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Australian teen allegedly creates & shares nude deepfakes of over 50 schoolgirls, gets arrested
A teenage boy was arrested in Victoria, Australia after he allegedly created and circulated artificial intelligence-generated explicit photos of about 50 schoolgirls. The victims were students in years nine to 12 of Bacchus Marsh Grammar, a co-ed school on the outskirts of Melbourne. This means the victims' ages ranged between 14 and 18. The Guardian reported that the boy apparently took photos of the girls’ faces from social media and placed them on AI-generated nude bodies.
Cambodia PM Hun Manet makes 1st official visit to S'pore
The Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Manet, is in Singapore on a visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. This is Hun Manet's first official visit to Singapore, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a press statement dated June 17. He is in Singapore from June 18 to June 19. The programme Hun Manet will receive an official welcome at the Istana and call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. He will then meet his Singaporean counterpart, PM Wong.
Good class bungalow in S'pore listed for S$83 million
A Good Class Bungalow in Victoria Park in Bukit Timah area was listed for sale for S$83 million on Jun. 6. It sits on a 31,471 sq ft plot of land. The 12,852 sq ft house is located along Victoria Park Close. According to real estate firm CBRE's website, the house has six bedrooms, an entertainment room, and a dining hall that can accommodate up to 20. Additionally, it boasts a powder room and six parking lots, with additional parking space for another four cars.
Thailand scrapping unpopular S$11 tourism fee
Thai prime minister Srettha Thavisin announced on Jun. 8 that his government will not be going ahead with a proposal to impose a 300 baht (S$11.05) "tourism fee" on foreigners arriving by air. The policy, which was proposed by a previous administration, was first announced in February 2023. Fee reportedly unpopular in private sector According to The Star, Srettha said removing the fee could result in more tourists visiting Thailand.
BTS fans celebrate as Jin completes military service, first in boyband to do so
It ends as it began: with a get-together between band members at the gates of an army camp. Jin, the oldest member of K-pop boy band BTS, completed his military service on Jun. 12, emerging triumphantly from the base of the 5th Army Infantry Division to be greeted by fellow bandmates J-hope, RM, V, Jungkook and Jimin. RM, V and J-hope came to greet Jin outside. RM welcomed Jin by playing the saxaphone to BTS's Dynanmite.
Apple Vision Pro for sale in S'pore for S$5,299 from Jun. 28, 2024
The Apple Vision Pro headset will be going on sale in Singapore from Jun. 28, tech giant Apple said on Jun. 10. The announcement was made at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference at its headquarters in California on Monday. This is the first release of the gadget out of the United States. Prices start from an eye-watering S$5,299 with storage capacities of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore will receive the headsets first on Jun. 28.
War minister & moderate figure, Benny Gantz, resigns from Israeli govt
Israeli minister Benny Gantz announced his resignation from the Israeli government on Jun. 9, citing policy disagreements with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Gantz was also a member of a three-man key decision-making "war cabinet" formed shortly after the Oct. 7 attacks, whose other members are Netanyahu and minister of defense Yoav Gallant. In resigning from the Israeli government, Gantz also withdrew the support of his political party from Netanyahu's coalition government.
Chinese national, suspected of helping to create & operate 'world's largest botnet', arrested in S'pore
An international law enforcement operation led by the United States (U.S.) Department of Justice (DOJ), with assistance from Singapore's Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) and the Singapore Police Force (SPF), has successfully targeted and "dismantled" a major botnet used to commit large-scale fraud, bomb threats, and other cybercrimes.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visiting S'pore, delivers keynote speech at Shangri-La Dialogue
President of the Republic of the Philippines Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is in Singapore on a visit. His visit is scheduled to last from May 29 to Jun. 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press statement. Marcos has also delivered the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, widely regarded as Asia's top defence summit.
S'pore looking into extending concessionary fares for students who've graduated
Good news, graduating students. The public transport concessionary fares that they are entitled to while schooling to defray travel costs could soon be extended to after they have graduated during a transition period. This was announced by Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat on May 28 in a social media post about listening to public feedback to improve Singapore's public transport system. Two changes are afoot, one that is still being finalised, while another has been approved.
Graduated students in S'pore can still enjoy concessionary fares during transition period: Transport Minister
Good news, graduating students. The public transport concessionary fares that they are entitled to while schooling to defray travel costs could soon be extended to after they have graduated during a transition period. This was announced by Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat on May 28 in a social media post about listening to public feedback to improve Singapore's public transport system. Two changes are afoot, one that is still being finalised, while another has been approved.
'Six' the musical making its S'pore premiere in Nov. 2024
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'Six' the musical making its S'pore premiere in Nov. 2024
Musical fans in Singapore are in for a treat in 2024. The republic has already played host to "Hamilton", the celebrated sung-and-rapped biographical musical that retells the life story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton. And in August, the iconic musical "Miss Saigon" is coming to town. This November, fans can enjoy a third show: "Six", which is a British musical in the style of a pop concert that retells the story of the six wives of Tudor monarch Henry VIII.
S'pore motorcycle & M'sia car collide in Johor Bahru
A motorcyclist and an SUV were involved in a collision along Jalan Pasir Pelangi in Johor Bahru. Images uploaded onto the Facebook group "SG Road Vigilante" show the motorcyclist lying supine on the road, presumably as a result of the accident. According to the post, the incident took place on May 25, 2024, at about 10:50pm.
Man, 22, arrested after allegedly pawning fake ring for S$1,050
A 22-year-old man was arrested for his suspected involvement in a case of cheating. In a media statement, the Singapore Police Force said they received a report from a pawnshop on May 16. According to the report, the man had pawned a purportedly fake gold ring for S$1,050 on May 14. The gold ring was believed to be fake due to its unusually low density.
Man, 36, allegedly breaks into factory & school in Tampines, arrested within an hour after police report made
A 36-year-old man was arrested for his suspected involvement in two separate cases of housebreaking and theft, less than one hour after a police report was made against him. In a press statement, the police said they were alerted to a case of housebreaking and theft at a factory on Tampines North Drive 4 at around 9am on May 21. At about 5:45pm that same day, the police received another report on a case of housebreaking and theft.
MAS bans 3 former insurance agents over fake documents & lying to investigators
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has issued prohibition orders (POs) against three former insurance agents for obstructing the course of justice, falsifying records, and providing false information to MAS. Yuen Pui Leng Eunice, Tan Zhen Zhi Grace, and Lim Hee Loon Benny, all of whom are former Prudential insurance agents, were served POs of five years, three years, and one year respectively. MAS announced the bans, which came into force on May 24, in a press release on the same day.
US teen died of heart attack after eating Carolina Reaper-infused spicy tortilla chip: Autopsy results
A teenager from Massachusetts in the U.S. died shortly after eating an extremely spicy tortilla chip last September. Autopsy results indicate that Harris Wolobah, who was in 10th grade, suffered a heart attack shortly after eating the chip, the Associated Press (AP) reported. The autopsy results suggest that Wolobah had a congenital heart defect that made him more vulnerable to the dangerous effects of the chilli.
90 evacuated after fire at Tanah Merah condo unit, balcony above left charred
A room caught fire in a condominium in Tanah Merah on May 22, leading to 90 people getting evacuated. There were no reported injuries. The fire had come from a room on the 11th floor. A video posted on Facebook shows orange flames consuming a single unit, with thick black smoke seen in the air. Shin Min Daily News reported that the intense heat left the balcony area "completely charred".
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev makes 1st state visit to S'pore, meets President Tharman
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is in Singapore on a state visit to Singapore from May 22 to 24. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) shared details of Tokayev's visit in a press statement released on May 23. This is the Kazakhstan leader's first state visit to Singapore as president. A ceremonial welcome and fruitful discussions On May 23, Tokayev received a ceremonial welcome at the Istana and called on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who hosted a state banquet in his honour.
Former Trust Yoga instructor found guilty of molesting 3 women, acquitted of molesting a 4th
A former yoga instructor was found guilty on May 16 of outraging the modesty of three women. However, he was acquitted of molesting a fourth woman. Rajpal Singh, 34, an Indian national, committed the offences during 2019 and 2020, when he was conducting classes at yoga studio Trust Yoga. The women were all students at his classes. Instructor molested women while adjusting their poses The matter first came to light in July 2020 when a woman alleged online that Singh had molested her during a class.
Audrey Fang murder case: Spanish judge orders data extraction from Mitchell Ong's phone
A judge in Spain has authorised the extraction of data from the phone of Mitchell Ong, who is under investigation for his alleged role in the murder of Singaporean tourist Audrey Fang. Fang, who had been on holiday in the Spanish region of Murcia, was found dead with 30 stab wounds over a month ago. Several days after the discovery of her body, Ong, who is also Singaporean, was arrested by Spanish police.
7 men in S'pore, aged 23-39, charged for riding motorcycle without valid licence & insurance coverage
Eight persons — seven men and one woman — were charged in court on May 15 for traffic-related offences. According to a police press release on May 14, the seven men were charged for driving a motor vehicle without a valid driving licence and insurance coverage. Additionally, a 43-year-old woman will also be charged for permitting another person to drive a motor vehicle without a valid driving licence and insurance coverage. The details of the various cases are as follows: On Feb.
Hawkers excited to cook for swearing-in at Istana, hoping for photos with PM Lee & DPM Wong
Guests at Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Lawrence Wong's swearing-in on May 15 will be staying around after the ceremony for a meal, and feeding an approximately 700-strong crowd of dignitaries and guests is no mean feat. Five hawkers have gladly stepped up to the challenge. Mothership spoke with three of them to find out what it's like to cook for such an event. Evident excitement All three hawkers were upbeat about their upcoming engagement when we spoke to them.
10 things DPM Lawrence Wong said in The Economist interview
The Economist, the British institution promoting independent thought, interviewed Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 6, ahead of his swearing-in as prime minister on May 15. DPM Wong discussed a range of topics spanning from global geopolitics to Singapore's economic and social policies. Here are 10 quotes from the transcript. 1. "We still are." At the start of the interview, The Economist mentioned DPM Wong's previous characterisation of Singapore as "the improbable nation and a miracle".
Yishun HDB coffee shop on sale for S$11 million
Ever wanted to own a coffee shop? If you have S$11 million or more lying around, you might be able to make it happen. Real estate brokerage firm OrangeTee Advisory announced on May 6 that an HDB coffee shop located at Block 110 Yishun Ring Road is up for sale at a guide price of $11 million. The sale will be done through an expression of interest (EOI) exercise, which will end on May 29 at 3pm.
M'sia Agong Sultan Ibrahim visiting S'pore, 1st overseas State Visit
The Malaysian Agong (king), Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, is in Singapore on a two-day state visit, at the invitation of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. He will be in Singapore from May 6 to 7, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press statement on May 5. This is the king's first state visit overseas since his ascent to the throne on Jan. 31 this year.
Meteor shower to occur over S'pore, peak activity on May 6, 2024
Singaporeans may have missed out on the total solar eclipse in North America last month, but we will soon get the chance to witness a different celestial event. A meteor shower is set to peak on May 6 and the morning of May 7. The Eta Aquarids meteor shower peaks during early May each year.
Chee Hong Tat appointed to MAS board of directors
Transport Minister and Second Minister for Finance Chee Hong Tat has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). MAS said in a May 2 statement that Chee will serve a three-year term from Jun. 1, 2024 to May 31, 2027.
Satisfaction with public cleanliness up, but S'poreans need more 'personal responsibility': SMU survey
Social nudges similar to the mandatory tray return policy implemented in 2021 could help encourage cleanliness behaviour in Singaporeans, said the researchers behind a public cleanliness survey. The survey found that overall cleanliness satisfaction levels were at their highest since 2019, but the researchers concluded that more needs to be done to instil a "higher sense of personal responsibility for cleanliness" among Singaporeans.
Children to be taught pet care with plushies at newly reopened PCF Sparkletots@Joo Chiat
PAP Community Foundation Sparkletots@Joo Chiat was officially opened on Apr. 26, 2024, with a newly-renovated campus and an updated curriculum that includes a new "pet care" course and an emphasis on outdoor learning. The opening was launched by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, who is a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Joo Chiat ward in Marine Parade GRC.
ACS(I) athlete shoves Hwa Chong rival after elbowing incident during 1,500m race
An athlete from Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (ACS(I)) achieved a hard-fought victory in his footrace. After the race, he bowed to supporters in the stands, but later ended up shoving his Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) rival. The shove appears to have been brought on by an elbowing incident between the two runners during the A Division Boys' 1,500m event at the National School Games - Track & Field Championships, on Apr. 19. The HCI runner was disqualified.
S'porean artist Yip Yew Chong paints 10m by 3m mural in 6 days to mark Lau Pa Sat's 130th anniversary
Local artist Yip Yew Chong has done it again. This time he painted a 10m by 3m mural depicting the Singapore icon's rich history to commemorate Lau Pa Sat's 130th anniversary. Titled "From Shoreline to Skyline", Yip told Mothership that he did the artwork over six days in "very hot and wet weather". He added that the mural marks the history of Lau Pa Sat — first as the "Old Market", established in 1824 at Telok Ayer as a fish market, then its subsequent reconstruction in 1894 as Lau Pa Sat proper.
Former insurance agent slapped with 8-year ban for spending S$117,160 of client's money, causing policies to lapse
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has served a former representative of Prudential eight-year prohibition orders (POs) for dishonest conduct. Gng Hoon Hong was issued the POs following his conviction in the State Courts last December for criminal breach of trust, said MAS in a statement on Apr. 18. What did Gng do? Gng was jailed for using S$117,160.94 of his client's money for his personal expenses. The misappropriation took place between March 2012 to July 2018, MAS said.
People in S'pore & the Philippines share a 'strong bond', company ties doing well: Vivian Balakrishnan
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan highlighted the "close and constructive relationship" shared by Singapore and the Philippines in a doorstop interview in the Philippines on Apr. 18. Singapore-Philippines ties flourishing When asked about the state of the Singapore-Philippines relationship, Vivian said it was "excellent". He noted that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr will be coming to Singapore on May 31, 2024, to deliver the keynote address for the Shangri-La Dialogue.
S'porean named best international cadet at British military academy, fulfils promise to late father
Course 232 of the Commissioning Course at the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst reached its conclusion last week, and the honour of Best International Cadet has gone to a Singaporean cadet. He was awarded the International Sword for the Best International Cadet on the course, announced the academy on Facebook last week. In a Facebook post on Apr.
Bus captain dies after double-decker bus mounts kerb & crashes into tree in Woodlands
An SMRT bus captain passed on after the bus he was driving mounted a kerb and hit a tree in the morning on Apr. 16. In a statement, the SCDF said it was alerted to a road traffic accident along Woodlands Avenue 2 at 9:25am. SCDF paramedics conveyed the bus captain to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. A video showing SCDF personnel at the scene has been circulating online. In the video, the bus's windshield is spiderwebbed with cracks, while its front bumper appears to be damaged.
Man, 35, pays minor, 17, for sex acts, gets extorted S$50,000, reports police about 'scam', gets jail
After paying a 17-year-old girl for sexual services, a man found himself being threatened by the girl and her friend to pay them for their silence, or they would go to the police. He offered to pay a few thousand dollars but ended up paying S$50,000 after negotiations. A month later, he went to the police to report being "scammed". Another year later, on Apr. 12, 2024, he was sentenced to jail for nine weeks for paying a minor for sexual services.
E-commerce safety ratings: Shopee scores top marks, Facebook Marketplace & Carousell at the bottom
Shopee has come out tops in the 2024 edition of the E-commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings (TSR) on April 10, while Facebook Marketplace and Carousell ended up at the bottom. Published by the Inter-Ministry Committee on Scams, the TSR evaluates the anti-scam features employed by six major e-commerce marketplaces, Amazon, Qoo10, Lazada, Shopee, Facebook Marketplace, and Carousell.
'One Piece' full orchestra concert in S'pore in Aug. 2024
Fans of the iconic, long-running "One Piece" anime can rejoice — the One Piece Music Symphony world tour is making a stop in Singapore on Aug. 3. The performance at the Esplanade will be in celebration of the beloved anime's 25th anniversary. A full orchestra will perform iconic songs such as, “We Are!”, “Sai sai saikyo!!!”, “Oitsumerareta”, and “Binks no Sake” in sync with anime footage projected onto a giant screen.
Xi Jinping hosts ex-Taiwan president Ma Ying Jeou in Beijing, 1st meeting since 2015 in S'pore
The President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping met former President of Taiwan, Ma Ying Jeou, on Apr. 10, 2024. This makes it the first time that China has hosted a former President of Taiwan since the end of China's civil war in 1949, CNN reported. It is also the first meeting between Xi and Ma since they met in Singapore in 2015. Xi and Ma met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where meetings between top Chinese officials and foreign leaders normally take place.
Man, 25, charged for allegedly exposing his genitals to 2 women separately in Woodlands on same day
A 25-year-old man allegedly exposed himself to two women on Sunday, Apr. 7. He was arrested later that same day. The police said they received two reports of a man purportedly exposing his genitals to two women along Woodlands Circle and Woodlands Drive 73 respectively. Officers from Woodlands Police Division conducted follow-up investigations and used police camera footage to identify and arrest the man within six hours of the alleged offences.
1 in 3 S'porean workers expect 4-day work week within next 5 years: Survey
One in three Singaporean workers expect a four-day work week to become the norm within the next five years, a survey has found. Work-life balance a key priority The global survey, People at Work 2023: A Global Workforce View, polled 32,612 workers across 17 countries. It was conducted by payroll and human resource solution provider Automatic Data Processing (ADP). A prominent theme in the survey results was flexible work arrangements.
Man, 36, arrested for allegedly molesting woman at Mustafa Centre
A 36-year-old man was arrested on Sunday, Apr. 7, 2024, for suspected outrage of modesty. The man had allegedly inappropriately touched a woman several times at Mustafa Centre while standing behind her, said the police in a media statement on Apr. 9. The police received a call for assistance at 9:15pm. Security officers on scene detained the man before police officers arrived and arrested him. The man was charged with outrage of modesty on Apr. 9.
4 men, 20-29, charged for rental scam & allegedly sharing their bank accounts for money laundering
Four men, all in their 20s, were charged in court on Apr. 4 and Apr. 5, 2024, for scam-related activities. Three of them, aged 20 to 29, were suspected of being involved in money laundering activities linked to various scams, while the fourth was charged with allegedly committing a rental scam. Responded to advertisements and offers on Telegram According to a police news release, between November 2022 and October 2023, the three men had allegedly responded to advertisements and offers on Telegram.
Functional annotation with expression validation identifies novel metastasis-relevant genes from post-GWAS risk loci in sporadic colorectal carcinomas
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Tumor-derived circulating endothelial cell clusters in colorectal cancer
Setting out to isolate circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood of cancer patients, Cima et al. instead noticed that clusters, rather than single cells, were present in their sorting device.
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