SINGAPORE - Gotta catch 'em all they said, and catch they did as droves of obsessed Pokemon 'trainers' flocked to popular PokeStops and Pokemon Go gyms around the island.

The augmented reality game Pokemon Go has turned out to be a real nightmare for residents at certain neighbourhoods around the island, with hundreds of players congregating at these hotspots at odd hours.

It was 'apokelypse' for some residents staying near Yishun Park, which has four PokeStops.

According to Shin Min Daily News, nearly a hundred Pokemon players were spotted at the park in the wee hours of Wednesday morning (Aug 10).

PokeStops are landmarks for players to collect items that can aid them in their quest, while Pokemon Go gyms are for players to battle other aspiring Pokemon trainers.

Some were flagrantly flouting traffic rules, parking their vehicles illegally around the park.

Illegal hawkers were also seen peddling their wares around the park, much to the chagrin of irate residents.

Many of the players were students, the Chinese evening daily reported, due to the National Day public holiday coupled with the designated school holiday on Wednesday.

Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon Go now in Singapore

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Mr He (phonetic translation), a tutor, told Shin Min Daily News that he went to Yishun Park in the wee hours after hearing that "high-level Pokemons" were spotted there.

"Someone also shouted that the police were coming, so those who parked illegally around the park fled the scene" the 32-year-old Pokemon gamer added.

"Some players were also consuming alcohol as they played. They appeared drunk and were creating a din. I was worried that the residents would complain."

It is illegal to consume alcohol in all public places from 10.30pm to 7am according to the Liquor Control Act, which came into force last year.

Mr Chen (phonetic translation), a resident who stays near Yishun Park, was worried about the "unhealthy atmosphere".

"It is annoying that there are so many people at the park. The drinking will only make it worse," said Mr Chen, 42.

"There are youths at the park too. I'm worried that they will be influenced and start consuming alcohol too," the delivery man said.

Pokemon Go: A beginner's guide

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The New Paper

Gangs of players at Hougang

It was a similar situation at Blk 404 Hougang Avenue 10. According to Lianhe Wanbao, there are three PokeStops at that neighbourhood.

Photos posted on social media also showed a massive crowd of people glued to their phones at a playground near the block.

In a video on citizen journalism site, Stomp, a throng of people rushed across a busy road near Block 401 in Hougang, presumably to catch Pokemon.

Other hotspots in the heartlands include East Coast Park and Punggol Park.

grongloh@sph.com.sg

Pokemon Go fever

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Motorists using mobile phones while driving, lorry drivers breaking speed limits and failing to keep left and motorcyclists weaving across lanes recklessly - Traffic Police's latest enforcers have been catching them all.

A video posted on Use Your RoadSense Facebook page on Monday showed footage of TP's Special Operations Team (SOT) on their black "stealth bikes" clamping down on errant drivers, including a motorcyclist who made a U-turn against the direction of traffic and them speeding off at 160kmh.

The two-minute clip has since racked up more than 330,000 views and more than 7,600 shares.

"These 'men in black' look out for common traffic offences, such as driving while using the (mobile phone), and ensure that motorists are ever-alert on the roads - a timely reminder not to #PokemonGo and drive," the post said, referencing the popular Pokemon Go mobile game, in which players catch virtual creatures using their mobile devices.

The Singapore Police Force, which shared the video on its Facebook page, said the traffic situation continues to show improvements in various areas but a minority of road users endanger the lives of others.

It added: "The TP will continue to take strict enforcement against such errant motorists even as we focus on education and enforcement efforts; reminding them that all road users have a role to play in keeping our roads safe."

Also called covert officers, the TP's stealth bikers have been on the roads since June.

Clad in black jackets, the officers ride black 900cc motorcycles that are more manoeuvrable and have proven effective in curbing errant motorcyclists.

TP commander Sam Tee told The Straits Times that it was not easy for officers to go after motorcyclists in unmarked cars, as they can lose sight of them in heavy traffic.

The "stealth bikes", on the other hand, are much more manoeuvrable.

TP statistics show that, last year, 4,875 motorcyclists and pillion riders were injured, a 5 per cent rise from 2014. This group also accounted for almost half of all road deaths last year - 72 out of a total of 152.

In their first month of operations, TP's stealth officers detected more than 700 violations.

The SOT's officer commanding, Assistant Superintendent Firdous Haniff, 30, said the unmarked motorbikes have proven effective, adding that foreign police forces, such as those in Australia, employ similar tactics.

Additional reporting by Danson Cheong

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The authorities are looking at whether to replace old MRT trains, instead of refurbishing them as originally planned.

This comes as the Government gets ready to assume ownership of all trains from SMRT and examines what to do with the ageing ones.

In 2014, Singapore Rail Engineering , SMRT's engineering services division, inked a deal with Japan's Toshiba to replace motors on 66 of its oldest trains.

It recently finished doing so for one train.

But now, with SMRT and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) agreeing to shift to a new rail financing framework - in which the Government assumes ownership of all operating assets, including trains - the refurbishment works have been halted.

An LTA spokesman said, under the new framework, the authority will also be responsible for the expansion, replacement and refurbishment of rail operating assets.

"As such, LTA is reviewing what the best treatment for older trains is - whether to refurbish them or replace them with new trains, to strike a good balance between cost effectiveness, rail reliability and train availability," she added.

At SMRT's first-quarter financial results briefing on Monday, its chief financial officer Manfred Seah said Singapore Rail Engineering had incurred an operating loss of $2.7 million.

This was "due mainly to Singapore Rail Engineering's provision for costs associated with the suspension of works relating to the end-of-life refurbishment of trains pending a decision by the authorities".

It is understood that SMRT's losses arose because it had already ordered parts for the refurbishment.

Observers said the refurbishment process will allow SMRT to gain more in-depth engineering knowledge.

A source said the first train took almost a year to refurbish but subsequent trains will be completed more speedily because the engineering staff "already know what to do" after the first project.

Since the two massive breakdowns in December 2011, SMRT has put in motion plans to fix and upgrade its trains and systems.

A large part of the plans involves replacing key parts such as propulsion systems and air compressors on 19 second-generation trains by this year, and 66 first-generation trains by 2019.

SMRT had high hopes for the new Toshiba train motors. It said the permanent magnet synchronous motors were up to 30 per cent more energy-efficient and 12 per cent quieter. They were also less costly to maintain as they have fewer parts.

They cost more to buy but SMRT said, from a life-cycle perspective, they are worth it.

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A father is making a desperate call for a liver donor for his eight-month-old daughter, who is fighting for her life at the National University Hospital's (NUH's) paediatric intensive care unit.

Zarouhi Singla was born with biliary atresia, a rare liver disease that can be deadly, her father, Sandeep Singla, told The Straits Times yesterday.

The 34-year-old donated part of his liver to her in an operation on Friday but the transplant failed and she is on life support.

Professor K. Prabhakaran, director of the paediatric organ transplant programme at NUH, said Zarouhi is very ill and unlikely to survive without a second transplant.

Biliary atresia is a rare progressive inflammatory disorder of the liver that affects one in every 15,000 infants, added Dr Prabhakaran. Its cause is not clear.

"At least 60 per cent of children with biliary atresia may develop liver failure that requires a liver transplant within the first two years of life," he said.

Mr Sandeep, a general manager for Shell, and his wife, Neha Wilson, are Indian nationals who have lived in Singapore for about 18 months.

Zarouhi, born here, has spent about five months in and out of hospital, said Mr Sandeep.

After the failed transplant attempt, he is worried that his only child does not have long to live.

While Ms Wilson is being assessed to see if she is a suitable donor, the couple are looking for a standby donor in the event that she is not eligible, Mr Sandeep said.

"We wanted to reach out to the public because time is not on our side."

He added that he would cover the medical costs of the potential donor, who must be healthy and match Zarouhi's blood type of O positive.

Those who meet the criteria and wish to be considered as a donor can contact him at sandeepsingla@hotmail.com.

Information on donor criteria can be found at https://www.nuh.com.sg/nucot/about-transplant/the-donor-assessment.html.

Also read: Stranger saves 3-year-old boy's life with liver donation

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It looked like a festive gathering, with families and couples sitting around and chatting while glancing at their mobile phones.

Then they suddenly sprang to their feet and most of them dashed across the road, forcing some vehicles to brake to avoid hitting them.

The reason? A rare and powerful Pokemon called Snorlax had just been spotted.

Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon Go now in Singapore

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This was the chaotic scene near Block 401, Hougang Avenue 10, at 9.25pm yesterday as scores of Pokemon Go players risked their lives in their haste to try to catch a prized Pokemon.

As they left the amphitheatre near Block 401 to head to Punggol Park, where the Snorlax had been seen, many of them ran across Hougang Avenue 8 without checking for oncoming traffic first.

SCARY

Ms Jasmine Wee, 30, a property agent who was at the scene, told The New Paper: "It was quite scary how people just dashed across the road with no regard for their own and other people's safety.

"Cars had to brake suddenly to avoid knocking them down. It was crazy."

A player, student Edwin Lim, 24, told TNP: "One group started running (towards Punggol Park), so everyone just followed.

"It was only along the way that I heard it was a Snorlax. When my friends and I got there, it was still there. Some of us caught it in one try, but some missed it."

Hundreds of players had gathered at the amphitheatre daily since Saturday when Pokemon Go was launched in Singapore because four PokeStops equipped with lure modules are located there.

Mr Saiful Rizan, 26, a warehouse assistant who lives at Block 414, about 50m from the amphitheatre, said: "The crowd is just amazing. I've been living here since 1999 and I have never seen such a huge crowd at 1am."

The crowd grew as the night progressed, with one resident estimating that there were about 400 people at 8pm.

The resident, who wanted to be known only as Mr Kwek, 22, said the area was so packed, he had difficulty finding his sister.

"She was playing Pokemon Go, and it took me quite a while before I could spot her," he said.

He also said he had to wait to get a parking space in the carpark near his block, which was unusual.

"I saw cars queueing up just to get a parking lot at around 8pm."

Residents also complained about the rubbish left behind by the players.

Ms Irene Lim, 55, a resident of Block 415, said: "It's usually dirty after the gatherings. But there was this secondary schoolgirl picking up trash at about 5pm on Monday."

Another resident at Block 415, who wanted to be known as Ms Loga, said: "I was shocked when I saw this number of people. It's quite interesting, but there were lots of rubbish the morning after."

Pokemon Go fever

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Reuters, AFP

Residents said the crowds managed to keep noise to a minimum.

Mr Saiful, who lives on the second storey of Block 414, said: "The only time people shouted was when a rare Pokemon appeared."

It was good news for shops in the area as sales at nearby businesses have jumped as a result of these daily Pokemon Go gatherings.

Ms Tan Meng Kee, 57, who works at KTM 11 Supermart, which is next to the amphitheatre, told TNP its sales have increased by 20 per cent to 30 per cent since Saturday.

"We now close the shop at 2am instead of the usual 11pm," she added.

The 7-Eleven shop next door has also seen its sales double since Saturday.

Yishun Park, which boasts a Pokemon Go gym and four PokeStops, was also teeming with players at 4.30pm yesterday.

There were also concerns about road safety there.

A 36-year-old resident, who wanted to be known only as Mr Hairul, said: "I was just driving by the park and people were not looking at the traffic lights when they crossed the road."

Another resident, Mr Peter Wang, 50, who was cycling with his two sons, said: "It can be quite dangerous when some of them play their games while riding scooters."

Pokemon players

Fancy adding a Dragonite to your collection on Pokemon Go without the trouble of evolving a Dratini?

Now you can pay someone to do it for you, or just buy one online.

Some enterprising gamers see the launch of Pokemon Go in Singapore last Saturday as an opportunity to make money by offering Pokemon-related services.

Mr Darrell Theseira, 21, is one of them.

He told The New Paper that he went on a 24-hour spree playing Pokemon Go with his friends after the game was released here.

The group of five travelled all over Singapore to catch Pokemon, visiting popular landmarks such as Orchard Road, Mount Faber, Changi Airport, Punggol Waterway and Sentosa.

SPOOFERS

During his hunt for Pokemon, Mr Theseira noticed that a good number of gyms in Singapore had been taken over by spoofers.

Spoofers are those who use other means such as apps to hide their GPS location so they could play the game before its Singapore launch. Their head start of about a month means they have acquired or grown stronger Pokemon.

Mr Theseira, a Nanyang Polytechnic graduate waiting to serve his national service, said: "Spoofers have an unfair advantage, and new players are unable to fight at gyms because spoofers store their strongest Pokemon there."

He is offering to help beginners by catching rare and strong Pokemon for them - for $35 an hour.

Mr Theseira declined to reveal any details about his customers.

But he claimed he has received 40 requests since listing his services on marketplace application Carousell three days ago.

"I just want to help the community grow faster," he said.

Pokemon trainers-for-hire have made headlines in the US, where Pokemon Go has been available since July 6.

Ms Ivy St Ive, editor-in-chief of a Brooklyn-based magazine, advertised her services as a Pokemon trainer for US$20 (S$27) an hour on Craigslist, the New York Observer reported last month.

This is just one of many Pokemon-related services.

Here, there are countless listings on Carousell of people offering car rentals and chauffeur services, and offering to level up your Pokemon Go account.

A single rare Pokemon can cost $3 to $20, and paying someone to level up your account to level 30 can knock you back between $30 and $50.

You can even buy a Pokemon Go account filled with rare and powerful Pokemon for $25 to $80.

Most of the time, these services are not done legitimately - by travelling around physically to catch Pokemon - but through hacks, spoofing, and third-party websites, which is against developer Niantic's terms of usage.

For example, there are websites that can show you the exact locations of specific Pokemon around the world.

A seller on Carousell, who declined to be named, told TNP: "It's not legitimate, but the risk of getting banned is maybe less than 1 per cent."

Pokemon Go: A beginner's guide

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The New Paper

Glossary

Poke Balls: Used to catch wild Pokemon. As players level up, they can get stronger balls.

PokeStops: Real world locations where you can get Poke Balls and other items.

Gyms: Teams fight for control over these real world locations.

Lure Modules: Attach them to a PokeStop to lure wild Pokemon to that area. They benefit everyone around the PokeStop.

Incense: To lure wild Pokemon to your location for 30 minutes. This benefits only the player.

Combat Power (CP): Measurement of a Pokemon's attack strength that affects how they perform in battle.

Eggs: Pokemon hatch from them after the required walking distance is fulfilled. The player does not know what type of Pokemon is in the egg.

Lucky Eggs: Activate them to double experience points for 30 minutes.

Egg Incubator: A device required to hatch the egg.

Candy: Acquired by capturing Pokemon, hatching eggs and transferring Pokemon to the Professor. They are used to power-up and evolve Pokemon.

Stardust: Acquired by capturing Pokemon and hatching Eggs, needed to power-up a Pokemon.

Razz Berries: Feeding Razz Berries to wild Pokemon allows players to catch them more easily.

Potions: Used to restore a Pokemon's health.

PokeCoins: In-game currency purchased using real money to buy items such as Poke Balls or Lure Modules.

This article was first published on Aug 11, 2016.
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Pokemon GO has been available in Singapore for a mere 5 days (4 full days, if you want to be exact), but it has already become an integral part of conversations on media and among Singaporeans.

Scrolling through my feeds on various social media these days is just an extension of the Pokemon GO craze, and even the most 'un-gamer' friends and acquaintances I have seem to be showing off their catches of the day.

Over the weekend and National Day holiday, I was greeted by players hanging around at different corners of malls and playgrounds, all with one hand clutching to their phones, and their eyes stuck onto their screens.

Admittedly, I was one of these people too - I just happened to look up more.

Regardless, Singaporeans love their trends, and we are unabashed about queuing and travelling far and wide for them. From cheese tarts to limited edition clothing, FOMO (fear of missing out) is real here.

Here's a look at what the phenomenon has brought onto Singapore so far.

Massive crowds everywhere

Previously, we published an article on hotspots that players can go to maximise their Poketrips. These were both a mix of outdoor and indoor locations, some of which had lures purposefully set to increase footfall.

Not only malls like ION Orchard, but even Resorts World Sentosa and Wildlife Reserves Singapore were setting lures and making their attractions even more attractive with promise of Pokemon and maps detailing where Stops and Gyms are:

Hopping onto the National Day holiday, Razer, popular local gaming device company, also organised a "PokeCrawl", which brought participants along the main stretch of Orchard Road - well-known to be insanely Pokemon-populated.

With the strong following Razer has, the event was inevitably well-received, with CEO Min-Liang Tan proudly stating that the Crawl had attracted over 300 people:

In fact, the crowd was so massive that a participant said: "It was so crowded till we got chased away by the ion security staff, sigh"; to which Tan responded in his typical "rockstar" manner: "It's not a Razer event unless too many people turn up and the security gets concerned! :D"

Pokemon GO group PokemonGo SG Hunt had also released lures at the National Stadium yesterday, inviting all players to participate and benefit from the event.

Not only as a business strategy, individuals who were generous (and also hungry) enough also purchased and set lures at locations in housing estates.

I remember being amazed at the crowds gathering at neighbourhood playgrounds and parks which are usually empty, save for a few young children and their caretakers.

What took the cake, though, was the turnout at Yishun Park:

With many players still lacking the full range of Pokemon available, and the desire to literally "be the very best", there's no sign that the crowds will be dying down soon.

Enterprising Businesses

The game has also brought up some of the most enterprising of Singaporeans, not only those setting lures at their retail outlets.

Just on Monday, we published an article about car rental and hire services popping up for hunting Pokemon.

Not only limited to those in the rental and hire business, even players themselves have been offering carpool services for rates at around $30 an hour so that they can cover as much ground as possible with like-minded companions.

Popular ride-hailing app Grab also hopped on for the ride, and released a Pokemon GO map of Singapore with both spawn points, nests and Gyms. They have also provided access discounts for rides to certain landmarks, as a means to make sure that their strategy also translates to more business.

Besides these services, businesses, especially those caught in Stops and Gyms, are also ramping up discounts for players in a bid to entice them to patronise the stores.

There's actually a dire need to do so, because as The New Paper had reported on Monday, even though footfall at ION Orchard had increased due to the lures, many of these players still do not buy anything from the stores.

Said an employee at Topman, "They also go into the fitting rooms to just catch Pokemon, and after they finish, they leave."

Accidents And Incidents

Fortunately, Singapore hasn't had its share of Pokemon GO-related accidents (touch wood!), however, that doesn't mean the experience has been without shocking discoveries.

On the morning of 7 August, the second day that the game was released, a player stumbled upon a dead body during his hunt at Woodlands Waterfront Park.

This isn't the first time that a hunt led to a grisly discovery, with a player in Wyoming, USA, also stumbling across a body in a river and another group finding a body in a San Diego park.

Yesterday morning, The New Paper also reported on a driver's apparent "swiping on gadget" bringing about what could potentially be Singapore's very first Pokemon GO-related car accident.

According to an eye witness, the car was observed to be "starting and stopping abruptly and was moving slowly", and the driver and 2 passengers were "taking out their electronic devices and making swiping actions on their devices". The car behind them crashed into a curb when trying to overtake it.

Queenstown Stadium, which was just a minute's drive from the accident's location, is also a known PokeStop.

While the official cause of the accident has not been announced, the eye witness and a number of citizen detectives have instigated that it was due to Pokemon GO.

Taiwan, which got the app on the same day as us, has been reported to have fined about 350 Taiwanese motorists (mostly motorcyclists) for playing Pokemon GO while travelling on the road so far.

Perhaps the Singapore Traffic Police's strict laws have been keeping such instances low in Singapore?

Spoofers - Gotta Catch 'Em All

Since its launch here, Pokemon GO has also brought out the ugly side of the game - the cheating, or, "spoofing", that's rampant at Gyms.

These spoofers usually possess Pokemon with high Combat Power (CP) and are incredibly high level in spite of the game just being released in Singapore.

As a player myself, I can vouch that getting to the next level and owning a Pokemon (either through catching one, or training/evolving one) doesn't happen overnight, so there is definitely something fishy about domination of Gyms by level 30 players with Pokemon having CP in the thousands.

This issue has been brought up by local Pokemon GO players, which were frustrated that these spoofers are ruining the fun and hard work that goes into the game by having unfair advantages.

To take matters into their own hands, players have banded up to report these spoofers to Niantic:

Being competitive is one thing, but cheating is another.

"Being the very best" should not translate to having unfair advantages, but instead, dedication and skill should be the deciding factors.

One People, One Nation, One Love For Pokemon GO

Pokemon GO has probably been more effective than most nationwide campaigns in uniting Singaporeans for a common cause.

Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon Go now in Singapore

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Not only has it brought Singaporeans out of their houses and to populated places, but the community (especially online) and friendships that have been forged through love of the game is not to be underestimated.

Sure, at its core, Pokemon GO is just a game, but it's heartening to see Singaporeans coming forward to offer tips and tricks, and sharing their lures with absolute strangers on groups such as the 44,473-strong (and growing) Pokemon GO Singapore.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Pokemon GO could be one of the best National Day presents this year.

This article was first published on Aug 10, 2016.

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Pokemon Go: A beginner's guide

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The New Paper

Can't get enough of cute animals on the Internet? A new YouTube video to commemorate National Day has provided a further glimpse into Singapore's wild otter population in their natural element.

Produced by otter watcher Jeffery Teo, 45, the five-minute clip combines footage taken by fellow enthusiasts over the past year.

It opens with Bishan's now famous otter family - fondly named the Bishan 10 - gambolling about in the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and swimming in its river.

It also captures other less well- known otter families in Tanah Merah, Serangoon and Pulau Ubin. In a poll earlier this week, The Straits Times' readers chose Bishan's otter family as their pick for the 51st object that best represents Singapore in its 51st year.

Said Mr Teo, a senior director in the financial service sector: "I couldn't be more delighted that the Bishan 10 has received so much recognition ever since they appeared on the public's radar last year.

"It shows Singaporeans have truly learnt to embrace the wildlife living in our midst, and to appreciate nature more."

Mr Teo, who spent three weekends putting together the video, said he hopes it will educate the public on the other otter families which call Singapore home. The otter population in Singapore is estimated to be about 50.

Mr Sean Yap, 24, an environmental biology student who frequents the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and has seen three pups there, said: "Singapore prides itself on being a city in a garden, and the otters are a testament of the country's ability to develop while preserving what is left of our native biodiversity."

Otters in Singapore

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He sees the clip as a good opportunity to expose Singaporeans to the animals that they share the island with, and also the potential problems posed by them.

"While they may be cute, we have already seen the results of human familiarisation of wild mammals such as macaques and wild pigs, where increased feeding and interaction has led to human-wildlife conflict. This often leads to culling or some other drastic measure."

There have been media reports of the otters eating fish, such as koi and tilapia, from homes and hotels. Owners and breeders of these fish have resorted to using measures such as electric fences to keep the mammals out.

But Mr N. Sivasothi, a senior lecturer with the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore, said: "There is a lot of interest in otters' ecological role as top predator now in rivers. They may be able to help reduce alien fish which may allow native fish recovery.

"Overall, Singaporeans are still very receptive to the otters and are enjoying this unique experience."

This article was first published on Aug 11, 2016.
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The Pokemon Go craze landed in Singapore just five days ago, but some new players have had their experiences soured by others who gained an unfair advantage by getting to the game earlier using third-party methods.

The problem persisted through the week, as new players found themselves matched against higher-level players, which disrupted their gameplay and left them unable to earn in-game currency.

Players of the mobile app have to capture virtual creatures known as Pokemon by walking to different locations where various types will spawn.

But there is also a combat element in the game whereby players battle with each other to gain control of various "Gyms" located on the island, usually at landmarks or points of interest like the Singapore Zoo or Mount Faber.

Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon Go now in Singapore

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

Captured Pokemon have varying degrees of Combat Power (CP) for the battles that range from 10 to over 3,000.

The higher the player's level - which means the more time spent playing the game - the higher the chances of catching a Pokemon with a high CP. More playtime also contributes to players earning more items that can be used to increase their Pokemon's CP.

Yet within hours of the game's release last Saturday, many Gyms were dominated by Pokemon with CP that was physically impossible for new players.

"It's annoying to start the game and immediately be on an uneven playing field," said student Gavin Chen, 19. "They are so far ahead, we can't compete with them."

Players could gain early access to the game - which was first launched on July 6 in Australia, New Zealand and the United States - by installing GPS apps on their phones.

These apps tricked the game's servers into thinking the player was geographically located somewhere else. Using this method of "spoofing" the game, they could get around the region-lock imposed by game developer Niantic.

Thus, some players were able to catch Pokemon from the comfort of their couch as they could "walk" around by using the app to manipulate their GPS.

This gave them an unfair advantage over those who waited for the game's official launch - one of the biggest complaints about the game's late release here.

Pokemon Go: A beginner's guide

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The New Paper

However, not all high-level players controlling Gyms are "spoofers". Some say they played the game legitimately while overseas.

There were calls by players to report the spoofers to Niantic by taking a screenshot of their impossibly high levels and attaching it to an online report form, which can result in such accounts being banned.

One former spoofer, Mr Arron Lee, 22, said he did so as he was eager to play the game early.

"It felt unfair to wait while players in other countries could play well ahead of us, so I gave up waiting and spoofed," said the full-time national serviceman.

But ever since the game's official release here, Mr Lee has shelved his GPS app for walking shoes, to play the game as it was intended.

In an unusual twist, Mr Lee said he and some other players who used to spoof are now siding with new players to reclaim Gyms. They use their high-level Pokemon to defeat other spoofers in Gyms. But instead of claiming that Gym for themselves, they leave it empty for players at a lower level to gain control and thus earn in-game currency.

"We want to make a small difference to the gaming community to be fair to new players," said Mr Lee.

This article was first published on Aug 11, 2016.
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A 26-year-old tenant from China rented out his condominium apartment in Woodlands to three prostitutes in April and May, a district court heard.

The condo's estate manager suspected vice activities and reported it but the sex workers, also from China, refused to open the door when the police came knocking on May 26. The officers were forced to break into the unit.

The next month, the tenant and two of the prostitutes were again nabbed in an anti-vice raid at a Yishun flat. This time, the sex workers were also found to have overstayed in Singapore.

Yesterday, the tenant, Dong Bin, was jailed for three months and fined $12,000. He pleaded guilty to two charges of living off the earnings of a prostitute, and one count of permitting a place to be used as a brothel. Two similar charges were considered in sentencing.

Dong earned $6,300 in total from his vice-related activities.

The court heard that he rented a Woodsvale condo unit in Woodlands Drive 72 in April, knowing it was to be used as a brothel. A compatriot, who was known to him as Zhang Ge, had asked him to rent a home anywhere in Singapore, but where the rooms could be sublet to sex workers for vice activities.

For each unit that he rented, Zhang would deduct $2,000 from the money Dong owed him. Dong was also promised at least $40 a day if he helped Zhang to collect the rent for the room from each prostitute.

Dong rented the Woodlands condo unit under his name and that of a friend. He paid a monthly rent of $2,400, and signed an agreement with the owner and property agent.

The court heard that Zhang gave him $4,800, and Dong handed over the rental papers and house keys. Zhang rented the rooms out to the three prostitutes aged 21, 23 and 37, for $100 a day.

But on May 26, suspecting vice activities due to the number of people entering and leaving the unit, the estate manager called the police. Despite repeatedly knocking on the door, the occupants refused to open up and officers from Jurong Police Division had to break into the unit.

The three prostitutes admitted to providing sexual services there and were arrested on suspicion of having breached immigration laws.

Dong was called up for investigations but was released. However, just four days later, he rented a unit in Block 665, Yishun Avenue 4, again at Zhang's behest.

Zhang, whose identity has not been established, is still at large.

This article was first published on August 11, 2016.
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A terror cell in Batam linked to Islamic State (IS) movement member Bahrun Naim has become active in recent years, with members allegedly beginning to train with firearms and preparing for suicide missions, a top police official said on Monday.

The terror cell, dubbed Khatibah Rahmat Dewa, and its leader Gigih Rahmat Dewa have allegedly been actively developing their network, Riau Islands Police chief Brig. Gen. Sambudi Gusdian said.

The group had been working to expand in recent years, he said. Members allegedly facilitated Chinese Uighurs and Batam residents travelling to Syria. The group also recruited new members and prepared "brides" (suicide bombers) for attacks, Sambudi said, adding that no potential bombers from the group had been seen yet.

"The group has been regularly practicing shooting in Nongsa forest. The training is aimed at introducing firearms to the members," he said on Monday.

The National Police's antiterror squad Densus 88 arrested six suspected militants on Friday who had allegedly plotted to attack Singapore's Marina Bay using a rocket. The police later released one man but named the other five as suspects, including Gigih.

ISIS activities in Southeast Asia

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BHM, The Star/ANN, Royal Malaysian Police, Utusan Malaysia, AFP, Reuters, YouTube screengrabs

Based on preliminary investigations prior to the arrests, the police suspected Gigih of leading the pack while other members had different roles, Sambudi said.

Of the suspects, Trio Syafrido was allegedly a field coordinator and Hady Gusti Yanda was treasurer, while Tarmidzi and Eka Syahputra allegedly assembled guns and conducted training, respectively.

The group is linked to Bahrun Naim, who hails from Surakarta, Central Java. He is believed to be in Syria and is suspected of masterminding a terror attack in Sarinah, Central Jakarta, that killed four civilians in January.

Read also: Flyers surface in Batam warning of bomb attacks targeting Singaporeans

Children recruited by ISIS to be part of horrific killings, executions

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YouTube screengrabs

A selection of English Premier League (EPL) matches is now available across multiple online platforms for only $19.90 a month, in time for this season's kick-off tomorrow.

Telcos M1 and StarHub have joined national broadcaster Mediacorp's Toggle online platform in offering the package, which features key matches streamed live over the Internet.

This is the first time that EPL content is available in a la carte fashion and across multiple platforms.

Singtel, which holds the exclusive rights to EPL here, has resold the rights to key matches to Eleven Sports Network in a deal announced in June.

M1, StarHub and Toggle are reselling the content bought by Eleven, a global sports content online streaming provider.

The complete EPL package providing all the live matches is only available from Singtel for $59.90 a month.

Under Eleven's package, three live games and three delayed telecasts will be shown per week on its website at elevensports.sg or via the Eleven Sports app.

Fans can choose to pay Eleven $19.90 a month directly.

But the two telcos have thrown in extras. M1 has bundled Eleven's EPL package with its 1Gbps fibre broadband plan for $44.90 a month. On its own, M1's 1Gbps fibre broadband plan costs $39 a month.

StarHub lets mobile subscribers watch the matches via its website or StarHub Go app without incurring any mobile data charges or depleting their mobile data allowance.

Customers will be billed $19.90 a month by StarHub.

itham@sph.com.sg

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To the Chinese here, there are two types of ghosts that emerge during the 7th lunar month:

1) The so-called 'hungry ghosts' surfacing from the underworld to prowl for food.

2) The 'gambling ghosts' or habitual human punters who are on a heightened look out for lucky numbers.

When the 'Hungry Ghost' month begins, celebration organisers would display scribbled lucky numbers at altar urns after picking the numbers at random from folded pieces of paper following a prayer.

For the 7th month only, there is even a high-tech machine at Maxwell Road food centre that selects lucky numbers for you.

All you have to do is hit the buttons to get 4D numbers and a series of Toto numbers.

It's up to you whether you want to pray to the Goddess of Mercy before you press the button.

Machine at food centre offers quick pick of 'lucky' numbers

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Chen Jingwen, The Straits Times

The hawker committee in charge of 7th month celebrations at the popular food centre had the machine custom-made about seven years ago, said Mr Ng Kok Hua who runs China Street Fritters stall.

"It was to add interest to our 7th month celebrations apart from having the getai and dinner," said the stallholder who sells Hokkien-style ngoh hiang rolls.

"During lunch time, you can see more people having a go at the machine. We also adjusted the machine to include number 49 when the Toto format was changed in 2014," he added.

So has anyone struck the lottery with the Maxwell quick pick?

Mr Ng believes there were winners, judging from the discovery of 50 dollar notes stuffed into the donation box for the 7th month activity fund at the altar area.

"The committee noted this when the box was opened. Usually the Chinese punters would return to give thanks by donating some of their winnings. But they won't openly reveal that they have won," he said.

But now, it's the stallholders themselves who are in dire need of more luck.

The closing of the centre's entrances at South Bridge Road for the construction of the Thomson-East Coast line has affected their business by about 20 to 50 per cent, reported The Straits Times in December last year.

The hoarding has given the impression to tourists that the food centre is no longer there. Customers coming from South Bridge Road have to walk around the construction site to Maxwell Road to get to the food centre.

The stall-holders also hope the Urban Redevelopment Authority would extend more parking facilities to the public at its nearby URA Centre after office hours and on weekends.

The hawker centre houses about 100 stalls, including the famous Tian Tian Chicken Rice. But some stalls have closed shop in recent months, according to stall holders there.

chenj@sph.com.sg

Pet businesses will be expected to comply with a new code that spells out minimum standards on the care, management and housing of animals.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) yesterday announced that the new Code of Animal Welfare (for the Pet Industry) will take effect on Oct 1 and apply to any business that sells pets or goods and services for pets.

This includes pet shops, groomers and even pet trainers.

Businesses will be given till March 31 next year to comply.

Under the code, pet businesses will, for example, need to ensure animal enclosures are clean, well-ventilated and large enough for the animal to move freely.

Pet breeders will need to ensure that their animals are physically fit, healthy and free of diseases prior to mating.

The code also includes best practices which businesses are encouraged to adopt.

The AVA said that although failing to meet the minimum requirements will not be an offence, it can be used to support prosecution or other enforcement actions for animal welfare cases.

Ms Tan Poh Hong, AVA's CEO, said: "With the code, pet businesses now have an official guideline on their responsibilities to the animals under their charge."

Dr Jaipal Singh Gill, 33, executive director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, called the new code "a good starting point".

"Within a year or so, once the industry has had time to adjust and reach the minimum standards required of them, some of the 'best practices' need to become minimum requirements," he said.

Mr Ng Whye Hoe, 44, managing director and owner of Pet Lovers Centre, said improvements can still be made in practically every area of the pet industry, including hygiene and pet welfare.

"Constant and neverending improvement should be the attitude of the industry," he said.

Separately, the Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Committee for Animal Welfare (MSCC) has given its recommendations for a training curriculum for operators and staff of pet-related businesses.

The curriculum it has recommended includes training on animal welfare law in Singapore, as well as training on animal behaviour and needs.

Mr Chua Ming Kok, 43, owner of SmashsingGrooming Academy, said this would be a good move if it is accepted as, in some cases, poor treatment of animals arise from lack of knowledge.

Poodles, for example, are very fragile, hence extra care must be taken to ensure they do not run around or jump off high surfaces.

"It is also important to understand the body language and temperament of the different breeds," he said.

The AVA said it will study and review MSCC's recommendations.

This article was first published on August 12, 2016.
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Higher daily ridership and lower fuel costs on the Downtown Line gave SBS Transit a lift on its earnings in the second quarter.

Net profit came in at $7.2 million for the second quarter, up 19 per cent from the same period a year earlier.

Revenue increased by 5.6 per cent to $269 million.

The company's results were boosted by its rail business.

Revenue from the rail segment rose by 24.6 per cent to $65.1 million, owing to higher average daily ridership after the commencement of revenue from the service of the Downtown Line 2.

This was offset by lower average fares for the North-East Line and Light Rail Transit due to the fare reduction from Dec 27 last year.

Average daily ridership on the Downtown line surged by 204.8 per cent to 212,000 passenger trips, compared with the same period last year.

Operating profit for the quarter was $9.4 million,up by 11.1 per cent for the same period last year, mainly due to higher revenue, lower fuel costs and lower depreciation.

Some gains were offset by higher staff costs due to the recruitment of more staff for the Downtown Line, it said.

In a statement yesterday, the company said it expected rail revenue to grow from higher ridership, while bus revenue is expected to be maintained.

It added in a separate announcement that with effect from Sept 1, its bus unit will enter into a negotiated contract with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for the operation of public bus services under the Bus Contracting Model.

Under this model, SBS will receive bus revenue comprising of the service fee for the provision of bus services and revenue from advertising and rental. In addition, LTA will pay SBS a leasing fee for the use of its existing fleet of buses.

The overall gain in profits translated to higher earnings per share of 2.34 cents, up from 1.97 cents.

Net asset value per share was $1.17 as at June 30, up from $1.10 as at Dec 31.

The company declared an interim dividend of 2.35 cents per share up from 1.65 cents last year.

AT A GLANCE

NET PROFIT: $7.2 million (+19 per cent)

REVENUE: $269 million (+5.6 per cent)

INTERIM DIVIDEND PER SHARE: 2.35 cents (+42.4 per cent)

This article was first published on August 12, 2016.
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An unexploded aerial bomb found on a barge carrying a consignment of sand from Vietnam is likely to be disposed of by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in the week ahead, sources said yesterday.

The war relic, estimated to be 2m long, was discovered on July 18 on the KNB 1, a Singapore vessel involved in land-reclamation work for a new port terminal in Tuas.

Over the last three weeks, sand around the bomb - which got stuck on the barge's conveyor belt - had to be carefully removed so that experts could access the bomb.

Those involved had earlier suggested hiring a private contractor, as the bomb was found to be safe to be moved on Monday.

However, further checks by The Straits Times found that, given the size of the bomb and its classification as "sensitive ordnance", the task of removing it fell to the SAF's Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives (CBRE) Defence Group.

Sources said the CBRE team is now waiting for ideal tidal conditions at Pulau Senang, which is an offshore island used by the SAF for live-firing exercises and the disposal of unexploded ordnance.

The bomb will be taken to the island and detonated.

The KNB 1 barge is currently anchored off Pulau Sudong, at the Sudong Explosive Anchorage, a designated site for the loading or discharging of dangerous goods.

It was moved from the Tuas reclamation site after SAF experts decided that it was safe to do so.

The sand was loaded onto the KNB 1 from another vessel in the area and was to be unloaded onto the reclamation site when the crew discovered the bomb.

An industry expert, who did not want to be named, said there are generally two ways of detonating an unexploded bomb.

One is a "low order" controlled blast, where the shell of the bomb is cut open and the explosives are burnt.

The other way is a "high order" method, where explosives are attached to the bomb to blow it up.

The expert said he did not believe that the bomb had been launched from an airplane before.

If it had, it would be it armed and highly explosive.

He said: "The bomb was transported all the way from Vietnam to Singapore, and likely never used.

"It was probably kept in storage and disposed of into the sea, where it was later dredged up, along with the sand."

This article was first published on August 12, 2016.
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He had just finished his meal at a busy coffee shop in a MacPherson industrial building when he heard people shouting out a warning.

"It's falling, it's falling!"

He froze, and the next thing he knew, a 10m-long signboard had fallen nearby, pinning a woman in her 50s against a fridge behind her.

Mr Wang Hong Ming, 34, one of the patrons of Food Loft coffee shop, told The New Paper (TNP) in Mandarin: "It all happened so fast and I think she couldn't react in time."

He said he was the first to rush to her aid and he quickly lifted off the signboard, which had fallen on her chest.

The incident happened on Wednesday.

"When I got the signboard off her, I didn't see any blood, but her face turned very red," said Mr Wang, who works nearby.

"I had no time to feel scared. If you see something like that, what would you do?"

When it fell, the long signboard, which was for four stalls, took down with it part of the false ceiling at the coffee shop at Lorong Batu Bakar, off MacPherson Road, reported Lianhe Wanbao.

When TNP visited the coffee shop yesterday at 4.30pm, the space where the signboard had fallen had been swept clean.

Most parts of the ceiling have also been fixed.

Some debris was spotted in one of the stalls.

A coffee shop worker, believed to be the supervisor, said she had not been present when the signboard fell.

The woman, who declined to be named, said in Mandarin: "The signboard is in the midst of being repaired."

Sales were also unaffected, she said, with roughly the same number of customers streaming into the coffee shop as on a regular day.

But the stalls close to where the signboard had fallen said their businesses were affected.

The owner of the stall right next to the fallen signboard, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim, 60, said in Mandarin: "My business was a little affected because people now find it inconvenient to walk to this stall."

This article was first published on August 12, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - You may use up lots of PokeBalls trying to catch Pikachu, but apparently, not a lot of data.

Contrary to popular belief, Pokemon Go, the game which has taken Singapore by storm since its launch on Aug 6, is not a data hog. While telcos are cashing in on the game by setting up "Lure Modules" - used to attract more Pokemon - near their shops in order to get people to visit them, they are under no illusion that Pokemon Go would have an impact on their bottom lines by increasing data usage by any significant degree.

"If you really look at it, it's not really a high data-generating app, because you're just sending small uploads," said Yuen Kuan Moon, Singtel chief executive for consumer business, on Thursday. But he added that Singtel could benefit from people using its network to play the game because they would understand the "superior quality of the network".

According to some estimates, playing Pokemon Go for eight hours at a stretch would entail about 25 MB of data usage. In comparison, according to Cisco, one hour of social network browsing could result in the usage of 90 MB of data.

A StarHub spokesman told BT that Pokemon Go "utilises about 20 MB for every hour of play". He added that this calculation was based on the upper limit of data usage and actual usage could be much lower. He added that users can track the amount of data used by the minute on their phones.

Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon Go now in Singapore

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

"Deploying lures is a fun way for us to show our hospitality. Trainers can rest their tired feet as well as use the available phone charging points at our shops. This weekend, we are placing lures at 10 StarHub Shops," the spokesman added. Singtel has also released Lure Modules at PokeStops near 10 Singtel retail outlets across the island.

Many small Singapore businesses sense an opportunity to increase sales. For example, a pastry shop in the Jalan Besar area, Ollella, has brought out a pastry package for Pokemon Go players.

The shop's owner, Marcella Tanuwijaya, told The Business Times that since her shop was very close to two PokeStops, players naturally congregate near the shop. If they buy the pastry package, they get the shop's WiFi password and can sit in the shop and play the game.

PokeStops are places in Pokemon Go that allow players to collect items such as eggs and more Pokeballs to capture Pokemon.

Ms Tanuwijaya said that she launched the promotion on National Day and that there was a marked increase in footfalls to her shop. However, she was not sure if it was because of the holiday or because of the package even though she noticed that more than 80 per cent of people in her shop were playing the game.

She hopes to run the promotion over the coming weekend to see if it works again. Still, Ms Tanuwijaya said that the package is not a sustainable business model as interest in the game is bound to taper off. But she hopes to use the short-term interest to increase awareness about her shop in the hope there will be return customers for her pastries.

A craft beer outlet in Chinatown has set up charging stations for players who run out of battery. The shop is also near a few PokeStops.

amit@sph.com.sg

Pokemon Go: A beginner's guide

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The New Paper

No Singaporeans were directly affected by the string of bomb attacks in Thailand on Thursday and Friday (Aug 11 and 12) that have killed at least four people.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said that it is currently contacting Singaporeans in affected areas who have registered with the ministry.

The ministry also urged Singaporeans in Thailand to remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions for their personal safety.

"Singaporeans in Thailand are encouraged to e-register with MFA so that we may contact you should the need arise," it added.

Two bombs exploded within 30 minutes of each other in the upscale resort of Hua Hin late Thursday, killing one woman and injuring more than 20 others, including nine foreign tourists.

On Friday, two blasts struck at Patong Beach on Phuket island, while two more were reported in the southern towns of Trang and Surat Thani, each killing one person.

The series of attacks comes less than a week before the first anniversary of a deadly bomb attack on the well-known Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, which killed 20.

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Reuters, Twitter, AFP

seanyap@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - First, they tell victims that they have a parcel containing prohibted items under their name. Then, they claim to be police officers, asking the victim for their bank details and to wire money to an overseas account.

But while some unsuspecting victims are still falling prey to these tactics, remittance companies have quickly wised up to scammers' nefarious tricks.

On Wednesday (Aug 11), the timely intervention of two staff members from Zhongguo Remittance Pte Ltd prevented a 22-year-old man from being cheated of $8,500, the police said in a statement.

It is the third time that the company has foiled parcel scam attempts in recent months.

The victim had received a phone call earlier that day about a parcel containing illegal items in Shanghai. He was subsequently given instructions to transfer money to the scammers.

When he went to his regular remittance company to wire over the cash, staff member Ms Li Chun Li suspected something was amiss and informed her supervisor, Ms Wang Meiqin, who immediately notified the police.

Officers from the Central Division and Commercial Affairs Department quickly established that the victim had been scammed. The victim managed to fully recover his $8,500.

This is not the first time that remittance companies have prevented victims from falling prey to such scams:

- Earlier in August, Zhongguo Remittance also foiled a similar scam and prevented a 25-year-old from losing $1,000.

- The same company was involved in foiling another attempt to dupe a woman of $25,000 in July.

- Another company, Hanshan Money Express Remittance, also prevented an elderly woman who was threatened with imprisonment from losing $180,000.

Top 7 scams in Singapore and more

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www.scamalert.sg

There have been more reports of parcel phone scams in Singapore in recent months, according to the police's Financial Crime Policy and Operations Branch.

A total of about $4 million has reportedly been scammed from at least 50 victims since March, with $2.3 million being the largest amount lost in a single incident.

The police urged the public to take precautions when receiving calls from unknown parties.

They advised members of the public to ignore such calls, ignore instructions to remit or transfer money, refrain from giving out personal information, and to talk to a trusted friend or relative before taking any action.

Those with information related to such crimes can call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000, or dial 999 for urgent assistance.

Read also: 11 scams that are happening in Singapore now

seanyap@sph.com.sg