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The national flag could have been blue: A look at the history of 7 Singapore symbols

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1 minute

SINGAPORE - The Citizens' Workgroup for National Symbols recently reviewed how seven markers of national identity could be used and celebrated. Insight looks at their origins and evolution. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Can national symbols better rally Singaporeans?

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1 minute

SINGAPORE - Apart from their quality of football, Italian players during the European Football Championship this year were noted by fans worldwide for another admirable quality - the way they belted out their national anthem in unison. Although their voices were drowned out by the shouts of hostile fans many times their number - some even took to booing - the players defiantly held their ground through the Il Canto degli Italiani, The Song Of The Italians. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Man’s huge regret after elderly parents get Covid-19: Not convincing them to get vaccinated early

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5 minutes

SINGAPORE (THE NEW PAPER) - Even though they were eligible, Mr Teo Kee Huat's elderly parents decided to put off their Covid-19 vaccinations earlier this year. His mother had pre-existing medical conditions and his father wanted her to clear all her doctor's appointments first. His father also decided to wait so they could get vaccinated together. Mr Teo's worst fears came true: His father, who is in his early 80s, tested positive for Covid-19 and was admitted to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on June 1. Five days later, still reeling from the news, he received another shock: His mother, who is in her late 70s, tested positive and was also admitted to NCID. Mr Teo, who works in engineering and is in his 40s, told The New Paper on Thursday (Aug 5): "At first I was worried about my dad, and then the big shocker was that my mum also tested positive. It was a worse feeling because my mum is not as healthy as my dad. "I never expected both of them to suddenly contract Covid-19 at the same time." Mr Teo and his two brothers were placed under quarantine as they had visited their parents that week. Their test results came back negative. Mr Teo's father was moved to the ...

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Man’s jail term extended by 10 months after he bit off part of fellow inmate’s ear in prison fight

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - A recalcitrant offender who is currently serving a jail sentence for earlier offences has had his prison stint extended after he bit off part of a fellow inmate's left ear in a fight. The 53-year-old victim, Lim Lee Yat, is now permanently disfigured as doctors could not reattach the severed part of his ear. His attacker, Teo Chye Lye, who has been in and out of jail since 1998 for crimes including assault and criminal intimidation, was last sent to prison in 2016 for drug-related offences. The 56-year-old Singaporean was on Friday (Aug 6) sentenced to 10 months in jail after he pleaded guilty to assaulting Lim. He will start serving this sentence after completing his earlier one. Deputy Public Prosecutor Gabriel Lim said that the two inmates were in a workshop at Changi Prison shortly before the fight broke out on Dec 15 last year. They were packing coffee sachets when Teo used his hand to push some of the spilled coffee mix to Lim's side of the work table. As a result, the younger man had to work on more packages. A quarrel broke out between the two and Teo told Lim to "not be so calculative". The DPP said: "The verbal dispute then escalated when the victim punched th...

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Marina Bay Sands casino reopens after two-week closure due to Covid-19 cluster

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino reopened on Thursday (Aug 5), following a two-week closure after a Covid-19 infection cluster was traced to it on July 21. MBS said its casino has implemented various precautionary measures with the reopening, which include an enhanced rostered routine testing regime for staff members who interact with guests. Employees will undergo swab tests ranging from every three days to every 28 days, depending on their vaccination status and job risk profile, it added. "The reopening comes at a time when vaccination rates among our staff have reached nearly 90 per cent," said MBS in a statement on its website. The casino was closed from July 22 for cleaning after 11 cases were linked to it, and investigations found there was likely ongoing transmission at the premises. As at Thursday night, the casino cluster has grown to 60 coronavirus cases, with one new case added on Thursday, according to the Health Ministry's daily update. Other measures the casino has put in place ahead of its reopening include limiting the number of patrons in private salons and at each gaming table, while electronic gaming machines and slots have been spaced at least 1m a...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Aug 6

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2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Friday, Aug 6. Covid-19 death toll rises to 40 as 79-year-old unvaccinated S'porean dies This is Singapore's third death from the virus in four days. READ MORE HERE Travellers from Taiwan need not serve SHN from Aug 7 if they test negative for Covid-19 on arrival: MOH Short-term visitors can now also apply for an Air Travel Pass for entry into Singapore on or after Aug 12. READ MORE HERE China must relook approach for zero Covid-19 cases as Delta variant spreads Beijing may need to shift its approach to one where its population learns to live with the virus. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Medical examinations for maids in S'pore to also check BMI, suspicious injuries in move to better detect abuse The check-ups will also take place at clinics without the employers being present. READ MORE HERE Primary 1 registration: Four in 10 schools oversubscribed at close of Phase 2C The most popular school was South View Primary School in Choa Chu Kang, which had 134 children vying for 20 places. READ MORE HERE Opposition leader Anwar and Umno chief Zahid marshal MPs to oust...

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Schools, polytechnics and ITE started fast and easy Covid-19 testing in July: MOE

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Staff working at schools, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) have had to do fast and easy testing (FET) for Covid-19, swabbing themselves since mid-July, while autonomous universities here will start testing when term resumes this month and next. Cleaners, teachers and canteen vendors are among the staff at educational institutions who test themselves using antigen rapid test (ART) kits, under the supervision of a trained staff member. They have to do a test every 14 days, the Ministry of Education (MOE) told The Straits Times on Thursday (Aug 5). The FET requirement was introduced in June as part of a set of measures for staff working in higher-risk settings that involve unmasked individuals. They include teachers, coaches and instructors who interact with students in settings like physical education lessons, sports activities, music and drama classes and performing arts co-curricular activities. Food and beverage operators such as canteen vendors and cafe staff must also be tested, along with cleaners in schools that have unvaccinated students under the age of 12 or whose duties include cleaning venues where unmasked activities take place, lik...

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HDB resale prices rise for 13th straight month in July, though growth pace slows

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Demand for Housing Board resale flats remained strong in July, with prices continuing to climb and more flats changing hands despite tightened Covid-19 measures in the second half of the month. HDB resale prices rose for the 13th straight month, advancing 0.5 per cent in July compared with June, according to flash data from real estate portal SRX on Thursday (Aug 5). However, the pace of price gains slowed for the second month, which could be an indication of price resistance from buyers, noted Huttons Asia senior director of research Lee Sze Teck. Year on year, resale prices increased 13.2 per cent from July last year and are just 1.2 per cent off their peak in April 2013. The rise in prices for resale flats last month was broad-based, climbing for both mature and non-mature estates, and almost all room types. Only prices for executive flats dipped, by 0.6 per cent. A total of 2,662 resale flats changed hands last month, rising 15.2 per cent from the month before. On July 22, Singapore returned to phase two (heightened alert) where group sizes were cut to two people, among other measures. ERA Realty head of research and consultancy Nicholas Mak said that despite the vi...

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Chong Pang Market reopens to unusually thin crowds, Haig Road market delays reopening

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9 minutes

SINGAPORE - It was a markedly quiet morning at Chong Pang Market, one of Singapore's most popular wet markets, as it reopened on Thursday (Aug 5) after a two-week closure. While the neighbourhood centre outside was bustling with activity, stallholders lamented the thin crowds inside. A fishmonger, who gave his name only as Mr Yap, said: "This is one of Singapore's top four markets. Look at it now. Big market also dying. What to do?" Chong Pang Market was one of four popular wet markets that had to implement entry restrictions last year based on the last digit of patrons' NRIC number. Mr Yap, 29, said that since the Covid-19 outbreak at Jurong Fishery Port last month, business at his stall has fallen by 80 per cent. Despite bringing in fewer supplies in anticipation of slower business on the first day of the market's reopening, he still had about half of his stock left at 10am, he told The Straits Times. He had opened his stall at 4am. "We definitely cannot clear it all by today," he said. Chong Pang Market is one of several markets and hawker centres that were forced to shut in the wake of the massive Jurong Fishery Port cluster. The cluster is also the reason behind the recent mov...

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More than 32,000 workers matched to new jobs by NTUC’s Job Security Council

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - More than 32,000 workers have secured new jobs with the help of the Job Security Council of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) to date, labour chief Ng Chee Meng said on Thursday (Aug 5). This means that about 4,000 workers have been matched with jobs since the start of this year, when Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat last gave an update on the scheme. The council, set up in February last year, helps displaced workers or those at risk of losing their jobs move to new roles or secure temporary secondments. The bulk of these workers were placed in new jobs last year, at the height of the pandemic. More than 10,000 companies now form part of the council's network, up from just 4,000 when it started. In a National Day message, Mr Ng highlighted three groups of workers who are "still reeling from the prolonged effects of the pandemic" and need extra help. These are lower-wage workers, freelancers and PMEs - professionals, managers and executives. For lower-wage workers, NTUC is working to speed up the expansion of the progressive wage model so that wages, welfare and work prospects can improve, he said. He also highlighted the efforts of the Tripartite Workgroup o...

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Ward visitors at hospitals thin out as ban kicks in to stem Covid-19 transmission

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Crowds were seen at several local hospitals, but most were there for outpatient treatment on Thursday (Aug 5), the first day of the barring of visits to hospital wards islandwide. The Straits Times observed only a few people at the ward registration counters of Singapore General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and KK Women's and Children's Hospital. Visits to hospital wards are not allowed from Aug 5 to 18 to stem further Covid-19 transmission after clusters involving staff and patients have emerged at Changi General Hospital (CGH) and Yishun Community Hospital (YCH). A spokesman for TTSH said on Thursday that it has communicated the change in visiting policy to all its patients and their families. "They are generally understanding of the need. All visitors have to be registered before they can enter our wards. We will reiterate the importance of this change in policy at our counters and seek our visitors' cooperation to keep our patients and staff safe," said the spokesman. Four patient groups are exempted from this rule on a case-by-case basis. They include patients who are very ill, patients who are babies or children, as well as mothers who are due to give b...

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Over 90 hotels in S’pore have served as quarantine or stay-home notice facilities

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - As Covid-19 infections continue to rise, the number of hotels that have served as isolation facilities has jumped from more than 70 in May to more than 90 as at Wednesday (Aug 4). Since March last year, these hotels have - at some point - been used as government quarantine facilities or stay-home notice dedicated facilities (SDFs). They are activated based on current needs, the Ministry of National Development (MND) told The Straits Times. It did not say how many hotels are currently serving as such facilities. SDFs refer to accommodation for incoming travellers who are issued with stay-home notices, while government quarantine facilities are for those who need to be isolated, as they have come into close contact with Covid-19 cases. Depending on the circumstances, people who are under a quarantine order or SHN can also serve it at home, MND noted. As at Wednesday, there were around 14,000 people under quarantine, 5,000 of whom were placed in government quarantine facilities, according to data from the Ministry of Health (MOH). On Tuesday, MOH apologised for delays in ferrying people under quarantine orders to the facilities. It said the number of people under quarantin...

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Over 3,000 people in S’pore have responded to emergency medical, security alerts via SGSecure

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1 minute

SINGAPORE - Nurse Rubio Franchesca Santos was resting at home after her night shift at the National University Hospital one day last September, when she received an alert on her phone informing her someone nearby was having a heart attack. She rushed to Boon Lay MRT at 3pm, still in her pyjamas, and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the man having the heart attack until the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) arrived. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Woman caught on video not wearing a mask at MBS is expected to plead guilty on Aug 12

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - A woman captured on video not wearing a mask at the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) integrated resort is expected to plead guilty to her charges on Aug 12. Phoon Chiu Yoke, who is now in remand, appeared in court via video-link on Wednesday (Aug 4). She asked the court for her release, without conditions attached. Alleged offenders can be released on bail before they are convicted. Phoon, who is unrepresented, also asked for the return of her passport, stressing that she has a "stellar professional record". The court denied her application on Wednesday given the "egregious nature" of her charges. She continues to be in remand. Phoon currently faces 22 charges for various offences including multiple counts of failing to wear a mask at public places. She first appeared in court last year after she allegedly failed to wear a mask over her nose and mouth "at all times" at Newton hawker centre between 7.20pm and 8pm on May 8 during the circuit breaker period. She left Singapore for Britain soon after that alleged offence. She returned to Singapore on June 28 last year and had to serve a 14-day stay-home notice at MBS until July 12. The court had heard that she allegedly left her hote...

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SIT pilots pathway for adults to learn skills at work, get rewarded with credits for degree

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Workers here can soon pick up new knowledge and skills on their jobs and get a university degree for their efforts. This alternative route offered by the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) will allow adult learners to gain credits towards fulfilling degree requirements, based on the competencies they have acquired through prior work experience. For a start, the university will pilot the competency-based workplace learning pathway in the cybersecurity and transportation sectors, which are expected to grow significantly. This is scheduled to start next month. On Wednesday (Aug 4), SIT signed two memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with partners in these sectors. Under the MOUs, SIT will work with them to upskill their workforce. The first MOU, with Ensign InfoSecurity, will establish a pathway for the firm's employees to enrol in the university's information and communications technology (information security) degree programme. The other MOU was jointly signed by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), SBS Transit and SMRT Corporation with SIT. It will provide a route for SBS Transit and SMRT staff to get a bachelor's or master's degree in sustainable infrastructure engine...

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Covid-19 transmission via contaminated surfaces at Jurong Fishery Port possible, but may not be main route

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6 minutes

SINGAPORE - Transmission via contaminated surfaces at the Jurong Fishery Port was possible, though unlikely to be the dominant route of Covid-19 spread, said experts here. The largest active cluster in Singapore, which has more than 1,000 cases linked to it, began after a number of fishmongers who had visited the fishery port tested positive. Singapore's director of medical services, Associate Professor Kenneth Mak, said at a July 20 press conference of the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19 that the infection was likely introduced from Indonesian or other fishing boats. However, the exact mechanism of transmission from the fishing boats to stall operators at the port "isn't entirely clear", he had noted then. Still, fomite transmission, which refers to objects or materials likely carrying infection, through contaminated surfaces and at the stalls, remains a strong possibility. Professor Paul Tambyah, president of the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection, said the outbreaks in the fishery port are a throwback to what happened at the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, China, where the Sars-CoV-2 virus was first detected. However, Prof Tambyah noted that ...

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How phylogenetic testing helps experts establish links between Covid-19 cases

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Phylogenetic testing compares different virus genomes and helps scientists deduce the index case of a Covid-19 cluster. In the case of the Jurong Fishery Port cluster, the authorities were able to determine that the strains relating to the cluster were of the Delta variant and similar to what was seen in imported cases from Indonesia. Dr Sebastian Maurer-Stroh, executive director of the Bioinformatics Institute at A*Star, said a phylogenetic or "family" tree is created using viral mutations as markers to compare the virus genomes. In this family tree, close relatives are grouped together and one can then see which cases had formed a cluster - in this way, one can then deduce the ancestor of a cluster, said Dr Maurer-Stroh. Through real-time sharing of genomes globally via the Gisaid data-sharing platform, one can also understand transmission between countries by comparing the virus genome from different countries, he added. Dr Gavin Smith, a professor in the Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore, said phylogenetics is able to compare how related different virus genomes are, based on the similarities or differences in their RNA seque...

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Four in five tenants and workers at Jurong Fishery Port are fully vaccinated: Grace Fu

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Around 80 per cent of tenants and workers at Jurong Fishery Port are fully vaccinated, with 88 per cent having received at least one dose, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Tuesday (Aug 3). During a visit to the port in the morning, she noted that the vaccination rate at the port is high and urged all tenants and workers there to get vaccinated. She said: "All the stallholders who are back, have been tested negative, and they have been put on routine regular testing of seven days, and all trade visitors, similarly, have been tested negative before they're allowed to come in." The wholesale market at Jurong Fishery Port is the centre of the largest active Covid-19 cluster here with 1,072 cases as at Monday noon. The outbreak led to cases emerging in 43 markets and food centres around Singapore. Ms Fu, who visited the port together with Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Desmond Tan, said tenants of the port were progressively opening their stalls and adapting to the enhanced safe management measures that were put in place for its reopening. The port reopened at 3pm on July 31, after being closed for two weeks, during w...

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NParks working with town councils to stop use of poison in wildlife control measures

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The National Parks Board (NParks) is working with town councils to stop the use of poison in animal control measures. Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann told Parliament on Tuesday (Aug 3) that NParks does not use poison in its efforts to control pest birds. "NParks is also working with the town councils to encourage them to move away from the use of toxins and to adopt animal control measures and practices that are humane and safe," she said. Ms Sim was responding to questions from Mr Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC), who asked if NParks could stop the practice of poisoning wild animals as it is often not only members of the target species that die. "There's a huge knock-on effect. Just recently, Acres rescued a white-bellied sea eagle which had consumed the poisoned wildlife," Mr Ng said, referring to the non-governmental organisation, the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres). "Thankfully, it has recovered and was released back into the wild but there are many cases where cats, dogs and other animals consume the poisoned animal and subsequently dies. "So can I ask whether we can stop this practice? Not have measures in place during the p...

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Legal protection available for minors affected by media coverage that identifies them

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - The Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA) offers legal recourse to minors 18 and under who may be affected by media coverage of events involving them, such as the publishing of information that reveals their identity. Parliamentary Secretary for Communications and Information Rahayu Mahzam told the House this on Tuesday (Aug 3) in response to questions from Workers' Party MP He Ting Ru (Sengkang GRC) on media guidelines for approaching minors in the wake of traumatic incidents. Most recently, media coverage of a July tragedy at River Valley High School - where a Secondary 1 student was allegedly killed by a Sec 4 student on campus - drew criticism in some quarters, including from the school's students themselves who shared accounts of journalists being intrusive. Ms Rahayu noted that the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) has reminded mainstream media about legal protections accorded to minors, as part of the CYPA. Under the Act, no one is allowed to publish or broadcast information that identifies - even inadvertently - any person below 18 years old who is involved in any court proceedings, including as a witness. "If any mainstream or online media, or for that matter a...