lame."

Asked if he and his #1 Breakfast Show crew members Glenn Ong, The Flying Dutchman, Shaun Tupaz and Elliott Danker will be playing Pokemon Go while on air, he answered: "Yes, of course. There might even be a competition among us because Glenn seems to have already caught quite a few."

Hoeden added that he might take some time today to kill two birds with one stone - he plans to take his four-year-old son cycling while he keeps a lookout for lurking Pokemon.

Like Hoeden, Chen, a father to two-month-old Avery and two-year-old Aden, was on the app whenever there were pockets of time in between family errands and caring for a sick Aden yesterday.

Chen, who is married to Taiwan-born actress Kate Pang, said he found out about the game's launch through a WhatsApp chat comprising his December Rains cast mates.

Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon Go now in Singapore

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The Straits Times, Facebook / RSAF, Facebook/SPF, AsiaOne, Capitaland

"I'm a pretty hardcore gamer so I know I can get pretty hooked onto something. But I will probably only open the app as and when I have free time," he said.

Like Hoeden's wife, Pang, 32, does not think Pokemon Go is a big deal.

Chen said with a laugh: "After I sent her to Bugis earlier, I caught a Pokemon before I drove off. I told her and the reply I got? She thinks it's ridiculous and that I'm childish."

Radio DJ Vernetta Lopez, 43, said she is just riding the hype train.

"It's fun. Maybe I'll go to the pool later. We'll see if I find one in the toilet!" she said.

This article was first published on Aug 7, 2016.
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Read also:

New to Pokemon Go? 7 locations in Singapore you should know

A beginner's guide to Pokemon Go

SINGAPORE - It seems animals are not the only attraction you can catch at the Singapore Zoo these days.

Thanks to the launch of Pokemon Go on Saturday (August 6), you may also be able to spot Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle and other Pokemon characters hanging out with the tigers and monkeys at the zoo.

And if you've joined the mission to catch em' all, there are eight Pokemon Gyms and 78 Pokestops at the Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari, and Singapore Zoo, said the Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) on Sunday (August 7).

The WRS has even provided maps detailing the locations of all these virtual hotspots at the three wildlife parks on its websites.

Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon Go now in Singapore

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In a Facebook post, WRS released a list of guidelines called the 'Pokemon Trainers' Wildlife Survival Guide', providing tips for Pokemon trainers to stay safe as they go on their hunt. These tips include reminders to stay out of animal enclosures, and to be mindful of animals which are easily frightened or startled.

WRS also hinted that there would be more exciting announcements to come, saying that it was "looking to offer special Pokemon experiences in the four wildlife parks, and details will soon be announced".

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Indonesian police are scouring Batam island for other militants from a little-known terror cell, a day after the arrest of six members including its leader who was planning to fire a rocket into Singapore's Marina Bay.

National police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar told The Sunday Times yesterday that police are tracking down "fewer than 10" remaining members of the Katibah GR (Cell GR), which was formed in 2014.

Police had been monitoring the activities of its leader Gigih Rahmat Dewa, 31, since last year, when he and Syria-based Indonesian militant Muhammad Bahrun Naim hatched a plan to fire a missile into Marina Bay, he said. "He had not set his exact target yet; it was still in the planning stage. We are now trying to gather physical evidence of his plan," the spokesman added.

Indonesian police rounded up the six men, aged 19 to 46, on Friday in early-morning raids for harbouring suspected Uighur militants.

Gigih was also suspected of receiving and channelling funds for radical activities and facilitating Indonesians to travel to Syria to fight alongside the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group.

Mr Boy Rafli said bomb-making materials had been recovered after the arrests. "There were no sophisticated arms confiscated, only bomb-making materials," he told Reuters.

Read also: Militants 'looking at various ways to attack Singapore'

The group, who are being held in Batam, will be flown to Jakarta for questioning. A police source told The Sunday Times that one of them was released yesterday due to lack of evidence. Madam Desi Fitrianti told reporters in Batam yesterday that police had released her son, 19-year-old Muhammad Tegar Sucianto. "Police questioned my son about his friends, but clearly he knew nothing," she said.

In response to this terror threat and the prevailing security situation, police and other agencies in Singapore have been stepping up inland and border security measures, said Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Friday.

Mr Boy Rafli said vital facilities in Batam were being secured. He added that Indonesian and Singapore police "always communicate and share information", including on the latest arrest.

Police stated that the men nabbed had said Katibah GR stood for Katibah Gonggong Rebus, or Boiled-Snails Cell. The media had assumed that GR referred to its leader Gigih Rahmat. Boiled sea snails are a popular seafood dish in Batam.

Read also: Singapore was aware of terror cell: Shanmugam

Mr Ansyaad Mbai, former chief of Indonesia's influential anti-terror agency, said its name is an indication of how militant groups in Indonesia have become splintered and divided, and the members "could care less about being part of a big-named network" such as Jemaah Islamiah. "These groups are fluid and no longer solid like in the past. They are ad hoc and could be formed by a small group of people who share the same ideology and extreme mindset," he told The Sunday Times.

"They sympathise with Muslims who are oppressed overseas. And whoever has fought there in Syria, whoever is the most brutal or has money, that person is idolised and becomes the leader," Mr Ansyaad added. "The Indonesian militants now can't distinguish Jemaah Islamiah from Al-Qaeda or ISIS. To them, these groups are the same."

This article was first published on August 7, 2016.
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The Chinese government has asked Singapore to "respect"China's position on the outcome of a recent ruling by an international tribunal and a consensus Beijing said it has reached with ASEAN.

In a statement on Friday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hua Chunying said China had made its position on the issue "very clear". "The related ruling is illegal, invalid and has no binding force," she said.

"China hopes that Singapore... can maintain an objective and fair position as the coordinator of China and ASEAN dialogue relations, so as to advance Sino-Singapore relations and promote healthy and stable China-ASEAN ties."

Ms Hua was responding to media queries on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's remarks in Washington on Tuesday that the ruling of the tribunal made a "strong statement" about what the international law is in maritime disputes.

One question also quoted Mr Lee as saying as a small country, Singapore hopes all countries can respect the international law and accept the outcome of the tribunal ruling, which was slightly different from what was actually said. The Chinese media had reported his remarks.

At a reception hosted by the United States Chamber of Commerce and US-ASEAN Business Council, Mr Lee had said: "Ideally, international tribunal rulings set the order for the world because, ideally, when you have disputes between countries, it is much better to have an arbitration and adjudication based on acknowledged principles than to fight it out and see whose guns are more powerful. Speaking from the point of view of a small country, this is all the more (a) fundamental, important principle."

The tribunal had rejected China's historic claims over the South China Sea, in a case brought by the Philippines.

Reactions to South China Sea ruling

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The 10-member ASEAN put out a joint communique that referred to maritime disputes after a meeting of its foreign ministers in Vientiane, Laos, last month.

The communique did not mention the ruling. But it statedthe ministers reaffirmed their commitment "to the peaceful resolution of disputes, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes... in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos)". The tribunal was held under the auspices of Unclos.

Ms Hua on Friday said ASEAN had also clearly stated its position saying that it, as a collective entity, did not hold a position on the tribunal ruling in the recently concluded ASEAN foreign minister's meeting. The ministers' joint communique, however, did not state explicitly that ASEAN did not hold a position.

China had similarly protested when countries such as Japan and Australia spoke on the issue in the aftermath of the tribunal ruling. It told Japan to stop interfering in the South China Sea issue after Tokyo said the award of the tribunal was final and legally binding, and all parties should comply.

China's air force yesterday sent bombers and fighter jets on "combat patrols" near contested islands in the South China Sea, in a move a senior colonel said was part of an effort to normalise such drills and respond to security threats, reported Reuters.

This article was first published on Aug 7, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - Azmi Suarez was playing Pokemon Go this morning (Aug 7) when he saw a body floating in the water near Woodlands Waterfront Jetty.

Photos posted on his Facebook page show the body floating facedown. Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) personnel as well as numerous passers-by can be seen around the jetty in the photos.

Another Stomp contributer, Lee, who was cycling near the jetty at around 9.30am also reported seeing the body.

According to Lee, the deceased was a female who looked to be in her 30s.

Lee also saw SCDF personnel and divers at the scene retreiving the body.

An SCDF spokesperson said: "SCDF was alerted at about 9.45am on Aug 7 to a case of a body floating in the water off Woodlands Waterfront Jetty.

"Upon arrival, SCDF personnel retrieved the body manually.

"The person was pronounced dead by paramedics."

Eerily reminiscent: Augmented-reality Pokemon game leads US teen to dead body

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Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon Go now in Singapore

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SINGAPORE - Tired of walking to the next Pokestop or Pokemon Go gym while playing the game?

Car rental firms, private drivers and even avid players are hoping to provide a solution for players of the popular mobile game which launched in Singapore on Saturday (Aug 6).

Advertisements have started appearing on social media, offering car rental and hire services to help players visit Pokemon Go-related locations in air-conditioned comfort.

The current market rate for your own Pokemon Go chauffeur, according to checks by The Straits Times, is about $30 an hour.

Private car driver Mr Sng, who manages a network of drivers offering limousine services on the Facebook page Limo Sixty9, is charging that amount to help players "catch as many Pokemon as they want" in his multi-purpose vehicle.

While he has not received any requests for the service yet, Mr Sng said it was another way to market his services.

"I've seen the popularity of the game and people might have use for such a service later on if they want to cover more ground."

Read also:  7 locations in Singapore Pokemon Go players should know

Pokemon Go community groups on Facebook are also abuzz with users offering to ferry their fellow players around.

A Facebook user who wanted to be known only as Ian put up a post in the "Pokemon Go Singapore - Team Instinct (Yellow)" group on Sunday morning, offering to drive his fellow players around Singapore for a fee of $30 an hour.

Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon Go now in Singapore

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The Straits Times, Facebook / RSAF, Facebook/SPF, AsiaOne, Capitaland

"I'm a Pokemon Go fan myself and since I have some free time during the weekend, I thought I'd ask if anybody was keen," Ian, who works in the construction industry, told The Straits Times.

"$30 an hour is not a lot if a group of friends get together to share the cost, and I need to cover petrol costs. If there's more interest and I have the time, I don't mind doing it on future weekends."

Full-time Grab driver Sean Yap said in a Facebook post he was charging $350 a day - excluding ERP and parking charges - to drive players around.

While his post garnered flak from people complaining that it was too expensive, Mr Yap, 26, explained that the amount was what he usually earns in a day.

He added: "Since everyone is so into the game, I might as well try my luck by offering this service. If people really engage my services, I'd still be earning the same."

Meanwhile, car rental firm Wagon Mate is offering a week-long (Aug 8 to Aug 15) promotion for customers who rent its cars to play Pokemon Go.

Those who can prove that they have downloaded the game will receive a 10 per cent discount, said owner Ralph Koh. Car rental rates at Wagon Mate start from $48 a day for a Suzuki Swift.

"The weather in Singapore is quite hot and some people might not want to walk too much, so we thought of this promotion. But we also warn them that the person driving should not be using his mobile phone to play the game," said Mr Koh.

He added that Wagon Mate has received four enquiries from interested customers since the company put up a poster on its Facebook page on Saturday night.

Both the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force had posted advisories on Saturday, reminding the public not to play the game while behind the wheel.

Advertising executive Josh Lim said while he might consider renting a car or driver to help him play the game in the future, it was still too early to do so now.

"With Pokemon Go only a day-old in Singapore, I suspect the novelty has yet to wear off and people will still want to experience chasing after Pokemon on foot," said the 27-year-old.

The hiring of personal drivers to hunt Pokemon is not new. It was reported in the United States in early July - shortly after the game's launch there - that enterprising drivers had also posted online ads offering their services.

Some services even came with additional perks such as free snacks, wifi and phone charging.

Pokemon Go: A beginner's guide

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The New Paper

This article was first published on August 8, 2016.
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Singaporeans around the world celebrated Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's meeting with US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama early last week but that was not all that they were pleased with.

Mr Lee's wife, Ho Ching, had grabbed headlines and created an online frenzy because of her dinosaur-motif purse that she carried during the official arrival ceremony.

Both local and international media publications shone light on the blue pouch, specifically because it was designed by 19-year-old See Toh Sheng Jie, an autistic student from Pathlight School.

However, what some sellers on online selling platform Carousell did next was not the least bit celebratory.

Sharp-eyed netizens had spotted at least two sellers putting up the exact same dinosaur pouch that Ms Ho Ching had carried for sale.

One seller had posted a listing entitled 'Stop The Profiteers' regarding these two errant sellers on Saturday (Aug 6).

The seller said in his post that he was "glad" that the two accounts have disappeared.

The posts have since been taken down but the two clutches were apparently going at $22.80 and a preposterous $99, respectively.

Each pouch is originally priced at $14.80.

Boy who designed Mrs Lee's pouch loves dinosaurs

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The New Paper, Reuters

By the time word got round that Ms Ho's pouch was designed by the dinosaur-loving teen, it had already been completely sold out and was only available for pre-order on Pathlight's online store.

The school had reportedly sold all 200 bags it had in stock within a day.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - Recent arrests of individuals linked to scams in Singapore have not deterred some scammers from preying on elderly victims here.

The latest such case was uncovered last Tuesday (Aug 2), when staff at Maybank's People's Park Centre branch notified police about an elderly woman's strange request to transfer $200,000 to a "friend" who she believed was having issues with immigration authorities overseas.

Police said in a statement on Monday (Aug 8) that the 72-year-old victim had been in contact with an unknown individual via Facebook and Whatsapp for more than five years.

She is believed to have already transferred the scammer a total of $75,000 in two separate transactions prior to police intervention.

The police eventually convinced her that she was a victim of a con job.

Read also: 11 scams that are happening in Singapore now

In its advisory, the police said that those who are approached to remit or transfer money to people they do not know well should exercise caution.

"The criminal can spend months building rapport with you online before asking for money," the police said.

Netizens should also beware of doing things that would put them in a vulnerable position, such as performing compromising acts in front of a webcam or giving out their personal details.

Those who are approached for emergency help and money should not transfer money, but alert the police instead.

It is important to also safeguard one's personal bank account against criminal use, the advisory added.

ljessica@sph.com.sg

Top 7 scams in Singapore and more

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www.scamalert.sg

Without it, there would be no National Day Parade.

Almost everything depends on it - the lights, the sound, the computers, even the fireworks.

But thanks to the meticulous planning and hard work of engineers, there is no need to worry about the show running out of electricity.

For Singapore's birthday bash tomorrow, the team from the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) has transformed the National Stadium into a practically self-sufficient power station, with enough juice for 110 three-room HDB flats.

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AsiaOne, The Straits Times, The New Paper

"Power is very important," said Mr Lee Eng Hua, DSTA's director of building and infrastructure, who leads some of the engineers overseeing various aspects of the show, from power and infrastructure to the sound system and fireworks. "We can't afford for it to go down and that's our key worry."

Among the more visible power gobblers are the six giant LED screens and 36 high-powered lasers.

Equally crucial are the 250 speakers, double the number used in celebrating SG50 last year.

They not only deliver crisp sound to the audience but are also painstakingly tuned to ensure that the parade contingents all hear the commands at the same time.

Not to mention the 20-odd infrared transmitters on the roof that make 55,000 spectators' LED wristbands pulsate like a single organism.

Delivering the electricity are 21 km of cable snaking out from 14 generators churning out 18 megawatts of power.

The cables are festooned with 240 sensors that set off an alarm whenever the temperature reaches 45 deg C, well below the cables' 70 deg C rating.

The sensors are an early-warning system that detects overloading before it trips the circuit breakers and causes a blackout.

Associate Professor Gooi Hoay Beng, from Nanyang Technological University's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said even Singapore's power grid doesn't have this additional layer of protection.

"This is something that we normally don't do. They (NDP engineers) have actually gone very far."

This is no laughing matter when the show uses 66 projectors, which Mr Lee said are some of the most power-hungry appliances in the entire stadium.

The projectors are responsible for bathing giant suspended props in three-dimensional animated imagery that follows the movements of the props in real time.

Yet, not all of the power of NDP 2016 comes directly from electricity.

Some of it comes from fire.

The quantity of indoor fireworks will be five times that used in the SEA Games last year.

But Mr Lee said they will be safe, as only non-debris fireworks are being used and his team has determined through measurements that air quality in the stadium will remain within safe limits.

NDP technical director Kenny Wong said: "It's arguably the most technically challenging NDP we've ever done."

Dr Teo Tee Hui, a senior lecturer at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, noted the additional challenge of achieving a compromise between engineering requirements and a set design that has aesthetic appeal for the audience.

The engineers had 22 days to put up everything before rehearsals.

After the NDP, they will have 10 days to return the stadium to its usual state.

Mr Lee said: "The engineers are one of the first to go in and they will be one of the last to leave the place."

A return to the Grand Old Dame

After a decade's absence, the National Day Parade will return to the National Stadium tomorrow as Singapore marks the first chapter after its Golden Jubilee.

This year's parade is set to dazzle audiences with its futuristic concept, complete with indoor fireworks, 3D projections and drones.

But even as it looks forward, the show will have an added emphasis on inclusivity.

For the first time, the audience will be invited to hand-sign popular NDP songs.

The parade will also feature the largest group of special-needs participants ever; there will be 150 of them leading the crowd during this segment.

The Grand Old Dame of Kallang, as the stadium was formerly known, has played host to 18 NDP shows - the first in 1976 - and other historic events.

In 1986, it welcomed the late Pope John Paul II, and in 1993 it hosted king of pop Michael Jackson.

In the heady days of the Malaysia Cup from the 1970s to the 1990s, football fans thronged the stadium to catch the Lions in action, and created the Kallang Roar with their thunderous cheers and furious stamping of feet, which shook the structures of the arena to its core.

While festivities may have been dialled down a notch compared to last year's pomp and circumstance, there are still numerous events for Singaporeans to celebrate the nation turning 51.

The historic Tanjong Pagar Railway Station will be open from 9am to 6pm to the public, who can view a selection of photos from the Singapore Land Authority's contest, Celebrating Places And Memories.

For those keen on getting creative, Urban Sketchers Singapore, an informal network of artists who sketch the cityscape, will be organising a special National Day sketch walk at the Esplanade at 2pm.

There will be a music performance staged by Indonesian and Bangladeshi migrant workers in collaboration with local artists at the Esplanade's concourse at the same time.

A National Day observance ceremony will be held at Kampong Kembangan Community Club at 7.30am, featuring a marching contingent formed by students from the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (Minds) and Ping Yi Secondary School.

This article was first published on August 8, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

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One of the six men arrested in Batam last Friday for militant activities has been released.

Yesterday, 19-year-old Muhammad Tegar Sucianto told reporters in Batam that he was let go as he was not the "target of capture".

Mr Tegar, whom police described as a factory worker, said that he had joined a meeting of the terror cell in 2013. This, he said, was at the insistence of a friend, who was among those arrested last Friday and remains in custody.

Indonesian police said the leader of the cell, Gigih Rahmat Dewa, had planned to fire a rocket from Batam into Singapore's Marina Bay. Gigih is said to have planned this with Syria-based ISIS militant Bahrun Naim, who left Indonesia last year.

Mr Tegar said that, in 2013, he could not wait to leave the meeting of the cell, which called itself Katibah Gonggong Rebus or Boiled- Snails Cell. "I felt really awkward and uncomfortable," he said.

The men at the meeting did not know one another, said Mr Tegar, but had interacted via WhatsApp and Blackberry Messenger.

Indonesian police and analysts say that social media and mobile messaging applications have enabled new, small groups like the Batam cell to form.

But these new media forms of communication have also allowed the authorities to quash them.

Police investigations found that the members of the Batam cell had been radicalised over social media, specifically using Facebook, Reuters news agency reported.

This article was first published on Aug 8, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

See also:

Militants 'looking at various ways to attack Singapore'

Social media chatter foils Singapore rocket attack plan

Police scour Batam for remnants of terror cell

In celebration of Singapore's 51st birthday, Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao will offer free and full access to its premium digital content and e-paper on Aug 9 and 10.

Non-subscribers will be able to enjoy unlimited access to Lianhe Zaobao's print edition news stories, seven-day news archive, as well as news stories scheduled for the next day from 12.01am on Tuesday to 11.59pm the next day.

Users need not have a Lianhe Zaobao subscription to access the content.

Lianhe Zaobao took on a new look on July 21 in both its print and digital formats.

The Lianhe Zaobao app has also undergone a revamp to make it more user-friendly. Breaking news, digital-exclusive content and videos are currently available on Lianhe Zaobao's website and apps for free.

Ms Han Yong May, Digital Editor of Chinese Media Group and Associate Editor of Lianhe Zaobao said: "This is our gesture of appreciation to readers who have supported Lianhe Zaobao over the years. It is also an opportunity for us to gather feedback from our readers and continuously improve users' experience on Lianhe Zaobao's digital platforms."

Readers can sign up for the Lianhe Zaobao's All-in-One subscription package or opt for a 14-day free trial via www.zbsub.sg.

ljessica@sph.com.sg

Whenever his good friend of six years told him stories about suicide bombings, 19-year-old Muhammad Tegar Sucianto felt uneasy.

When that friend, Hadi Gusti Yanda, 20, tried to cajole him into joining a terror group called Katibah Gonggong Rebus, or Boiled-Snails Cell, he decided he had enough.

"All these radical stories about suicide bombings didn't make sense to me. He asked me to join, but I refused," Mr Tegar told reporters yesterday.

He was among six suspected militants arrested in anti-terror raids by Indonesian police last Friday, but was released the same evening as he was not "the target of capture", he said. His friend Hadi remains in police custody.

The group's ringleader, Gigih Rahmat Dewa, 31, is facing multiple charges, including one of plotting to fire a rocket from Batam to hit Singapore's Marina Bay and another of aiding Indonesians to go to Syria to fight alongside Islamic State in Iraq and Syria militants.

Mr Tegar said he was persuaded by Hadi to attend the cell's first meeting some time in 2013.

"Hadi told me that nobody there knew one another. They only communicated via chat groups in WhatsApp and Blackberry Messenger." However, he found that the group talked only about religious issues which did not interest him, he said.

"I felt really awkward and uncomfortable. I told him (Hadi) I wanted to go home as soon as possible."

After that, Hadi stopped talking about the group's activities.

Mr Tegar told reporters that he and Hadi loved watching movies and attending metal music concerts together. They even worked at the same factory in Batam. But he noticed his friend had changed in the past three years.

"He prayed more often. Of course, I was happy to see that. I told him it's okay if he taught me to pray as long as he stayed out of the group," he said.

Mr Tegar said he had no clue the group was involved in terror activities or was planning to launch a rocket targeting Singapore until last Friday, when a police car stopped the two of them as they headed to work. Mr Tegar had gone to Hadi's house to give him a ride on his motorcycle as Hadi's own motorbike had broken down.

Police blindfolded and handcuffed them before taking them to the Brimob special police headquarters for questioning. When they arrived, Hadi was taken away while he was made to wait in the car, Mr Tegar said.

"The two police officers seemed more friendly towards me. They even said sorry when they arrested me," he said. He was released that evening after questioning.

Mr Tegar's mother, Ms Desi Fitrianti, 43, told reporters that the two young men were close friends who loved going to concerts. Hadi often visited their home.

When reporters visited Hadi's home, his father declined to be interviewed.

Terrorism analysts have said that new extremist cells like the Katibah Gonggong Rebus illustrate how the militant network in Indonesia has become loose and fragmented, and could be formed by a small number of individuals.

Terrorism expert Noor Huda Ismail, founder of the Institute of International Peace Building, told The Straits Times that these small groups are hard to detect and that they use social media and mobile messaging to interact with one another.

An Indonesian police spokesman told Reuters news agency that the Batam cell's Facebook posts gave police the breakthrough on the plot to strike Singapore.

"Their terrorist action plans were in Facebook," he said, without giving details.

What also gave Gigih away was his new profile picture on the Line messaging app featuring a banner pledging "Indonesian support and solidarity for ISIS", Reuters said.

This article was first published on Aug 8, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

See also:

Militants 'looking at various ways to attack Singapore'

Social media chatter foils Singapore rocket attack plan

Police scour Batam for remnants of terror cell

Two North Korean professors went to Singapore's Nanyang Technological University in 2014, not to teach but to learn.

Mr Pak, in his 50s, and Mr Hyon, in his 30s, lived in hostels and "studied very hard" for their master's in business administration while adjusting to the local food and trying to make sense of Singlish.

They graduated last year and returned to their country "to share and pass on what they have learned", said the Singapore-based non-profit group Choson Exchange that facilitated their course and organises programmes to teach North Koreans about business and entrepreneurship.

About 100 North Koreans have visited Singapore for study trips organised by the group since it started in 2009.

From October, however, these visitors will have to apply for visas before embarking on their trips.

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority said the move was the result of a periodic review of its visa framework for foreigners with other government agencies, "taking into consideration Singapore's international obligations".

South Korean media and observers have linked these moves to toughened sanctions imposed on North Korea.

The 15-member UN Security Council imposed Resolution 2270 in March in response to Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range missile launch the following month.

It called for meaures including stricter monitoring of cargo to and from North Korea, bans on money transfer and trade bans on items including coal and gold.

Visa restrictions are another form of control.

Poland and the Mediterranean island of Malta have stopped issuing work visas to North Koreans.

North Korean citizens currently have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to about 40 countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Ecuador, and Kyrgyzstan.

Analysts said the new visa requirement will make it more difficult for North Koreans to enter Singapore, which may complicate things for those heading to the country for studies, business or medical treatment.

Mr Andray Abrahamian, the Chosun Exchange's associate director of research, said the new rule will require them to spend more time and money preparing travel documents and application materials.

"As the visa requirements are meant to help comply with sanctions, and none of our participants are designated individuals on any sanctions lists, we do not think visa processing will be a problem," he said.

No projects are at stake as a result of the new ruling, but he admitted it "may affect future plans".

While Singapore serves as a good development model for socialist states like China and North Korea that are keen to develop their market economy, it also "needs to work within international legal structures and behave as a responsible global citizen", said SIM University's East Asia expert Lim Tai Wei.

Singapore's monetary authority imposed new North Korea sanctions on local financial institutions in June, according to lawyer Karnan Thirupathy who advises on international trade and sanctions.

Additional sanctions that apply across the board, he said, would "likely have a more significant and direct impact on Singapore-North Korea relations and business".

North Koreans come to S'pore to study

There are no official figures available on how many North Koreans have entered Singapore in the past.

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority does not reveal nationality-specific figures.

The Singapore-based Choson Exchange said some 30 North Koreans travelled to Singapore last year to attend programmes organised by the non-profit group.

They included short study trips, workshops, internships and a three-month mini MBA programme that covered finance, accounting and market courses as well as visits to start-up incubators.

This article was first published on August 8, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

The historic 1920s cast-iron gates of Bukit Brown Cemetery have been carefully reinstalled after six months of conservation and refurbishment work.

The gates, perched on gateposts, now boast a shiny coat of black paint, a far cry from their previous state as badly corroded structures caked in layers of rust.

Years of exposure to the elements had resulted in paint deterioration, plant growth and corrosion.

The gates were reinstalled last week following the refurbishment project by a team from Fusion Clad Precision - a contractor hired by the National Heritage Board (NHB).

Fusion Clad Precision's conservation manager Serene Lee said the gates were carefully hoisted onto their old posts at the new location - a new access road near Lorong Halwa.

Ms Lee said other precautions taken included securing the gates with specially designed frames that came with strips of padding before installation.

"The gates were loaded and then off-loaded using an overhead crane vehicle."

The refurbishment was an initiative by a multi-agency work group that the Ministry of National Development chaired.

The group includes the NHB, the Land Transport Authority and civic organisations All Things Bukit Brown and the Singapore Heritage Society (SHS).

The heritage community is glad the gates have been reinstated.

SHS executive committee member Yeo Kang Shua said the structures were among the few historic public gates still standing.

He said: "Gates and doors demarcate and delineate boundaries both physically and conceptually.

"This is a symbolic entry way for Bukit Brown Cemetery, which does not have a fence or boundary wall."

All Things Bukit Brown co-founder Catherine Lim said that while the gates' fresh, new look will take some getting used to, reinstating the structure "is the first step in restoring visitors' sense of arrival".

The whole structure is made up of two cast-iron gates through which cars used to pass, two side gates for pedestrians and four free-standing square columns.

About 20 per cent of the structure has been replaced to fix damage to its structural integrity and functionality.

The NHB said the original structure was likely prefabricated in Britain and shipped to Singapore, while its square columns were cast on the spot.

Bukit Brown Cemetery opened its doors in 1922.

The NHB also uploaded the second video documentary of a three-part series about the refurbishment project on its heritage website Roots.sg on Saturday.

The board said the documentary will provide viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the steps and techniques used at each stage of the refurbishment process.

NHB's assistant chief executive of policy and community, Mr Alvin Tan, said the refurbishment project is part of NHB's ongoing efforts to safeguard and preserve the country's tangible heritage.

Some parts of Bukit Brown have been razed as the LTA constructs a major eight-lane road through the cemetery to connect the MacRitchie Viaduct to the Adam Flyover.

This project is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

This article was first published on August 8, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Two male sea cows from the River Safari set off on a 34-hour voyage to the Caribbean yesterday morning that could help save the rest of their kind.

Kai and Junior, two of the safari's 14 West Indian manatees, were put on a chartered flight to the French territory of Guadeloupe to take part in the world's first manatee repopulation programme.

The marine mammal, known locally in Guadeloupe as the "mother of the water", could once be found in large numbers there.

However, they were over-hunted for their meat and can no longer be found there.

The hope is that Kai and Junior, as well as the 13 other manatees under the programme, could help repopulate the Caribbean region with their offspring, which would be introduced into the wild.

A farewell ceremony for the duo was held at the River Safari yesterday, attended by Mrs Laurence Beau, deputy head of mission from the Embassy of France to Singapore, as well as Mr Mike Barclay, group chief executive of Mandai Park Holdings, which operates the River Safari.

Kai and Junior were selected for the programme as they have reached sexual maturity, according to the River Safari.

Kai is seven years old this year, and Junior is six.

The repopulation project is spearheaded by the National Park of Guadeloupe, and will involve 15 manatees from zoos around the world.

Zoo animals are used for the project as the National Park of Guadeloupe hopes to reduce the impact on wild populations.

Furthermore, animals used to human contact would be easier to manage while under the programme.

The marine mammals will be sent to a 15,000ha bay where they will be protected from marine traffic by way of a no-entry zone.

Mr Barclay said: "Aside from maintaining a healthy living collection to educate and inspire an appreciation for wildlife among our park guests, we are also committed to breeding assurance populations for threatened species and, where possible, reintroducing them back into the wild."

According to the National Geographic, there are three species of manatees - the West Indian manatee, West African manatee and Amazonian manatee - all of which are threatened by extinction.

Although manatees cannot be found in Singapore, their close cousin, the dugong, can.

Both manatees and dugongs are marine grazers - they are herbivores and feed on sea grass, algae and weeds.

This article was first published on August 8, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.