Current Affairs

MERSING, MALAYSIA — The search for missing Singaporean kayaker has been terminated by the Malaysian authorities on Sunday night (18 August) after no new signs found following discovery of the body of fellow female kayaker on 14 August. Mr Tan Eng Soon, 62, disappeared alongside another Singaporean Puah Geo Tin, 57, during a kayaking trip near the shores of Mersing on …

A total of 12,479 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized at Tuas Checkpoint on 27 July 2019, at about 9.05 am in the largest haul of duty-unpaid cigarettes uncovered by Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in the last five years. ICA said in a press release on Monday (19 August) that its officers conducted checks on an arriving Malaysia-registered lorry …

China slammed Taiwan Monday for offering asylum to Hong Kong people facing prosecution for involvement in anti-government protests, telling the island’s leaders to “stop meddling” in the territory’s affairs. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen voiced support last month for granting asylum to some Hong Kong protesters, with the semi-autonomous financial hub in the midst of an unprecedented political crisis. Ma Xiaoguang, …

Bank of England governor Mark Carney has withdrawn from a high-profile business event with China’s ambassador to London, sources said Monday, as pro-democracy protests continue in Hong Kong. Carney had been due to speak at the dinner, aimed at boosting Chinese business links, which is scheduled for September 3 at the Guildhall, the administrative centre of the City of London …

Local long-time actor, Bai Yan had passed away at the age of 100. It was disclosed that the China-born artist passed away on Monday (August 19) at 3am in the morning. Bai Yan has acted in many local Chinese TV shows, naming a few are Son of Pulang Tekong (1985) and Pretty Faces (1991) and most famous for his portrayal …

by Yan ZHAO / Catherine LAI A sea of democracy activists once more flooded the streets of Hong Kong in a defiant show Sunday to the city’s leaders that their movement still pulls wide public support, despite mounting violence and increasingly stark warnings from Beijing. Ten weeks of demonstrations have plunged the financial hub into crisis, with images of masked …

The man who killed his lover in his car near Garden’s by the Bay and later burnt her body has been sentenced to life in prison today (19 August) by Singapore Court. Leslie Khoo Kwee Hock, 51, who had pleaded guilty in July 2016 to strangling his engineer mistress Cui Yajie, 31 had admitted to killing her in his BMW …

The government will reinforce preschool subsidies including for middle income families in order to mollify concerns over the cost of preschool education. This was revealed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during the National Day Rally held on Sunday (18 August). He further added that the authorities would increase the income ceiling for families whom are seeking to qualify for …

The National Parks Board (NParks) will be reviewing and tightening the standards of the pet sector to better protect animal health and welfare said Ms Sun Xueling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and National Development at the Pets’ Day Out event on Saturday on (17 August). It was announced that the board will collaborated with stakeholders in the pet …

At the National Day Rally yesterday (18 Aug), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that Singapore’s current annual spending of about $1 billion on early childhood education will “more than double” over the next few years, as the Government looks to make pre-schools more affordable. He wants to increase the number of government-supported pre-schools to 80 per cent over time. …